Motorcycle Touring Europe on Africa Twin | Home to Rome EP 1
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- Home to Rome! We decided that instead of flying we could ride our Africa Twin Motorcycles overland across Europe all the way to Rome, Italy. Join us on this Epic Motorcycle adventure where we share with you the good, Bad and ugly of Motorcycle travel and adventure. This is not the usual "Insta" Version, This is Real Bikers on a real long distance Motorcycle Trip on the Honda Africa Twin, CRF 1100
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sometimes no plans are the best plans. i had a week before i was fit enough to work after having a collarbone plated, id always wanted to ride to romania transalpina and transfagarason. wasnt fit enough to ride my bike so spur of moment drove my car, like you nothing booked drove from dorset to dover got a ferry and on my way drove 27hours non stop bar fuel and coffee breaks. lol was bloody crazy and epic.3 days in romania before heading home. completely shattered but my best trip ever, but need to return on my bike in the future.
Amazing, what did you think of Romania? The food, people, roads etc? We want to go that way next
@ontheroadadventure I would thoroughly recommend it. The roads up in the mountains were fantastic just a shame I was in my car. Food was good. Plenty of down to earth food soups and pork dishes but pretty good. People were real friendly couldn't believe I just drove there for the fun of trying there famous roads. You would certainly not regret it. Due to my time constraints I couldn't see as much as I would have liked but just means more to explore next time.😁. Only downside to no planning was £125 fine for not having a vignette for Hungary I knew I needed one for Austria so got hat one. And got away with not having one in Romania
@@simonbeal2148 Yes those tolls and vignettes can soon add up, but even more costly to forget! We are thinking that side of Europe is now the place to go and tour, this side of Italy is now getting prohibitively expensive unfortunately
Incredible on the piano man, encore!!!
Thanks bud!
Nice piano playing skills. All the best. Daniel & Alicia.
Thanks for joining us guys 👍
Really pleased to come across this channel! Love the interactions between you both. Those ticket barriers are a pain - you did nothing wrong it just doesn't pick up motorbikes. Next time just immediately press the help button and show 'ticket not working' in English and they'll get it started for you. I've had to do this at about 80% of toll booths in France now!
Hey! Thanks for Joining us! Those barriers are a real pain, We will do our best to avoid these roads again. Hope you enjoy our other videos, youve lots to catch up on!
What a great adventure, well done on the piano, well impressed, travel safe guys.
Thanks so much, really appreciate your comments, unfortunately this trip was not plain sailing but you’ll see how it all unfolds over the next couple weeks
I love your attitude of Just going for it and working it out on the way. I rode my ducati monster to piombino in tuscany by going down to lyon then across to grenoble then turin and genoa to see my daughter compete for GB in the world champs. I had two days to do it. I was taken aback by the cost of tolls too. Next time i think i would try going through belgium/germany to avoid tolls and try a new route. Someone once told me "you can plan too much you know" they weren't wrong.
Absolutely right in the Belgium, Germany, Switzerland route, we will show you how much better that can be in the way home 👍
We don’t plan because when you plan you know most of what’s going to happen before you put your boots on. We want adventure, it always works out in the end, it’s not always easy but that would be boring right?
Well done! Most people would e jacked it in and taken a flight! Ride safe 🏍️💪🇿🇦👍
At times on this tour we wish had taken the plane lol but we love an adventure, and this trip certainly turned into one!
You guys are either brave or crazy! Can’t wait to watch the next one of your motorcycle trip
Thanks Mo Mo, honestly not sure which we are, but it entertains us and then you guys so we are happy regardless 😊
Hi guys. Enjoying your vids. Just a little tip I have picked up recently on ferry trips, etc - use a bulldog clip to attach your tickets to your screen so you don’t need to produce them and the ferry staff can see them. Simples.
Hi Chris, this is a simple yet effective plan, I must order some now or il forget them again! This will be very useful in the near future 👍 Cheers for joining us
I'm impressed. Well done guys. What an adventure.
Thanks for joining us on the road, really appreciate your comments, we are looking forward to showing you all the good stuff soon along with the Mountains, and some misery lol 😂
Really enjoy following both of you on your travels and what a fantastic achievement booking and leaving on the spur of the moment as such as other people spend weeks planning such a journey. Looking forward to your further travels to Rome 👍
Thanks for joining us on the road 👍 We have a theory that if you plan out a trip like that then what will happen is more or less what you planned. We like to go on an adventure, so plan nothing! This turned out to be a huge advantage later in the trip as you’ll see. If you book all your accommodation in advance not only are you limited on where and how far you can go each day but also if things go wrong or you are delayed you will lose the hotel bookings and have to pay again somewhere else
Really enjoying your adventures , the two of you are a great team and very entertaining to watch , keep up the good work 👍
Thanks so much Alun, means allot, we love so much that people are interested to see what we get up to on our travels, we like to think we represent real people and just want to be ourselves 👍
We did this trip just in front of you by the look of it. Riding our Tiger 900GTPro, we left UK on October 4th to be at a family wedding in Sorrento. Loving your trip so far. The tolls are a beast on the finances!
