Last summer's trip round the Alps, the memories & photos - SV650.org

06-01-07, 02:14 PM

Last Summer's Trip round the Alps - 2006

As I'm bored and recovering from Chrimbo thought I'd write up my summer trip with the SV, apologies if it turns into a bit of a novel.

Day -1 Packed up the SV in my underground garage with panniers stuffed with clothes, tools, maps, mars bars, ear plugs and my haynes manual. Whilst pratting about leaning the bike over (can't remember why) the extra weight loaded help the bike take it's own course to the ground with me astride, Doh! Luckily the bulk of the soft luggage, crash bungs and bar ends prevented any damage , although dragging myself out from the loaded SV was amusing. Not an auspicious start.

Day1

Leuven, Belgium - Morez,France via Luxembourg

Well set off on the first day in the drizzle and gloom, heading down the autoroute, through Luxembourg and then on in to France, heading towards Metz. Once in France the rain started to hammer down, and even with my home made fenda extenda the old wet front spark started to kick in, no doubt due to the horrendous spray. So i pulled over into a layby with ****oir to rev the engine and get it to dry out (normal trick). Whilst on the bike and revving it I leant over to check connections as itwas still running rough ato check the connections, where upon it cut out completely. B*ll*c*s I thought, 1st day and stuff is already going wrong. After a quick trip to the old ****oir and very damp I tried frantically to start it , including numerous Bump start attempts (in full leathers with with all in one waterproofs!). Iwas soon pretty sweaty and very damp so dug the haynes manual out, started looking through the trouble shooting guide.

Engine turns but doesn't start - Check kill switch position -Doh, I'd knocked it whilst leant over examing the bike.

She started up sweetly, I was annoyed with myself but pleased with the bike so we headed back on to the autoroute on to Metz then Nancy, heading off for St Die, where the rain started to clear and myself and a Lancia had fun overtaking the slower traffic at about 160 km/h, not racing but companionable high speed cruising. Then it was up and over the Vosges by the Col du Bonhomme, a great road. Stopped off for lunch in Kayserberg, the pretty place below:

Then on it was down along the bottom of the Vosges, past Colmar and Belfort, before heading into the hills and rain again that start to make up the Doubs and Jura. This would have been great riding country if I could have seen it, but low cloud and mist made it more of an endurance test whilst I slogged it to Morez to the worst and most expensive hotel of the trip.

Day 2

Morez, France - Isola, France via Switzerland, France and Italy

Got up to be greeted by a grey day but dry so got to set off without waterproofs, a bit of a luxury, after all this was the continent at the end of summer. Crossed over the Jura, some twisties that were quite nice, to be greeted by the sight of Lake Geneva with the Alps in the background, below.

Down to and through Geneva, before heading out towards La Clusaz and on to start the Col Bashing proper.

So the Cols started, Col Des Aravis, Col Des Saisles, Col de Meraillet:

And on over the Cormet de Roseland down into Bourg St Maurice. In Bourg I had another hiccup after a bit of a premonition as I came into town. Looking down at my map on my tank bag I looked up and the car in fronnt had stopped dead. I hit the brakes but grabbed a bit too much front too quickly, the front locked up and slid out from underneath me and the SV, so we hit the deck for the second time the trip, doing only a couple of mph! Luckily for me (but not my ego) this happened outside a french bar at lunch time, so I was soon surrounded by french workers who manhandled me and the bike back to a vertical position and helped push me over to the side of the road. No damage at all, just a light suff on one of my oxfoed panniers, an overdose of adrenalin and a reminder not to let my guard down in towns. Sure it brightened up the Frogs day. After checking the bikeover I decided to get straight back on and had a good blast up to Val D'Isere, keeping a brit on a black kwak 636 company until I stopped for fuel.

Then it was up over the Col De l'Iseran:

A little surreal because I'd skied over there a few months previously!

From then it was up the Col du Mt Cenis, dropping down to Italy, bur not literally! Back to France via the Col du Montgenevre to Briancon and on to the Col D'Izoard with a bit of drizzle and some amazing coloured rocks. On to vars and the Col de Vars, before heading for the Col de la Bonette, the highest road in western Europe. The road goes over the top, with an extra loop around the peak to take the height title. Bleak didn't describe the place, the low cloud just scudded over the peaks, the fierce wind blew gravel and rocks over the road, it felt treacherous, with huge drops down to the valleys below. I managed to stop for a photo but feared the little SV could be blown over!

