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<p>Welcome to <b><i>"Motorcycle Touring in Europe (and Elsewhere)"</b></i>. Our
aim is simple: to make motorcycle touring easier and more
enjoyable. To find out how and why, click <a href="introsite2.html">The Site</a>.
If you are already familiar with the site, you may prefer to click <a href="introbikes.html">
Bikes and Gear</a>, which deals with choosing and outfitting a touring
bike; or <a href="introprep.html">Getting Ready to Go</a>, which is more concerned with
formalities and planning; or <a href="introthere.html">When You're There</a>, about the
practicalities of food, accommodation and more.
<p>All of the above are free. Click on <a href="countries.html">Countries and States</a> for
more information on the paid parts of the site including the
short story <b><i>"Elysian Fields"</i></b>.
<p>This whole site is very much a 'book on the web'. It consists mostly
of text, because text downloads fast, and because text is the fastest way of
conveying solid information about motorcycle touring.
<p>The idea is that you can download the information and print it out.
You then use the print-out both for planning, and to carry with you when you are
touring. Afterwards, you can either keep the print-out for next time, or throw
it out when it gets too dog-eared and download it again when you need it.
<p>The site is in two sections. One section is free. It's background
information about touring. It's there, to be honest, as bait to get you to pay
for the information in the other sections, which is a country by country guide
to motorcycle touring in Europe, plus India and California and eventually maybe
other places as well.
<p>Perhaps the most fundamental consideration is <a href="howworks.html">
How The Site Works</a>, followed by information on <a href="payment.html">
Pricing & Payment</a> and <a href="fairness.html">A Plea For Fairness</a>.
Oh, yes -- and a <a href="warnings.html">Health Warning</a> along with
our <b>Legal Disclaimer</b> at the end of each page.
<p>On an inspirational note (motorcycles not religion, despite the
title), you might care to read <a href="chapter1.html">Articles Of Faith</a>,
or for a more conventional sales pitch, <a href="reasons.html">
Seven Reasons To Use This Site</a>.
<p>The site is written by a Briton living in France and married to
an American whose brother designed the site -- read <a href="aboutus.html">
About Us</a> for more detail here -- which means there are certain assumptions
built into the style and the language. If you are not British (or
even if you are) you may find it useful to read <a href="chapter3.html">
Mostly For American Readers</a> and <a href="easterneurope.html">
Mostly For Eastern European Readers</a>.
<p>In most countries, a helmet is a legal requirement. Clothing has to
strike a balance between comfort, temperature control and protection.
And then there are all the other things that range from useful to invaluable.
<p>You can go touring on pretty much any bike, with as much or as
little luggage as you feel inclined. This section consists of
advice based on our experience, concerning <a href="helmets.html">Helmets</a>,
<a href="clothing.html">Clothing</a>, <a href="equipment.html">Equipment</a>,
<a href="motorcycles.html">Touring Motorcycles</a>, <a href="luggage.html">
Luggage And Loading</a> and <a href="cameras.html">Photography And Touring</a>.
A <a href="checklist.html">Checklist</a> will help you make
sure that you don't forget anything.
<p>There is also a brief section on trouble-shooting (<a href="mechanicals.html">
Rude Mechanicals</a>); an appreciation of the wonderful <a href="enfield.html">
Enfield Bullet</a>; and brief notes (which we hope in the long term to
expand considerably) on <a href="rental.html">Motorcycle Hire</a>.
<p>The <b>Bikes and Gear</b> section dealt with the things you take with you. This
section deals more with the preparations you need to make. There
are only two new sections: <a href="insurance.html">Papers, Insurance & Health</a>
and <a href="maps.html">Maps And Route Planning</a>, though you might also want to
visit/revisit <a href="warnings.html">Health Warnings</a>,
<a href="checklist.html">The Checklist</a>, <a href="chapter1.html">Articles Of Faith</a>
and <a href="reasons.html">7 Reasons To Use This Site</a>.
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