Motorcycle Touring in Europe - Is the Travellers Time up here? 

Enjoyed your video as usual! Have you thought of touring Eastern Europe?

There's plenty of other roads in Europe than toll roads. I drive 10000 km through Europe and back last summer and didn't pay any tolls.

You could always turn the "avoid tolls" setting on your satnav on - you get more interesting roads and fuel is cheaper off the toll roads too. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip 👍

A new subscriber here, i am from Portugal lived in Switzerland 🇨🇭 and did some vacations in Italy. Had the same surprises as you in the restaurants and gas stations. Love the way you show the reality in your videos, things don’t always are fairytales like in others channels. Cheers and keep up the good work ( beautiful images from the drone ).

Wow ... felt like slitting my wrists when I watched this 😆 ... I do a couple of Euro trips nearly every year and have done for many years, went and did the Dolomites last Sept on my XT660z and my hotels were reasonable, stayed off he majority of Tolls and found little coffee shops, reasonable fuel stations and the people were fine. Even had to nip into a bike shop as my battery gave up the ghost and the guy insisted on fitting it 😊 ... the in June this year did the Ardennes region and Northern France on my Crosstourer and no issues, just lovely. I ain't giving up on it yet ... try Poland and Northern Germany ... its very reasonable and some great places 👍

Don’t ride toll roads. I stay off the auto routes and enjoy the slower life. I also carry the kit to change a tyre at the road side. I ride either a royal Enfield 350 classic or a Honda Super Cub 125. Great bikes for touring and actually seeing the sights. I also speak a bit of French and a little bit of Italian. Self taught using CDs that I listened to for over a year while commuting to work. If I can do it anyone can. Never had the issues you had, you must be a magnet or perhaps naive travellers?

Yet another amazing video! You make me feel like going on an adventure myself!

Hi, I won’t bore you with all the motorcycle trips I’ve made. But don’t be a victim, take a tool kit with you…..assume you’re going to get a puncture! Practice removing your wheel and fitting a new inner tube before you set off. Take all the tools and tyre irons and a pump. I also take some emergency tyre foam with me. You really did set yourself up to get shafted!

There’s thousands of amazing routes in Europe, I always avoid toll roads like the plague!

Not trying to be disrespectful but in all honesty what did you expect when doing all that mileage on motorways, we have just done a tour of the Dolomites and found not that much difference in prices from France, but then the only motorway we used was in the UK.

Looks like quite an adventure! We have been riding through France for 25 years, Peage and N roads as last resort only. D roads are the way to go on a bike, GPX route in the Nav (check out Ride mag routes) some beautiful areas and great roads. Need to be in Rome quickly, fly and hire. last 2-3 years France has become expensive, we now go Santander, top of Spain and central Portugal, amazing roads, cheap and friendly. Ride safe and keep smiling 😁

I'm glad you got your tyre sorted. I've ridden in Italy and used the small stations in towns with no issues. Just an observation, but perhaps setting too big a distance goals each day means using toll roads. Isn't it perhaps better to spend more time and perhaps extra cash on accommodation and set routes to avoid tolls. We certainly didn't use the Mont Blanc tunnel. The route around, including the St Bernard Pass, is amazing. Touring Europe on a motorcycle is still amazing but taking the time to appreciate it is the key.

I’m sorry guys… but you are victims of your own naivety and complete lack of understanding of how things are done in Italy, and indeed much of europe.

Great video and I will have to go back to the start of the series. We holiday in Italy a lot ( just package type holidays) we’ve been lucky enough to not have been robbed either by pick pockets or being over charged st restaurants etc, but we met plenty of people who have. I looking to plan a trip to Italy next year on my bike so I will be following your trip with interest 👍

Break down on a British motorway and you’ll pay anything up to £250 to be recovered. Fill up with petrol on a British motorway and you’ll pay about 20p+ per litre more than normal. Mainland Europe is no different than the UK, but perhaps you have learned that the hard way. You have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst (before setting off), get international breakdown cover and also carry the equipment to cover easy mechanical problems that may arise during your trip. And yes, pizza and pasta does get monotonous in Italy.😉

