You quite understandably want to ride motorcycles in the country God designed for this specific purpose. Amazing history and culture, wonderful roads with little traffic, fantastic food and that added extra that is so lacking in the UK…sunshine! Of course we are talking about Spain here (other European countries are available).
You have seen the videos, looked on all the social media sites and had plenty of feedback from your pals so you are chomping at the bit, ready to go. The tricky bit is deciding how to get yourself and maybe your motorbike to Spain.
The main options are-
A long ferry trip from the south coast of England to the north of Spain.
The disadvantages of this method of transport are that it is now expensive, takes between one and two days out of your trip each way and, from my personal point of view, is very boring! I want to ride bikes, not sail, particularly if the weather is bad. If you want to travel further into Spain and see some of this fabulous country you may have more yet kms to knock off after the ferry.
Alternatively there is the ride through France.
This can be great, particularly if you have time, but again will take a couple of days each way. You will need to stay somewhere en-route, plus there is the wear and tear on your bike, particularly tyres. Of course you will also need to take a ferry or the Eurotunnel, which is more time taken up and expense.
You can fly and pick up a hire bike.
A great idea; you have full back up if there are problems and will save at least a day each way so you can be riding epic roads rathet than ‘getting there’.
But there is fourth, not as much publicicised way.
Have your bike shipped direct from the UK in complete safety while you take a cheap filght to your destination, such as Barcelona, and you are ready to ride the same day as you set off. The big advantage, apart from saving maybe four days of precious holiday, is that your motorbike is in tip top condition and ready to roll.
And we all like to ride our own bikes don’t we??
On paper the costs look quite pricey. But do the math, as they say in some strange countries. It will probably be competitive with motorcycle rental, particularly for a longer trip. Work out the ferry cost, including even getting to the ferry, meals, fuel, hotels, tyre wear etc and it starts to look like a feasible option.
We have been speaking to a UK based company with plenty of experience in transporting vehicles, with particular expertise in shipping motorcycles. Their dedicated transport system ensures your precious steed is delivered in pristine condition. You can fly into Barcelona and a short taxi ride will deliver you fresh as a daisy to their depot.
Moving Motorcycles, based slap bang in the middle of England in Northampton, can provide a detailed quote and sort out all the paperwork. If you are a part of a bigger group or tour, the price per bike will drop considerably.
You can either drop your motorbike and kit at Moving Motorcycles’ base in Northampton or it is also possible to have a door to door service as an extra.
Why Barcelona??
There are many reasons why Barcelona is the perfect start and end point for your Spanish trip. It’s beautiful of course, and right on the Med. Ride north and you are in the Pyrenees within a couple of hours. Head south and within an hour you are in stunning Tarragona with its incredible roads and trails. Head west and
within half a day you can explore some of the superb areas that are often overlooked by riders. If you want to end up in the south of Spain, you can ride there in a day from Barcelona. It’s a long day, but I have done it, and with the great roads and decent weather, it’s not a big drama.
So there you have it. Four options for getting yourself and your motorcycle to Spain. Add it up, see what works for you and your group, but don’t rule out having your motorbike shipped over. You may find you start and finish your trip a lot fresher and not so much in need of a siesta…
For, in my opinion, by far the best motorcycle travel guides in Spain, check out Duncan Gough’s excellent books and tours at www.duncan-spanish-travel.com
Check out Moto España, providing resources for riders looking for greater autonomy in their riding experience, deviating away from the rigid itineraries of long-haul, multi-day motorcycle tours. https://moto-espana.com
Have a look at Moving Motorcycles’ comprehensive website www.movingmotorcycles.co.uk for all the information regarding motorcycle shipment to Spain (and yes, the rest of Europe too!)