Chez
enthusiast
Reged: 16/10/2007
Posts: 278
Loc: Gloucestershire
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Hi everyone
Longtime no post..
Me and some mates are going to ride out to Assen for the WSB in April (and probably stop via amsterdam on the way to sample the local produce!!!).
None of us have taken bikes to the continent before so aside from the common sense stuff like insurance and recovery has anyone got any advice that might be helpful?
I've heard that the police in some countries are very strick on tinted visors??
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"Racing is life... everything before and after is just waiting." Steve McQueen
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big_al
veteran
Reged: 16/01/2007
Posts: 1507
Loc: Germany (British Forces)
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Quote:
Hi everyone
Longtime no post..
Me and some mates are going to ride out to Assen for the WSB in April (and probably stop via amsterdam on the way to sample the local produce!!!).
None of us have taken bikes to the continent before so aside from the common sense stuff like insurance and recovery has anyone got any advice that might be helpful?
I've heard that the police in some countries are very strick on tinted visors??
i was there last year mate, and i live in Germany so i know a little about the attitude of european cops. Basically, tinted visors are ok as long as it's daylight and good visability. You may get pulled for wearing them at night or if the weather turns so carry a clear one with you. Loud exhausts are not too bad, the thing being that there will be so many bikers in Holland around that area that it's very unlikely for cops to pick any one bike out of the crowd for having a noisy exhaust, but if you're riding in a small group through villages/towns away from Assen where there will be less bikes then you may attract a bit of attention, but you should be ok as hundreds of brits will be traveling over at the same time.
As you get closer to Assen there will be plenty of speed cameras, especially on the roads around the circuit near the camp sites, so be aware.
Apart from that, ride carefully, there will be loads of bikes around, and on the way out at the end of the weekend the roads will be chocka with bikes trying to get home, and the chance of the odd crash or two will be highly increased.
In summary, around Assen town and the local area, police tend to be a little leanient as far as visors / exhausts go etc. But will target guys who decide to 'invade' Assen town with an attack of wheelies and burnouts. And with busy roads, be extra careful.
Oh, and in the campsites at night, lots of drunken idiots (ok,me included) tend to enjoy reving their bikes and doing burnouts on the grass with their exhausts pointing into their mates tent while he's sleeping. The campsite wardens will just call the cops who will confiscate your keys untill the next day.
Hope that helps, BTW, i can't go this year cause i'm away so i'm gutted cause it was a fantastic weekend.
Have fun dude!
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If you succeed without having to try hard, you have failed.
If you fail but have tried hard, you have succeeded.
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Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
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big_al
veteran
Reged: 16/01/2007
Posts: 1507
Loc: Germany (British Forces)
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One more thing, if you've never rode in europe before, then it will be very useful to get a copy of the european highway code. Most countries in europe tend to be standardised as far as road signs go, with a few small differences, but things differ quite a lot compared to the UK, so getting familiar with the signs and 'road priority' rules could save you from unnesesary 'incidents'!
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If you succeed without having to try hard, you have failed.
If you fail but have tried hard, you have succeeded.
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Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
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Chez
enthusiast
Reged: 16/10/2007
Posts: 278
Loc: Gloucestershire
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European highway code.... didnt even know there was one.
Cheers for that i'll get one asap..
Camping wont be an issue as we'll be staying in dam from Fri to Mon and riding up to Assen for the Sunday..
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"Racing is life... everything before and after is just waiting." Steve McQueen
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big_al
veteran
Reged: 16/01/2007
Posts: 1507
Loc: Germany (British Forces)
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Chez, here's a couple of useful links for ya.....
driving in europe
driving in europe
riding in europe
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If you succeed without having to try hard, you have failed.
If you fail but have tried hard, you have succeeded.
--------------------------------------------------
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
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immy
old hand
Reged: 09/11/2006
Posts: 961
Loc: Planet Zok
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Also-if you do summit a bit daft and get caught-its on the spot fine(or it was in 06)-no cash? If your lucky they take you to the ATM-if not they take ye bike till you pay(bit like in Germany and France and Austria)-carry some dosh-but as Al said as its that weekend the plods are ok-afterall in brings revenue to the country(circuit) But it really is a grat weekend(even if it seems to piss down a lot) 
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Its not fate itself that is so frightening
Its the expectation of fate that frightens
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Bucko667
journeyman
Reged: 28/10/2007
Posts: 95
Loc: HULL
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Hi Chez i've been to Assen quite a few times but this refers to Dam . If your going to try the local produce please take carful notice of where you park your bikes ( check for landmarks ect ) me and a few mates spent about 4 hours trying to find ours after trying some ! Also watch out for the trams and cycles. Have fun and enjoy
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If anyone asks, you aint seen me
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KwH
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/11/2006
Posts: 1714
Loc: Carmarthen, Dyfed
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What Al said. Urban speed limits in europe aren't always defined explicitly, in some places they use the city limits signs to mark start and end, so watch out for that.
The other thing I do, which can literally save your life, is stick something in my eyeline (on the screen maybe) that reminds me to ride on the right. On my first trip to europe I turned off a dual carriageway onto a minor single carriageway road and only noticed that I was on the wrong side of it for Belgium when a car came round the corner. Luckily far enough away and slowly that there was no drama, but...
Something to remind you is a good idea. Waiting for the high speed head-on impact isn't ideal for that . Also useful for reminding you which way to look when pulling out of petrol stations etc.
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Ken Haylock
http://www.cix.co.uk/~kwh
"Ride what you like, how you like, as often as you like; but always take responsibilty for your actions." - Anonymous Zen Guru
"Obviously all I'll care about is if it's good for wheelies (i.e. fluffs up my meagre skills), and what free gift they give on the launch." - Anonymous Moto-Journalism Guru
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tool
stranger
Reged: 16/04/2008
Posts: 1
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last year we stayed in the city of Groningen, 30 km from assen.nice bars and food, we spent a lot of time in Pacific,nearby our hotel, good pints and food.
There is no cloing time for bars in groningen, so you can  drink 24/7
have fun!!
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