Ferries and car-carrying trains do two useful things for a motorcycle tour: they cross water you cannot ride over, and they delete a transit day you did not want to ride. In Europe both are readily available. Ferries carry motorcycles as a matter of routine on the Channel, across Biscay to northern Spain, through the North Sea, the Adriatic, the Aegean and the Norwegian fjords. Car-carrying trains still run, though far fewer than a generation ago, with the ÖBB Nightjet network the main survivor for riders heading to the Alps. The mechanics differ sharply between the two, and so does what you are expected to do with a strap. This guide covers both.
Ferries, and the moment that decides whether your bike stays upright
Boarding a ferry on a motorcycle is straightforward. You queue with the vehicles, ride up the ramp, and deck crew direct you to a lashing area — usually against a bulkhead, often near the ramp, sometimes in a corner other vehicles will not need. From there the sequence that matters is short and always the same: bike in first gear, side stand down, front wheel turned into the lean, then strapped.
Who does the strapping is the part riders get wrong. Ferry operators provide straps and show you the deck's lashing points, and crews on the bigger routes are trained to help, but on most lines the rider secures their own bike and carries the consequences if it goes over. Treating the crew as responsible for the outcome is how a bike ends up on its side in the Bay of Biscay. Two straps over the bars or through the lower yoke, pulling down and outward on each side to compress the front suspension slightly, is the standard arrangement. Do not strap to handlebar controls, brake or clutch levers, mirrors, or anything plastic, and do not lash the bike so hard that the fork seals spend twenty hours fully compressed.
A few habits make the rest easier. Take everything you need for the crossing off the bike before you go up to the passenger decks, because on many ships the vehicle deck is sealed once at sea and you will not be allowed back down. Bring your own ratchet straps rather than relying on what is left in the bin — soft loops over the bars save your paint. Photograph the bike strapped and in position; if something does happen, that photograph is your evidence. And on long overnight crossings, check the weather forecast for the sea state before deciding how much effort to put into the lashing.
Which crossings actually matter for a tour
| Crossing type | Examples riders use | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| The Channel, by tunnel | LeShuttle between Folkestone and Calais | About 35 minutes, you stay with the bike, no strapping — bikes sit on their stands |
| The Channel and Irish Sea, by ferry | Dover to Calais and Dunkirk, plus routes to Ireland | Short crossings, straps used, book ahead in summer |
| Biscay to northern Spain | Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander and Bilbao | Roughly 20 to 32 hours, cabin required, deletes two long French transit days |
| North Sea overnight | UK to the Netherlands and Belgium, and to Norway and Denmark | Overnight sailings with cabins, vehicle deck sealed at sea |
| Adriatic and Aegean | Italy to Greece, Croatia and Albania, and the Greek island network | Dense network, motorcycles carried as standard, island hopping is normal |
| Mediterranean islands | Mainland Italy and France to Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily | Short and medium crossings, heavily booked in July and August |
| Fjords and Scottish islands | Norwegian fjord crossings and the Scottish island network | Many are short, frequent and part of the road; some are ticketed and sell out |
| Car-carrying trains | ÖBB Nightjet vehicle service and seasonal holiday car trains to the Alps | Bike travels on the transport wagon while you sleep in a berth |
Car-carrying trains, and what is left of the network
Motorail in Europe is a shadow of what it was. Most national operators have withdrawn their car-carrying services over the past two decades, and what survives is a small number of routes aimed squarely at holiday traffic heading south to the Alps and the Mediterranean. For riders it is still worth knowing about, because it converts an entire day of motorway drudgery into a night's sleep.
The ÖBB Nightjet network is the main option. Motorcycles are carried on the lower deck of the vehicle transport wagon, and the published height limit is 158 cm including the fairing, which is generous enough for most touring bikes but worth measuring against a tall screen and a top box. The loading crew secure the machine using the wagon's own lashing system, so unlike a ferry this part is genuinely not your job. You need two tickets — a passenger ticket for yourself in a seat, couchette or sleeper, and a separate vehicle ticket for the bike. Seasonal holiday car trains run alongside the Nightjet services, typically in summer, on routes from northern Germany down to Bavaria, Tirol and Carinthia.
Three practical points. Loading closes well before departure, often an hour or more, and a missed loading slot means a missed train. Nothing loose can stay on the bike, so panniers and tank bags come with you. And the destinations are fixed points rather than a network — the value is highest when a listed terminus happens to sit at the start of the riding you actually came for, such as arriving in Tirol with the Timmelsjoch and the Austrian passes a short ride away.
Booking, timing and the things that go wrong
Motorcycle spaces on ferries are limited in a way car spaces usually are not, because bikes go in specific lashing areas rather than anywhere on the deck. On popular summer routes — Italy to Greece, the Sardinia and Corsica crossings, Scottish island sailings and the Biscay runs — that capacity sells out, and it sells out earlier for the sailings that suit a touring schedule. Book the crossings first and build the route around them, not the other way round.
Check-in times for vehicles are earlier than foot passenger times and are enforced. Arriving inside the deadline on a bike does not help, because the loading sequence is planned around a manifest. Overnight crossings need a cabin booked separately unless you are content with a reclining seat, and cabins go before deck space does.
Carry the documents you would need at any border: licence and International Driving Permit, registration, and proof of insurance valid for the country you are arriving in, which for some destinations means the Green Card rather than just a policy number. Ferry routes cross international borders even when they do not feel like it, and the check happens at the far end when you are tired.
Gear notes for crossings
Two things reliably go wrong on a ferry or a night train, and both are solvable in advance. The first is power. Vehicle decks are sealed, sleeper compartments have limited sockets, and you land at the far end with a phone that needs to run navigation for the next six hours. A bi-directional fast charger lets you top everything up in a cabin overnight and then feed devices from the bike once you are moving. The second is navigation at the port. Ferry terminals dump you into industrial road networks with poor signal and signage in a language you may not read, so have the first leg loaded offline before you board — our guide to offline navigation and language setup covers how, and a riding system display keeps that route visible in the rain that always seems to be waiting at the ramp.
One maintenance note. A bike strapped down tightly for a long crossing and then ridden straight onto a motorway deserves a quick look first. Check that nothing has been pulled out of alignment, and check pressures — our tyre pressure guide explains why a cold bike off a sea crossing reads differently from the same bike in your garage.
FAQ
Do ferries provide straps for motorcycles?
Operators generally provide straps and show you the lashing points, and crews on larger routes will help. On most lines the rider does the actual securing and is responsible if the bike falls, so bringing your own straps and knowing how you want the bike tied down is worthwhile.
How should I secure a motorcycle on a ferry deck?
First gear, side stand down, front wheel turned into the lean, then two straps pulling down and outward from the handlebars or lower yoke so the front suspension is slightly compressed. Avoid strapping to levers, mirrors or plastic, and do not compress the forks fully for a long crossing.
Do I strap the bike on the Channel Tunnel shuttle?
No. The crossing is about 35 minutes, riders stay with their machines, and bikes are left on their stands without straps. It is the least involved way to get a motorcycle across the Channel.
Can I still put a motorcycle on a train in Europe?
Yes, but on far fewer routes than in the past. The ÖBB Nightjet vehicle service and a handful of seasonal holiday car trains are the main survivors, carrying bikes on the lower deck of a transport wagon while you travel in a berth. Book early and check the height limit against your screen and top box.
How far ahead should I book a ferry with a motorcycle?
Earlier than you would for a car. Motorcycle capacity is tied to specific lashing areas, and on busy summer routes those spaces and the cabins go first. Fix the crossings before you plan the riding days around them.