I really hope that you both had a lovely motorcycle holiday. I'm worried that neither of you didn't enjoy the experience by the many comments you both make on this video. My youngest son and his significant other rode 15,000 miles around Europe, that's 32 countries over four and a bit months in 2022. Both riding Royal Enfield Himalayans, much of it on the TET, the Africa Twin would be a great bike for the TET! Son and partner rode from the UK, to Europe, as far south as Gibraltar to the northern climes of Finland and most places in between. Ukraine and Belarus being exceptions. They camped and did their own maintenance/services/tyre changes en route and met some amazing fellow travellers. Sure, they had some local help. A mechanic in Spain welded up a broken pannier frame on one of the bikes (the one that had hard luggage), but that was the only mechanical problem. Look for the positives is my motto, even when things go belly-up! Off to the Netherlands myself via the Hoek next month on my Himalayan. I will be camping and maybe the odd hostel or AirBandB. I've booked my outward ferry from Harwich, not planned my return as yet. I have reserved my first camp near the Hoek on arrival, but basically that's it. I have seen some interesting places in The Netherlands that I'd like to see, such as the musuem in Arnhem which is a tribute to the young men on all sides who died in the conflict of 1944. I also intend to visit a weird narrow-gauge railway experience in Germany, which is not really my thing, but I'm doing it anyway. Should be a bit of fun! I've got a phrase book to learn some basic Dutch language. I know how to order a beer in a bar! That's an important 'in' to being welcomed in another country. Personally, I'm not into covering lots of miles on motorways/autobahns/autoroutes/autostradas just because I can. I want to be able to stop at a bar, cafe, fresh food market or 'mini-mart' when I feel like it. I'll have a look around that village or town and maybe get to use my extremely basic language 'skills'. I always take a small FM radio so I can tune in to the local stations. No idea what they're talking about, no idea of the song lyrics, but just a lot fun! Toll roads are easy to avoid. It's on your satnav. My satnav is also set to 'avoid motorways', in whatever language! Because motorways are boring for me. Fuel costs are part and parcel of what you are doing, if you are using a motorcycle, you are using an expensive oil -based product. It's pricey in the UK, for heaven's sake. As in the UK, when you are in Europe, check out the local supermarket chains, fuel is much cheaper than the motorway services. It would be useful to learn how to do your own tyre changes and take the necessary tools and spare parts and tube to facilitate that. If you both give up motorcycle tours in Europe, there are plenty of great opportunities in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Take care. Ride safe. Love and peace.

i'm really surprised that you don't carry a set of tools especially a tire repair kit.i've seen you doing DIY stuff on your bike before. Another great video

Well I must say you have absolutely sold Italy to me... I can't wait to....avoid it. 🤣 Amazing drone footage of Lake Como.... and in all the rest of the video's, you really can fly that little beast. Looking forward to seeing Switzerland.

Made a small tool roll for my sons 125, willhave to make another when graduates to a bigger bike, you need to travel with a spare tube each, get a 27 mm socket and bar, some short tyre levers for changing on the hoof

Liked the videos I always carry puncture repair kits with me they take up little space I would carry a spare tube and tyre leavers if I had tubed type wheels it’s only going to probably get used the once if your unlucky like you were because it can spoil the whole trip we tend to keep away from toll roads there are plenty of A roads with no tolls will look forward to your next videos!!

I am making my way down to Harwich tomorrow morning to get the ferry and off for a 6-week motorcycle tour. One pannier is full of tools, emergency starter, spare oil, puncture repair kit and other useful bits. Other pannier has cooking and some food. I am fully loaded up, even a bag on the back seat with clothes.

I'm sorry You need to chill more. Prepare don't despair.

Beautiful views as usual, I like watching your videos❤❤❤

Hey how times change back in the 90s in Italy I had a prob on a Harley. I needed welding on an aftermarket part. I found a fabrication company and the guy smiled and took the bike into a workshop welded it up and couldn’t be more helpful refused any payment and wished me a safe journey. Cheers Steve

Thank you both for sharing your adventures as i am learning a great deal from your adventures. It all about the journey 😃😃

The same happened to me in Cornwall 😂 outrageous prices. Italy and Cornwall must be Twinned.😮

Good preparation in advance always pays off as any information about rip-offs and how to avoid them are easily available. And the easiest is to avoid toll roads and take the twisty second and third category alpine roads - it's cheaper and more fun. And lastly it's no secret that a basic understanding of the locally spoken language opens the hearts of the people living there instantly.

