General questions about riding on tour...

How many motorcycles go on each tour? We set a maximum capacity of 14 bikes, including the leader and back-marker.  We deliberately keep to small groups as the tour experience is much better this way.

Is the Tour Guide always available? Yes, the Tour Leader will always be available on the phone. The Tour Leader will be staying in the same hotel as you so you can easily find them.

Are your tours suitable for female Riders or Pillions? Yes, we ensure that all our tours are welcoming, suitable and interesting for both men and women on tour. A small point but we are proud to ensure that all our Tour merchandise (Tee Shirts etc) is available for both unisex and female fit.

Do you have an age limit on your tours? No, as long as you are fit to ride and able to come on the tour, we will be delighted to welcome you. 

How long do you ride for each day? Our ride duration is primarily dictated by your comfort in the saddle. When crossing country we tend to have set limits for both distance and time, being on tour isn't just about thrashing ourselves and mile-munching! Generally the longest riding days are from 8:30am until 5pm, but this is broken up with rest stops and lunch. As a general rule, our maximum distance to cover in one day is around 160-200 miles or around 3 hours' riding each morning and 3 hours each afternoon, with a break each morning and mid afternoon. If we are heading to a destination where we want to explore, our ride-time to get to that destination will be much less. 

At what speeds to you ride? We keep to national speed limits, bearing in mind that EU motorways have up to an 80mph/ 130kph limit. We ride to enjoy the road, route, scenery and company. If we're going through a town we slow down to ensure we stay together. 

On what types of roads do you ride? We try to avoid motorways and toll roads wherever possible. The best comparison for UK riders is that we prefer A and B roads rather than the motorway network. We generally ride on roads with less traffic which provide the best scenery, best riding experience and most enjoyment.

I have specific dietary or health requirements. Can I still come on tour? Absolutely! Please let us know of any dietary or health requirements so we can ensure your needs are catered. We may discuss your needs with you to ensure that we get it right and we will not disclose anything without your prior consent. 

Your tours refer to a Ride Rating. Can you explain? We want you to enjoy all aspects of the tour, including not being stressed about the difficulty of the roads. A headline rule is that you should be fine on all of our tours if you have around 3 years' experience riding the style of bike you're taking on tour. The minimum experience we recommend is that you have previous experience riding your bike as you will be on tour (for example with the bike loaded up for weight with luggage and pillion) so you know the handling/ breaking/ balance of the bike. There is not any qualifying standard, this is only to advise on the roads to be encountered on each tour. If you have any concerns at all, please don't hesitate to simply contact us, using the link, by email or call us. We will also advise on any practice you may wish to carry out beforehand if you wish. 

To help advise you, we have adopted the ski slopes rating to describe each tour to help guide you on what to expect. 

• GREEN. An easy ride that can be tackled by new riders and veterans. The day's riding duration wont be longer than 2-3 hours or less than 100 miles in total, which will be broken up with rest stops. The roads themselves will not be complex or daunting, just winding with beautiful scenery. No harder than riding out for a coffee or a HOG Chapter ride out.
• BLUE. A moderate day's ride. The difficulty is mainly due to duration in the saddle, not complexity of the route. This may include a full day's ride of approximately 200 miles or around 6 hours in total, split into 4 quarters with rest stops and lunch. We would recommend the rider has some experience on their exact bike to know the balance and handling of the bike when riding with luggage etc. A full day's HOG Chapter ride out, but on much more scenic routes.
• RED. A full day's ride with some challenging bits on the route. The route / roads could have drops as we swish through mountain passes and may have some switchbacks and tight turns. We recommend the rider to know the balance and handling of their bike. We would recommend with at least 3 years' experience riding for extended periods to not become tired and also know how to tackle switchback passes with the road camber issues on the inside of the turn. 
• BLACK. A full day's ride with switchbacks, turns and single lane roads. Black routes will be challenging both in time in the saddle and also the complexity of the road. The ride will be awesome, you'll be smiling like a Cheshire cat having earned a drink at the end and you will certainly have a sense of achievement. These types of rides need 3+ years of experience, instinctive knowledge of the bike's handling and experience on long rides with switchbacks to not get caught by fatigue. As an example, a full day riding the Transfagarasan Highway or Grossglockner High Alpine Road we would consider a Black route. 

