I'm doing my first motorbike trip abroad at the of September. 4 of us are getting a ferry across to Santander, then spending a week doing the Picos mountains. The Ducati breakdown cover looks good. Anything I need to be aware of for it? It looks comprehensive enough, but you never know until you get to use it. I've got a litre of oil for the trip, as mine likes her oil, and I'm going to sort out some spare bulbs. Taking a socket for the rear wheel, just in case. Plenty of tread in the tyres. For me - few clothes, and beer tokens. I hear you need helmet reflectors for France, but not Spain? Anything else I need to think of?
Spare sun-glasses & less is more. Anything you do take you have too be realistic that it could get stolen/broken/lost. Touring tips, country by country | AA
We have oil in France and they probably do in Spain too. You don't need spare bulbs as they are for sale all over the world and there is no legal requirement to carry them. Reflective helmet stickers? I have lived here in France since 2004 and neither me nor my wife have any stickers on our lids.
Do not worry too much, you continue in Europe, it does not leave the African continent, unless you accelerate hard and cross the Strait of Gibraltar, but there you will understand the language of the posters. In Spain, as in all sides, no foreign friends, but no more than in his country, I assure you, people of the south, we tend to be more gentle, kind, and eager to try very well to their British neighbors. Do not believe everything you read on the forums, you can be very misleading, that is, in Spain, not all have horns, I actually think that we only have the bulls;-). Enjoy and if you have any problems in my country, I remain at your disposal for whatever may need.
Def go with fresh rubber....Tyres in Spain can be very expensive...i've been there and got the T-shirt on that one...Those roads don't take long to wear out tyres. I can Recommend a visit to Riano...stunning scenery and a great little campsite with cabins.. Picos are great, and very cheap...within a couple of hours from Santander your there.. Enjoy
+1 for Riano. Excellent ride and you might as well stay there overnight too. Get up early and go for a blast along the A621 as far as the CV105 junction. Then turn round and go back for breakfast. You'll love it. You need to take your log book and have your insurance papers with you whenever you're on the bike. Expect to get stopped by the Guardia but when they find you're British they just let you go on and they're very polite. They like bikes in Spain. You can't help but enjoy it.
Chris makes a good point. Even at this late stage try and learn a few short phrases with please and thankyou in. Even if it is just asking for a beer. Any effort you make will be greatly appreciated and you are treated differently in a positive way. Andy
Take it easy out of and into Santander. The rozzers lurk about waiting to nab bikers heading to/from the port. I got nailed overtaking a v slow truck on a solid white line up a long hill. Senor Rozzer was waiting for such an event up a side road. With no Euro left he followed me and my similarly nailed buddy to a cashpoint to pay the fine. Probably try and get 30km away before going mental.
If you're in the Picos at the end of Sept, the fantastic Colombres race/rally is on - well worth dipping into a festival of classic bikes hooning along the route of "5,000" bends Rally Internacional Colombres 2016
Spanish police have always been very hot on the solid white line issue, its one of the biggest income generators for the Guardia Civil and its something you won't get away with if spotted putting a wheel on one anywhere in Spain. They start in line with the 'No Overtaking' sign, so be watchful Good luck with the trip, it is a stunning part of Spain, the roads are fabulous (surface and swervy) and almost deserted, the scenery is spectacular.
I have done quite a travelling all over Spain, the Picos are amazing, and if you get a chance visit Leon, it's dead in the day but by golly does it wake up at night,Every time you buy a drink you will get a Pincho or small tapa included, for me all of Spain is amazing not just to ride but seek out its history and culture. Attached a route that I did a few years ago
Whilst the Ducati assist will help with a breakdown it will not recover your bike to the UK should you crash. Double check your insurance or buy a recovery policy. I usually buy one of these:Cheap Breakdown Cover and Car, Van and Motorcycle Breakdown Insurance from QDOS Breakdown PS Post Office travel insurance covers larger bikes, most other companies only cover up to about 125
The AA European Recovery Service is also very good, it may not be the cheapest but everything happened when they said it would and they got me home in a hire car and the bike was recovered back to the UK and delivered to the dealer a week before the date they gave.
