Lap of Europe.

No real pointers for the trip other than make sure you don’t run out of clean ear plugs.

With regards to the route your taking; make sure you take in Austria (its fantastic) :thumbup

Heres my 2p's worth (based on a few Europe trips)

Good punchure repair kit. If you have not used one before, practice now on an old tyre. Practice again until it becomes easy.

Fueses for the aprilia.

Two pairs of gloves, one pair on yer hands and one in the bag nice and dry.

Spare Keys & Alarm Fob for your bike. If you are riding with a friend swap your spare keys with them and vice versa.

Good chain lube. If you are averaging 300m or so a day use it regularly.

More than one credit card. Swap with friend (same as keys)

Zip Ties, Duct Tape (both will come in handy)

A few strong bin liners


I have had need for just about all the above items at some stage or other on a trip.

Also

Good insurance, make sure it will cover you EVERYWHERE you will be going.

I've just got back from riding around the Limousine in Southern France. Under my seat I took - Cable ties (got used), Duck Tape (got used), Ultra seal (got used), Bulb kit (required by law in a lot of Europe), First aid kit (again required by law and the pain killers got used), Electrical butt connectors (Oooh matron), Head torch (got used), Spare clutch lever (don't ask), latex gloves (if you break down they save you from getting oily hands that then have to go back in your riding gloves), small can of chain lube (invaluable), Cargo net and spare fuses.

The guys I was riding with think I had an RAC van under there.

A few other things to think about:
Get a European Health Insurance Card (google it, you can order one online), I know someone who would have a had 100,000 euro hospital bill after a bad crash.
Ask your insurance company for your green card and find out exactly how well you're covered in which countries.
If you're riding in a group nominate a "peage monitor" who holds the groups kitty and pays for everyone at the toll booths, it means you get through so much quicker.

Consider using the "sweeper system" for group rides across country, it saves loosing stragglers.

Most of all have fun, set off the speed cameras and try not to get too depressed when you return to our overcrowded, camera and numpty infested roads.

If you do need to worry about speed cameras in Europe I'm in deep ****! At the moment they can't do you from a camera but they are working on it.

I would use medical insurance as well as a euro medical card. Some places charge you first and you have to claim back fro the health service on return. Medical cover is cheap £10 -15 for a week and it makes all the difference.

My mate fell off his GSXR in France and they sorted him out in a nice new private hospital and put him in a taxi which drove 2 hours to the ferry terminal in time for our ferry. all paid for by the insurance. Had he not had that he faced a big bill to try and claim back and then dumped on the streets to fend for himself.

On the Le mans and Magny cours front make sure you use the secure parking. Bike theft is rife (I speak from experience). For the F1 the tickets sell out fast and by midday on the practice day they are generally gone.

If that happens go into the village beyond the "Gold" entrance to the circuit and ask in the bars. The locals all get complimentary tickets but never go and sell them off cheap. There is also a good campsite in the sports ground which is quiet and has showers etc.
Nevers tends to be loud and expensive with large traffic queues to the circuit. You can walk from the local village in 3 mins.

You will almost certainly come in to the circuit from Nevers which will bring you to the main circuit entrance. If you go up around the right side of the circuit you go past the heli port etc and the F1 museum and ticket office.

You then pass the eastern entrance for the circuit which is for "Golf " and East etc stands. Keep going up past what will probably be T shirt stands on the road and from memory it's up the road from there towards Saint-Parize-le-Châtel and a small right turn into playing fields which acts as a temporary camp site. It will be obvious if your in the right place as there is a huge field with football pitches and tennis courts etc. Showers etc in the main sports pavilion. You can camp in the Golf area of the circuit but it's very crowded and very noisy 24/7. It also has no water/washing. Revving french looneys are fun for 30 mins but a pain at 4 in the morning. They seem to have a passion for trying to blow up their cars.

I would park you bike inside the circuit and leave it there for the most part. The East and Golf area has a motorcycle section and the gate is guarded by Gendarmes.