If you haven’t done your homework prior to your journey, you’ll pay the price.

We stopped visiting Italy years ago because we got fed up of being ripped off all the time! It just ruins the holiday.

Great channel you have . Lots of similar on youtube but for me this shines a little brighter. Hope it goes from strength to strength. Love and best wishes .

Next time you go to Germany, near Stuttgardt there is a town, Althutte, really nice biker hotel and gasthaus.

Sorry to hear about that experience you had in Italy with that tyre problem,i only got charged 5 Euro for a repair for a tyre at a local garage in Abruzzo.Yes some people take advantage of your situation and think all people from England are rich,i still get that attitude, i have had a holiday home in Italy for 12 years!( they still try it on with high quotes for building works!)Yes the service at the petrol stations in Italy can be expensive if they serve you!I paid the extra because i did not want to get off my bike!The lady told me i was paying extra at least she was honest,i prefer to pay cash and not have to walk into the garage shop to pay.Local petrol stations off the motorways are cheaper for petrol and they take cash more often!I thought Lake Garda is better for motorcycles than Lake Como because the roads are wider,saw alot of German bikers at Lake Garda,alot of British and Dutch prefer Lake Como.

Hang in there guys - you are showing that you’re only human. There are good people and bad people everywhere. Great videos.

Dont give up .. i didnt get scammed at all but i was let down completrly by the Rac .when my triumph had a fault .. i gave up with them and found a triumph dealer in rimini ... didnt come accross the charge more for fuel scam

Do you think that tubeless is better than having an innertube?

And if engine uses oil that's bad something wrong, mine from 2016 dct , did last year 12500km to Kazakhstan and back oil level was the same !!! 10w30 motul

We found some parts of Italy great and others not so good. We always carry a spare front tube, aerosol to pump up the tyre, and all the tools to work on our bike.

Always carried a set of tubes and put slime in them never had a puncture! New tyre new tube, I think they have changes to tubeless on the Africa twin now? Plugging the tyre much easier.👍

What a lot of rip offs……I guess you won’t be returning to Italy any time soon. Many years ago we toured Italy and experienced the motorway service area restaurants….crazy, first we queued to look at food to decide what we wanted, then moved to another queue to pay, than back to the first queue to get our food……then sometimes queued for a table! Hopefully this ‘system’ has improved nowadays! All the best for the rest of your tour🤞

Can’t wait for your next instalment guys, Switzerland is epic!

Sure wish I'd have had the mind to see more of Europe before now. Seems like you guys are right, who the hell would go there now? Not me

Looking forward to the Swiss leg! Heading there on my ZZR next June 👍

I must say you were determined to make the best of it 😂😂. Keep off toll roads and stick to back roads, loads of fun. Fancy giving you pizza in Italy 😮

I seen on one model of Africa twin that there was a basic tool kit under the rear seat but I would say to leave that in the garage at home to reduce the weight slightly then replace with something more suitable including tyre leavers all the kit do a puncture chain maintenance spare spark plugs if iridium I’ve known these to fail and stop my bike

Stay clear of Italy and Switzerland! France is a stepping stone, but stay off the Autoroutes!

I like the looks of that new style givi top box you're using. 👍

I remember from my trips back in 1978 and 1983 how they had one row of petrol pumps where you payed for service and one where you didn't. Fortunately the pumps are clearly marked. Just watch out!

Oh wonderful Italy eh... makes you realise how good old blighty is

Why did you choose the most expensive roads to ride on? They're boring, no real good views, and you barely get to see the country.

Spanner and tyre levers etc should be first things in your pack. Not much is needed to ensure you won’t be stuck at their mercy. Bit of prep.

I am about to drive from NL to Dordogne while avoiding tolls

I’m not sure why you are taking toll roads,I’ve travelled all over Italy on my motorcycle and you can avoid them most times.

Sorry to hear about your experience, but I’ve being touring Europe every year since 2006 and never had a problem. I avoid toll roads 90% of the time. Even my 3 week, 5000 mile trip to Norway was very reasonable because I was camping.

Guys in Devon don't like changing inner tubes too. I took my wheel off and supplied the parts to Irelands in Barnstaple and it cost less than £5. It's not worth their time, really.