From then on it was down to Isola, nestling in the Vallee de la Tinee, the evening heat of summer France hitting me after the freshness of the mountains. Spent an amusing night drinking it up with some French electricians who were installing snow cannons. Was still up bright and breezy for the next day though.

Day 3

Isola, France - Lake Como, Italy

Headed off southwards towards the Med, through the pine filled valleys in the soft morning sun to Nice, then along the Cote D'Azur towards Monaco.

The heat was starting to build by now and I hit monaco, managed a lap of Monte Carlo, taking in some of the GP course, including the tunnel, stopping for a photo in the harbour.

It was then back up towards the mountains but the heat didn't seem to be abating and I was getting pretty dehydrated. On to Sospel, then through the tunnel Di Tendi to Italy.

After a bit of faffing on some good and some not so good country roads in Italy it was on to the Auto Strada round Turin (mad on a bike!), on up pass kilometres of roadworks to Milan, and past, the Alps a constant reminder to my left rising out of the plains.

Dropped down to lake Como at rush hour and low on fuel, just going with the flow as on a trip like this you can't be bothered to ride at pace the whole time.

After a while along the western shore I manegd to find a bed for the night.

Day 4

Lake Como, Italy - Lienz Austria

After the bonus of not having had to pay for the previous evening's food and wine (the language barrier meant the owner didn'tundersatned me) I headed on along the lake shore. it was then a bit of a slog up to Bormio, with the roads opening out and the more mountainous feeling increasing the closer we got. I was feeling good heading back to the mountains, it was amazing how quickly withdrawl symptoms set in.

So after some tart in Bormio (of the cake kind) it was up and over the famous Passo dello Stelvio (Stelvio pass).
A great road where the little SV showed up some bigger bikes, even though the altitude effect meant full throttle on all the straightish bits and a greatly reduced top speed!

It was then a case of heading down.

And then at the bottom they were still fixing the road!

So the SV got to do some off roading!

From there it was on past Bolzano to the dolomites and some great passes and chocolate tart. There were loads of great passes that all linked up, a lap could even have been possible. A great plave to visit on a bike and a life time must do.

From there on to Cortina and in to Austria to Lienz, some great fast flowing roads in the valley bottom.

Day 5

Lienz, Austria - Lech am Arlberg, Austria

Set off in more glorious weather up to the Grosslockner Hoch Alpen Strasse, with a bit of a detour off to look at the Franz Josef Glacier

The comparison of the Glacier to pictures in the '30s and 40s was amzing, the depth is now about 1/3 of what it used to be. Man inducedClimate Change? Natural variation? It does make you think though, and question the burning of fossil fuels for a holiday jaunt, but didn't stop me enjoying myself.

There were a few of these marmottes up there:

Fat buggers about the size of a wide cat. A few ran out on me on the way back to join the main pass, lickily they changed their mind when they saw the mighty SV, that fluff would have made a right mess!

On up to the top of the pass for some great views and a bike car park with all manner of machines, back street heroes, BMW tourers, sports bikes, off roaders and one great SV!

Then it was back down into the valleys on some more great and fast flowing Austrian roads, then heading of to the Gerloss pass, before dropping down to Zillertal.

A bit of highway bashing past Innsbruck before being able to head off past Ischgl and up to the Bielerhohe, and a great view of Puiz Buin and some Apple Strudel.

Then it was back towards St Anton before heading off to Lech am Arlberg for my final night.

Day 6

Lech, Austria - Leuven, Belgium via Germany and Holland.

I was sad to be leaving the mountains behind me,

With only the Hochtanbergpass to go before heading into the softer hills that lead down to Germany.

On to Wangen where I joined the Autobahns and began my flog back, sitting at 180 km/h the fuel light would just start to flash as my bum and body would start to cry out. Suprisingly I found a tight tuck more comfortable and distributed my weight better. Past Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Koln, through Holland and back to Belgium in a blur that was finished with a beer.

I had a great time on some great roads, met some interesting people, was amazed by the talents of the SV and my endurance, about 3500 km in 6 days, not a bad average taking intto account the number of mountain passes.

I was left the next day feeling a little empty. Why wasn't I getting on the bike again?