Awesome well done to you guys too! Its a bit of a trek isnt it! Would you do the Toll roads again? did you have similar problems to us? Rich loves the GT pro he had a Black one, you may have seen in earlier Videos.... Keep a good eye on your chain, them snapping seems to be faily common, this wrote off rich's bike as the chain smashed the engine etc
Toll roads are useful, but so expensive. I think we will allow more time and avoid them. The Italian tolls are even more!
The machines were a pain, with only half of them working smoothly. Sorry Rich lost his 900, we are riding our second one, having swapped in May and now covered 8,000 miles.
@@paulthetford2004 Yes and did you get stung at the service fuel station too with two prices depending which pump you pull up too?!
@@paulthetford2004 Did you swap just to upgrade? Before the chain the GTPro got 22k miles in its short lifespan of a year! All problem free…It was on its second chain, not sure if it was perhaps a copy DID chain bought online but we saw lots of others with chain snapping issues too 🤷♂️
👍❤️
Thanks for joining us
@@ontheroadadventure You're welcome, I enjoy following you 🌹
Top fan 👍
I’ve watched a few of your videos now but all in the wrong order, so finally decided to check out this first one. Really enjoying them! My wife and I are regulars touring Europe by bike and it’s great for us to compare experiences. Mind you, toll prices and incomprehensible machines in France are something we now desperately try to avoid!
Yes this was our first and last go on the toll roads, we tried it due to the time deadline but never again will we do this. Glad your enjoying our videos, much appreciated. What do you guys ride?
@@ontheroadadventure We had a series of FJRs (my wife rides pillion) from when we began in 2003 up until 2021 when we discovered that Yamaha aren’t selling them any longer in the U.K. So I bought what was the nearest thing and got a BMW 1250RT. It’s a good bike but so different in character to the FJR! Plus I reckon they’ve been trying too hard with the technical gadgetry and there’s never a time when I haven’t got some warning light on!
@@geofftoscano6804 I’m a big fan of Yamaha, I’ve had allot of them, all proved very reliable bikes.
Same happens to me on the autoroute in May. No one answered the intercom but luckily a kind lady said for me to follow her when the barrier lifted. Got a free trip and no cops followed me 😅 great video
The toll issues were endless, I think lots of bikers just go round them when touring Europe
Wouldn’t surprise me. The machine sensors often charge the car price too. You didn’t have a choice but to use them with the time constraints. There is a better route with free motorways from Calais going through Belgium Luxembourg Germany and Switzerland. 40 euros in Switzerland to use the motorways for a year though
@@dbharrold Yes we did some of this on the way back, took a much chillier scenic route over the alps!
Just found this video whilst UA-cam motorbike rabbit-holing., loving it, great bond between you two.. Have subscribed to your channel 🙂
Thanks for joining us Billy 👍
Devon to Rome, eh? I have the same trip planned on my AT but you've beaten me to it! I figured time's run out to cross over the Alps via Furka this year, so I postponed my trip. I'll be envious if you get there and the passes are open.
Keep the videos coming, all the best for your trip. Gotta love those Twins.
Well this series of videos is for you! i suspect you are going to be envious! Which AT have you got? how do you find the seat long distance?
CRF1100L in red, of course. 😊
I'm Crediton way, spots on the crash bars, grey suit, tall screen. I'm sure we will pass one another one day around Devon.
I'm thinking first stop near Metz, then next stop Innerkirtchen. Then onwards to Rome. I'm on a mission to find where my family came from near Frosinone.
Seat is fine. Where did you get your tyres done?
@@africa_twin_for_the_win Ah same as us. We may of parked next to yours at Moto Velo a few weeks back, I think it’s in the Moto Velo video? We learnt allot on our travels so hopefully you’ll pick up some tips from our mistakes etc. The Africa twin is more than capable of such distances, although I may have to do something about my seat, how do you find yours for long trips?
