sport-touring the Alps September 2009

[throttlemeister]

After a 2 year hiatus, a few of my (American) friends are coming back together for Eur09. We will most likely do the Alps and Dolomites again for some great motorcycle fun. The guys flying in will be renting bikes and then it is of for so many twisties it will make your head spin.

If you are experienced and want to do some real sport-touring, drop me a line and I will put you in contact of the guy doing the logistics.

This is not a commercial or organized tour. All we do is work out the route and arrange the hotel reservations, and of course try to match a group of people that are of reasonably similar experience and attitude. This is supposed to be fun, so we feel it is important the people fit together ok. This will be like a DIY trip in your wallet but worry free like a commercial tour. You don't have to worry about what the good roads are, cause we already know and will take you there.

This is not a sightseeing trip either. This is about the roads. About being one with your bike. About having so much fun riding, your cheeks start to hurt from grinning. If you want to see the sites, walk around towns and make tons of pictures of those sites and towns, look elsewhere.

This will be SPORT-touring. 'Nuf said.

It is also about mature and responsible riders that want to ride their own pace. Having people of similar skill and experience will only ensure the group doesn't get stretched out too much. People that have something to prove need not apply, as we do not enjoy scraping you of the rocks 6000ft south of where you left the road. The Alps are lots of fun, but they can also be very unforgiving. It is a place where stupidity can get you killed real quick.

So, if all this sounds interesting to you and you have some time to spare around September 2009, let me know and I will get you in the loop. This is a chance to experience something with like-minded people you will remember the rest of your life.

[sdaddy]

Wow, what a fantastic sounding trip! Thanks for putting this together throttlemeister

I don't know if I will have time in September of '09 but please keep me in the loop. Thanks again.

[throttlemeister]

My responsibilities lay mainly with the routes and showing the way. The real credit should go to a very close friend of mine living in SoCal. But thanks anyway.

[R1100SPORTour]

Sounds good.I might be interested if the $$$ doesn't go any further down the toilet.What is the planned route?I really love the spectacular routes of the french alps around Val D'Isere,Col de Turini,gorge de Verdon,the Cote D'Azur as also the italian like passo del Stelvio and Lake Como/Guzzi Museum as Groedner,Furka and Felbertauern in austria...
Hope I can make it.Riding the alps is the best!
How long and where do you start out?
Amsterdam would be nice to get in the "mood"...
A few laps on the Nuerburgring would be nice too on the way south.
How much for a R1200R per week?
Do I have to learn dutch...?

[sdaddy]

If I do have time to go, I'm looking forward to the following the routs throttlemeister and his So. Cal friend plan. Without getting too off topic, the Guzzi factory and surrounding area are beautiful. I have a few pictures posted here. Unfortunately, we took the train rather than road when we last visited...

PS, While the museum is better than the one at the BMW motorcycle factory in Berlin, the BMW factory tour is the absolute best ever!

[markjenn]

This sounds exactly like the trip I'm semi-planning in the same time frame, but we're going to free-form it on hotels so we can be flexible on weather and routes. I'm planning on basing out of Frankfurt for the cheap Lufthansa non-stop flights from Seattle. And we want to keep our group small, probably just four of us.

TM, I'd be interested in staying abreast of what you guys are planning, especially on routes and bike rentals. And if my group fades, perhaps I'd be interested in joining yours, although I will have to stay tentative until after the first of the year just to see if there is light at the end of this economic tunnel.

- Mark

[PFFOG]

I need to go back soon, the withdrawal symptoms keep getting worse.

[R1100SPORTour]

Mark,light at the end of the economic tunnel?
You crack me up,we are still in the light of the beginning.The fun times are still ahead of us.Look in the history books.Same happened last time in 1929.
The rest is as they say history...

[signit98]

by mid '09 we'll be off better than we are now... patience is the key here!

[throttlemeister]

Originally Posted by markjenn

This sounds exactly like the trip I'm semi-planning in the same time frame, but we're going to free-form it on hotels so we can be flexible on weather and routes. I'm planning on basing out of Frankfurt for the cheap Lufthansa non-stop flights from Seattle. And we want to keep our group small, probably just four of us.

TM, I'd be interested in staying abreast of what you guys are planning, especially on routes and bike rentals. And if my group fades, perhaps I'd be interested in joining yours, although I will have to stay tentative until after the first of the year just to see if there is light at the end of this economic tunnel.

- Mark

Mark,

weather is usually not an issue at all in September, especially on the south side of the Alps. Or I have been extremely lucky the last 10 years orso.

Anyway, once I get more details I will post up here for all. This will likely be towards January. Do realize that we will want to have a group of max 9 people. More gets difficult to handle. That's not to hurry anyone's decision, but it will mean that if we have more people interested we will select the people that appear to fit best into the group, both experience and personality wise. We like to have fun with old friends and new friends, not babysit or try to keep the peace within the group.

[Guest24]

Originally Posted by signit98

by mid '09 we'll be off better than we are now... patience is the key here!

Don't know who's glass ball you're looking into, Ralf; but, I sure hope you're correct.

