Alps Tour

[rayma60927]

Me And A Friend Of Mine Are Planning A Edelweiss Tour Of The Alps Next Summer. Were Looking At The One Called The High Alps Tour Or The Alps Touring Center Trip. Has Anyone Out There Been On These Tours. If So What Are Your Impressions, Rates Are Cheaper In Early June And Early October. I Was Considering Useing A Rt 1200 For The Weather Protection But It Is Tempting To Take The 650 V- Strom Since It Is Over $1000 Less Than The Rt Or Gs. What Kind Of Weather Conditions And Temperatures Did You Experiance. Thanks For Any Tips You Have.

[GlobalRider]

Rates Are Cheaper In Early June And Early October.

Well I've never been there in October, but depending on the weather, it can be iffy.

June is when I go every year. There is far less traffic than July and August (from what I've heard) and accomodation is also a bit cheaper.

Now it can get cool but not cold. I think the lowest temp I've seen in all my years there is about 5°C but that is rare. It can get very hot though and I've seen it as high as mid 30°C. Count on low to upper 20s.


I Was Considering Using A RT 1200 For The Weather Protection But It Is Tempting To Take The 650 V- Strom.

The 650 V-Strom was Alps König (King) in Motorrad magazine twice. Its all you need for the roads you'll be on and a lot easier to handle in the very tight stuff. Another good one may be the new F650 which was now crowned Alps King (I take reviews very lightly though).

I wouldn't want a bike with a fairing in the Alps for a couple of reasons: no wind flow, meaning its too hot, and if you drop it...break out the wallet. The hand protectors on my GS Adventure cut the airflow to my hands enough to make riding uncomfortable on hot days.

Since you mentioned costs, you might want to go off on your own self-guided tour. It'll run you less than half the price of an organized tour.

One thing is for sure, no matter what you decide on, you'll have the ride of your life.

[pffog]

What G R said.

BUT..................if you are going on an organized tour look at Beach's motorcycle adventures.
First they are the Oldest tour operator in the Alps.
Second they are an American company.
Third they are 2 week tours, and as GR said "One thing is for sure, no matter what you decide on, you'll have the ride of your life" so spend the extra $$ and make it the trip of a lifetime.
Fourth, I have meet several people on Beach tours that had done Edelweiss, and ALL have said that the Beach tours were superior for many reasons.
Fifth, 6 days riding in the Alps is NOT enough, you will kick yourself in the a$$ for not staying longer, I promise!

G R spends a lot of time there and I have as well, still find new things every trip, and hate having to come home, it is with out a doubt the best $$$ you will spend on this hobby!

[MLS2GO]

Highly recommend Beach. Rob Beach is an extraordinary rider and has many special roads you would never find on your own. Riding is very different there, personally I was very happy to have someone with that level of exsperience educating me to the differences. My wife and I went on his Classic Alpine Adventure and it was unreal. To fly that far and only do 7 days would be a shame. It takes 1 or 2 days to get over the jet lag. Do not take the RT. I ride a RT at home and they consvinced me to take the GS, and that was the right bike. A V Strom would seem to be a good choice also. I hadn't dropped a bikle in 7 years and did so when I had to suddenly stop in a hairpin. Small damage on the GS, would have been big $ on the RT. Riding is much more technical there and the roads are very narrow compared to US mountains, but the drivers and riders are much more skilled than the average US drivers and riders in my opinion. We started in Germany, travelled thru Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland Italy Slovenia and back to Munich. Here's an exasmple of the switchbacks
http://mls2go.smugmug.com/photos/356555692_CrSmW-L.jpg

Here's a 500 year old Italian Villa we stayed in

http://mls2go.smugmug.com/photos/356563855_Yiq3t-L.jpg

[franze]

I jlust returned to CA after living in Switzerland for three years. This past year, the big Swiss passes didn't open til the first week in June. Most passes should be open in October. Typically, the big passes are closed from November-May. I rode year round on an RT. I don't know what your route is but I really liked the Dolomites and the French Alps between Nice and Grenoble. For your bike, the smaller one will be more fun if you're not packing a bunch of stuff. You will have a great time. Don't forget your rain suit whenever you go. I have loads of maps and am happy to send you copies of any areas you are interested in, also, have ridden pretty much everywhere you can go without crossing saltwater on a boat or train if you have questions.