@@africa_twin_for_the_win I had no problem with the seat before doing two hour stints but on this trip it caused me some problems, il definitely be taking a seat pad next time or upgrade it perhaps. Tyres were done at Exeter motorcycle tyre centre, marsh Barton. Great service from those guys, they own Treens motorcycles in Crediton
AMAZING! I love it. I thought I had done a last minute trip to France last year, with a weeks notice. It was only a there and back so just the ferries to book and routes to plan to the Somme, to visit two great uncles killed in WW1. But this is a much bigger deal and all done within 24 hours, fantastic. It's going to be great fun seeing how you get on.
Yes all this started just because rich didnt want to do public transport. 3000 miles later we had completed a Epic trip with lots occuring along the way. We saw some amazing places too! We cant wait to share it all.
Rich is really interested in War stuff. Been to normandy beaches but we didnt film so will have to go back and do that next year
@@ontheroadadventure The Somme turned out to be really emotional for me, not just because of my uncles, that in itself was sad, but when you see the scale of loss. I went to the Thiepval memorial, a massive structure dedicated to 73,000 soldiers lost for whom no remains where ever found... just on the Somme battleground... that combined with the cemeteries... everywhere, it is staggering the number of people killed on that one small section of the front, and that is repeated all the way up and down France and Belgium. Everyone should visit France, Belgium or any other front / battleground, just to appreciate the level of sacrifice made. Ohhh crikey, getting a bit preachy and serious there!
@@neilmackinnon3371 I agree, compulsory school trips should be made to places like this. I had a similar experience at the American cemetery and the beaches in Normandy. It just leaves you speechless, you cannot believe this can happen and yet war is still occurring amongst intelligent modern human beings. Blows my mind.
Did you do the 360 Cinema in arramanches I think at the beach?
@@ontheroadadventure I went to the museum adjacent to Thiepval memorial, but it just made me feel worse, so I didn't hang about. It is clear the whole area is pretty much dedicated to 'visitors' and I got very little feel of respect from people locally. I suppose when you are born and live in a place like that then all the memorials and cemeteries are just what you are used to, much like you and the Devon countryside or me and the beaches at W-s-M, Sand Bay and Brean, but they are very different as they are not visitor attractions, they are grave yards, huge ones full of tens of thousands of those who lost their lives in the service of their country... whichever one that was. I will go back to see my uncles, but it will never be anything but the saddest place I have ever been.
@@neilmackinnon3371 These are experiences you’ll never forget
What an adventure 👍🏻
Follow along, This one really is epic in everyway! and not all good lol
07:14 a surprise to be sure but a welcome one! two gorgeous bikes & two gorgeous people < 3 ye might've been in Italy not so long before me? bout 10 days ago! looking forward to more!
Thanks so much, too kind! Did you ride to Italy too?
@@ontheroadadventure last week, Civitavecchia - Brindisi, currently in South of Greece 😁🏍️💨
@@unOrdinaryWorld Amazing! Sounds like your on a big trip! What are you riding? Do you have a plan or just as the road takes you?
@@ontheroadadventure east until the money runs out 😂
@@unOrdinaryWorld I love your plan! The only problem with travelling is the need to come home and work, Are you making videos on your trip?
Bravo on the piano!
I love travelling abroad especially europe the roads are fantastic. Always get a bit nervous through the channel tunnel. But once I'm out, it's away. Should get yourself a small tank bag for the old tickets and gloves when you're going through customs. And tolls. But when the vehicles too close behind you at a toll, there's nothing more annoying.
Thanks so much 😀 Getting a tank bag is a good idea, I think options are very limited on the Africa twin though. We don’t do the magnetic ones as they scratch the tank over time so we need to find one on the ring that fits, my Givi one from my last bike is too big and touches the handlebars
@ontheroadadventure I bought the Givi XS319. Then bought the tank plate. Nice and small. But fits my passport, gloves, tickets, and sat nave when I'm off. Worth a look.
Is this for an Africa twin? I did look into it awhile ago but I believe there is only 2 suitable bags on the ring so I need to be certain which will fit?
@ontheroadadventure I've got it on the Ninja1000sx it's small. Worth a look to see if its available in a local bike shop. I used j&s. They do the ring for the Africa.
Yeah I need to find which bag fits in the forum and go find it in the shops
Well I started the day in Wales, but needed some sunshine so here I am off to Rome with you both....Now I have to be honest, I'm not so sure I would have the courage to be booking somewhere to stay so late at night. But I have done a few trips through the night. Was the Eurotunnel expensive? I did go on it once but that was 15 years ago.
So far we haven’t had a night where we couldn’t find anything however sometimes actually locating the hotel etc in the dark when your tired can be a problem abroad.
Euro tunnel is great it’s only 30 mins and costs usually around £80. If you use Tesco club card points you can get good money off too
@@ontheroadadventure I'm currently watching you go through Mont Blanc tunnel....why were you flashed?
