On Yer Bike: Confused.com’s Guide to Biking in Europe

• Guides
• Published: 07 May 2009 in Motoring and Van Insurance

The top 10 European destinations to explore by motorbike 

Take your motorbike on holiday, and while others queue at airports or fume inside hot cars amid endless traffic jams, you’re out in the open and on the move.

Top tips for a successful tour

 * Plan ahead and be realistic about the distance you can safely manage each day. An average speed of 40mph is a good ballpark figure to use for calculations.

* Check your motorbike insurance for your trip abroad.

Remember not all European countries are in the EU so ask if you’re covered in places like Norway and Switzerland. Compare motorbike insurance deals with Confused.com.

* Book your travel insurance in advance. You may also want to apply for a European Health Insurance Card. It’s free and allows you the same state-provided healthcare as a resident of the country you are in. But it’s NOT an alternative to travel insurance.

Compare travel insurance quotes with Confused.com.

* Secure your motorbike. Make sure you take a decent lock and/or chain with you and secure it wherever you go. You’ll also need your passport and V5 bike registration document – the original, not a copy.

* Check your tax and MOT is up-to-date before you set off so as not to invalidate your insurance.

* Arrange breakdown cover. Should the worst happen, you need to be sure of recovery, especially when you’re in a foreign land. Compare breakdown cover with Confused.com for a great deal.

So if you’re looking for holiday hotspots with your motorbike, try Confused.com’s top 10 European destinations…

1. Italy 

Italians are simply mad about motorbikes! If Italy appeals, aim for the Stelvio Pass in the Alps - at 9,045ft, it’s one of the highest road crossings in Europe. Around 60 hairpin bends make it a breathtaking challenge to ride. Not one for the faint-hearted.

2. Germany

There are no speed limits on some German autobahns, so take care - locals ride like bats out of hell! A must ride is Nurburgring in the Eifel mountains, one of the most challenging racetracks in the world. Try it on a tour-operated bike-only day.

3. Isle of Man 

Home of the TT races - a magnetic attraction for bikers around the world. Great roads, a fantastic bikers’ welcome and the chance to ride the racecourse. Once a year on ‘Mad Sunday’ the mountain section becomes one-way. Get a taste of real racing – if you’re mad enough!

Incidentally, 2009 marks the first year that Confused.com will be at the TT. We’ll be at the Grandstand, so if you see us, pop over and say hello.

4. France 

The French are another country in love with two wheels, so you‘re guaranteed a warm welcome. Seasoned travellers reckon once you’ve crossed the Loire River in the summer, you’re almost certain of sunny days. The roads into the Pyrenees will make this a dream motorbike holiday.

5. Austria 

The Tyrol, land of beautiful green valleys and formidable mountains. A rider’s dream is the Timmelsjoch Pass, which straddles the Alps to Italy. Over 8,000 ft high, the seven-mile toll route is a combination of amazing bends and mind-blowing views.

6. Spain 

Fabulous roads and staggering mountain scenery can be found in Picos de Europa National Park in the north-west of Spain. What’s more, it’s only a short ride from the UK destination ferry ports of Santander and Bilbao.

7. Ireland 

From the fantastic roads of Donegal to the windswept beauty of Galway, Ireland offers warm welcomes, empty roads and scenery to equal anywhere in Europe. Take a ferry to the north and leave on one from the south – or vice versa.

8. Slovenia 

A friendly introduction to Eastern Europe - just getting there is a riding treat in itself. Head to the picturesque tourist resort of Bled, surrounded by stunning views and great roads.

9. Norway

It’s a long ride, but take your bike through Norway’s spectacular sub-arctic scenery to North Cape, mainland Europe’s most northerly point. A word of warning though: the Norwegians take speeding very seriously - 75mph can get you a short jail sentence.

10. Western Scotland 

Last but not least, Scotland’s stunning scenery and quiet roads make it a top motorbike destination. Whether you ride the glorious sweeping mainland A roads north of Glasgow or hop around the Western Isles via the ferry services, this will be a trip to remember.

Wherever you decide to go, compare motorbike insurance and travel insurance quotes at Confused.com. For driving tips in a multitude of countries throughout Europe, take a look at Confused.com’s European driving guides.

Safe biking!