Touring Germany
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX & Santa Fe, NM when I can find the time....
You might PM Forum Member "German Ladyrider". She's a pretty active member and looks like she rides a lot from her posts and profile. She's done some riding in the US on her visits as well.
Stage I
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
touring switzerland and alps
saw your thread. going to switzerland (Geneva) for 4 days . Want to work a 7-10 day bike trip around that. considering fly n ride out of frankfurt or renting a bike (probably bmwr1200rt) in thun or bern area closer to geneva. wish to focus mainly on alps have toured the rhone, rhine, venice, romantic road ludwig etc bb4, but never switzerland. any thoughts? is it practical to rent in frankfurt and do a one week through the alps/ would it be better to rent in switzerland?
I just left Germany after 4 yrs in Feb. I was up in KTown not to far from where you are going. I put 10 or 15 thousand miles on the sporty while I was there and another 20,000 on the deluxe the last 1.5 yrs that I was there. Riding there is GREAT. I believe there is a HD Dealer in Wurzburg and I know that there is one in Frankfurt. Also if you check with the places off base that sell American spec cars like Auto Exchange, Pentegon Car Sales and a few other places that have established around the military bases over there. Alot of times they will have Harleys that they rent. Anywhere you go over there though be ready to pay pretty good money. The exchange rate over there today is alot different than when you were over there before, but you have been back on buisiness so you already know that. Anyway, definitly get up to the black forest and to the Alps, awsome areas up there. If you are retired military or still hold an ID you can go to Eidelweiss (spell check) in Garmish and stay. The view of the Alps from there is great. Also over around the Rhine River area is alot of great riding. My personal opinion is stay away from France. It is a nice country but crazy drivers. Also Belgium is a great area. The people there are the nicest people that you'll meet in Europe and the weather tends to be a bit nicer there. Anyway, I hope this helps. Enjoy your trip, be safe, take lots of pics and let us know how it turns out.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,961
Likes: 263
From: Conroe Texas
I did Frankfurt through the Aust Swiss Italian and French alps, granted I hauled *** and did not stop often but I also seen Normandy and Paris in that 6 - 7 days. Yes if you are doing just the Alps in 7 - 10 days Frankfurt is the way to go. Only $125 per day for brand new Ultra, think you will find the BMW twice as much or more.
saw your thread. going to switzerland (Geneva) for 4 days . Want to work a 7-10 day bike trip around that. considering fly n ride out of frankfurt or renting a bike (probably bmwr1200rt) in thun or bern area closer to geneva. wish to focus mainly on alps have toured the rhone, rhine, venice, romantic road ludwig etc bb4, but never switzerland. any thoughts? is it practical to rent in frankfurt and do a one week through the alps/ would it be better to rent in switzerland?
The real problem in Germany are highways. All roads are highways ... long, straight and terribly boring.
If you decide not to drive on highways, stumble upon a road that passes through several thousands of cities that are connected in a big city, hundreds of kilometers long. Thousands of pedestrian crossings and traffic lights every 500 meters.
Make your route very carefully, because your journey can become a nightmare.
Do not forget that the highways in Germany, there are no restrictions on speed. The left lane is reserved for the big Benz, Audi and Porsche, which fly with 250 km/h.
If you decide not to drive on highways, stumble upon a road that passes through several thousands of cities that are connected in a big city, hundreds of kilometers long. Thousands of pedestrian crossings and traffic lights every 500 meters.
Make your route very carefully, because your journey can become a nightmare.
Do not forget that the highways in Germany, there are no restrictions on speed. The left lane is reserved for the big Benz, Audi and Porsche, which fly with 250 km/h.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 800
Likes: 27
From: In the Pacific Northwest, a few hours east of Seattle.
I just returned from a 2 week visit to Germany. We did a lot of riding around, but most of it was in a rental car.
Only comment I have is that a GPS is priceless over there. We downloaded the local maps, and that Garmin never missed a beat. When we needed gasoline, it led us to the local Esso (cheaper with a US service member ID card - gasoline over there was between $6 and $8 per gallon - be advised...); when we needed parking in a city the GPS routed us to the nearest parking lot, etc. Many streets in some cities are one way, very narrow, and its easy to become lost or find yourself in a bad location to maneuver in. The GPS avoided all that, and I suggest it's something you consider!
Best, and enjoy the trip!
Doc
Only comment I have is that a GPS is priceless over there. We downloaded the local maps, and that Garmin never missed a beat. When we needed gasoline, it led us to the local Esso (cheaper with a US service member ID card - gasoline over there was between $6 and $8 per gallon - be advised...); when we needed parking in a city the GPS routed us to the nearest parking lot, etc. Many streets in some cities are one way, very narrow, and its easy to become lost or find yourself in a bad location to maneuver in. The GPS avoided all that, and I suggest it's something you consider!
Best, and enjoy the trip!
Doc
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,961
Likes: 263
From: Conroe Texas
So true about GPS, I loaded the Europe maps, also set the avoidance settings for no interstates highways and toll roads a fe days interesting riding. Dont do that in cities though.
I just returned from a 2 week visit to Germany. We did a lot of riding around, but most of it was in a rental car.
Only comment I have is that a GPS is priceless over there. We downloaded the local maps, and that Garmin never missed a beat. When we needed gasoline, it led us to the local Esso (cheaper with a US service member ID card - gasoline over there was between $6 and $8 per gallon - be advised...); when we needed parking in a city the GPS routed us to the nearest parking lot, etc. Many streets in some cities are one way, very narrow, and its easy to become lost or find yourself in a bad location to maneuver in. The GPS avoided all that, and I suggest it's something you consider!
Best, and enjoy the trip!
Doc
Only comment I have is that a GPS is priceless over there. We downloaded the local maps, and that Garmin never missed a beat. When we needed gasoline, it led us to the local Esso (cheaper with a US service member ID card - gasoline over there was between $6 and $8 per gallon - be advised...); when we needed parking in a city the GPS routed us to the nearest parking lot, etc. Many streets in some cities are one way, very narrow, and its easy to become lost or find yourself in a bad location to maneuver in. The GPS avoided all that, and I suggest it's something you consider!
Best, and enjoy the trip!
Doc
For example look at "Route 290" here: http://maps.google.bg/maps?f=d&sourc...=UTF8&t=h&z=15
The distances between small towns and villages is kilometer or less.
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Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,961
Likes: 263
From: Conroe Texas
I didnt say it was easy, it is fun though, if ya have some time to blow, did not do just in Germany did in France which has some interesting roads, Austria also. Like many on this board I lived there from 82 to 86, tore up some road and country side (literally) with my track. Was good to get back and see how much changes and stays the same in my old neighborhood. I still go over to Europe about 6 - 10 times per year for buisiness, in Rome in two weeks so I know the car experience pretty well, different on a bike.
Believe me, this is not at all easy. I passed through Germany more than 10 times by car and a motorcycle.
For example look at "Route 290" here: http://maps.google.bg/maps?f=d&sourc...=UTF8&t=h&z=15
The distances between small towns and villages is kilometer or less.
For example look at "Route 290" here: http://maps.google.bg/maps?f=d&sourc...=UTF8&t=h&z=15
The distances between small towns and villages is kilometer or less.