How to ride a motorcycle in Spain: 3,387km in a heatwave

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Travel & accommodation
Brittany Ferries: https://www.brittanyferries.com/
Les Ombrieres: https://www.frenchcountrypad.com/
Hotel Zenit Pamplona: https://pamplona.zenithoteles.com/en/
Hotel Torrenmangana: https://www.hoteltorremangana.com/
Eco Hotel Toledo: https://ecohoteltoledo.com/
Maison Barón de Galletta: https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/maison-baron-de-la-galleta.en-gb.html

Calimoto Routes
Saint Malo to Porcheresse: https://calimoto.com/calimotour/saint-malo-to-coteaux-du-blanzacais-r-4TXOXZ4WZ8
Porcheresse to Pamplona: https://calimoto.com/calimotour/coteaux-du-blanzacais-to-pamplona-r-SDWagmHBXW
Pamplona to Cuenca: https://calimoto.com/calimotour/pamplona-to-cuenca-r-xVAfUAonql
Cuenca to Benalmádena: https://calimoto.com/calimotour/cuenca-to-benalmadena-r-TsktU9V09W
Benalmádena to Toledo: https://calimoto.com/calimotour/benalmadena-to-toldeo-r-ca18Bp4VYX
Toldeo to Aguilar de Campoo: https://calimoto.com/calimotour/toldeo-to-aguilar-de-campoo-r-swiCGXZLTW
Aguilar de Campoo to Santander: https://calimoto.com/calimotour/aguilar-de-campoo-to-santander-r-Bu2HAri29E

Product reviews
MotoAirbag: https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-armour-and-base-layers/motoairbag-review-motorcycle-airbag
Roadskin Taranis Elite: https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/textile-jackets-trousers-suits/roadskin-taranis-jeans
TCX Street 3: https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-boots/tcx-street-3-review
Arai Quantic: https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/helmets/arai-quantic
Spidi X-Force: https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-gloves-reviews/spidi-x-force-motorcycle-gloves-review
Five RFX-2 Airflow: https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-gloves-reviews/five-rfx2-airflow-review-level-2-gloves

As soon as any gadget exists, we suddenly can't live without it and, like, nobody goes anywhere without their tomtom. I went from Calais to Marseillan Plage using a photocopied page from an atlas to navigate south from major town to major town and didn't even use that coming back up. It'd be far more useful (and zero cost) prep to learn French or Spanish over the winter than fork out on gadgets.
Not having a go cuz each to their own, but you and other riders who lavish an absolute bomb on these trips seem a bit detached from the elemental fun of motorbikes.
I haven't been away since 2019 due to work/family/money/enertia based on the three previous reasons but this vid's properly incentivised me to do it next year. Current bike is a cbf250, me having gone full circle via all the 600cc+ and back to where I started!
Thanks for the vid, been a good watch.

300 miles per day is crazy. No time to enjoy the trip.

Excellent video John! Having just got back from a 2 week France and Picos trip the other day, this was a really interesting comparison video for me. I, like you, have been riding some decades and touring most of that time (predominately on sports bikes, now an MT10). I've been refining my kit and luggage over that time and would agree with most of your points! 🙂 We had 30+ degrees most days, and the kit I took worked fine for that (as did the summer waterproofs I took with me for day 1 and day 13 in the UK where I got pissed on by heavy rain). In case you're interested, Held Airstream gloves, Hideout Air/mesh jacket, Crowtree leather trousers (I have some similar Hideout ones also), Daytona Evo/G3 sports boots, Knox silver base layer (trousers and top, used to use EDZ), super old Rukka, plastic waterproof over trousers (now baggy, to be replaced by Hideout breathable over trousers when they become available…). I stick with long sleeved summer base layer top and bottoms as I find it's actually still cooler/more comfortable than going short sleeved… I'm also trialling the forthcoming Hideout summer waterproof over jacket which ROCKS, both as a windproof over jacket for the chilly start of days, plus perfect in the rain!! 🙂 I also swear by the Klim Zepher windproof under jacket for when it's not quite time for full mesh, but the outer windproof/waterproof is too hot… LOVE that bit of kit, highly recommended!! 🙂 HTH!! 🙂

Why do so much mileage everyday?

Too cool! 😎

I do not understand why people love heavy motorcycle when max speeds is nearly evrywhere 120I have 5 motos and my absolute favorite id a 250

Not seen all the videos, but have you done the valve clearances? Stalling and power loss are classic signs of this. Just watching the fork dive, some upgraded springs should be on the shopping list!

I went all round Spain down to Malaga then Cadiz straight up to northern Spain on a k9 1000. So hot unbearable. But we’ll worth the experience 🤗🤗

Looks like a great trip!Personally I'm a massive fan of a thick cotton t shirt soaked in water under a breathable but not mesh jacket. The moisture gets cooled by the wind and feels like Aircon on the go.
Whatever works for you though 😁

Really appreciate this series, im so sick of "bike reviews" that are really just long adverts with everyone saying that every bike is amazing. Its great to see a brutally honest long term review

just wondering what the arai quantic is like with glasses especially when its colder and damp? i was in northern spain at the same time getting wet every day in my mesh gear! but what great roads

Have to say Calimoto has been pretty crap of late. Decided to go for a 60 mile loop the other day, ended up trying to take me down two closed roads (that were closed long term, not flooding etc) and ended up taking me on a round trip that was actually 75% along and back on the same road. Shame as I love the concept.

great video! However, even with a Yamaha XMAX 300 it would have been much more comfortable than this Zontes.

So much waffle. Less talking, more riding?

Been driving around the south of France in july 2023, temperatures up to 40 ºC no heat issues at all with my 100tkm's+ Moto Guzzi Quota nor myself wearing ventilated leather summer jacket and leather jeans over cotton short and t-shirt. Leather is great in summer ! It doesn't heat up like plastic textile fibres.

Pin it and hope for the best , is that the answer ?

Advice for British riders – in Spain you might experience some bad driving on the roads but unlike the UK, its not personal. Some drivers are just inattentive. There is no point in pulling up beside them and raging away as is the norm in the UK. Just ride with your eyes and not your assumptions about others. Forget all that – I’m right and you’re wrong nonsense. With that in mind, just enjoy some of the best biking roads in Europe.

I rode down from the UK to south east Spain last week, over the Pyrenees clocking on 2,150 km over 3 days

That was a fun old ride

Thanks for posting this up. I fancy a ride like that but I'd do it on a bigger bike, just to make the ride a bit easier. It has been a useful learning experience for me to watch your plusses and minuses on this trip.