European tour

Hi

I am planning on a Euro tour at the end of may into early June.

I am looking for suggestions for thngs to do places to see along the way ,please see my genral route below.
The route is just the general direction we will head and not tied in stone ,so we can drift as the mood takes us.

Plan on crossing to Santander ,drive over to Portugal then head to Gibralter .
Then run along the coast all the way to Italy,up over the Stelvio Pass into Switzerland ,onwards to Germany ,do a couple of laps of the Ring then home via rotterdam/Hull and the final leg home to Strichen.

Sandy

Sounds like a great trip (If only i could) Good luck.

sandy wrote:

Hi

I am planning on a Euro tour at the end of may into early June.

I am looking for suggestions for thngs to do places to see along the way ,please see my genral route below.
The route is just the general direction we will head and not tied in stone ,so we can drift as the mood takes us.

Plan on crossing to Santander ,drive over to Portugal then head to Gibralter .
Then run along the coast all the way to Italy,up over the Stelvio Pass into Switzerland ,onwards to Germany ,do a couple of laps of the Ring then home via rotterdam/Hull and the final leg home to Strichen.

Sandy

Thanks for the good wishes
I am really looking forward to it as i have never toured abroad before,iIrecently purchased a Zx9r F model, so really looking forward to doing the Ring and the Stelvio Pass

Sandy are you doing this trip on your own or is there a group of you going?

Dave

There are 2 of us going on this trip ,John who is also a member of the club ,he has just changed his RS triumph for an ST truimph (old model )there were going to be a third person but his rota has change an could no longer make it.I think for 2 pepole it will be fine as we should be able to get a room for 2 pepole easier ,i did suggest tenting but John said there is no chance he is camping.

sandy

I've not much advice to offer, not having done much Euro touring. The following sites might be worth a look though

Euro Touring 1

Euro Touring 2

Euro Touring 3

I would suggest your trip is a little ambitious for your first venture overseas.

Make sure you have European breakdown cover.

missile

Ambitious ,never as i have do a lot of traveling abroad with work ,i have driven company cars in many differant countries ,i just have never toured on a motorcycle abroad before.

Phil
Thanks for the links

How long are you going for?

Beware of over optimistic daily mileage targets because I got caught out with this when planning a run through Switzerland. What looked an easy day on the map became an eleven hour ride, averaging 30 - 35 mph overall. With photo stops, coffee stops, visiting places, the time soon disappears. An average 60 mph guesstimation is impossible to maintain.

Don't try and cram distances - you will regret it when you look back and all your time was spent riding and you don't see much or experience the areas.

My own trip to Germany and France is open ended - I have not set a daily target or booked any accommodation but will find it en route. This allows for easy, unpressurised riding days and flexibility to visit places or stay longer if I like an area.

I now aim to cover 150 miles per day, and only eat up large mileages on the motorways when it is a must to get places fast and even then 300 - 350 miles is a long day.

Also beware of the Ring - not for the faint hearted - cars are faster than bikes and don't give much room. Surface is changable, corners unreadable, and crashes numerous causing track to close. Take your time on it - there are few run off areas and plenty of crash barriers.

BMF website has touring section with good ideas and documents etc. that are a must.

My advice - go and do it, and enjoy the experience - there is not much to worry about and bikes are better treated there than in the UK.

Keith

We have 14 days to do this, as i said before we have no set itinery just the general direction .
The only things we have set in stone is the Ring and the Stelvio Pass, everything else is flexable.
we planned on about 300miles per day as our rule ,but as you said it would lead to long days in the saddle.mabye we need to miss out doubling back from Santander and doing Portugal as that will ease the milage burden a lot.
We have no accomadation booked and plan on just taking it as it comes as there are plenty of places to stay, as it is not the peak tourist season.

Neither of us are real fast riders and are just planning on doing the Ring for the experience ,we will not be trying to break any records and will more that happily move over to let faster cars/bikes pass.

We do plan on full eruo recovery insurance .

Thanks for the advice and links to more advice .
I just cant wait to get going ,unfortunatly i will not catch a wednsday ride out, untill after the holiday as i now work in Algeria on rotation ,i have sacrificed a lot of time at home to fit this holiday in .


Sandy

Other than "the ring" been there, seen it and done it all. Even riding a couple of R1's you wouldnt make it round as you'd have to keep stopping for fuel. If you would like to give me a phone at home I would be happy to discuss your trip with you with a few suggestions. Too much to write it here and my index finger is sore already. K.T.R.O.T.R. Dan.

Dan-ger

I will give you a call when i get home on April 1st, as i am currently in Algeria working.

There is no chance, I could fit all that into 14 days. Remember you will loose a day each way on the ferry, more if you go to Santander.............. but maybe you ride faster than me

Make sure you check that the ring will be open on the days you intend to go. Many days it is closed to the public for private group events. I would recomend the Dorrint Hotel which overlooks the new circuit.

I look forward to the report on your return.

The 14 days does not incluide the travel to and from Europe .
we have a full 14 days in Europe .

Checked the ring it is open all day on the Sunday before we return home ,if we miss that then there is allways the evening sessions.Thanks for the hotel recomendation.

