My solo motorcycle tour to Romania - it didn't all go to plan!

This video documents my solo motorcycycle tour from England to Romania in order that I could have a swim in the Black Sea. As you will discover, it didn't altogether go to plan. The video follows my planning for the trip and the journey itself together with lessons learned.

[@drdoolittle5724]

Ronnie Corbett has got nothing on You mate, totally riveting and enticing, thank you!

[@stranobikes]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@paulquigley2517]

Hi, I have really enjoyed listening to you speak. Its interesting to hear you just tell it as a story instead of watching endless shots of driving, which can get boring. I last rode a bike 10 years ago, then grown up responsibilities took over. I definitely see some euro trips on my horizon. This and your other videos are full of useful knowledge. Thank you!

[@michaelreid5307]

I enjoyed listening to this. Thanks for taking the time for relating your journey & uploading it.

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@tonyireland1434]

Your an entertaining man good to listen to funny in a good way 😂😂

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@davenaylor2000]

Loved this. Such simple, raw content and you’re so down to earth. The sort of bloke you’d want to a few beers with.

[@chrispitman1169]

I really enjoyed that very interesting Had a couple of cups of tea as well 👍👍

[@S2000Y]

My top tip. Look at a weather map of europe over breakfast, select a hotel 400km away with a swimming pool and book it. Ride to destinstion and repeat. Enjoy.

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. That sounds like a great formula. Thanks for the tip.

[@S2000Y]

@stranobikes it worked for me on a 10day return trip to Croatia last year.

[@michaelstuart3650]

…from a GS rider near Toronto…swam in the Black Sea when touring with Canadian jazz orchestra… very cold !…enjoyed your narrative.

[@bughi1000]

My name is Alexandru and I'm from Brasov 😂😂😂😂 I just don't have a hat and a donkey. I'm glad you're back home safely.

[@richardsmith3963]

Brilliant....thoroughly enjoyable. I have toured much of Europe and am hoping to get back to Croatia this year to catch up with some guys I met in Cambodia in January this year. I have stayed at Lake Bled....camping though and loved it. Albania is on my list of desired destinations. I hope that I bump into you whilst touring, not literally of course but you are a great story teller.

[@petemorris6191]

I really enjoyed your monologue. Fascinating tale of your travels and quite inspiring for a would be traveller like me. Thanks.

[@edwardsenesac]

Nice hearing your story! I am familiar with Bacharach am Rhein as I lived many years in Wiesbaden. I am here now for five weeks (I’m American). The Rheinland area is pleasant with some Old World charm left.

[@thebarefootartist1275]

Absolutely wonderful🙌 thank you for taking the time to share your adventure! You are very inspiring, the wife and I are planning a trip next April🤗

[@rider_bravo]

Amazing adventure ! Loved the story.

[@johnbaker6071]

Absolutely fantastic review of a great ride, wsnt more of you and the wife touring as we are about to do some serious touring John & Sue Spain

[@MikeHarveyPhoto]

Thanks for taking the time to tell us about your trips wish I could do some only done 200 odd miles this year and that includes getting MOT and milk at the local BP I don't do winter riding so the year is nearly over for me.

[@Mikethebike721]

Love your approach to touring, eating local food, talking to to locals, non judgemental…and you are an excellent story teller!

[@stranobikes]

Thank you and thanks for watching.

[@philiplines6429]

Thank you so much for the information. And encouraging me and my wife to travel on our bike. We hope to start in Spain and travel back through France, we may even take our small tent and camp!

[@shotshotrod3487]

Thoroughly enjoyed, mate. Thank you👍

[@sandysanderson8588]

wow fantastic video. I'm planning a trip to Greese next year from the uk. ill plod along as ill have lots of time on my side.

[@trosmeneth]

Thank you so much, absolutely rivetting. Bonne route. Cdt Ian Audierne

[@thealternativevlog]

I visited Slovenia in 2017. It never stopped raining.

[@Noorontwowheels]

Thank you 🙏 very nice video

[@timjkiely]

brilliant video

[@alanread136]

Really enjoyed you telling us of your travels and experiences different format well done 👍

[@vicentiuapetrei]

I don't know if you plan to come back to Romania, but you should definitely check Transfăgărășan and Transalpina roads. Jeremy Clarkson did and loved it.

