Ducatista riding to Scotland, thoughts and ideas!

silentz0r

silentz0r

New member
Hello everyone,

I am an owner of a 2003 M620 which I recently modded into 750cc (can't go into much detail about it as I barely know the terminology in my own language, let alone English). I currently live in Greece but I'll be moving to Edinburgh in early September and I was thinking about riding all the way to Scotland, as I don't really wanna leave my bike behind! I have a few questions/concerns about this and I would really appreciate any opinions/ideas/guides:

- Should I even consider riding there, or should I ship the motorcycle?
- How much would shipping cost? (approximately)
- How much would riding all the way cost? (approx)
- Do I need to have new insurance on the bike? (it's registered in Greece).
- Would you suggest riding a motorcycle in Edinburgh (road-wise, weather-wise)?


I would also like to ask if there are any planned trips towards Europe/England in the following months, because I could consider joining you half way through and ride back north together?

Sorry if this seems too much in one post, I just wanted to put all my thoughts about this in one thread!

Thanks,
silentz0r
 
Welcome to the forum silentz0r!

:flash:

Sounds like you are considering an awesome trip! I can't help you with shipping costs as I've never done that, but the riding costs will vary... The total cost of a road trip will depend on a few things:

- How many days you are going to be on the road
- Where you make your crossing
- What kind of accommodation you choose

To ride all the way from Greece to the UK on motorways would be boring and if you can spare the time (and a bit of money) I'd recommend mixing in some local roads with the motorway. This site - http://www.bestbikingroads.com/ - is a great resource for finding interesting roads across Europe.

I think the best ferry crossing for you would be Amsterdam -> Newcastle (http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/) , which is overnight and might cost more than a Eurotunnel crossing but will save you a lot of hassle and fuel negotiating the south of England. Again, if you have time it can be nice to see a bit more of the UK by starting at the bottom, but the roads in the South are generally not as good as in the North and are much more congested.

You will know how many KM/miles you get out of a tank and what it costs to fill (just bear in mind that fuel in the north of Europe costs a little more than in the south). If you enter a route into Google Maps it will give you an estimate of the fuel cost (based on a small car) which is good for rough budgeting. When route planning watch out for toll roads and the vignettes that some countries require you to buy before you use their motorways (both Austria and Switzerland do) - you can often plan your route to avoid this and only spend a little more time / fuel doing so.

The cost of accommodation is something you can decide, going from the cheapest (camping) through hostels / B&Bs/ pensions and then hotels at the more expensive end. It's usually cheaper to pre-book accommodation, as you can spend time finding the cheap options online before you go, but this limits your route and can end up costing money if you have a breakdown. If you are pressed for time, I've found the best reasonably priced options are often cheaper hotels outside of town near the motorway - again the downside is you don't see much of the place you're visiting, the choice is yours.

One last thing... don't forget to join the Scottish Ducati Club - http://www.scottishducaticlub.org/about/join.html - there are social meetings and rides so you can meet a few of us and get shown some of the better roads.
 
:welcome:

Riding a motorbike in Edinburgh for commuting can have it's problems. The weather, parking, lack of awarness of other drivers, security etc.

If you are in Edinburgh for quite a while it may be fun to have the bike there for social reasons, meeting people and making friends and it would be a good way to see some of the country so for those things alone I'd make the effort to get your bike over with you.

Inusrance and other legal stuff: if you don't want to get in trouble you would probably need to re-register and insure locally if your stay is longer than 6 months. Someone else may be able to verify the exact period.
 
Not sure if you have cobblestones in Greece, but 'burgh has and that makes for interesting in the wet!
 
I ride in Edinburgh every day all year round no problems. You will need to buy warm and waterproof bike gear when you arrive though!

Ship the bike if you are short on time, otherwise if you have the money take a ferry to Italy and ride here via Bologna! When you arrive join the Scottish Ducati Club, make new friends, enjoy ride outs and trips away, and enjoy some of the best roads in Europe!

R
 
miloVanMultistrada, thank you so much for taking the time to give me some really useful links!

PaulV, I really wish you never have to ride in Greece. We pretty much learn how to ride a motorcycle and at the same time dodge cars which are aiming to nail us!

DrD said:
Not sure if you have cobblestones in Greece, but 'burgh has and that makes for interesting in the wet!
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We don't have cobblestones, I live in the centre of Athens and it's mainly really old and slippery asphalt :( Can street bikes ride on cobblestones though?

rmarinel said:
I ride in Edinburgh every day all year round no problems. You will need to buy warm and waterproof bike gear when you arrive though!

