Quick Alps Tour
Discussion
fridgedoctor said:
Hi!
Firstly thanks for all the ideas (esp Andybow and Cappo for the kind offers - the guy who is selling me the bike is collecting me at the airport, but much appreciated)
Loving the enthusiasm for getting on with it. I did think about the boat south, but I'd be a long, long way from home at the end up...
Deffo thinking Alps and home via the Dutch boat.
Would I be better off driving to Portsmouth and getting a ferry to maybe Caen or somewhere there, or is Roscoff just as good? And the Italy idea, where should I aim for then?
Any way thanks all, and watch this space
M
TBH I'd blast along to folkestone and get the eurotunnel, it's 4 hours from Exeter, Portsmouth is 2.5 hours away but you'll be sat on the ferry for 6-7 hours vs 45 minute crossing time for the tunnel.Firstly thanks for all the ideas (esp Andybow and Cappo for the kind offers - the guy who is selling me the bike is collecting me at the airport, but much appreciated)
Loving the enthusiasm for getting on with it. I did think about the boat south, but I'd be a long, long way from home at the end up...
Deffo thinking Alps and home via the Dutch boat.
Would I be better off driving to Portsmouth and getting a ferry to maybe Caen or somewhere there, or is Roscoff just as good? And the Italy idea, where should I aim for then?
Any way thanks all, and watch this space
M
Edited by fridgedoctor on Sunday 21st May 10:26
From Calais hit the autoroutes and it's 500 miles/1 days ride to get to Interlaken, which on an RT should be child's play.
Caen to switzerland is further than from Calais AND you have to go around Paris.
Edited by Tall_Paul on Sunday 21st May 13:30
Make sure you factor ferry time into the planning - they're slow and can tend to drop you in the wrong place - Roscoff is a very long way from the Alps that's for sure!
There is a boat from Portsmouth to Le Harvre which might work for you, the tunnel is fastest but you don't get a break. If timings work then an overnight ferry can often be the most efficient option.
Switzerland has draconian speeding rules so keep an eve out for Police and cameras there. There are tons of bikers here though, I was out today for an hour and my left arm aches from waving at so many people!
Just to add though, do it!
There is a boat from Portsmouth to Le Harvre which might work for you, the tunnel is fastest but you don't get a break. If timings work then an overnight ferry can often be the most efficient option.
Switzerland has draconian speeding rules so keep an eve out for Police and cameras there. There are tons of bikers here though, I was out today for an hour and my left arm aches from waving at so many people!
Just to add though, do it!
jamiebae said:
Make sure you factor ferry time into the planning - they're slow and can tend to drop you in the wrong place - Roscoff is a very long way from the Alps that's for sure!
There is a boat from Portsmouth to Le Harvre which might work for you, the tunnel is fastest but you don't get a break. If timings work then an overnight ferry can often be the most efficient option.
Switzerland has draconian speeding rules so keep an eve out for Police and cameras there. There are tons of bikers here though, I was out today for an hour and my left arm aches from waving at so many people!
Just to add though, do it!
Yeah advice from a local who I know - stick religiously to the limit on the motorways and through the towns/villages, on the passes you can have a bit more fun.There is a boat from Portsmouth to Le Harvre which might work for you, the tunnel is fastest but you don't get a break. If timings work then an overnight ferry can often be the most efficient option.
Switzerland has draconian speeding rules so keep an eve out for Police and cameras there. There are tons of bikers here though, I was out today for an hour and my left arm aches from waving at so many people!
Just to add though, do it!
Tall_Paul said:
Yeah advice from a local who I know - stick religiously to the limit on the motorways and through the towns/villages, on the passes you can have a bit more fun.
Pretty much.I've only ever got tickets in town, on the motorway the fines are higher though so I tend not to really risk it at all. There's a 3-4kph allowance for error on cameras, then the fines are 40, 120 or 250CHF depending on severity (0-5 over, 5-10 over and 10-15 I think, or something like that. On the autobahn the fines start at 120 though.
jamiebae said:
Pretty much.