Do you ride every day? With a couple of exceptions, We ride each day of the tour. On the longer-duration tours such as The Italian Riviera, we deliberately plan in days where a ride out is optional- we stay in the same hotel for 2-3 days allowing the option of the middle days to relax, explore the town, city or local countryside. We do still plan and offer a ride out on these days to explore the local area on some fantastic scenic roads.

Do you have Rest Days on your Tours? Yes, on our tours of 7+ days we always plan in optional riding days, where you have the choice to ride out or relax, explore the local area etc. On these days we always remain at the same hotel so you have no need to pack your bike. On the tours to the Rallies, we offer an optional 1/2 day ride out on the rays of the rally. 

What system do you use to keep the group of riders together? We use the 'Buddy System' as the most effective way to keep small groups of riders together. If you're unsure of it, don't worry, it's easy to use, very intuitive and we will go over it with you. 

What happens if I become separated from the group? We ask that anyone riding with V Twin Tours is on WhatsApp, primarily because it is a very good way to set up a Group Chat for everyone on that tour and this allows us to pass information such as confirm timings for the next day etc. WhatsApp also allows you to "Share Live Location" in the unlikely event that any rider is separated from the group, which allows us to come and find you and bring you back into the fold. For the tours going to and from a Rally or Festival where the probability to become separated is higher, we will also ask everyone to subscribe (its free) to the "Life360" App. We can then set up a group ("family") which gives real-time visible tracking to the whole group. This allows everyone to see everyone else's location whilst using the App. 

Do you have a support vehicle? On some tours we will provide a recovery vehicle in place of a Back Marker. 

What happens if I break down/ something goes wrong? We will always try to support you, please don't worry! We always carry essential tool kits and common spare bits to keep you on the road. Bulbs, fuses, puncture repair kits, battery jump-start cables, zip ties, duct tape, tools, emergency engine oil and emergency fuel are always carried by us. 99% of all problems are bulbs, tyres and battery related. Please bear in mind that we aren't qualified Service Engineers, so if we can't get you going, ultimately you and your motorcycle may need to be recovered by your own Recovery Insurance. We will always keep you company and support you in any breakdown. We would never abandon you at the side of the road.

What documents do I need for a European motorcycle tour? You will need to carry the following documents on you:

1. Vehicle Registration Documents. In the UK this is known as the V5C document or 'logbook'. If renting a motorcycle, you must have a copy of the rental agreement. The rental company will know what documents you must carry, please so ask them to make sure. We can advise you as well. 
2. Valid insurance certificate. Please confirm with your insurance company that you are insured for the Countries we are entering. If renting a motorcycle, please double-check to ensure that your insurance covers the countries we're riding.
3. Valid driving permit. A UK Driving Licence covers all locations that V Twin Tours visits, international riders will need to carry a valid driving licence (International Driving Permit or other) for the country/countries you're visiting. If you don't hold a UK, EU or EEC Driving Licence, please check and obtain an International Driving Permit if necessary. We will happily advise you if this may be the case. 
4. Passport. Please ensure that it is has at least 3 months remaining (less than 9 years 9 months after date of issue ) after the end of the tour.
5. Valid MOT certificate. Whilst an MOT is a UK-only certificate, holding a valid MOT is a useful document to prove the bike's roadworthiness. 
6. European breakdown cover policy documents. It is most likely that your normal breakdown cover will cover your European breakdown, it may be worth calling your insurer, who will either note your holiday or add the travel cover.
7. Road Tax. I appreciate this isn't a document you hold, but you'll need coverage throughout your tour - if only because of the number of cameras. ANPR etc at the UK Border when exiting and returning the UK. 

What additional insurance policies should I get? We recommend you have/ take out the following insurance policy covers:

• Foreign motorcycle insurance. Most UK motorcycle insurance policies include foreign vehicle insurance to the EU, but it may be qualified or limited. We advise that you speak with your insurance policy provider to ensure that you have the correct vehicle insurance in place. Harley-Davidson Insurance does cover all countries in Europe that we would lead you. 
• Foreign breakdown cover. If you already have UK breakdown cover this may be included, if not this is easy to obtain at a small charge. Harley-Davidson Insurance does include breakdown insurance in all countries in Europe that we would lead you.
• Travel Insurance. We only hope that you have the best and most enjoyable time on tour, but can only advise taking out travel insurance for your peace of mind.
• Health Insurance. You may decide to include or exclude health insurance as part of your travel insurance policy. For UK residents, we recommend you obtain a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card), which gives you access to all EU healthcare. If you have an EHIC, this remains valid until its expiry date.