Ship the bike if you are short on time, otherwise if you have the money take a ferry to Italy and ride here via Bologna! When you arrive join the Scottish Ducati Club, make new friends, enjoy ride outs and trips away, and enjoy some of the best roads in Europe!

R
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Do you know very roughly how much it would cost to ship it? Just want to know what to expect, cause I really have absolutely no clue! I already have proper waterproof gear because it was surprisingly rainy this year in Greece too, but I'll definitely pick up some leg warmers!

Also you mentioned you ride pretty much all year long in Edinburgh and hopefully that's the case. Is it snowy at all (I assume you don't ride when it's snowing :D)?

I am really not sure if I want to ride or ship the bike, I'll really have to think this through.
 
I f you ride the bike to the UK it will cost £25 from Calais to Dover. From Amsterdam to Newcastle will be something like £190 as it includes a cabin since it is an overnight crossing. On top of these costs you will have fuel food and accommodation while travelling to add on top. Say, 4 overnight stops at around £30 each and maybe £25/day for food, maybe about £250 altogether. Fuel on top of that
 
I really don't know what the shipping cost would be, I'd imagine 3 or 400 Euro. Do a google search and call some shippers.

It does snow in Edinburgh, but not much. The problem is during the cold months when they put salt on the roads to stop the ice.....it can cause a lot of damage to motorcycles! I'd suggest you store the bike somewhere warm in winter......my experience of Ducati's and Scottish Winter is not good!

R
 
Look at adding the bike on as a package to any other belongings you ship over.... might work out cheaper.
 
I would consider buying a small cheap van, put the bike in the back and road haul it up. As long as the van can make it the one way to the UK, you could scrap it when you are here. It may even work out as cheap as shipping!?
 
Hey everyone! It's been quite some time, and now I'm pretty close to moving to Edinburgh.

I was thinking, I will need to ride it almost every day to go to University. Is that possible, or will the weather forbid me from doing so? Sure, when there's a snowstorm I won't be riding, but will I be able to ride throughout the year?

So, after all I think I will ship the bike over, it will cost less. The problem is: The shipping company can only bring it to London for a reasonable price, shipping to Edinburgh will be twice the money. Do you know of any cheap companies which ship items from London to Edinburgh? If not, do you know any van rentals that you can pickup the van from London and leave it in Edinburgh? I was thinking of renting one, putting all my things in it (it's a lot, I can't put it on the bike and ride), put the bike in it as well, and drive north! What do you think?

Thanks again :)
 
silentz0r said:
I was thinking, I will need to ride it almost every day to go to University. Is that possible, or will the weather forbid me from doing so? Sure, when there's a snowstorm I won't be riding, but will I be able to ride throughout the year?
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It's up to you - how much cold can you stand? :D If there is snow or ice on the ground, you would probably be better getting a bus, especially if you aren't used to it. But it certainly IS possible to ride a bike all year round in Scotland, just make sure you have some warm and waterproof clothing.

If not, do you know any van rentals that you can pickup the van from London and leave it in Edinburgh? I was thinking of renting one, putting all my things in it (it's a lot, I can't put it on the bike and ride), put the bike in it as well, and drive north! What do you think?
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You can hire vans as a "one way hire" that would allow you to collect the van in London and return it to Edinburgh - I've done this with cars and it adds to the price. You can get van hire quotes online from the bigger companies like Sixt, etc that will give you an idea of how much it costs.
 
I can stand the cold, my air cooled bike will be warming me nicely haha :) I have proper gear for the cold, I might invest in some more such as a neck thingie and proper gloves (got leather ones for now). I have water proof gear which goes on top of the bike gear, so I believe I am quite prepared. I am not sure about my tires though, I had to change them a month ago and I got Continental's Sport Attack 2 tires (120 - 160) which might not do for this kind of weather.

Is there such a thing as getting used to riding a street bike on ice/snow :D? I don't mind locking the it in those extreme weather conditions, I just wonder how long they last - if it's a few days/weeks then sure it won't be a problem, but if there's snow e.g. from October to March, then I think I need to reconsider shipping the bike.

