Riding in Spain

[billytwobags]

Hi folks iam off to spain riding from Bilbao to Sitges is there anything to watch out for ? And anything that i should know about . Any help would be most welcome as this is my first trip abroad on the bike cheers

[BaZa®]

using our search engine type in Riding in Spain

This is just a few...pleasant reading....

Riding/Driving laws in Spain.
BaZa ®

Spain - Sept 08 ( 1 2) simonDyna
.............................................so worth a pm to simonDyna
Spain Trip ( 1 2)
simonDyna

Riding in Spain
Schoe000

[devon.john]

just remember when rejoining the road from a petrol stop or any other stop especially
when the road is clear you are RIDING ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!
its the easiest mistake to make, to look the wrong way and pull out into on coming traffic.
Spain is wonderful the roads are great your going to have a good holiday ENJOY
POST ON YOUR RETURN PLEASE and let us now how you got on???

john

[essjay]

Keep to the limits as the Spanish cops have a habit of hiding away! especially in the towns, very friendly people oh and keep your lights on or they will shake their fist at you

[billytwobags]

Thanx for the replays folks

[Scottie]

Only thing to watch old son is that Sites apparently is the Gay capital of Spain so go easy on the Leather. A whole load of my mates went down there a few years ago and they said they had to keep their backs to the wall and keep telling blokes that jumped to the wrong conclusion to f off :-)

Oh and the cops can be difficult unless you treat them like Yank cops (yes sir, no sir stuff you know the drill).

Food great and chear (ish) so the beer.

Carry all your docs in a secure place off the bike and carry copies with you at all times. I've been spot checked more times in Spain that anywhere else in the world.

Spain's an awesome place but check out weather forecasts. Can be cold in places when 50 miles away it's scorching. Same with rain, downpour where you are, 100 miles away they haven't seen rain in years! Elevation is important. Madrid for instance is on the high plateau so cooler than the low lying areas.

Petty crime can be an issue in the major conurbations too but hey no where near as bad as Slough!

Oh and ride on the RIGHT hand side of the road (you knew that already right?)

[billytwobags]

Cheers for that scottie yep we found out about the gay thing a little late and then we googled the area i wont be going to the beach . Mind thier would have to be very desporate ive a body you couldnt bend wire to its shape !!. My bike is a Softail aswell so no go either HA HA . Anyway whats the coppers like about loud pipes as my bike is a little loud short shots on and big apes cheers

[billytwobags]

Scottie what helmet would you go for ? I always wear a piss pot and sun glasses .Gos with the bike but the others are all saying fullface due to the big bugs ect. Also would you go in leather or gortex ? Any help with the clothing issue is most welcome thanx

[Scottie]

Hahahaha

You are SO asking the wrong guy sport. I always wear a matt black Davida Speedster (it's Norwegian shell is low profile, for 90mph without breaking your neck and it fits like a glove so is quietish), tinted Harley "Profile" sunnies with removable lens for night time and removable foam liner for the beach (bloody expensive but they work and fit, although you'll need a new pair every 13 months cos they break to order about then) a black leather jacket (FXRGTSW or whatever Harley call it!) with what used to be a water proof liner, denim jeans and cut off gloves. I've done over 100,000 miles like that both here (Europe) and the US. VERY rarely do I have to resort to anything else. I carry a fleece for when it gets cold and full gloves for those sub zero moments. Obviously I have to pack waterproof trousers for those long runs (get real cheap ones from Hein Gericke, they work and pack REAL small, change 'em when they start to leak. Double skinned ones are best) and I also have a waterproof jacket that I carry but rarely use.

Oh and I have Harley overboots which I've had for six years, are real good but look like shit!

I hate full face helmets although I wear a flip top one on my "work" bike and the gortex/codura stuff is great but bulky, expensive (if it's any good) and uncool unless you're into the Michelin man look. You need to live a little my friend that's why you've got a Harley. It's a motorcycle not a sugar lump and if you get a little wet you won't disolve either. No point in suffering though so when it REALLY rains and I want to ride I have my above mentioned touring kit.

Oh and bugs? Yeah they have big bugs all over Europe, especially the South but in Aussie they have something called a B52 and I've ridden a lot there. To hell with the face you get hit in the chest at 50mph + by one of those suckers and it'll take the wind out of your sails so I wear a cricket box in Aussie (joking!) but as for the face the big bugs hurt but so do women but it ain't all the time. Anyway some of the bugs in Spain are quite tasty. I prefer when touring to experience the whole nine yards so bugs are included in that. Ain't that much different from the UK really, especially if you ride around sun set.

Any rain you come across will pound your boat much more than the bugs though and I have one of those lightweight neck tube thingy's for the light stuff. In fact I wear it ALL the time 'cos it's great. I use a heavier waterproof one for the torential stuff

Sorry if that ain't quite what you wanted to hear.

[simonDyna]

Yes, some of the bugs in Spain are big. Get hit by one and you will know all about it. I've seen people with a decent fat lip where they have been hit by something. All I would advise as a minimum, is having some decent eye protection. I use a Roof Boxer helmet when I am over there. Having said that, plenty of people ride with open face helmets so do as you feel comfortable.

Yes, you need all your documents. Let your insurance company know you are going. It wont be a problem with them but given a few days notice they will send you the correct european claim form, should you need it. Your insurance policy, note, NOT just the certificate is your green card. Spain has only just removed the green card policy but it is new for this year. Take the lot and photocopies, just in case they are needed.

E111 medical card is essential. It used to be a paper form but is now a credit card type thing. Get the form from the PO and get it sorted. In theory you shouldnt need it but some of the more remote places in Spain will ask for it if you are requiring their medical services.

I think I have said previously that the coppers over there are generally pretty good. If you ride like a tit, you will be stopped and face expensive consequences. If you are respectful, slow down for towns etc, then you will be fine. Noisy pipes fall into this category. Let the whole town know you are coming and the police will stop you. Drop the revs and cruise through the towns and you will be fine.

I have not been to Sitges so cant comment first hand. It is a tourist area and must be treated with the usual diligence required in such places.

The weather has been mentioned. When it is hot, it is very hot. The thing to watch out for, depending on when and where you go, is the temperature drop over night. In the Pyrenees is can be scorchio during the day but become very cold, very quickly at night and the hour before sunrise can be quite chilly.

All in all, Spain is a cracking place to go. If any of you speak some spanish, it will be appreciated by the locals and will go a long way.