Come ride in South Africa…great roads, fabulous weather, genuine people and biker friendly hospitality! 🏍️🍺🇬🇧🇿🇦👍😎

Why did the bike need so much oil?

I agree that the tow truck mechanic wasn't the most honest, but like you said there are bad people willing to fleece you in your moment of need pretty much everywhere, luckily the majority are people willing to help. When it comes to tolls and fuel costs though I believe it is the traveller's responsibility to be informed. The fact that France and Italy have tolls is not news and one can find the cost for their fares on the internet before setting off. As for petrol, if you pick the pump where it says 'service' (hence no queue) you can't then blame the native for trying to rip you off.

Can I ask you what cameras you’re using , the quality is superb !

I'd like to go to Mandello for the moto Guzzi open day...once I get a Guzzi. Heading south in Europe is getting less appealing in the summer these days. Going in Autumn means Id have crap weather and a crappy stormy crossing until I got to the warmer bits. I prefer Normandy and Brittany myself. I can get by in French, no tolls, good camping and no scams except for Mont Saint Michel...

Drone shots of Como were awesome and made up for the constant moaning all the way through the video.

What a great team you two are. Love and best wishes to you both on the rest of this adventure. 🍻👍

At least Dick Turpin wore a mask....

We didnt see anything like that regarding fuel in Italy last September, no issues anywhere to be honest we filled up in 9 countries. Paid 2 tolls in the entire 2700 miles, really easy to set your sat nav to avoid toll roads.

We always avoid the toll roads as we got stung the first year we went out there.

I'll tell you what for a Polish lass you've Narth got the phrases down. Lol

Enjoyed the video. Toll roads, give them a miss. Silverplana is excellent.

Just stay off the toll routes, they are boring and nowhere to stop for a coffee and scenery. The villages and pavement cafes are the way to go. Easy enough to select no motorways on a gps.

You guys are hilarious. You should do a short review of that Maxia 5 top box if you haven't already

Your Tour is great but I don't know why you've hit all the Tolls? Did 3100mile last year 9 countries including Swiss,Italian,Austrian Alps all the famous passes.Then down to Croatia back up through Slovenia Austria and Germany again.Stayed at Ski resorts really cheap and didn't touch a Toll road once.On the return through France through loads of pretty villages to Normandy.Only expensive thing was a fancy restaurant meal in Chablis?

Europe is over 10 trillion square meters big with over 44 countries. The title of the video is ridiculous tbf. No matter how bad a time you had with a flat tyre. Just for perspective sake.

France is still fine but Italy's a tourist trap from top to bottom. Portugal's going the same way with the toll road along the Algarve next to the bombed out airstrip that is the free N125 to villa da bispo (end of the world)

I don’t mind spending when travelling. It’s what I’ve saved to do BUT when feel getting ripped off or no value for money just ruins part of the trip

240 euro..Damn that is freaking robbery..

Hey chap...wheres your UK sticker on your bike?? Naughty...theres another fine on the spot in waiting. Nuce to see Eva has hers on display tho.😁

Great video again. Ignore all the negative comments about 'planning' and 'avoid toll roads', they obviously didnt watch the beginning of this adventure which explains it all. You did well considering the difficulties faced, and as you say, some people are helpful, and some are just out to fleece you. Watch out in Switzerland though, that's very costly. Ride safe guys.

It Italy, on the motorways, usually on the left hand side, the pumps are service for those too posh to pump. The price is set about 40 cents higher. Even if you do it yourself you'll get charged for that. They can't give it to you for the price of the self-service pumps or it'll look like the attendent is taking money from his employer. So always go to the Self Service pumps. If you can't see it written you can tell because no one comes running out to fill your tank

For God's sake, stop complaining. You choose to sit on boring expensive toll roads and complain about the tolls. You get a puncture and complain because YOU didn't take any tools. Stick to Devon and leave Europe to those that prepare.

