does anyone know the score with tinted visors in france. riding over next week and wondered if i'd receive any unwelcome attention from the local plod.
any help would be appreciated.
tinted visors in europe
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byebyebandit
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:23 pm
- Location: berkshire, england
tinted visors in europe
hi all,
does anyone know the score with tinted visors in france. riding over next week and wondered if i'd receive any unwelcome attention from the local plod.
any help would be appreciated.
does anyone know the score with tinted visors in france. riding over next week and wondered if i'd receive any unwelcome attention from the local plod.
any help would be appreciated.
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loosescrew
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 11:15 pm
- Location: belfast
police in france won't look twice at dark visors......unless u're mad enough to be using one after dark! 
one traffic law i fell foul of that i didn't know about, was overtaking approaching a roundabout.....(within 100ms)
got a bollicking and had to do a breath test 
also watch out for strange behavour from the cages on the motorways!! most will give bikes clear passage and move over as soon as they notice u, but as you approach major towns/citys (particularly Paris) some, when u come up behind them in the outside lane, will move closer to the center reservation and put on their left indicator!!! ****IN BASTID u think......but they are moving to give u room to undertake them....so pass them on their inside and give them a wave 
A hint if u are travelling in or around Paris would be to wait in the traffic till u are passed by some french riders (they often seem to travel in bunches) and latch on behind!! Don't worry if/when they lose u very quickly,
wait and another bunch will be along soon! u'll quickly learn the french way of dealing with traffic, and be able to keep up! 
I once followed about 10 riders, being led by 2 bike gendarmes through 3 solid lanes of traffic (at well over the speed limit) I learnt alot!! It also helps keep the air flowing through the rads (the temp gauge tends to get a bit high in traffic)
Enjoy ur trip!! we're all jealous!!
one traffic law i fell foul of that i didn't know about, was overtaking approaching a roundabout.....(within 100ms)
got a bollicking and had to do a breath test also watch out for strange behavour from the cages on the motorways!! most will give bikes clear passage and move over as soon as they notice u, but as you approach major towns/citys (particularly Paris) some, when u come up behind them in the outside lane, will move closer to the center reservation
and put on their left indicator!!! ****IN BASTID u think......but they are moving to give u room to undertake them....so pass them on their inside and give them a wave A hint if u are travelling in or around Paris would be to wait in the traffic till u are passed by some french riders (they often seem to travel in bunches) and latch on behind!! Don't worry if/when they lose u very quickly,
wait and another bunch will be along soon! u'll quickly learn the french way of dealing with traffic, and be able to keep up! I once followed about 10 riders, being led by 2 bike gendarmes through 3 solid lanes of traffic (at well over the speed limit) I learnt alot!!
It also helps keep the air flowing through the rads (the temp gauge tends to get a bit high in traffic)Enjoy ur trip!! we're all jealous!!
some more
from my numerous rides there 
ohhh...I can't wait for one we plan in August...
some info - may be useful... I hope...
If cage letting you pass as described in previous post - just for kind of ethical rule you shuld either pass or not hang out near left side of lane. General rule in France is that if cager see you moving towards center of road then you must be wanting to pass, and he will let you go.
So what happens when you do not know it - cager keep moving right, you not passing, he gets pissed and will not do it again. So - better to keep to that ethical principle ;)
About police. If you see gendarmes on highway it is very likely they mind their own business. Idea is - in France gendarmes are local, so if they enroute to somewhere not in their district - they never bother doing anything. Only on their own territory.
Important is to watch out for national police. Mainly on bikes. These guys are serious, and seriously cool - they will probably catch you even on their bulky Beemers, they are propoerly skilled riders. And they take no prisoners, unless they are in good mood. But in rural parts they do not mind too loud pipes and mods as long as numberplate is there and you do have indicators. In cities it is worse - you may get pulled for about same as in UK.
