Who are you and where are you located?
Classic Bike Esprit is a classic motorcycle touring company located in the picturesque Provencal town of St Remy de Provence, about 20km south of Avignon in the south of France. Click on the map to the left to get your bearings.
What are Classic Bike Esprit Offering?
Choose from several recommended guided motorcycle tours covering a variety of different scenery from the breathtaking Gorges du Verdon to the majestic Côte Bleue, from the unspoilt scenery of the Camargue to the ancient ‘Route des Cretes’.Join us as we explore the beautiful island of Corsica or take a trip across the tallest road bridge in the world – the Millau Bridge. Frequent stops are made on all of our tours for sightseeing, refreshments, and photo opportunities. Actual riding times are approximately 4-5 hours per day on carefully selected quiet roads. The traffic level in the Provencal countryside is in general very, very light and a world away from what one might be used to in the big cities of Europe. Ride at your own pace and enjoy the view!
How do we get there?
There are good value flights direct into Marseille with British Airways , Easyjet, Ryan Air and Aer Lingus. And don’t forget there are services into Nimes from Luton, Liverpool and Stansted with Ryanair, plus a service from Southampton to Avignon operated by Fly Be.We can provide transfer services to & from Marseille, Nimes, and Avignon – please ask for a quote at time of booking. For those coming from Germany, HLX have a direct flight from Koln/Bonn to Marseille. Also for those who may not like flying or just prefer to come over by land you can take the high speed TGV train all the way from London Waterloo to Avignon TGV.
We don’t just want to ride motorbikes when we are in Provence…what else is there to do?
Plenty! Check out www.voyages-provence.com where you can find activities ranging from hot air ballooning to canoeing to Provençal cookery,golf, wine tasting, and watercolour painting among others. Not forgetting the ever-popular need for retail therapy the nearby cities of Avignon, Arles, Nimes and Aix en Provence provide endless possibilities!
As much as I like the look of your old bikes, I prefer to ride modern machines…can you cater for my needs?
Yes, we have Hinckley Bonnevilles, Bmw and modern Royal Enfields in our resident fleet.
What about insurance on the bike rides?
The minimum riding age is 25 years and a full motorcycle licence for a minimum of 2 years is required by all riders. Pillions are not subject to the same restrictions but must be able to reach the foot pegs comfortably. Full insurance for unlimited third party liability is included in the tour price. Riders who wish to arrange fully comprehensive insurance cover may want to involve their own insurance company and bike details can be provided on request. Unfortunately we ourselves are not able to provide fully comprehensive cover.
I am riding with a friend, or group of friends, can we trade bikes?
No problem. Each rider is responsible for the bike they are riding. Bikes are interchangeable among all riders giving you a chance to experience each of our glorious machines!
What happens if it is raining?
Thankfully it doesn’t happen often with over 300 days of sunshine each year. If it is raining and looks likely to ruin the day then we can agree a credit with a mutually convenient alternative day.
Can you cater for me if I want to holiday on my own?
Not a problem – we welcome solo riders to the Classic Bike Esprit experience, indeed many of our existing visitors have formed strong friendships following a CBE holiday! It is worth noting however that groups of 4 or more riders can avail of a group discount depending on season and duration of booking.
What happens if the bike breaks down?
‘Touch wood’ this will not happen as all the bikes are well maintained and reliable machines. However, in the unlikely event of such an occurrence and it is not “fixable” quickly then we have a support vehicle with a spare bike for replacement.
What happens if I damage one of the bikes?
One of the great things about old British bikes is that most cosmetic damage can be repaired at little or no expense. We may joke about bending back footrests, clutch levers, or brake pedals but in many cases it’s true! However should damage occur to one of the bikes that cannot be conveniently repaired the cost of repair to the motorcycle must be borne by the customer. Thankfully this is a rarity!
What about lodging? There are a variety of options for the Classic Bike Esprit touring customer – choose from a selection of recommended hotels (2, 3 & 4 star) and Chambres d’Hotes (B&Bs) in St Remy. We are happy to advise and make all your accommodation arrangements.
How can I keep abreast of new developments?
Classic Bike Esprit keeps in touch with existing and potential clients with regular updates to our website and by a free, no obligation, email-based newsletter which we encourage all visitors to sign up for. Details concerning new routes, new touring dates, photos, tour reports, and special offers will be communicated to all our subscribers on a regular basis. Sign up below! Rest assured your email address will never be divulged to a third party and will only ever be used for periodic communication between Classic Bike Esprit and you the subscriber. You may opt out of our mailing list at any point by following the unsubscribe link in any email you receive from us.
How can I contact you?
By Post: Classic Bike Provence,c/o CB Esprit, 17A Ave de la 1ere DFL, 13210 St Remy de Provence, France.
By phone: +33 (0)4 90 26 03 19 France, +33(0)681 53 38 28 (mobile) or +44 (0)208 133 2672 (UK answer machine)
By email: info@cbesprit.com