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Hi guys anyone give me advice as to best route by motorcycle from Calais to Lyon France? AA auto route has given me a quick route of around 8 hours ridding but I have never ridden in France before is it a realistic day ride? i will arrive in Calais vie P@0 early hours any advice from seasoned travelers welcome.

8 hours is very dooable providing you use the motorways. thier all toll and not realy cheap so take your credit card. pull up at the booth with the green arrow above the lane take the ticket thats gets spat at you automatically, barrier rises off you go. motorways are very traffic free compared to UK, spedd limit 130 klicks dont go mad the gendarmes are now setting up sneaky unmarked radar traps. services are plenty and come in three types, basic, just a bog and a bench, fuel a bog and a bench or all singing fuel rest areas bogs showers and so on and about every 20 klicks.

when you get to the end of one toll road go to the booth with the green arrow stop and give the nice lady your ticket, she then works out your toll and you hand over your card. simple. when leaving the motorway the off ramps bends are very tight be warned.
Fuel is still cheaper, well it was in April.
Frogs generally are a good bunch and are bike friendly.
when looking at roundabouts count the exits from the anticlockwise direction not as in UK clockwise. when you come to a roundabout look left. Frogs arnt very good at driving, watch out.

keep a euro in your pocket for the supermarket trollys.

I am off to Chimay classic bike races next month in Belgium, Europe is still a bikers playground.

enjoy.

And don't lose your Peage ticket.
They will charge you from the theoretical start point.
My mate lost his and got charged 20 euros when the rest of us were 6 euros.
Laughed our Arses off we did

And if cars coming towards you flash their lights - SLOW DOWN whatever spped you are doing! It could be there's a speed trap ahead, or it could be what daughter & s-in-law experienced on their way to Le Mans a few weeks ago - 4 inches of hailstones on the road!

Take bike docs with you - V5c, insurance and proof of ownership (leave copies at home), also a set of spare bulbs and a dayglo vest in case you break down - these are legal requirements. All speed limits are reduced by 10% if it's raining.

Thanks guys very useful stuff

I'd also heard (could be an urban myth) that the Gendarmes can use your payage ticket against you. Take the time in and time out over the distance covered, if it's above the speed limit you're nicked.

I doubt if this system would stand up in court, due to calibration etc., but who wants to go down that route. On the spot fines - if you can't pay up they will escort you to the nearest ATM, nice!

You can do Lyon in 12 hours with a mix of roads.

Its about 6 hours if you bomb it on the m/ways tho.

Falcopops wrote:I'd also heard (could be an urban myth) that the Gendarmes can use your payage ticket against you. Take the time in and time out over the distance covered, if it's above the speed limit you're nicked.

I doubt if this system would stand up in court, due to calibration etc., but who wants to go down that route. On the spot fines - if you can't pay up they will escort you to the nearest ATM, nice!

My mate said that too. Dunno how true it is, but it's wholly possible I guess.

Kwackerz wrote:

Falcopops wrote:I'd also heard (could be an urban myth) that the Gendarmes can use your payage ticket against you. Take the time in and time out over the distance covered, if it's above the speed limit you're nicked.

I doubt if this system would stand up in court, due to calibration etc., but who wants to go down that route. On the spot fines - if you can't pay up they will escort you to the nearest ATM, nice!

My mate said that too. Dunno how true it is, but it's wholly possible I guess.

If you feel like a bit of speed shenanigans on the peage, then by all means do it. then stop at an aire for half an hour and shoot the breeze then continue to the toll exits. If you are unlucky and the old john chase you then they set up a reception committee at the toll booth to nab you, worst case they confiscate your bike, sometinmes revoke your licence so you cant continue to ride in france. at the mo there is no reciprical arrangement between DVLA and the french system, so it wont effect your UK licence. this will change in the future so any crime committed in any member state can be enforced in any other member state. Bastards.

still be best place for speed is Germany, the autobahn between Netherlands and Germany is currently no limit, just watch out for the porches in your mirrors.

Kwackerz wrote:

Falcopops wrote:I'd also heard (could be an urban myth) that the Gendarmes can use your payage ticket against you. Take the time in and time out over the distance covered, if it's above the speed limit you're nicked.

I doubt if this system would stand up in court, due to calibration etc., but who wants to go down that route. On the spot fines - if you can't pay up they will escort you to the nearest ATM, nice!

My mate said that too. Dunno how true it is, but it's wholly possible I guess.

It is absolutely true and correct. Don't forget the legal system in France is very different to ours and it has been accepted as being the norm for many years.

I know of many a bike and car who were so far over the speed limit based on their peage' ticket the vehicles were seized pending the payment of a massive fine.

I got caught myslef once heading back towards Calais from Paris. I put the ticket in the machine and before I had even selected first gear (I was in the car) a Gendarme walked in front of my car and pulled me over.

It was only the fact that I had my International Police Association badge displayed in the windscreen that he left me off without having to pay something like a £300 on the spot fine.

So please believe it, it is true and very legal in France.

If you are in a hurry then as suggested the Peage (Autoroutes) are the way to go. Fast quiet and you can't possibly get lost. Unless they have gone up a lot in the last 12 months they are not too dear either.

However. Running parallel to most A routes is usually an N road which is usually also fast quiet and also free. They go through small towns and villages so you need to slow down fairly often but it's worth it coz you get to see the real France. You can stop for a cafe or croissant and soak up the peace.

Only word of warning - petrol stations on the lesser roads often close for an hour or two midday and getting your credit card to work the auto pumps is impossible. All is not lost though. Hang around and someone will turn up. Offer them cash for a tankful paid for on their card. Never had a refusal.

As for Gendarmes - carry cash separately from documents as on the spot fines are possible but if you plead poverty you may get let off. Not likely if they see your stuffed wallet though ! Oh and be polite. The ones I have met have been stern but ultimately really good blokes.

I love riding in France.

boody hell

Thumper wrote:boody hell

Don't Panic!! Everything that's been said is perfectly true - but it is worst case scenario. I've ridden in France numerous times and never had a problem. French drivers are far more bike aware (and bike friendly) than in the UK and you'll really enjoy yourself. Just respect the towns and villages and 'enjoy' the open roads

And don't forget you don't wave to other bikers to say "yoohoo we have the same bike or helmet, or to say cheers" you shake a leg..