sadrik's thoughts and travels: Tips learned on the road

Europe

Photo radar is everywhere.
Some countries have made photo radar GPS alerts illegal, like France. Some posts suggest if your GPS is found with warnings for ANY COUNTRY, France will clip your wings.

Garmin has gotten around at least having GPS speed warnings in France by alerting now on "safety zones", which are expressly legal in France.

Many countries require having a reflective vest with you on the bike, in case of a breakdown, an accident, or rain. Makes sense to always have one regardless of what countries you'll be visiting.
Many countries, with France in particular, require you to have a full complement of spare bulbs for your vehicle.
Speed signs are round, unlike in North America.

Though they apparently aren't checking much yet, you are required to have 2 breathalizer testers with you.
Speed limits are often 120km/h on motorways, and 130km/h on the tolled Autoroutes. They're not fans of speeding.
All safety zones (speed cameras) are marked, afaik. The markings on the sign also specify if the cameras are front-facing or rear-facing; if there is a motorcycle on the sign, that's a rear-facing camera that can grab the motorcycle plates.
Not terribly big fans of credit cards in some restaurants, at least in smaller towns like Saint-Genis-Pouilly near Geneva. Even the customers are offended if you pull out a credit card.

Look up the German signs for right of way; streets that merge from your right have Right of Way by default.
The Autobahn has lots of unrestricted ("unlimited speed") sections, but there are lots of traffic calming sections especially around population centres.
Don't hang out in the left lane on the Autobahn; you are not the fastest vehicle on the road anymore.
It is illegal to run out of gas on the Autobahn, as that is a preventable calamity.
Expect to be seated with strangers in Bavarian beerhalls. Hope you get both East and West Germans at your table, as the cultural lessons are beyond measure.
Don't jaywalk. What kind of example are you setting for the children, you monster?
Lane Splitting isn't officially accepted. Some feel you're setting a bad example for the children (see above), but some do it anyway. It is only really accepted in heavy traffic. You may run afoul of the law.

Vignettes (toll stickers) can be purchased for Autobahn travel in short and long term forms. Fines are high for being caught without one.
The Austrian Autobahn has a 130km/h speed limit.

Vignettes are only sold for the calendar year; If you're riding a motorway from Dec 29 through Jan 2, you'll need two yearly stickers. Last I bought one, they were 40 Euros per year.
Don't seed in Switzerland; their speed cameras are tuned really low.

I'll post more later.