Touring Droitwich To....belgium? Ideas Welcome

Hey! Thinking of taking the Thruxton RS for a little trip to Europe.
This will be my first euro trip for many many many years.

Here is a brief outline of my plan.

1. Get the bike serviced and new tyres., annoyingly. At 1,700 miles from new. The tyres probably aren't quite yet ready for a change. However I'd rather they aren't squared off by the time I arrive. I was thinking of getting S22's...?

Day 1 - Travel to Droitwich to the tunnel. Get a train across to Dunkirk, France. I figure with some stops along the way. It's going to be 6 ish hours. Whilst I like the idea of 'pushing through' to Belgium, I'm not sure my body (wrists), mind is ready for a 10 ish hour trip. Stay somewhere in Dunkirk. I only mention Dunkirk, as I've never been. Happily stay anywhere I can park the bike, and get a good meal, and breakfast in the morning

Day 2 - Travel from Dunkirk ish area to Bouillon Belgium - I assume I can find some nice roads, stops along the way? Base myself in Bouillon

Day 3 - Ride around Bouillon

Day 4 - Either ride around spa, or into Lux

Day 5 - Travel back

Day 6 - Home


Seems like a long trip....


Thoughts?

 

I did wonder watching the queues. Is it morally correct to filter to the front??

Alas. Look forward to some tips. I have download some routes and bought a book by Simon Weir (Journalist) - All advice welcome

 

Yeah, I had a look. I couldn't see anything for that part of the world. I did have a collection of RiDe magazine with routes. Then I moved house. And can I find them???...

 

Hahah

there is enough underpasses in Droitwich, they may as well have created a tunnel whilst they were at it ;-)

ok - Droitwich to Folkestone - get the train ;/)

 

So - Plan is to go next week (22 Aug)

Plan so far

Day 1 Droitwich to Folkestone - Eurotunnel to Calais - Calais to Ypres - stay one night

Day 2 Ypres to Bouillon - Need to find a nice route

Day 3 Bouillon - Day trip to Spa and the surrounding areas

Day 4 Bouillon - Day trip to Luxembourg

Day 5 Bouillon to Dunkirk - stay over

Day 6 Dunkirk to Droitwich

Gonna stay in hostel in Bouillon - overwise its just me.

Need to sort out getting a tank bag - Have a ruck already

And then - tyres. The bike is 10months old. Done 1,700 miles from new - Doesn’t need a service. However, I’m tempted to get some fresh rubber on there Power 5, or M9rr

Anything else to consider?

 

You live in droitwich - have I seen you? I haven’t seen many Triumphs about! - Although when I head out for my evening ride to Tenbury, I’m usually the only biker out

 

ordered M9rr instead, as they were also a good price, man tyres got expensive ! Some were £300 a pair.

think I have everything

accommodation sorted
UK reg sticker
Tank bag
Some ideas of routes
New tyres.

set off next Sunday!

 

Back!
First proper touring adventure I’ve had on a bike!

Re-Cap

1. Droitwich down to the Euro Tunnel - Travel to Ypres and stayed a night there.
2. Ypres to Bouillon - Stayed here for a few days (had planned for 3 days, cut it short to 2 due to rain!)
2.1 Ride around Bouillon / Spa and Luxembourg
3. Bouillon back to Ypres - Night stay
4. Ypres back to Droitwich via the Euro Tunnel


Let’s get the huge negative out of the way. TYRES!

I swapped the original Racetec RR for some new M9rr for the trip. No idea what the issue is - But, I had zero confidence in them. Tyre pressures are good 36 all round - And the bike felt awful.

- It didn’t ruin the trip of course. However given you go on a biking trip to ride great roads. This was a bit of a shame to say the least.

Ok - The good. The roads. More often than not the roads in Belgium, or Lux were quiet/empty. One road in particular in Lux was so good, I ended up going down it x4 times. Was only about 10km, but there was zero traffic and some great corners!

Using my phone as a sat nav worked well. I had to stop often to re-charge. But I generally needed to stop to rest my body (knees / wrists!) - With that, I now understand why people have adventure bikes. I don’t see the point personally if you ride in the UK. But if you want to go to the Alps, as some many of the riders I spoke too we’re doing. I understand the want/need for a GS/Tiger etc.

Saying that. Apart from the slog round the M25 in traffic, I never felt that bad. Indeed if I ever felt uncomfortable it was more because of wearing leathers in HOT weather!

I would go back again tomorrow. The route round Spa I’d do in the opposite direction - As all the amazing roads I rode were downhill. In fact, I rode downhill so often I’m surprised I didn’t end up at the bottom of the sea!

Also - I think I would stop more / for longer. Generally I only stopped briefly and back on the bike. When I got back home I realised I didn’t see as much of these little villages as I should have.

Anyway. Some photos of a bike….