And - when you go to "racy" roads - at beginning do not try to catch on with locals, they are properly mad and can override any foreginer. Best one I saw was guy on old beemer using sticking out cylinders as sliders on alpine road - not occasionaly, I mean ALL THE TIME. He overtook 2 my mates on Blackbirds in first corner like if they werent' moving!!
In France riders do not do "Aye, lad" nod, they show 2 fingers or wave with leg if hands busy with controls. In France normally ALL riders greet each other...except H-D agricultural chromed museums riders and often Goldwing riders.
ohhh...I can't wait for one we plan in August...some info - may be useful... I hope...
If cage letting you pass as described in previous post - just for kind of ethical rule you shuld either pass or not hang out near left side of lane. General rule in France is that if cager see you moving towards center of road then you must be wanting to pass, and he will let you go.
So what happens when you do not know it - cager keep moving right, you not passing, he gets pissed and will not do it again. So - better to keep to that ethical principle ;)
About police. If you see gendarmes on highway it is very likely they mind their own business. Idea is - in France gendarmes are local, so if they enroute to somewhere not in their district - they never bother doing anything. Only on their own territory.
Important is to watch out for national police. Mainly on bikes. These guys are serious, and seriously cool - they will probably catch you even on their bulky Beemers, they are propoerly skilled riders. And they take no prisoners, unless they are in good mood. But in rural parts they do not mind too loud pipes and mods as long as numberplate is there and you do have indicators. In cities it is worse - you may get pulled for about same as in UK.
And - when you go to "racy" roads - at beginning do not try to catch on with locals, they are properly mad and can override any foreginer. Best one I saw was guy on old beemer using sticking out cylinders as sliders on alpine road - not occasionaly, I mean ALL THE TIME. He overtook 2 my mates on Blackbirds in first corner like if they werent' moving!!
In France riders do not do "Aye, lad" nod, they show 2 fingers or wave with leg if hands busy with controls. In France normally ALL riders greet each other...except H-D agricultural chromed museums riders and often Goldwing riders.
4 wheels moving body, 2 wheels moving soul
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byebyebandit
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:23 pm
- Location: berkshire, england
No worries at all for tinted, black, crazy colours, whatever.. nobody cares over this side of the water. UNLESS you do have a prang. Always the way.
If I'm out for a day/nighter I always have the clear visor with me. Personally more a savvy thing rather than worrying about the plod.
latest craze is these stickon reflective things that go all funny colours in the light.. they over in the UK too?
Trebs.
If I'm out for a day/nighter I always have the clear visor with me. Personally more a savvy thing rather than worrying about the plod.
latest craze is these stickon reflective things that go all funny colours in the light.. they over in the UK too?
Trebs.
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Spacemonkey
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Wed May 04, 2005 7:35 pm
- Location: In a web of intrigue..
The only thing that has ruined everything is the breeding of speed cameras in France now. I used to barnstorm my way down to Spain (16 hours from door in London to door in mid north spain) and would only see one camera. A trip a month ago spotted 3 and I was only in Normandy! Le b8stard...
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over...."
I always ride with my lights on, I like to be seen... but the one time I was in Spain on a shitty hire bike in the daytime, and had accidentaly switched the lights off. I got tugged for riding without lights during the day!!! Got on spot fine for £60 quid, had no cash on me so they gave me an escort to the nearest cash point or the option of arrest!!!!
I got knocked down, but i'll get up again and you'll never ever keep me down!
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byebyebandit
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:23 pm
- Location: berkshire, england
got back safe and sound. great trip. 850 miles in total. only saw one speed camera, it was a head on one so i made sure i waived. 
. couldn't get over how friendly other bikers were with nods and waives etc. even the car drivers were courteous and moved over abit to help with overtakes. will be doing more miles over there soon. the roads are great.
had a few fuel moments though, fuel light on and no sign of a petrol station.
. couldn't get over how friendly other bikers were with nods and waives etc. even the car drivers were courteous and moved over abit to help with overtakes. will be doing more miles over there soon. the roads are great.had a few fuel moments though, fuel light on and no sign of a petrol station.