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Planning a trip to Europe...

While it's true that a big bike is more work on the small roads, it's not like it's going to kill you. And if you're doing your own tour, you need some carrying capacity. It's also the case that up in the mountains the weather is completely unpredictable, so having some protection is not at all a bad idea.

Get a bike you are comfortable with. If it's the same as what you ride at home, you will feel more at ease on it. But if your current bike tires you out on steep and twisty roads, maybe you should look for something lighter, with more leverage at the bars. Just use common sense.

In another current thread about travelling in New Zealand, I haven't mentioned that I had heard the roads there could be a bit "dirty". (Except for encountering a road crew that was laying fresh chip seal, that turned out not to be true.) So, I rented an R80GS Basic (the last edition of the airhead GS). I spent the whole trip chasing my friends on an R11RT, and eventually wore a hole in my right glove from holding the throttle to the stop. I should have gotten something with a bit more oomph, I suppose.

DSR%20and%20bike_crop.jpg
 
I'm a fan of the bigger K1200GT mainly because two up, I pack a heavy load. I'm a healthy 260 lbs, but fortunately the bride is "normal" size.

Your K1200 GT and other BMWs all have the same payload give or take, so it shouldn't matter.

I wouldn't want too much of a faired motorcycle because if you go in June, July or August, you'll cook behind the fairing. Riding the twisties, you won't even be close to sitting at a steady 60 mph to keep cool. The very odd short burts of cool air at the mountain passes aren't an issue.

Why not go and try on a few models at your local dealer; maybe even go for a test ride on some.

You'll be dealing with over a thousand hairpins a day just going up & down passes and riding back roads (hard on the arms braking for every single one of them). On Passo dello Stelvio there are almost 90 hairpins alone.

This is a narrow road where oncoming cars have to slow to a crawl just to clear mirrors. Imagine the inside turn going up the pass and you can't swing wide because a car happens to be right in the hairpin. And this photo can't even start to show the grade. Just something to think about.

0116.jpg


Darryl's R80 GS Basic had a mere 50 hp and understandably couldn't keep up with much bigger K or oilheads....no comparsion to an R1200 GS at 100 hp.
 
Swiss rentals

I had friends visit and both had good experiences with Moto Mader, near Zurich

http://www.moto-mader.ch/frameset_main.htm


and Inter Moto near Lausanne

http://www.inter-motos.ch/Presentation/


Although the websites are in German and French, you can send them an email and they'll reply in English.

I rode solo on an R1100RT and packed as light as possible. The only time that bike felt too heavy was on the Passo de Stelvio. The only time I felt too hot was the frontage road at St. Tropez. Could have been the secenery.........better stay away from the Meditteranean on your honeymoon :brow :nono

have fun!!!!!!!!!
 
I sent a few emails to the rental companies. I'm understand the comments about down sizing from the GT to an RT or GS. I rode a 2005 RT until this past spring when a bearing went out in the transmission. The RT was still under warranty with 29k on it, but I did an impulse buy and drove home on a new GT. I've put 14k on the GT so far which includes 5 days at Fontana Village (Deal Gaps). My wife (it's a southern thing to refer to her as my "bride") and I road the Gap 4-6 times a day. So I know what you mean by tiring on the arms..etc. But my wife is very comfortable on the GT and didn't care for riding on the RT...it's a dilemma. I'll take the latest advise and start demoing a bikes with her this spring.
With the reduced cost of planning my own trip, we'll probably be able to make it in July 2010 vice 2011.
Thanks again.
 
........My wife (it's a southern thing to refer to her as my "bride") and I road the Gap 4-6 times a day. So I know what you mean by tiring on the arms..etc. ..........

Be advised that the gap is NO comparison to the European roads, the gap flows, people can ride it at average speeds of 60 MPH or better.

Not so in Europe many roads you will not get to 3rd gear, even if you were riding "spirited".

A true switchback, which does not exist in the US, is like riding into your garage, doing a U-turn and riding back out, and like GR said, add a 20% grade to the mix.

Believe me the Bride will not have time to think about comfort, she will be overwhelmed with the scenery and culture, and experiance.

Yes a GT is doable, but not really made for that type of riding, kind of like taking a speed boat, for a fishing trip on a trout stream.
 
Check out Steve Farson's The Alps - Five Days to Explore - Images / Videos.

The videos links are within the tour report.


Also go to YouTube and search for Alps motorcycle videos.

Its hard to find quality videos on YouTube...but here is one of them...

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PlhuSJyno9g&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PlhuSJyno9g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

And others...

Passo San Boldo,

Sottoguda Gorge Road,

Passo Manghen - from the Pass heading north,

Passo Manghen - from the south to the Pass - part 1,

Passo Manghen - from the south to the Pass - part 2,

Passo Manghen - from the south to the Pass - part 3

Spl??gen Pass taken from a boring car, but it is all I could find. The pic I posted was taken at the 4'10" mark in that video. I have my own full length video of it, but never got around to editing and uploading it to YouTube.