[R1100SPORTour]

signit98,last time we saw a meltdown like this was 1929.The only difference from today is that the same people who caused/benefit from this mess control also the media so that everything is still relatively calm because people still don't know what is really going on.
The $700 billion for the banks hasn't done nothing but giving the CEOs and their families a nice retirement nestegg for future generations.Wallstreet still in freefall.
Us paying the bill,just more tax to pay and further weakend the $$$.
Mortgage defaults are going on,every 30 seconds one in CA alone...
10 billion a month waisted in Iraq.
New money printed by the "federal Reserve" without having to show the books like any other banana republik in south america or africa did/does with the same result in the end.Can you say "waehrungsreform"?
50 million americans still without health insurance and pharmaceutical companies charging without any cap on it.Taxpayer footing the bill for the waste,proft for the few.
The biggest car company GM and Ford/Chrysler in tow and with it another 2,5 million jobs on top of already 10 million americans looking for a job.Probably more because the ones still out of a job after 90 days don't get counted anymore.
But even if the big 3 get their bridge-loan still nobody will buy their product because the $2 gasoline will soon be $4 gasoline again.
On top of that we need billions on our infrastructure.Our roads and bridges are falling apart as our education system and running away costs of college tuition.
B.t.w. the last crisis in 1929 lasted until 1933 and the rest is history...
I don't think Obama get's a handle on all that by mid 09...
He will be a great president IF he gets it fixed by 012.
We'll see...

[hjr1100s]

I think that sums it up quite nicely, SPORTour.

I think the US is in deep *****, but .... I have to admire your spirit. If mobilised (i.e. by Obama) the people of the USA at at their best when things at at their worst (sounds like a movie quote and I think it is...) and it wouldn't surprise me that the US will come out on top .... in a few years.

The last 8 years US policy seemed to clinge to values of the past, projecting them to the future, hoping things could stay as they were. I (and most Europeans) agree with Obama when he sais 'Change we need' (what exactly that means is yet to be seen). The current crisis could be looked at as a chance to change, let go of old dogma“s, and bring US society to a different (note: not necesseraly a 'higher') level were focus is on well being for the most and not on material posession for the few.

Never been to the US but what I've learned from it, it is beautifull.. it could be beautifull to live there too.

... amen.

Now, on the Alps.... never been there by motorbike.... and will not join this trip either. For those who do, have fun!

HJ

[R1100SPORTour]

HJ I really don't think the US can pull out of this.
The manufacturing base is gone;to china.
As also so called "high tech" jobs to china and india for profit reasons...
Our remaining "industries" as finance,retail,war and prisons produce really nothing...
And Obama already appointed people to top positions that will really change nothing except put new faces on the same old failed policies,benefitting the same few.I would be really surprised if the CHANGE we need really comes from the top.
It will come from the bottom,like in the 30's in europe and later with the new deal in the 40's in the US...
That is my prediction after seeing the first appointments for "Change"...
Like the old french proverb;The more things change,the more they stay the same!
Back to the Alps;the best riding there is!Great food and awesome scenery,too!
Every motorcyclist who can afford it should do it at least once in his lifetime!
Not with "Edelweiss",though.Waaay overpriced...
The french alps and Cote D'Azur are the best!Italy nice,too.Austria,ok but too much police.Swiss alps,not good.Cost of living and fines ridicolous!Besides that it is still pretty...
Good book,upgraded every year.Alpenstrassenfuehrer from Denzel!
Best motorcycle;R1200R/Alpenmaster...
Hope I be able to a$$ord it next year...
Otherwise I'll go to Ushuaia instead...

[on2wheels52]

tm
I had penciled in returning in sept of '10 but will certainly consider this affair. No doubt many questions will be answered when you post the update. Waiting to see how many km/day will be covered. 300 was about all I could manage. More would be possible if I didn't have to pull over to check a map so often (wouldn't get as good a geography lesson though).
Jim

[throttlemeister]

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

tm
I had penciled in returning in sept of '10 but will certainly consider this affair. No doubt many questions will be answered when you post the update. Waiting to see how many km/day will be covered. 300 was about all I could manage. More would be possible if I didn't have to pull over to check a map so often (wouldn't get as good a geography lesson though).
Jim

Jim, we generally aim for ~300km a day. And about 5 to 8 major passes in between. A few smoke/pee/drink/photo stops, lunch and about 10 hours and lots of giggles later we are back at a hotel. Repeat for a week and you have one hell of an experience.

[on2wheels52]

I'm certainly interested. I was hoping to hook up with someone for the next trip. Will await the details in January or so. That would be plenty of lead time. That was when I started getting serious about going this year and was able to pull off the trip in mid-May.
Jim

[Jeff Williams]

trying to ride Ireland in July, but this might be interesting.

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by hjr1100s

...the Alps.... never been there by motorbike...and will not join this trip either.

...must be the Yamaha ; yes...?!

[Jeff Williams]

Originally Posted by hjr1100s

I think that sums it up quite nicely, SPORTour.

I think the US is in deep *****, but .... I have to admire your spirit. If mobilised (i.e. by Obama) the people of the USA at at their best when things at at their worst (sounds like a movie quote and I think it is...) and it wouldn't surprise me that the US will come out on top .... in a few years.

The last 8 years US policy seemed to clinge to values of the past, projecting them to the future, hoping things could stay as they were. I (and most Europeans) agree with Obama when he sais 'Change we need' (what exactly that means is yet to be seen). The current crisis could be looked at as a chance to change, let go of old dogma“s, and bring US society to a different (note: not necessarily a 'higher') level were focus is on well being for the most and not on material posession for the few.

Never been to the US but what I've learned from it, it is beautifull.. it could be beautifull to live there too.

... amen.

Now, on the Alps.... never been there by motorbike.... and will not join this trip either. For those who do, have fun!

HJ

Please..............
Try and find a political forum to inform them what you have read, watched on the teli, heard on the radio to form your opinion,(which is valuable). IMO we are bombarded with both sides hourly, can't you give it a rest and let us talk bikes, and fantasize about riding in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It this keeps up I swear i go to the porn channel.
In other words :Please relax.
thank you,
jeff.
Please post pictures,(of the trip not political arsebags from any country of the IMF)