Friday 30 July 2010
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Some useful country info if your planning on Biking there (HOVER MOUSE OVER ICON FOR DESCRIPTION):

ANDORRA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.A spare set of bulbs must be carried.A reflective Jacket must be carried.
USEFUL STUFF: I use a map of Spain, but any taxi driver can sell you a map of Andorra and it's highlights.
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AUSTRIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Radar Detectors are illegal.You must carry a first aid kit.
Illegal to overtake a schoolbus that has stopped to let kids on/off .
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BELGIUM
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.
If your stopped for any length of time you must switch your engine off.
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BOSNIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.You MUST disable any Speed Camera POI on your GPS device.You must carry a first aid kit.A spare set of bulbs must be carried.
If no Green Card then you'll have to buy insurance on the border, but it's very cheap and easy.
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BULGARIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.You MUST disable any Speed Camera POI on your GPS device.You must carry a first aid kit.
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CROATIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.You must carry a first aid kit.A spare set of bulbs must be carried.*A reflective Jacket must be carried.
No children under 12 allowed on MotorBikes!?!
* (unless Xenon, neon, LED, etc.)
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CZECH REPUBLIC
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.You MUST disable any Speed Camera POI on your GPS device.You must carry a first aid kit.A spare set of bulbs must be carried.
It's illegal to smoke while riding!?!
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DENMARK
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.
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ENGLAND
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.
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ESTONIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.
Illegal to overtake a tram that has stopped to let off passengers.
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FINLAND
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.
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FRANCE
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.
If your caught doing over 40km/h over the speed limit then the French police will take your driving license off of you on the spot.
Although not compulsory, some french police are fining bikers for not carrying a reflective jacket, so best take one!
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GERMANY
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.You MUST disable any Speed Camera POI on your GPS device.
Illegal to overtake a bus that has stopped to let people on or drop people off.
Some cities have introduce a low-emission vignette, which requires vehivles entering those city zones to purchase a vignette. I can't find any info on wether it applies to motorcycles as well though!
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Emission Vignettes: here .
HOLLAND
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Radar Detectors are illegal.
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HUNGARY
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.You must carry a first aid kit.
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IRELAND
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.You MUST disable any Speed Camera POI on your GPS device.
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ITALY
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.
No children under 4 allowed on MotorBikes!?!
Bikes under 150cc are NOT allowedon Motorways.
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LATVIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.You must carry a first aid kit.
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LITHUANIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.You must carry a first aid kit.
No children under 12 allowed on MotorBikes!?!
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LUXEMBOURG
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.
No children under 12 allowed on MotorBikes!?!
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MONTENEGRO
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.You must carry a first aid kit.A spare set of bulbs must be carried.
Even with a green card we found you had to buy insurance on the border, but this was a couple of Euro's, and relatively quick.
You MIGHT (Legally cumpolsory) also be asked to pay an Ecological tax (we weren't) which costs 10 Euro's and you get a nice sticker to display.
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NORWAY
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.
Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim and Stavanger have a city toll, but we weren't challenged about getting this and didn't notice any signs about it (only learnt of it afterwards)
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POLAND
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.
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PORTUGAL
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.
NOTE: You must always carry photographic proof of identity on your person at ALL TIMES.
No children under 7 allowed on MotorBikes!?!
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ROMANIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.You must carry a first aid kit.
Your supposed to buy road tax when you get into Romania, it's called "Rovinieta", but all the time we were there we were never challenged for not having it (another sticker for the collection).
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RUSSIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.You must carry a first aid kit.A spare set of bulbs must be carried.
No children under 12 allowed on MotorBikes!?!
Road tax is needed to be purchased when entering the country.
An International driving license is definately recommended.
You must have pre-booked accomodation for at least 1 night before entering the country.
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SCOTLAND
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.
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SERBIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.You must carry a first aid kit.A spare set of bulbs must be carried.
Illegal to overtake a school bus that has stopped to let people on or drop people off.
Insurance can be bought at the border, but be aware there may be heavy bribes going on. We gave up after they wanted over 100 Euro's for this.
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SLOVAKIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.You MUST disable any Speed Camera POI on your GPS device.You must carry a first aid kit.A spare set of bulbs must be carried.A reflective Jacket must be carried.
It's illegal to smoke while riding!?!
Spare fuses must be carried.
You may be asked to show proof of Medical insurance.
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SLOVENIA
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.
No children under 12 allowed on MotorBikes!?!
Illegal to overtake a school bus that has stopped to let people on or drop people off.
You will need to buy a Vignette on entering the country if you intend to use Motorways or Expressways.
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SPAIN
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.Radar Detectors are illegal.A spare set of bulbs must be carried.
No children under 7 allowed on MotorBikes, and those over 7 must be with their mother, father or other authorised person!?!
No passenger under the age of 18 allowed on MOPEDS.
If you use glasses while riding, you must carry a spare set.
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SWEDEN
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Use of dipped headlights during the day is compulsory.You must carry a first aid kit.
Congestion charge in Stockholm doesn't apply to foreign vehicles.
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SWITZERLAND
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.Radar Detectors are illegal.You MUST disable any Speed Camera POI on your GPS device.
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WALES
LEGAL REQUIREMENT: Crash helmets must be worn.
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