Great pics Tim, have done the "Col Du Aravis" myself, and it's a nice bit of road.
The joys of motorcycle riding cannot really be explained unless you have done a trip like this. There is great scenery and some very good roads in the UK, but riding in Europe is just "better" some how. Less traffic and more respect for bikers are probably what makes it that way, but as Tim says, it doesn't have to be expensive.
Allow about £50 per day for hotel and foodl, and then just it's just fuel (and maybe some re-hydration - you drink lots of water in the Alps in the summer). Allow no more than 300 miles per day if it's twisties all the way, you'll be surprised how much hard work it really is.
Plan your routes thoughtfully - I tend to think of various bits of road I want to cover and then link them together, allowing me to be at my destination by about 4pm, because that means I'll be there by 5
Make sure you pass through a few towns though, as petrol can be a rare commodity in the Alps, especially on Sundays. Take a decent digital camera, you'll kick yourself otherwise, some of the views are really awesome - The Col du Vars comes to mind....
I've already planned my trip for this summer and I know I'm going to enjoy it.
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