The town at 9 minutes reminded me of Matlock bath
We never did find out
A twinned town perhaps
Nice ride folks 👍🏻✌️👊
Thanks, it was a bit of a slog to get down to the good stuff but stick with us, it will be worth it 👍
@@ontheroadadventure will do, ride safe 👍🏻
@@saltybiker252 Thanks 😊
Blimey! Packed in the miles in a short time!
This was nothing, We broke our record for distance in a day on this trip, you'll have to wait for that one! We do promise you some up's and Downs and the real reality of Long distance motorcycle travel, not just the Instagram version!
This day was only 361 miles
@@ontheroadadventure and hidden talents 🧐🤣
@@samanthachalk9898 Thanks lol - you were surprised I can play a bit of piano then?!
@@ontheroadadventure just a bit! 🤣
Love not having a plan, just a weather radar on the Garmin XT and head for the sun 🙂
Now that is a plan we can get on board with! How can you have an adventure if you plan each detail?
@@ontheroadadventure ended up in Slovenia in August, purely from following the sun. Loving your tours 🏍👍🏻
@@RidingHelga How was it there? We are thinking to go in that direction, we want something different to what we have done before
@ontheroadadventure Well laid roads, nice people and reasonably cheap food and lodging. Ski lodges in Summer trying to make money I assume. Our original plan took us into Germany and South into the Alps but after checking the weather we headed South for Monaco and through Northern Italy to Slovenia. In 15 day, we had 1 day of rain, purely down to us checking the weather for the following day 😀
That sounds like an amazing trip, did you film any?
At the toll booth you were sticking the card in the wrong slot, you were trying to put it in the payment card slot, the slot for your toll ticket is above it, when you play your footage back when the French lass is helping you can actually see it lit up although it wasn’t lit up when you were looking for it which would have made it obvious, you’ll suss it next time 👍😀
Thanks, I think this was one of the first we came across, we had loads of problems at the toll booths, we discovered that the biggest issue is cara following you into the toll. The camera now doesn’t pick up the bike plate and will either try to charge for the car or simply won’t accept the ticket. These tolls turned out to be a costly inconvenience when you use those roads for a few days, we usually avoid motorway but had a target to be in Rome in a few days so had no choice, we avoided on the way home
Like you I only ever use toll roads when there is no choice but a lot of the barriers you can ride around or through if there is a gap, I’ve done it loads of times when in France especially as they can’t legally even chase UK bikes for parking or speeding tickets so tolls would be exactly the same, it’s a no brainer 😂👍
@@gazmoto Lol I won’t lie, we definitely thought about this but was concerned we would come home to a stack of fines?
@@ontheroadadventure don`t worry about it as they don`t have an agreement with the UK to chase any motoring fines the same as the UK cannot chase any foriegn registered cars over here so they don`t persue them. This only applys to cameras etc and not to a physically manned speed traps etc which I have never seen outside of French cities anyway :-)
@@gazmoto wow wish we knew this a couple weeks ago! We haven’t worked out how much we paid yet but I suspect the tolls cost as much as the fuel
Great vids you two. Can i ask what tyres you's are running
Thanks so much, yes we run TKC70 on our bikes, I fit them to all my bikes, they are hard wearing, grippy, and the adventure style tread allows for when you hit rubbish roads and gravel etc. Is that a mt07 you have there in your pic?
@@ontheroadadventure thank you. No it's older. It's an FZ1. It's been altered over the years. I have an Africa Twin adventure sport I just bought for touring and adventure's. I still have the FZ1 and still scares the shit outta me 😂 but I love it. I'll go look at them tyres now
Awesome I had a few Yamaha Fazer’s including the box eye 600’s which I loved and a thou aswell. Great bullet proof bikes, I’ve always been a fan of Yamaha but they haven’t brought a big adventure touring bike to the market. The T7 is still not good enough with no cruise control etc even in the new explorer model
@@ontheroadadventure my first legal big bike was an old Fazer 600. They are a great all round bike I loved it. I wanted the the thou Fazer but the FZ1 came up cheap so bought it. Kinda wish I'd bought the Fazer thou. Miles more comfortable. Love the Africa Twin mind. It does everything effortlessly
Get yourselves a monzo card helpful for money in different countries
Thanks we will look that one up. Does it avoid the bank transaction fees?
We don't charge any foreign transaction fees when you use your card, so you will be charged according to Mastercard's exact exchange rate. You also don't need to give us any kind of advance notice before your trip, your card should just continue to work as you travel 🗺️ All you have to do is have a great trip...direct quote from them
Seems perfect for what we need. Thanks