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DickyC · # 2 10-11-09, 22:51

Now thats a list!

Kit and bits is down to personal preference and no matter what people suggest, you will come back with a completely new list. That said and for what its worth here are a couple of suggestions from me and from my experiences of French motorcycle touring.

Centre stand - good as helps with easy chain maintenance as much as anything else. Never had a punture en route thankfully. Also useful on ferries when strapping down but these days some ferries have special bike systems.

Hard luggage - Better than soft as more convienient to load/un load. Also its waterproof and more secure when left on the bike for lunch etc.

Accomodation - Since the increase in strength of the Euro against the Pound Franch is expensive. So weather permitting camping is an excellent option. That said we often use a chain of hotels called B&B. Bad marketing as impossible to google for but good. Cheaper and plentiful are Formula 1 hotel chain. They are a bit like sleeping in a fibreglass shoebox but they are clean and bookable online and from one hotel to another. Easy to Google.

The French are fabulous drivers when it comes to bikes (Paris excepted!). They will pull out of your way to allow you to pass and the standard thank you is to stick your left leg out. Tricky at speed! ALL other bikers WILL wave. Make sure you carry a bright vest under your seat. Travel with your lights on (sorry just remebered, you have no choice with the Ten). Don't piss the police off. They have the power to take your bike if you exceed the speed limit x 2. They can and will take on the spot fines and even escourt you to a cash point to do this. That said I love the place.

Lucky you. Travelling through the Pyrenees is beyond belief and worth spending time doing with as many small roads included as possible. Like the Alps but quieter and less manacured. Have travelled there a couple of times before and look forward to going many more times.

Documents - The originals plus copies of all. Colour copies at that. The police can take your documents but are often happy with good copies. For that matter if they are good enough they might not even know! but I doubt it. If they do take your documents they will post them back to the French Embassey in London. Really convenient.

Clothing - KIS. Keep it simple. Biking kit plus one or at most two changes. Pants can be washed and draped on luggage to dry.

GPS - Some say good but I find distarcting. Whats wrong with a map in the tank bag? I find with a map you make mistakes, go off route and see interesting places. A GPS makes me ride for too long and too fast and for me thats not what its about. You can get A5 size french road maps on Amazon. Very good and fits the tank bag.

Ear plugs, ear plugs, ear plugs.

I love my helmet with a double visa. The internal dark visa is so convenient and makes for a relaxing ride as there is no issues with sunnies off, sunnies on.

Oh, the last thing. . . enjoy it will be fantastic!