Also thanks for the van hire link, I'll look into one-way van rentals from London.
 
silentz0r said:
Is there such a thing as getting used to riding a street bike on ice/snow :D? I don't mind locking the it in those extreme weather conditions, I just wonder how long they last - if it's a few days/weeks then sure it won't be a problem, but if there's snow e.g. from October to March, then I think I need to reconsider shipping the bike.
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It's totally unpredictable how long the snow lasts each winter. Some winters there is hardly any (maybe 2 weeks in total) - other years it can stick around for 2 months. Often it will snow for a week in say December, and then it will melt and be fine for 3 or 4 weeks and then suddenly it snows again.

snowman3.gif
 
One of our members rode her Monster to Uni in Edinburgh every day for 2 years. She had to get the bus in the worst of weather but there were designated bike parking spaces in the Uni car park.
 
Thanks a lot milo, I am looking into one way vans. Do you think I might be able to fit the monster in the back of a regular car? :D I know it sounds crazy, but 1) it will come way cheaper and 2) I won't worry that the bike might fall over (if I can lift/move the back seats and fit it there). Otherwise, do you know what sort of ropes I'll need to tie it safely in the van?

One more thing that concerns me is insurance. Do I need to insure the bike, or does my Greek insurance cover me? Also, according to the following article, I don't need to register it or get taxed, since I will be a student (correct me if I'm wrong):

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/temporary-imports

mbg said:
One of our members rode her Monster to Uni in Edinburgh every day for 2 years. She had to get the bus in the worst of weather but there were designated bike parking spaces in the Uni car park.
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Exactly what I wanted to hear! haha
 
Can't help you with the best way to strap it down I'm afraid - try to make sure the van you hire has tie down points inside though.

Yes, looks like as a student you can apply for a form from HMRC (the UK tax people) and that will allow you to keep the bike in the UK without tax until the end of your studies. Not sure about insurance though - probably best to check with your Greek insurer and see what they say.
 
As Miles says, make sure the van has tie down points - many of them don't, and get a set of ratchet tie down straps to secure it. Like these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Piece-Ratchet-Tie-Down-Cargo-Straps-5-Metre-1-Inch-16-2-5MM-1500lbs-Capacity-/350588525164?pt=UK_Trailers_Transporters_Parts&hash=item51a0b45a6c
Put the bike in gear and put a cord or strong rubber band round the front brake lever to hold it on. Fit a couple of tie downs to the front of the bike at the handlebars or the steering head and tighten them to compress the front forks. Do the same at the rear and it won't move. Use cloths if necessary to prevent the tie downs marking the paintwork.
You should have no trouble using the bike all year round, especially in cities. I ran a bike as my only transport for about 12 years and after I had a car I still used the bike at least 3 days a week for the travelling to work for the next 20 years. Regular maintenance and keeping it clean is essential though.
 
Our Scottish friends are being nice to you. Scottish winters are fierce and unrelentingly miserable. They are intensely cold and always damp,the maritime climate has much to answer for. Not continually (as mentioned) but over a period of weeks/months at a time, October through to April approximately. Rock salt is used throughout to ensure the snow and ice to dissipate enough and clear the roads. The salt eats metal for breakfast, your bike will look ten years old very quickly. Any riding gear you have will leave you wet, cold and miserable. It takes days to dry out. Visors mist up in seconds so you are unable to ride with decent visibility. You will never have experienced anything so profoundly unappetising in your life. Forget the bike and buy a throw away car. Seriously.
 
rockjock620 said:
Our Scottish friends are being nice to you. Scottish winters are fierce and unrelentingly miserable. They are intensely cold and always damp,the maritime climate has much to answer for. Not continually (as mentioned) but over a period of weeks/months at a time, October through to April approximately. Rock salt is used throughout to ensure the snow and ice to dissipate enough and clear the roads. The salt eats metal for breakfast, your bike will look ten years old very quickly. Any riding gear you have will leave you wet, cold and miserable. It takes days to dry out. Visors mist up in seconds so you are unable to ride with decent visibility. You will never have experienced anything so profoundly unappetising in your life. Forget the bike and buy a throw away car. Seriously.
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Hey, thanks for the reply. I am once again confused :)
 
rockjock620 said:
Our Scottish friends are being nice to you. Scottish winters are fierce and unrelentingly miserable. They are intensely cold and always damp,the maritime climate has much to answer for. Not continually (as mentioned) but over a period of weeks/months at a time, October through to April approximately. Rock salt is used throughout to ensure the snow and ice to dissipate enough and clear the roads. The salt eats metal for breakfast, your bike will look ten years old very quickly. Any riding gear you have will leave you wet, cold and miserable. It takes days to dry out. Visors mist up in seconds so you are unable to ride with decent visibility. You will never have experienced anything so profoundly unappetising in your life. Forget the bike and buy a throw away car. Seriously.
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+1, Similar background, 24 years in Scotland and no, you never get "ajusted" to it! As for "I might invest in some more such as a neck thingie and proper gloves (got leather ones for now)" you should certainly do that (I suggest a bit more, ie heated everything), at least you might avoid hypotermia in your fingers by the time you figure "this wasn't that clever idea". You'll get over "fair weather biker" remarks soon if you decide to pursue motorcycling as a hobby, when weather permits that is. And :welcome:
 