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. Yes, Jeremy did mention that. I had planned to do the Transfăgărășan but it was closed due to snow. I plan to return to Romania next year, I thought it was a beautiful country.

[@jakestechtravels4864]

What a fantastic adventure! Happened to stumble on your video by chance after looking into Romania bike routes. My first overseas trip on 2 wheels was last year with friends via EuroTunnel to France, into Belgium and then up to Netherlands to Amsterdam. I rode my BMW S1000R there ((thirsty as hell on fuel!! so I would imagine an extra 20% or more on top of your costs 😢)) was such a great experience and I was blown away with the quality of roads compared to the UK!!. But I kind of like this idea of doing a trip from UK > Black sea..... it feels like a great idea that you had!. It was really useful you documenting the places that you stopped off on, added them all to notes to look into. I did notice you put an image of the (custom?) route that you used to get to Constanța, is that something you can make public?

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. The route I showed was just a Google maps representation of where I went. I'm not sure I could tell you my actual route. I like to have a focus when I tour and my focus on this tour was to swim in the Black Sea. If you follow me on fb (same name as the channel) then you can follow my next adventure, which starts on 7th April.

[@jakestechtravels4864]

Very much welcome and will try to find you on your fb page. Enjoy the April adventures!@@stranobikes

[@claw1770]

Enjoyed that, cheers 😀

[@fatpigeonadventurerider2118]

I had the same situation 5 years ago at the Bulgarian border. I had my original sent to my hotel in Vama.

[@DaveLowe-o3n]

Hi Steve - Just watched this and found it captivating tbh. You should seriously consider being an after dinner speaker mate - reckon it would go down a storm :)

[@rsb62rsb]

…. Most entertaining…. Hoping to get out on my 350 Enfield soon. BTW what was the fish? Was it from the Danube? 👍🏽😀

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. I'm sorry I don't know the name of the fish, but it was delicious!

[@peterfitzsimmons5933]

Great vid again lots of useful info and advice👌

[@jamesfromnorway2840]

Great video, very interesting and entertaining. I tour thru Europe quite a bit in the summers and can relate to many of your observations. If you’re every doing Norway (fantastic scenery and roads) take contact. Ride safe.

[@kennypaterson9980]

Really enjoyed listening to that 👍

[@stranobikes]

Thank you 😊

[@andrewvarga7452]

Oooooh , always carry your V5 when you leave the UK.

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. I do now!

[@andrewvarga7452]

@@stranobikes enjoyed the video, we are off to Romania this year. Albania is great, you’ll enjoy it.

[@badshotuk72]

Ah The old cold trickle😀 down the nuts, always a killer lol

[@charleswarr6978]

Brilliant video 👍

[@michaelb.42112]

Oh cool, a day ago ! I'm getting a bike this weekend after TWENTY YEARS of not riding. I'm nervous because I now have arthritis in my left knee and stop lights worry me, but after reading all the Reddit comments from riders with the exact same issues and much worse are riding, so now I'm excited. I'll probably take a riding class to freshen up.

[@andyleeson6048]

Take a class, it will remind you of all the things you thought you had forgotten and give a confidence boost as well. I did just like you two years ago, loving biking all over again

[@michaelb.42112]

@@andyleeson6048 Very cool thanks !!

[@markdennis930]

Having lived in German 5 years, I can tell you it certainly has a cafe culture.

[@tonyireland1434]

I also worked over there on construction for 5 years there is a cafe culture

[@thepeakybiker]

This is heat video mukka We should meet up sounds like your from near me in wolvo

[@codemonkey181]

Really enjoyed that, thank you. Nobody goes to Serbia 😂. Very interesting to hear how nice Bosnia was.

[@richierichardson5333]

Lovely video james, vary extremely enjoyable, just wondering what you're thoughts are touring on a 250 suzuki inazuma commuter, suzuki says it does 86miles to the gallon and it's made for traffic work and it's lovely on twisty bends, the only thing I wish it had was a gel comfy seat would be perfect, thanks again for sharing your thoughts, kind regards Richie in Ireland 🇮🇪

[@stranobikes]

Hi, thanks for watching. Back in the day I had a Honda CJ250T. I toured and commuted on it and racked up 25,000 miles in two years. Of course you can tour on your bike. Get a motorcycle seat air cushion and even your arse will be happy :)

[@kristijansentic993]

It was "pljeskavica" you eat in Bosnia 😀

[@janemclachlan1]

Sounds like a great trip, and a very interesting video. how long did the journey take. I’m thinking of doing something similar in May this year. Would be really interested to see some more details on your route. Unfortunately I’m limited to around 16 days including ferries - so not sure that if it will be feasible ?

