R1200RS + R1250RS Forum
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Wed May 24, 2023 11:56 am
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Due to eye-watering costs in August, I'm looking like having to skip my preferred DFDS Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry and instead opt for the P&O Hull-Rotterdam option (which less than half the price!). Not used it before. I presume it is a very similar set up - with ratchet straps provided at check-in? Any thoughts, inputs, advice from those that have done the journey before. I presume it's easy to get onto the A15 at the other side to get past the city and head south? Thanks... |
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I have not used this service but everything I have read in other places, mostly UKGSer, is that the P&O staff expect you to strap the bike using the provided ratchet straps.
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Zitat von Woz955 im Beitrag #3 The Newcastle ferry is very popular, like those to Spain from the south coast. My experience is you need to book very early to get reasonable prices. I have a return from Plymouth to Santander 24 Sept to 5 Oct. Cost is a reasonable £485 including a cabin both ways. To get that price I had to book in July last year when bookings opened and pay a 25% deposit. They were offering a flexi ticket for the same price as a standard ticket which made it less of a worry about booking so far ahead. I think there are people trying to book now for similar dates finding the price is now close to £1000. Part of that is that the cheap 2 berth cabins have gone as well as prices increasing as the ferry fills up.
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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #2I used it a few weeks ago myself actually, and yes, that's what happens. Have to say I was singularly unimpressed... I was last vehicle on I think; the deck was only about one-third full... the stevedores (who knew that was what they were called!?) showed me where to park, pointed at the ratchet straps, and then just said 'See you at breakfast' and buggered off, leaving me alone on the car deck. Their straps were really shit - much punier than BF's - didn't have the big lever to crank up tension, you just had to tug on them using your body strength. I was quite concerned, decided the bike would not survive a rough crossing (and there was nobody to ask for help) and I ended up using 4 of the things, tied round the handlebars etc. Bike survived. Better than in New Zealand I suppose, where you have to bring your own ratchet straps....
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS
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I returned this morning from our annual trip into Germany. |
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Thank you Alan & Freddy. I'll maybe bring a couple of my own straps (from DFDS!) as a back up. Never really had an issue in terms of securing the bikes (even on one very rough crossing) - side stand down (to give three contact points), and bike in gear. I'm solo on this crossing (a long slog the next day to meet up with a mate in Northern Italy) so, the two person bunk set up is fine for me and my gear. Know my way around the DFDS set up and around Ijmuiden, but the Hull crossing is new. All booked up now - just on £300 (which is still a lot but then it costs when you're solo!) compared to over £700 from Newcastle (which I still can't believe!). Thanks for your input... |
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Zitat von Alda im Beitrag #7 Maybe I'm overly cautious. But I pulled the provided strap as tight as I could manage - bike in gear, on sidestand - and tested how much force it would take to still push the bike over sideways to the right (and we all know how tall that damned sidestand is!). Answer - pretty much none, actually; and as said there was no on-deck assistance available either. Hence my use of multiple straps.
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS
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