[gsjay]

Here's a 500 year old Italian Villa we stayed in

http://mls2go.smugmug.com/photos/356563855_Yiq3t-L.jpg[/QUOTE]

I stayed in this Villa in 1990 while on a Edelweiss Best of the Alps tour.

It's outside of Riva if my memory is correct.

Beautiful place for sure.
Jason

[GlobalRider]

6 days riding in the Alps is NOT enough, you will kick yourself in the a$$ for not staying longer, I promise!

How very true.

It would be like having one scoop of ice cream instead of a bucket of ice cream...if you are an ice cream fanatic like me. :D

Hate having to come home.

I got back July 6th and I've hardly had my GS out since then. So that is the downside to riding the Alps unless you have equally great roads where you live.

[GlobalRider]

This past year, the big Swiss passes didn't open till the first week in June. Most passes should be open in October.

Both ends are "luck of the draw" and I've been lucky as I've never had to deviate from my route yet except for a few road closures due to an earthslide caused by heavy rain.

But yes, you can find snow up there. Three days after the start of summer on the Col d'Iseran...

http://web.ncf.ca/fm395/2001%20Euro%20Tour/0125.jpg

All roads & passes were open and the snow does add something to the pics.

[GlobalRider]

Rob Beach is an extraordinary rider and has many special roads you would never find on your own. We started in Germany, travelled thru Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland Italy Slovenia and back to Munich.

Another rider on another forum pointed that out to me and looking at the route you took, it looks like he was on the same tour since he went with Beach as well.

He was telling me how they ended up on this very narrow road that went through three even more narrow tunnels that ended up on a ski hill before descending back down the road on the other side. This was while there were en-route from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Villach via Slovenia (over the Predil and Vrsic pass no doubt). Note 1.

Well he did say I would never have found that road on my own, so I had to have a bit of fun with the guy :stick. Rob took him over Monte Zoncolan from the town of Ovaro to the town of Sutrio. Been there, done that, I told him without being shown.

Here is a link to some pics...Monte Zoncolan (http://www.explorermagazin.de/diverse/zonc02.htm)

I took a video down from the ski hill to Ovaro (the western and more interesting side of the pass) back in 2002 and remember those muddy tunnels as well as the 2' high earth slide I had to ride over at the opening of the second tunnel with my old R65 at that time.

Note 1: he related that he was just following the leader and didn't have a clue where he was most of the time. That is the downside to being led, so I'd suggest to anyone going who wants to later retrace their routes, to bring a GPS that track logs all the daily rides onto the micro SD card (Garmin 60 Cx for example).

[pffog]

How very true.

It would be like having one scoop of ice cream instead of a bucket of ice cream...if you are an ice cream fanatic like me. :D



I got back July 6th and I've hardly had my GS out since then. So that is the downside to riding the Alps unless you have equally great roads where you live.


Totally agree with the second comment, but on the first I have to take you to task..........

.................GELATO kills ice cream in taste texture and variety. My favorite is a scoop of Ananas (pineapple) and coco (Coconut) Yum

Also agree with the GPS, I will pitch Beach again, Rob will rent you a GPS, with these small hard to find routes in them so you can have a "guided tour" while you ride on your own bike, at your own pace, not in a herd of riders. Beach, unlike many others does NOT require you to ride with a guide, if you don't want to. As he says, "this is YOUR vacation, you make the choices", they take care of all the logistics so you don't have to.

[GlobalRider]

Also agree with the GPS, I will pitch Beach again, Rob will rent you a GPS, with these small hard to find routes in them so you can have a "guided tour" while you ride on your own bike, at your own pace, not in a herd of riders. Beach, unlike many others does NOT require you to ride with a guide, if you don't want to. As he says, "this is YOUR vacation, you make the choices", they take care of all the logistics so you don't have to.

Well I'll pitch Self-Guided tours because I'd hate to see anyone not go due to organized tours not being in their budget. Key word here being "budget". I've always said I'd prefer to go twice at half the cost.

As for those hard-to-find routes, all one needs are good maps and an imagination.

Its unfortunate that all we read about in the ON are overseas tours done by riders on organized tours (interestingly by one that advertizes in the ON). Maybe that is why most think its the one and only way to go.

Here is a report by a couple that went self-guided this past July...
First Timers Alps Tour (http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,28553.0.html)

[DarrylRi]

As for those hard-to-find routes, all one needs are good maps and an imagination.

Or a copy of John Hermann's book Motorcycle Adventures in the Alps and Corsica. That's how I got started, just looked through his book and highlighted all the 2 star passes on my map, then strung them together. It was easy, and I had a great time.