What a load of Jessies :p

I rode all year round for years and never thought anything of it.
Yes, it's cold and horrible but you dress for it and ride accordingly. Nowadays there are all sorts of heated grips/gloves/clothing, etc that I didn't have the benefit of.
Yes, the salt will corrode your bike but if you wash it frequently and take precautions like applying ACF50 and Scotoiler FS365 you can minimise it if not altogether stop it. I used to coat all the chrome with a spray-on protective film and cover everything else with WD40.
I bought my first Ducati, an 860GTS on the 9th Dec 1976 and rode it all through that winter. I remember riding up to Shirlaws in Aberdeen from Forfar with the temperature at -15ºC. I survived and so did the bike.
I rode to work across Dundee every day from around 1974 to '79. For the next 2 years I travelled from Aberdeen to Dundee and back every weekend (900SS in the summer and Honda 500 Four in the winter).
On modern roads though I'd avoid dual carriageways if there is snow. It's no fun when an artic lorry passes and chucks half a ton of slush at you.:mad:

I believe Geoff doesn't have a car and still rides a bike all year round.
 
Derek said:
What a load of Jessies
I believe Geoff doesn't have a car and still rides a bike all year round.
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Geoff attended the Stirling meet one jan or Feb a few years ago after that really really bad winter when a lot of folk even refused to Come in the car! He arrived and parked in a car park that was 1 inch deep with ice. We were slipping and sliding even on foot and he just rolled up, parked, then strolled up like it was nothing! Made me/us feel like a right Jessie...like you said!
 
Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I decided not to ride the bike all the way through England, but instead I am shipping it next week (I am already in Edinburgh)! So far I've been walking around and it seems great!

I wanted to ask if there are any Ducati Workshops in Edinburgh, or would I have to ride all the way to Glasgow for it? Bike has had it's services less than 100km ago and is good to go, but I really want to know what to do before something happens (hopefully nothing will, but better be safe than sorry?).

I also wanted to ask if any of you live in Edinburgh, I'd really like if we could ride around town for an hour or so when my bike arrives (just to show me any things that I might not know). I've recently found out about M/C Solo parking space and I am very excited about that :D

*EDIT* Just remembered! I will need a small favor as well, if someone could bring me or help me pick up some gas, as my bike will arrive with a completely empty tank :(

Anyway, if anyone would like to join me my bike will be here next Wednesday (9 days from now). Also please let me know by reply or via PM about good workshops (after googling I only found "Ian Murray's Workshop" in Edinburgh - any thoughts on this?)

Thanks a lot!
 
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Ian Murray and the guys in Glasgow work together in supporting each other I think.

You also have YPE (Dalkeith) and ERS (Knockhill).

I'm sure you will enjoy your time in Auld Reekie!
 
All the way from Edinburgh to Glasgow !!!!

silentz0r said:
Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I decided not to ride the bike all the way through England, but instead I am shipping it next week (I am already in Edinburgh)! So far I've been walking around and it seems great!

I wanted to ask if there are any Ducati Workshops in Edinburgh, or would I have to ride all the way to Glasgow for it? Bike has had it's services less than 100km ago and is good to go, but I really want to know what to do before something happens (hopefully nothing will, but better be safe than sorry?).

I also wanted to ask if any of you live in Edinburgh, I'd really like if we could ride around town for an hour or so when my bike arrives (just to show me any things that I might not know). I've recently found out about M/C Solo parking space and I am very excited about that :D

*EDIT* Just remembered! I will need a small favor as well, if someone could bring me or help me pick up some gas, as my bike will arrive with a completely empty tank :(

Anyway, if anyone would like to join me my bike will be here next Wednesday (9 days from now). Also please let me know by reply or via PM about good workshops (after googling I only found "Ian Murray's Workshop" in Edinburgh - any thoughts on this?)

Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...

I am slightly concerned about 'ride all the way to Glasgow' !!!
 
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