Does V Twin Tours supply the back-marker (also known as Sweep or Tail), or is somebody nominated from the group? For all Tours above 6 motorcycles in total, we provide the back-marker. Your job is purely to enjoy yourselves...

Do you ride in staggered formation? Yes, if possible we ride in staggered formation as this shortens the overall group length front to back whilst still giving a safe reaction distance. We recommend to ride with a 3-second gap between the bike in front (offside to offside, nearside to nearside). In urban areas we will ride quite slowly to keep everyone together and always try to stop at traffic lights as staggered/ double file to close up to each other. The only exception to this rule is at motorway tolls, where only one motorcycle must enter the 'magnetic detection area' of the tarmac at a time.

Do you stop in cities for sightseeing / shopping whilst riding? Depending on the Tour, yes. On The Italian Riviera and The Loire Valley we deliberately include time to explore, see the local sights, visit a museum, go wine tasting (when we've arrived!). We also include optional ride outs on our longer tours, allowing you the choice to explore the local countryside a bit more and return to the same hotel, or spend the day relaxing.  We do also enter towns or cities to stay overnight which give greater options for a meal and a drink. We should always have time at the end of the day to wander around the local area as you wish, although we wouldn't really classify this as 'sightseeing' or 'shopping'.

Which motorcycle helmet safety laws do I have to obey? Throughout the whole of UK and EU, wearing an ECE Certified motorcycle helmet is the law. Please see our advice on the matter in our Guides section. If you want to clarify anything in particular, please contact us.

What motorcycle clothing safety laws do I have to obey? There are a multitude of differing legal minimum requirements in the UK and each EU Country regarding motorcycle clothing , so we have tried to produce a useful guide to condense it all down into one answer. France are hot on (and will stop you to correct) wearing an ECE Helmet and full fingered gloves. The conclusion is that the following motorcycle clothing covers everywhere: 

• ECE Helmet,
• wearing full-fingered gloves (French Police are hot on this),
• long-sleeved jacket on the body, 
• long trousers covering your legs, 
• ankle boots,
• carrying a hi-vis vest (to be worn by both Rider and Pillion if you break down or stop in a vulnerable area). 

We beg of you to wear appropriate clothing with full coverage whilst riding (dress for the slide, not the ride). Please consider that at just 30mph, 1mm of skin is abraded away by tarmac every second in a slide, now look at your fingers, hands, knees, elbows. We want you to enjoy your tour and want and be able to come on many other tours in the future...

Are there any road safety laws that I need to know? Europe has a few 'unique' road safety laws that may catch out the unwary, such as carrying hi-vis safety vests and having a 'UK' sticker on your number plate. We will advise on any unique or additional road safety laws and road signs applicable to your tour.

Can I still come on the tour if I don't ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle? Yes, you may well be able to come on a tour. V Twin Tours is set up as a tour operator for riders and enthusiasts of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, so if you ride another make of motorbike, please enquire before you book your tour.

Do I have to worry about any low emission zones on tour? France has introduced clean air laws in certain cities, which demands that every vehicle (including motorcycles) display a Crit'Air sticker. Belgium has introduced similar LEZ restrictions in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. It is highly unlikely that any V Twin Tours tour will enter any such clean air zone, although we cannot guarantee against any municipality adopting the law without our knowledge. For peace of mind we do recommend that you apply to the French authorities for a Crit'Air sticker. The application costs 4.91 EUR, the sticker will be sent to you in 5-10 days and is valid throughout your ownership of the vehicle, so its payable only once. Failure to display a Crit'Air sticker could incur an on-the-spot fine of 135 EUR. You can follow the link HERE.

How do you deal with Autoroute Tolls? We try to avoid Autoroute Tolls if at all possible - taking a toll Autoroute as a 'last resort'. However, due to the multitude of variances and constraints about paying for tolls, we're afraid that we cannot cover the cost of Autoroute Tolls- each Rider will have to pay for their own Motorbike. We do recommend that you consider obtaining an Autoroute Toll Tag, which has the option to cover you for either France (Liber-t Tag) or Spain/ Portugal (VIA-T Tag) or all 3 countries. We have this recommendation covered in our Guides Page with a link to apply for a Toll Tag.