Do it, you know you want to. Don't put it off.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

Tim

DarrenSV650S · 06-01-07, 02:57 PM

I hate you people,

you make me so jealous

Fantastic post mate

I'm planning a trip in the summer....as long as I have the funds

Stingo · 06-01-07, 03:03 PM

Very nice. I'm very envious...don't think the wife will let me go.

06-01-07, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

I hate you people,

you make me so jealous

Fantastic post mate

I'm planning a trip in the summer....as long as I have the funds

Thanks for the thumbs up.

As for costs, it's not horrific, you can find basic hotels in Europe for €40-50/night, around £25-30/night.

Then it's just fuel and food really, and a cheap ferry or tunnel crossing.

Hope your planning come to fruition!

DarrenSV650S · 06-01-07, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

Thanks for the thumbs up.

As for costs, it's not horrific, you can find basic hotels in Europe for €40-50/night, around £25-30/night.

Then it's just fuel and food really, and a cheap ferry or tunnel crossing.

Hope your planning come to fruition!

I'm actauly thinking of going to France across the Alps. I'm half way through reading the long way round

I remember seeing a website about planning trips to the Alps, but can't find it now

Luckypants · 06-01-07, 04:15 PM

My plan for trips to the Alps are always the same

1) Pack gear
2) Fuel up
3) Drive south

normally manage to find em! The Pyranees are pretty awesome too, never been on a bike, but in a car, roads are brilliant and less busy that the Alps

06-01-07, 04:30 PM

[quote="DarrenSV650SI'm actauly thinking of going to France across the Alps. I'm half way through reading the long way round

I remember seeing a website about planning trips to the Alps, but can't find it now

[/quote]

Is this the site you were looking for:

http://www.alpineroads.com/index.php

Useful for giving you a taste of where to look to ride.

DarrenSV650S · 06-01-07, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

Is this the site you were looking for:

http://www.alpineroads.com/index.php

Useful for giving you a taste of where to look to ride.

Thats the one, cheers :P
Looking at those photo's again, the scenery is just jaw dropping
Especially this one

Can you imagine living there and waking up to that every morning?

Did you do this trip on your own?

06-01-07, 04:47 PM

Unfortunately I don't think my photos did justice to the scnery, I missed out so much and lack photographic skills, point and shoot when I remember!

Yep Darren, did this trip by myself as I didn't know many other bikers in Belgium.

It was quite nice being on my own, I could go where I want, when I wanted at whatever speed I liked, and found that there were people to chat to most evenings. Although after 500-600 kms after some food, beer and wine I was usually ready to crash out

Doing it again I'd either head off by myself or with may be one or two other like minded bikes any more and I reckon getting the miles done would be a bit of a palava.

06-01-07, 08:25 PM

Sweeeet.

