Any of you take international riding trips?

Got any planned?                                                                                                                                                                             

Had 3 weeks in Rajasthan earlier this year, time permitting heading for northern Italy in Spetember.                                                                                                                                                                             

Did you ride to Rajasthan, or is it possible to hire a bike there. And what bike, the speed triple?

Any recommendations?                                                                                                                                                                             

Describe "international".   Done many trips to western europe, but none further than that.                                                                                                                                                                             

Geoff,

did you feel international when you left the UK, as if you were in a different nation?
I'd guess that would be it, inter...nation...al.

So where in Europe?
On what?
Any tales or tips?

                                                                                                                                                                             

Describe "international".

Don't you need a passport to go north of the Watford Gap? That's gotta be international.

*legs it pronto* -------------->
                                                                                                                                                                             

Oooh Lou - don't be starting up the North/South divide again!!!                                                                                                                                                                              

As long as you carry a dog that's chipped I think you can go almost anywhere!                                                                                                                                                                             

ROFL! Carry a dog? No way - I'm not getting one of them handbag dogs! They're just stupid! 

                                                                                                                                                                             

Next time I visit Liverpool though, I'm planning to arrive NOT on a footie day... I thought the huge Police welcoming committee at Lime St was a tad over the top for one single soft southern lass visiting a few mates!                                                                                                                                                                               

In the US they have Doggles...biker goggles for dogs on Harleys. I have a great picture of one I met up with. The guy riding the Hog seemed very friendly too.                                                                                                                                                                             

My Mum refused to let me buy her Westie a pair of Doggles... they're pretty cool so far as dog accessories go                                                                                                                                                                               

I'd like to see someone after trying to get a pair on a cat! They'd look like they'd been through a shredder. You'd need a six inch nail to keep them on the feline too.                                                                                                                                                                             

KevfromKeent was talking about doing the Indian subcontinent on CG125s some day. Sounds like a craic to me - and hey! I could even join in on that one                                                                                                                                                                               

You're more than welcome to try out your theory on my mog Tyson 

*ponders whether to warn noobie that local vet nurse refuses to go anywhere near said mog after the last time he was in*

*nah... I'll keep that quiet*
                                                                                                                                                                             

"So where in Europe?On what?Any tales or tips?"   Where?  Ireland, Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, Austria and Switzerland over the course of probably ten to fifteen trips and twenty years.   On what?  VFR750, VTR1000 and CB1300s.   Any tales or tips?  More tales than I have time for.  As for tips, get a sat nav but carry maps as well, take a phrase book, carry at least one bottle of water ideally two, stop for fuel more often than you need to especially on Sundays, carry a spare pair of gloves for when your's get wet through and don't travel into Switzerland with an exhaust with no db eater!!                                                                                                                                                                             

Ooooh Lou, you're vicious! *more than the cat by the sounds of it!*                                                                                                                                                                              

Geoff,

So fav's and next trip?                                                                                                                                                                             

Spain. Paradors are great.
Land Santander, ride to Burgos, Monastir del Piedra, Monastery of the Waterfalls...book in in advance, you will be very pleased. Burgos itself is worth a visit for a post brekkie coffee and to fuel up, then back on the road.

Lambie, it was a hired bike a 500 Enfield Bullet, lots of rental outfits in Karol Bagh the bike bazaar in Delhi. If you fancy a long trip you can buy a Bullet in reasonable order for around £3-400 and sell it when you leave.   Apparently I was ripped off paying £40 a week for a rental. Fuel is around half the UK cost, hotels if you are not picky from £2.50 a night, I stayed in a castle bastion in Jaisalmer in an Arabian Nights fantasy room for £15.  Decent meal in a roadside Dhaba (truck stop) around a quid, upmarket air conditioned restaraunt with tablecloths and silverware £4-5   Where else do you get to filter through a procession of temple elephants and then swerve round a camel?    Indian trafic is insane and a bit intimidating till you get into the swing of it, no rules except might is right, wrong way round roundabouts, wrong way on dual carriageways, in cities traffic lights are amusing decorations that nobody pays attention to, no MOT so lots of vehicles with no brakes/bits hanging off/bald tyres etc.  6 people on a bike plus luggage, 3 ton trucks with a hundred people clinging to the sides, scooter rickshaws with 10ft wide loads, if you can imagine it some Indian is doing it.   Absolutely brilliant fun but not for the nervous.