I dont ride that fast 50-60 mph is more than fast enough, but slow enough to still see the scenery.

Sandy

Some other good links:

www.uem-moto.eu

Look for tourism section and you'll find PDF map files of various areas.

www.bestbikingroads.com

Good routes, graded by bikers.

www.alpineroads.com

More routes etc.

Keith
Thanks some cracking links their ,i will spend the next week looking through them instaed of working, this is a better use of my time i feel .

Hi Sandy, If you miss the Stelvio you can always have another go as I'm heading that way in August from Newcastle on the way to Cortina to meet some of my pals for some two weeks of "via ferratas" in the Dollies. They are flying out but I'm leaving about a week earlier to do some touring. (Camping ) I'll be using the Futura - you still got your one? Regards, Ian.

Hi Ian

I sold the Futura and have purchased a 2004 Zx9r in silver .
Got it for a song and only has 9000miles so more than happy ,although i will miss the Futura, the lumpy engine going through town and traffic started to get on my nerves,if i never had to commute on it and spent all my time on open roads, i would never have changed .

I will keep in mind about the Stelvino pass, if we cant fit it in mabye we will try and tag along with you later in the year.

Hopefully i will be able to catch up with you on the wednesday run on the 7th April (only home for 9 days for a new visa) .

sandy

Hi Sandy

I would try and avoid the ring on a Sunday if you possibly can as it is extremely busy with all the local boys.
They really know the circuit and are really scary.

I have been twice and enjoyed both visits at a comfortable speed (for me) but was moving along quite happilly along a straight at about 100-110 mph towards a fast left hand corner over a blind summit and a 1000 Gixer came past like I was standing still and he had a pillion on the back

One lap was good for the experience , the second was better because the speed was more natural but I avoided a third as the temptation creeps in that "I know the circuit" and thats not easy on a 13 Mlie route.
Highly recommended but keep a close eye on your mirrors and then ENJOY

FYG you cannot undertake a flying lap as you have to exit the circuit on each occasion.
They also do not like any sort of camera and will insist it is removed/disconnected if they see it.

The museum at the new circuit is worth a visit if you stay at the hotel that Bob is recommending.

Regarding the Stelvio , personally I would avoid ascending on the "tight" side up as it is a PITA but the other side is much more flowing and if you need to descend using the tighter side then you have a better view of the traffic approaching from below and can anticipate better (thats if the bl**dy cyclists will get out of the way .........)

Personally I would not bother with it again as there are many better passes in the area , Silvretta is particularly pretty or the Timmeljosch but I know its a place we all have to go....

I think it still costs to go through Switzerland but believe if you steer clear of the main roads the toll can be avoided , I seem to recall Keith mentioning this , perhaps he can confirm or correct that idea for you.

On the way back , if you go through Germany , I would highly recommend Cochem beside the Mosel as a place to stay (stayed twice) , biker friendly town and can recommend the Panorama Hotel.

If you are going to rely on a Satnav to do most of the route directing I would still recommend taking some basic maps because its good to have something to fall back on when the GPS gets stuck in a loop when there has been a new road lay-out put into place (Dont ask how I know..............!)

Cant think of anything else at the moment.

Have Fun

Allan

Thanks for taking the time to reply with all of your good information .

I have a freind who stays in zurich ,he told me the same thing about the passes ,he has vowed to show me some of the better passes ,when we eventually have a shift rota that is Remotely the same ,we have disscussed this for at least four yearsnow, but it has never happened yet.


Sandy

Looks like Im going to miss you Sandy as I'm down south from 1-16 April. Sorry K.T.R.O.T.R. Dan

Dan-ger

Thats a bummer ,still i have had plenty of good information from everyone and now just cant wait to get going ,i still have a lot to do,I need to service the bike ,change the tyres ,buy puncture kit,maps,,get breakdown cover ,some soft luggauge but most importantly check all my riding gear still fits, as I "may" have added a few pounds over the winter months .

Sandy

Allan is correct about the tolls - if you keep off motorways in Switzerland and Austria you do not need the 'road tax' - it's another expense you don't need. The Swiss one lasts a year - no weekly or monthly ones.

Dual carriageways and A class roads are normally OK but you need to watch out about following a dual carriageway onto a motorway. Keep an eye out for the 'off ramp' and follow the A class road that normally follows close to the motorway.

Some routes have private tolls anyway. Maps usually show marked as toll route.

The Grossglockner was E18. One lap Nurburgring is now E22 (classed a toll road). Gives an idea of costs.

Being a naturalised Aberdonian and proud Scotsman, with Gordon Brown being my hero of prudence , I have yet to purchase a 'carnet' during my travels!!

Keith

I will try to make you proud and follow your example and hopefully manage to plan a route around Europe withought paying any tolls.

You know what they say ,watch the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves(mabye that should be cents and Euros)

Sandy

Hi

can anyone recommend a puncture repair kit ,i seem to recall a couple being used on ride outs ,when required also where they were purchased and a price would be great.

Oh and can you get replacement gas canisters seperatly.

Sandy