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. I spent about 17 days actually riding. I think you'd be pushing it to do the trip in 16 days including ferries. Maybe aim for something less ambitious? The previous year I did a ferry to Holland then Holland, Germany. Czech republic, Austria, Italy, France and Spain in about 16 days. Whatever you do have a great trip!

[@Taking_Care_Of_The_Business]

You've mentioned your stop in Hungary although it wasn't your main destiny but Romania. So i wasn't sure if you were aware of the fact - and would have been nice to mention it as well - that you're first two stops in Romania in fact was still in Hungarian land (as Transylvania was lost in WW 1-2). Your first stop in Baia Mare - Nagybánya in Hungarian, second stop in Brasov called Brassó that has strong Hungarian historical and cultural heritage hence the main population is Hungarian speaking Hungarian folks at least they're trying to survive. Anyways just so you know since that was the focus of your trip. Otherwise I've listened to your stories with great passion and appreciate sharing your experiences and tips and inspiring the rest of us.

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching and thank you for the information on Hungary/Romania. I was unaware of that piece of history.

[@TitelSinistrel]

Love the intro and how you plan your route, but 20min in and I have to ask...how on earth did you miss the Transfagarasan or Transalpina from Brasov? It's like THE road in Romania. I'll keep watching but the one comment so far. LIike the video already. @25:00 the reason romanians go to Bulgaria instead of their own Black Sear resorts is because of the better quality and service. Not sure how the currency exchange is currently but think it's also slightly cheaper in Bulgaria than Romania.

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for your comments and thanks for watching. The Transfagarasan was on my route but sadly it was not passable due to snow. Next time!

[@johnwayne7210]

Your video froze 46 minutes in and that was it!

[@stranobikes]

I'm not sure why. I struggled to edit it and it's currently reloading on KZbin so that may be why. It seems that others haven't experienced this. I hope you get to see the last bit.

[@rashlee123]

When are you doing your Masters?

[@grahamlambden918]

What happened to the cbr929 you went on ??

[@stranobikes]

It's sold, I P/Exd the bike for a GSXR 750 L7. I'll be making a video explaining the change.

[@florinicrisan]

Hahaaa, now you got it! Romanians are nice people, until your cross the Carpathians. As soon as you leave the region of Transylvania and go South, Lord bless you.

[@mathiashammar1]

I made high quality color scans of my papers and no police or border checks have complained. German, Austrian , swiss border I been stopped during and after covid lockdown to prove my owner ship of my motorcycle. No checks for me in Hungary, Italy Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia , France, Czech. I think it started 2020. This year I only had to show it to German border police. But many countries have these checks now traveling through Europe. It's crackdown on smugglers I guess.

[@AK-bd9ee]

Congrats on your adventure. Do you think 929 did good ? Was it reliable ?

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. I think any bike is good. The problem with my particular 929 was the low speed rough running, which was a nightmare in towns and traffic. I had tried to fix it by giving it to a tuning shop but they failed completely. I've now sold the bike, I'd just had enough of it. However, it got me to the Black Sea and back so it wasn't that bad!

[@AK-bd9ee]

@@stranobikes thanks for putting out high quality content. I hope you best adventures. I am from Turkey and even i am hasetant going to blacksea with 929 of mine I still have lots of job to do.. And yes this device is not designed to wait in traffic lights :D

[@davidmatthews3093]

The video started off so well with your intention to visit interesting places at a steady pace. It began to go downhill a bit when you introduced your idea of a good touring bike and then you started your rant about getting a coffee in Germany and Holland. There are great cafes and other places to get a coffee spread across both countries. Having a coffee is more important to both the Dutch and the Germans than i5 is to the British. What you should have said is that you don’t know where to look or that you’ve never bothered finding out. I was going to stop watching at this point but I’m quite interested in listening to more of your odd travel advice.

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. More odd travel advice coming soon :)

[@TEAChubb]

2015 went to BG Via Romania. not a passport checked till Romania, just that, same at the Bulgarian border. No bike documents. Had it anyway. Brexit.

[@paulmorris3022]

Very interesting