06-01-07, 02:14 PM	#1
Tim in Belgium Guest Posts: n/a	Last summer's trip round the Alps, the memories & photos Last Summer's Trip round the Alps - 2006 As I'm bored and recovering from Chrimbo thought I'd write up my summer trip with the SV, apologies if it turns into a bit of a novel. Day -1 Packed up the SV in my underground garage with panniers stuffed with clothes, tools, maps, mars bars, ear plugs and my haynes manual. Whilst pratting about leaning the bike over (can't remember why) the extra weight loaded help the bike take it's own course to the ground with me astride, Doh! Luckily the bulk of the soft luggage, crash bungs and bar ends prevented any damage , although dragging myself out from the loaded SV was amusing. Not an auspicious start. Day1 Leuven, Belgium - Morez,France via Luxembourg Well set off on the first day in the drizzle and gloom, heading down the autoroute, through Luxembourg and then on in to France, heading towards Metz. Once in France the rain started to hammer down, and even with my home made fenda extenda the old wet front spark started to kick in, no doubt due to the horrendous spray. So i pulled over into a layby with ***oir to rev the engine and get it to dry out (normal trick). Whilst on the bike and revving it I leant over to check connections as itwas still running rough ato check the connections, where upon it cut out completely. Bllcs I thought, 1st day and stuff is already going wrong. After a quick trip to the old **oir and very damp I tried frantically to start it , including numerous Bump start attempts (in full leathers with with all in one waterproofs!). Iwas soon pretty sweaty and very damp so dug the haynes manual out, started looking through the trouble shooting guide. Engine turns but doesn't start - Check kill switch position -Doh, I'd knocked it whilst leant over examing the bike. She started up sweetly, I was annoyed with myself but pleased with the bike so we headed back on to the autoroute on to Metz then Nancy, heading off for St Die, where the rain started to clear and myself and a Lancia had fun overtaking the slower traffic at about 160 km/h, not racing but companionable high speed cruising. Then it was up and over the Vosges by the Col du Bonhomme, a great road. Stopped off for lunch in Kayserberg, the pretty place below: Then on it was down along the bottom of the Vosges, past Colmar and Belfort, before heading into the hills and rain again that start to make up the Doubs and Jura. This would have been great riding country if I could have seen it, but low cloud and mist made it more of an endurance test whilst I slogged it to Morez to the worst and most expensive hotel of the trip. Day 2 Morez, France - Isola, France via Switzerland, France and Italy Got up to be greeted by a grey day but dry so got to set off without waterproofs, a bit of a luxury, after all this was the continent at the end of summer. Crossed over the Jura, some twisties that were quite nice, to be greeted by the sight of Lake Geneva with the Alps in the background, below. Down to and through Geneva, before heading out towards La Clusaz and on to start the Col Bashing proper. So the Cols started, Col Des Aravis, Col Des Saisles, Col de Meraillet: And on over the Cormet de Roseland down into Bourg St Maurice. In Bourg I had another hiccup after a bit of a premonition as I came into town. Looking down at my map on my tank bag I looked up and the car in fronnt had stopped dead. I hit the brakes but grabbed a bit too much front too quickly, the front locked up and slid out from underneath me and the SV, so we hit the deck for the second time the trip, doing only a couple of mph! Luckily for me (but not my ego) this happened outside a french bar at lunch time, so I was soon surrounded by french workers who manhandled me and the bike back to a vertical position and helped push me over to the side of the road. No damage at all, just a light suff on one of my oxfoed panniers, an overdose of adrenalin and a reminder not to let my guard down in towns. Sure it brightened up the Frogs day. After checking the bikeover I decided to get straight back on and had a good blast up to Val D'Isere, keeping a brit on a black kwak 636 company until I stopped for fuel. Then it was up over the Col De l'Iseran: A little surreal because I'd skied over there a few months previously! From then it was up the Col du Mt Cenis, dropping down to Italy, bur not literally! Back to France via the Col du Montgenevre to Briancon and on to the Col D'Izoard with a bit of drizzle and some amazing coloured rocks. On to vars and the Col de Vars, before heading for the Col de la Bonette, the highest road in western Europe. The road goes over the top, with an extra loop around the peak to take the height title. Bleak didn't describe the place, the low cloud just scudded over the peaks, the fierce wind blew gravel and rocks over the road, it felt treacherous, with huge drops down to the valleys below. I managed to stop for a photo but feared the little SV could be blown over! From then on it was down to Isola, nestling in the Vallee de la Tinee, the evening heat of summer France hitting me after the freshness of the mountains. Spent an amusing night drinking it up with some French electricians who were installing snow cannons. Was still up bright and breezy for the next day though. Day 3 Isola, France - Lake Como, Italy Headed off southwards towards the Med, through the pine filled valleys in the soft morning sun to Nice, then along the Cote D'Azur towards Monaco. The heat was starting to build by now and I hit monaco, managed a lap of Monte Carlo, taking in some of the GP course, including the tunnel, stopping for a photo in the harbour. It was then back up towards the mountains but the heat didn't seem to be abating and I was getting pretty dehydrated. On to Sospel, then through the tunnel Di Tendi to Italy. After a bit of faffing on some good and some not so good country roads in Italy it was on to the Auto Strada round Turin (mad on a bike!), on up pass kilometres of roadworks to Milan, and past, the Alps a constant reminder to my left rising out of the plains. Dropped down to lake Como at rush hour and low on fuel, just going with the flow as on a trip like this you can't be bothered to ride at pace the whole time. After a while along the western shore I manegd to find a bed for the night. Day 4 Lake Como, Italy - Lienz Austria After the bonus of not having had to pay for the previous evening's food and wine (the language barrier meant the owner didn'tundersatned me) I headed on along the lake shore. it was then a bit of a slog up to Bormio, with the roads opening out and the more mountainous feeling increasing the closer we got. I was feeling good heading back to the mountains, it was amazing how quickly withdrawl symptoms set in. So after some tart in Bormio (of the cake kind) it was up and over the famous Passo dello Stelvio (Stelvio pass). A great road where the little SV showed up some bigger bikes, even though the altitude effect meant full throttle on all the straightish bits and a greatly reduced top speed! It was then a case of heading down. And then at the bottom they were still fixing the road! So the SV got to do some off roading! From there it was on past Bolzano to the dolomites and some great passes and chocolate tart. There were loads of great passes that all linked up, a lap could even have been possible. A great plave to visit on a bike and a life time must do. From there on to Cortina and in to Austria to Lienz, some great fast flowing roads in the valley bottom. Day 5 Lienz, Austria - Lech am Arlberg, Austria Set off in more glorious weather up to the Grosslockner Hoch Alpen Strasse, with a bit of a detour off to look at the Franz Josef Glacier The comparison of the Glacier to pictures in the '30s and 40s was amzing, the depth is now about 1/3 of what it used to be. Man inducedClimate Change? Natural variation? It does make you think though, and question the burning of fossil fuels for a holiday jaunt, but didn't stop me enjoying myself. There were a few of these marmottes up there: Fat buggers about the size of a wide cat. A few ran out on me on the way back to join the main pass, lickily they changed their mind when they saw the mighty SV, that fluff would have made a right mess! On up to the top of the pass for some great views and a bike car park with all manner of machines, back street heroes, BMW tourers, sports bikes, off roaders and one great SV! Then it was back down into the valleys on some more great and fast flowing Austrian roads, then heading of to the Gerloss pass, before dropping down to Zillertal. A bit of highway bashing past Innsbruck before being able to head off past Ischgl and up to the Bielerhohe, and a great view of Puiz Buin and some Apple Strudel. Then it was back towards St Anton before heading off to Lech am Arlberg for my final night. Day 6** Lech, Austria - Leuven, Belgium via Germany and Holland. I was sad to be leaving the mountains behind me, With only the Hochtanbergpass to go before heading into the softer hills that lead down to Germany. On to Wangen where I joined the Autobahns and began my flog back, sitting at 180 km/h the fuel light would just start to flash as my bum and body would start to cry out. Suprisingly I found a tight tuck more comfortable and distributed my weight better. Past Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Koln, through Holland and back to Belgium in a blur that was finished with a beer. I had a great time on some great roads, met some interesting people, was amazed by the talents of the SV and my endurance, about 3500 km in 6 days, not a bad average taking intto account the number of mountain passes. I was left the next day feeling a little empty. Why wasn't I getting on the bike again? Do it, you know you want to. Don't put it off. Hope you enjoyed the read. Tim