Can I extend my holiday? Yes, we will happily accommodate this request and will book Channel crossings as you request. Please note that we will need written confirmation (email is fine) of your requested Channel crossings and that once booked, we will be unable to alter them. 

Questions about booking and paying for a tour...

How do I book a tour? On the page for the tour that you want, find the "BOOK NOW" and complete the online form. 

How do I know if there are places available on a tour? Each of our tour pages clearly shows if places are still available. You won't be able to book a tour if it is full, although you will be able to register for a waiting list availability.

When do I need to pay for the tour? We require a deposit paid at the point of booking a tour to secure your place with the balance paid in equal instalments prior to the tour. All payments are made online through the booking system.

Why is the deposit non-refundable? As soon as you pay your deposit, we pay deposits for hotels, rail/ ferry bookings et cetera. These payments we make are non-refundable to us, so if you cancel your tour with us, we are often unable to recover the costs ourselves.

Are you able to hold a place on a tour for me if I am unsure if I can take part? We do understand that working out time off/ away from work and other commitments may be difficult, but I'm afraid we can't simply hold places without a deposit, as this would deny other people the chance to book a tour. We can only recommend placing a deposit to secure your place. 

Questions about hotels...

What types of hotels do you use? All our hotels used are 3 Star, 4 Star and 5 Star hotels.

Do the hotels have double beds or twin beds? Most hotels offer either double or twin beds, if you have any specific requirements, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them (apologies for the pun). We do place a high priority on hotel comfort so we can all rest at the end of a great day. Please be aware that the actual bed arrangement may be subject to the hotel availability.

I want to share a room with another rider, is this possible? One of the booking options available is to share a room with another rider, where each of you benefit from a reduced cost for your tour. Our assumption is that this booking option is for a couple, each riding their own motorbike. Please note that under no circumstance will we pair people who do not already know each other. If a single person does book the option to share a room with another, each individual must confirm the other person with whom they're sharing the room. 

What about 'Tourist Tax' or 'City Tax' at hotels? Any 'Tourist Tax' or 'City Tax' which is payable at the hotel will be paid by V Twin Tours.

Is my bike safe at the hotel? We strive to ensure that where we park overnight is as safe as possible, preferably in a secure hotel car park overnight. We would recommend you always secure your bike against theft.

Is there a dress code when not on the bike? No, the places where we stay are pretty relaxed, but we are staying in 3*, 4* and 5* hotels. We would recommend a polo shirt and light trousers or equivalent for the evenings. 

What's not included in the price of the tour...

Additional Hotel / Room Charges. The hotel costs for your stay overnight and breakfast are included in the tour, including any tourism taxes. We do not include any additional hotel/ room purchases that you may have charged to your room. When you check out of a hotel, please do pay for any additional room charges you may have signed to the room as these costs are not included. If we have to settle any additional hotel or room charges on your behalf we will recover the costs from you and we will have to charge an additional £20 administration fee. 

Motorway and Toll Road charges. There are too many variables and constraints beyond our control to make this possible. Some riders may already have an account with electronic transponder, vignette or other. Many toll booths will only accept one card transaction per vehicle (to stop fraud),  making it impossible for the Tour leader to swipe everyone through. If cash, the Tour leader would have to carry a bag loaded with coins with every bike patiently lining up at a single barrier whilst the leader fumbles around trying to feed coins into the machine in turn. For these reasons we a) try to avoid toll roads and b) don't include their cost in the tour price.

Fuel. I know, I know, Grandmas and egg-sucking lessons spring to mind. Just avoiding embarrassment. 

Speeding fines, on-the-spot fines and parking tickets. We hope this is obvious really. The tour leader will not break road speed limits on the tour whilst leading you. Our aim is to provide you with a wonderful tour on amazing roads taking in beautiful scenery and enjoying your holiday with great company. We're not replicating the Isle of Man TT.

Lunches, most evening meals, snacks and drinks. All breakfasts are included in the tour price. As you will see on each tour, included in the price is at least one evening meal together for which we pay for the meal for everyone. All other drinks, snacks, lunches each day and other evening meals are not included.