I may be losing my job in Dec this year and I am thinking of taking a few gap months (in my 50's!) and tour - camping around Europe on my 2004 GS650 - something I have wanted to do for ages. The thing is I have always left the maintenance apart from the obvious - chain tensioning, wheel removal...

CROATIA - achingly beautiful, 5835 kilometers of coastline, 1185 islands of which only 50 are populated so if you ever feel like escaping to a desert island where no one can find you might consider this place. We rode through the villages of Slovenia and popped out on the Croatian border...

Julie Andrews lied – the hills weren’t alive with the sound of music. If she had taken a few minutes from twirling around she would have noticed that she was in the heart of Alpine country, a land where tall snowy mountains dominate and hills are, well passé! And honestly there isn’t much...

After spending a few days in Hamburg we were ready to hit the road. The first leg of our journey and introduction to Europe was getting out of a rain drenched Berlin in peak hour traffic and pointing the Dakar towards Hamburg. My ethos for this trip is to ride as many back roads as I can. I...

First Stop - Munich. Beer and pretzels at the famous Hofbrauhaus. Hitler gave an important speech here in this very house. These guys look a lot friendlier though! Beer or Wine? This is the German conundrum. One is at the heart of a pilsner swilling culture that draws keg loads of visitors...

Oh, where have you been my blue eyed son, and where have you been my darling young one? I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains, I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways, I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests, I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans, I’ve...

Europe anyone? 2-3 weeks away going from Plymouth to Santander Im thinking of a cruise into Europe for 2-3 weeks which ever suits. I know a great place in a village where i have friends. Im open to any suggestions (except war graves etc) if anyone is interested in joining me. Thinking of July...

Hey guys. I'm off to brussells, belgium, germany and the neatherlands over the weekend. Any suggestions for great roads/rides or sites i shouldn't miss?? Let me know! :riding:

I'm taking my F650 to Ljubljana in Slovenia next week (1100 miles each way mainly through Germany) - Have recent tyres, am fitting a new chain and sprocket set tommorow, scottoiler in place, pads all fine, recent plug and filter change... Is there anything anyone would recommend checking or...

I saw that a Alexander Porter will participate in the 2009 Eastern Europe Rally on his F650. Alex roaming around here too?

Heya guys! I came over to Belgium for a few months work and it looks like I'm going to stay for quite a lot longer. My 90 days insurance cover for Europe is almost up on my bike and I'm going to have to organise something to keep covered. Anybody had any experience getting insurance for...

Hello fellow F650 riders or anyone else who takes a look. I am reading a book on Europe called New Europe by Michael Palin and to understand that i`ve bought Europe on a Shoestring by Lonely Planet. I have thought for some time to do more of Eastern Europe but my annual holiday of 16 days off...

Hi everyone,any comments and suggestions welcome. Considering a trip to Greece next year and need to do some homework on regulations and neccesary paperwork,(other than driving licence and insurance).If anyone has done the journey and has suggestions on ideal route/accomodation,etc,Iwould like...

Hey guys, So I finally picked up my new to me 1996 F650 for my tour of Europe. I am in Edinburgh right now getting the 1200mile service and then looking for luggage. I am on a budget, but will be living out of my bike for a year. Can anyone give me recommendations on what would be the best...

Insurance sucks! I am traveling around Europe for more than 60 or 90 days and need to get motorcyle insurance. Anyone have some ideas? Everywhere I turn insurance companies only want to cover for 60 days at most!...I will pay whatever that is not the issue. Any experience? Any help would...

Hello all, I just left my business, sold all my possesions and hopped on a plane to N. Ireland to stay with relatives till I could find the right bike to do my trip. Well with lots of searching I narrowed it down to an 1996 F650 and will hopefully be picking it up in the next couple of days...

I have forgotten what bike related paper work you take when you go to europe? Originals, copies or both? thankyou V.

I have every piece of paperwork required accept for a physical licence. our friendly dvlni here in NI have just told me they misplaced it after i sent it in for a change of address and i will not have it back in time for going. i do have the licence number. Should I go ahead with the trip or...

Im off on my hols on the 21st around europe - cant bloomin wait! :riding: I realise I need to carry spare bulbs - is there a complete kit you can get or is it a case of buying individual ones from Halfords? Cheers!

Calling the intrepid F650ers Dave Mike and Gareth, and anyone else who fancies some fun... I've just been looking at prices for Eurotunnel, and you can get crossings as low as 11 pounds each way at the moment for times in May and June and July. Do we fancy another sojourn ? If so, what say we...