06-01-07, 03:03 PM	#3
Stingo Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plymouth, Devon - mostly. Posts: 527	Very nice. I'm very envious...don't think the wife will let me go. __________________ Twitter: @poseidon_ashore

06-01-07, 04:15 PM	#6
Luckypants Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nr Ruthin Posts: 7,073	My plan for trips to the Alps are always the same 1) Pack gear 2) Fuel up 3) Drive south normally manage to find em! The Pyranees are pretty awesome too, never been on a bike, but in a car, roads are brilliant and less busy that the Alps __________________ "Your Viffer sounds like it is raising hell! Spot on." - Witchery 17/4/08 Snow Plough Appreciation Society - Member #3

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06-01-07, 02:57 PM	#2
DarrenSV650S Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,408	I hate you people, you make me so jealous Fantastic post mate I'm planning a trip in the summer....as long as I have the funds

06-01-07, 04:30 PM	#7
Tim in Belgium Guest Posts: n/a	[quote="DarrenSV650SI'm actauly thinking of going to France across the Alps. I'm half way through reading the long way round I remember seeing a website about planning trips to the Alps, but can't find it now [/quote] Is this the site you were looking for: http://www.alpineroads.com/index.php Useful for giving you a taste of where to look to ride.

06-01-07, 04:47 PM	#9
Tim in Belgium Guest Posts: n/a	Unfortunately I don't think my photos did justice to the scnery, I missed out so much and lack photographic skills, point and shoot when I remember! Yep Darren, did this trip by myself as I didn't know many other bikers in Belgium. It was quite nice being on my own, I could go where I want, when I wanted at whatever speed I liked, and found that there were people to chat to most evenings. Although after 500-600 kms after some food, beer and wine I was usually ready to crash out Doing it again I'd either head off by myself or with may be one or two other like minded bikes any more and I reckon getting the miles done would be a bit of a palava.