And in the end, absolutely none of these videos do any of those roads justice...they're lame compared to being there.
 
Here is some video I shot 10 years ago in the Dolomites:

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Simply fantastic!! I only WISH I could ride like that............ & What fantastic roads. Thanks for the experience. In all my travels to Germany & Austria, I never experienced roads like that. Thank you, very much!!
 
The videos are awesome. Just the kinda roads I'll be expecting/anticipating. The jury is still out on which bike to rent. I must have a ways to go with my riding, 60 mph ride of the Gap is way beyond my skills and (if you have been there lately) wallet...
For those that have ridden the Alps two up, what did you ride, + or -?
 
The first time I went, in 1983, my wife came with and we rented a /7 era R100RT. At that time I owned an R65 and didn't know any better, thought it was great!

More recently, I have give a few rides on the '94 R1100RS I keep over there. It has been completely adequate to the task. There are people there who would be faster than I am regardless of the bike I had, and vice versa. The whole point, I think, is to give yourself enough challenge and have a good time doing it.

When you're riding some of these small roads, above a certain (relatively small) amount, horsepower is irrelevant. When you're riding up Stelvio, you only get about 1-200 yards of on-throttle before the next switchback requires you to slow and downshift.

OTOH, you mentioned wanting to go for a blast on the Autobahn. Just keep in mind that regardless of what you're riding, there's always someone coming up who is faster, and you will have to move over. Once again, my R11RS (~130ish mph top speed) is perfectly adequate, and very comfortable cruising at 110mph.
 
Oh yeah, one other thing, don't get in over your head. Ride your own ride.

P6271087med.jpg


(The sign says, "Give your guardian angel a chance.")
 
Horse power is not the key, low end torque is your friend. That is why most favor twins. You will note that in my videos, my speed riding solo at a spirited pace, were 50-70 kPH, in the fast sections that is 30 -45 MPH, hardly a need for 170 HP.

Riding 2 up you will find yourself in 1st and 2nd gear frequently, and many times modulation the clutch, because 1st is too high a gear.

What have I ridden 2 up in the Alps? R1100RT, R1100R, R1150GS, R1200GS, R1150R, R1200RT, and F800ST. I am a big guy too, 6'1" 215 lbs. By far the GS bikes are the best tool, and I would highly recommend a GS, if the seat height is not an issue for you. The wide bars make them real easy to ride up a set of switchbacks

The other issue with the RT, GT and other full faired bikes is the fact that there is a very good chance you will drop it at least once, steep turns, narrow roads, no shoulders, gravel drives and parking spots, steep parking spots, places you will have to back the bike up, etc all increase the chance many fold, even if you have not dropped your bike here in 20 years. And the cost of replacing a cylinder head guard, and paying for an added scratch or 2 on a bag cover is MUCH cheaper than damaging all those painted parts.

From what I have seen, there is 50/50 chance you will tip over at least once, but don't fret it, it happens to the best riders.
 
I've ridden there three times: renting, borrowing, and finally flying my own bike over. All three experiences were awesome. The last trip was completely over the top, as I was in the Alps almost a month and my own bike fit me best. Aim for being comfortable; pffog is right about torque and risk. Others are right about the ease of traveling (except for the cost).

Were I to go again, I suspect I'd rent; arranging and shipping was a PITA although it did work out perfectly. I've also rented from Knopf; his machines aren't new, but they're mechanically sound and his prices are well below the competition.

DarrylRi's page on riding in Europe contains very good info: http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/motorcycles/europeriding.htm
 
I've ridden there three times: renting, borrowing, and finally flying my own bike over. All three experiences were awesome. The last trip was completely over the top, as I was in the Alps almost a month and my own bike fit me best. Aim for being comfortable; pffog is right about torque and risk. Others are right about the ease of traveling (except for the cost).

Hey Dave, tell us about borrowing that /5!

:)

Were I to go again, I suspect I'd rent; arranging and shipping was a PITA although it did work out perfectly. I've also rented from Knopf; his machines aren't new, but they're mechanically sound and his prices are well below the competition.

I have recommended Knopf to several people and always gotten good reports back. In fact, yesterday at our vintage group's Xmas party, one of the guys was recounting (again) how much fun he and his daughter had renting K75s from Stefan. He gives you a pay-as-you-go cell phone along with the bike and ADAC (German AAA equivalent) membership coverage.
 
If you are going to be in Pau, France this hotel is highly recommended. It is used by alot of touring motorcyclist as a day or two base camp.

http://www.kyriad-prestige-pau-centre-bosquet.fr/en/index.aspx

For detailed maps of Spain looking for short cuts etc etc try this map source. It works like google earth.

http://sigpac.mapa.es/fega/visor/ click on the center and work the controls on the right.

You maybe disappointed in Andorra but it is worth seeing. If staying near there in any of the hotels the French side is nicer.
 
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