French toll roads arnt so bad, but stay off them in Italy especially for fuel its the most expensive option

😢i guess you are right everything is darn too expensive. Till this year we had left Alabania, Kosovo and Romania but even they raised prices of food and accomodation so i guess everything is ending i thought that i noticed that last time i talked with austrian rider he also complained and told me he is serriously thinking of leavin motorcycling for a while since it lost its point when on motorcyle you dont look like a rider but more like ATM 😂

love the africa twin but tubed tyres seem like a fucking ballache

A couple of pommy windges

you are amazing

Why not tubeless tyre? Get a tyre puncture kit and an electric/hand pump. Saving time and money lol

I manage to your Europe each year more than once without paying hardly any tolls sometimes non at all.... you need to plan better

Europe is certainly on the decline and that's due to local and collective (EU) government stupidity (?). Citizens aren't innocent either. Economic literacy and citizen actions are, perhaps, at a historical minimum. The Americans, even with their now inflated fuel prices, are enjoying per/liter prices that are about half what the Europeans pay (it used to be 1/3rd). What is the cause for this madness? Taxes, "climate crisis", ESG, diminishing CAPEX in the oil sector (for many many years), hundreds of bankruptcies in the E&P sector (more than 500 since 2015 and that's only for the US!), QEs and money printing by governments, how they handled COVID and how they prolong wars and conflict around the globe, the whole shebang. They have pulled all the available levers to cause inflation. From the governments' perspective the inflation caused by all these agendas and seemingly counterintuitive actions, are a sinister way to destroy sovereign debt. That's why they do it, in my opinion. and to get a more secure hold for future socieoconomics since the blockchain and BTC in particular, is seen as a huge threat for them. They need to take more control in fear of losing it and citizens aren't as active anymore to react. Hopefully a critical percentage of us citizens sees what's happening and will do the work for the rest. Corruption and evil can't travel far. P.S. Your conclusion "most people are good in this world" is right but NOT because they are willing to help YOU. I could be a really great person overall and still deny to help you when I have no time to do so.

I hate to say it, but that's Italy, last time I was outside Milan on a Pan European, it was close to 40 Degrees, stopped at a service station to buy a bottle of water, bloke said straight up, as I was hot and had no choice, the water was €10 for 500ml (normally €1.50), I told him to stick it and rode on to a Supermarket, I only ever found this tricky attitude in Italy, nowhere else in Europe.

Noticed you keep quoting the toll prices in pounds? You’re not choosing to pay in GBP are you? If so they always use a terrible conversion rate 😂 For the puncture you could’ve googled the next nearest mechanic/taken the wheel off and hopped on the other bike to take to fix? Always take out proper international breakdown cover/insurance so you can use as last resort. They’d also pay for the hotel 👍 ps thanks for the hint on the ‘service’ price for fuel… didn’t know that one! And keep your thoughts positive on a trip … you’re out on your bikes in beautiful scenery !! 🤩

sorry about the break down but a great vid both

You can always use the Miami toll pass, wheelie pass that camera

Avoid highway petrol stations, and the highways are very expensive in Italy

The moral of the story is !! Don’t go to Italy, I find them quite an arrogant nation but that’s just me. Keep off the toll roads and do the more scenic routes which I find more relaxed and enjoyable

20 years of traveling about Europe has taught me to go by the country routes and avoid the Motorway Network if at all possible. EVERYTHING to do with travelling on the motorway network is an expensive disappointment. Ride safe!

Lessons learned!! Spares needed if you go away? Or fly and rent a bike! Better in Spain?

Driving standards in Italy are in a different league to the rest of Europe, except maybe Holland, there a close 2nd

Probably cheaper to fly to the area you want to base your selves , and hire bikes to ride the mountain passes. Motorways and toll roads are sooo boring . Nice informative video 👍

sorry you both having a bad time . for those reasons thats why i tour uk only now .

Good job they didn't charge you for the loan of the the funnel for oil top up. 🤣👍

Yea...you'd have to pay me to tour Italy honestly. It's a pity, but I just don't think it's the most moto-friendly place to ride in Europe ☹️ at least in my limited experience

And that’s the reason I get inner tube anxiety right there ☝️ I’m sure there mentality is British spank them hard ☝️another video as ever , are you going to bike show

So expensive... I looked at ferries to spain, weird, 2 bikes 2 people £1030 return... but 2 bikes put in a van .... van and 2 people £890 return 😄 the people and bikes are still going... plus a van and it is less money... maybe it would be cheaper to take 4 bikes (or more) in a van than 4 bikes. I think places like Croatia and Bulgaria would offer good value but "the Med is dead" my new slogan.