[GlobalRider]

Or a copy of John Hermann's book Motorcycle Adventures in the Alps and Corsica. That's how I got started, just looked through his book and highlighted all the 2 star passes on my map, then strung them together. It was easy, and I had a great time.

The other way round for me, even though I already had his book prior to my first tour over.

I used detailed maps (1:250 000 or better, preferably 1:200 000) and just picked out the good roads over dinner.

Funny thing was, when I got back from my tours, I'd just go into his book and tick them off; been there, been there....been there, ooops been there...he hasn't. ;)

What his book doesn't cover are the really out of the way back roads which I absolutely love to ride; yes, some are gravel.

BTW Darryl, check out Denzel's Motorrad Touren series (http://www.denzel-verlag.de). Not in English, but the maps and pics are top notch.

[DarrylRi]

Sure, but we're talking about someone getting started. People who get the maps and plot out the twistiest courses aren't the ones who feel the need to sign up for a $6k Edelweiss Adventure, right? ;)

It's those who are concerned about what routes they might take will find far more than 2 weeks' worth of possibilities listed in Hermann's book. And he also has much reasuring advice about hotels and food.

Once you've got the bug, of course, you know that there's absolutely no reason to pay Werner Wachter, unless you just don't want to carry your own luggage around.

(I know someone who has ridden the Alps extensively, but continues to sign up for tours with Edelweiss or Beach's, just for the convenience of the luggage truck. He ignores their routing and finds his own way to the next night's hotel. Pretty expensive way to go, if you ask me, but it's right for him.)

[GlobalRider]

I know someone who has ridden the Alps extensively, but continues to sign up for tours with Edelweiss or Beach's, just for the convenience of the luggage truck.

Darryl, do happen to know what they pack that they can't get away with a set of BMW luggage for 2 weeks...or do they choose to bring so much clothes so they won't have to do a wash? :scratch

I'm gone between 4 and 6 weeks and only recently added a GiVi top case for the convenience during day trips (when I leave my BMW luggage at the hotel). You wouldn't believe the stuff I pack and I have room to spare.

[pffog]

Darryl, do happen to know what they pack that they can't get away with a set of BMW luggage for 2 weeks...or do they choose to bring so much clothes so they won't have to do a wash? :scratch ....................


They pack everything up to and including the kitchen sink... On my first tour in '99, one woman had 4 LARGE suitcases, and insisted they be brought to her room every night. I have seen solo riders show up with 3 large cases as well, even though Beach has a very good list for them to follow when packing.

It may change now you have to pay extra on the airlines.

[GlobalRider]

They pack everything up to and including the kitchen sink... On my first tour in '99, one woman had 4 LARGE suitcases, and insisted they be brought to her room every night. I have seen solo riders show up with 3 large cases as well, even though Beach has a very good list for them to follow when packing.

Oh my God! Seasoned world travellers as I can see. Little wonder that "woman" had to use an organized tour; how does she tour stateside? They must have watched the Long Way Round and taken tips from there. Do you remember all the "free" stuff that Ewan and Charley threw out in Russia?


It may change now you have to pay extra on the airlines.

2 pieces at 50 pounds each is the limit now. Hell, that limit even included a set of Tourances and other maintenance related items I brought along last June. :laugh

[DarrylRi]

Basically, I think my friend is lazy and can afford it. He also likes having less weight on the bike, and doesn't have to have a list of essentials. Seems odd to me, but it works for him.

[GlobalRider]

Basically, I think my friend can afford it. He doesn't have to have a list of essentials.

So can I, but I must be Scottish. :laugh

Darryl, do you have a tour checklist that you use to pack? I hate having to reinvent the wheel so I've put a couple together for domestic and international tours due to different needs for each.

[DarrylRi]

Darryl, do you have a tour checklist that you use to pack? I hate having to reinvent the wheel so I've put a couple together for domestic and international tours due to different needs for each.

No, I'm not that organized. But I'm a simple guy; if I forget something, then I buy it along the way. I don't really pack differently for domestic and international trips; the only distinction I make is whether I'm camping or not.

Even then, I have a waterproof bag that has all my camping gear already in it. If you call me tonight and say let's go camping tomorrow, I just have to throw this bag on my bike. Likewise, my laptop dispatch bag already has my universal power supply, my camera battery charger, and an adapter for Europe.