I've only ever got tickets in town, on the motorway the fines are higher though so I tend not to really risk it at all. There's a 3-4kph allowance for error on cameras, then the fines are 40, 120 or 250CHF depending on severity (0-5 over, 5-10 over and 10-15 I think, or something like that. On the autobahn the fines start at 120 though.
Err. They are on at least some, probably the busier, passes. I've only ever got tickets in town, on the motorway the fines are higher though so I tend not to really risk it at all. There's a 3-4kph allowance for error on cameras, then the fines are 40, 120 or 250CHF depending on severity (0-5 over, 5-10 over and 10-15 I think, or something like that. On the autobahn the fines start at 120 though.
I've been ticketed twice on the Simplon Pass in different places - one, very near the border, for giving my Alfa the beans to overtake a slow truck after about 5kms of dawdling. The police car was hidden behind a barn.
The second for, would you believe it, being too loud. I had my Panamera exhaust defeat on...I'd spotted the police car so he couldn't do me for speeding but he was inclined to hand out a ticket anyway. Not very much, but the nearest habitation I could see was over a mile away.
Still, their gaff, their rules.
I have also seen them parked up on the Grimsel.
Peter
Steep indeed. Bloody phone 🤦🏻♂️
In case anyone is interested, I got the bike Monday just after lunch, and thought I'd be as well nipping over the water as I was so far down.
I drove it from Camelford (looks like it's near lands end to me) to Newhaven, and got the night boat for 80 quid with a cabin!
It gets in early though, so I drove round to the D Day bits, then back for brekkie in Honfleur (lovely)
The two bridges you go over are SHOCKING HIGH !!!
Then I phoned in to tell my wife what I was up to (I hadn't mentioned buying it or going to France - that changed when I could only transfer 5k per day, so had to ring and get her to transfer the rest. Bless her, she played along)
She told me about the terrible Manchester thing, and I just wanted to drive away forever. Selfish.
So I fecked off to Geneva. It's pretty far, and the sat nav that came with the bike shows your altitude. Loads of France is really high, but it was roasting. I saw 29c more than once.
I couldn't see any digs I fancied in Geneva, so I got booking on the phone and found Domaine de la Sapiniere, which was lovely, and spotless.
Next morning Chamonix! Gorgeous. Then up the Grand St Bernard as two bikers in a petrol station checked their phones and reckoned it was open. It wasn't :-(
Turned back and started heading North. Swiss motorways cost €40 for a vignette and had nothing but traffic. The nav spat me off for 'severe traffic' and I pissed about through endless dullsvilles, often behind a bumpkin in a s
tty old tractor, and they won't pull over for the massive queue to pass.
On ward into Germany, with traffic jams at ten at night in the motorway. No space on the Amsterdam ferry cos I'm a tosser and hadn't booked it, so turn first thing in morning turn left and aim for Calais. Mobbed as well. Then up the road with a night stop just after london cos I was shagged oot.
I'll disgrace myself by admitting even sat at 81 on the French Mways the bike returned 60.9 to the gallon (sorry), and that the audio system works well under 60, and I love it.
Sang like a loony the whole way.
And if I'm honest, lovely as the bike is, the quickshift/gearbox crunchy bks has me bemused on such a nice piece of kit.
I can change much nicer than the shifter thing, and to finally shame myself, I think it'd be fab on a DSG !
(I've never tried one on a bike, but I love auto cars)
Flame away...
In case anyone is interested, I got the bike Monday just after lunch, and thought I'd be as well nipping over the water as I was so far down.
I drove it from Camelford (looks like it's near lands end to me) to Newhaven, and got the night boat for 80 quid with a cabin!
It gets in early though, so I drove round to the D Day bits, then back for brekkie in Honfleur (lovely)
The two bridges you go over are SHOCKING HIGH !!!
Then I phoned in to tell my wife what I was up to (I hadn't mentioned buying it or going to France - that changed when I could only transfer 5k per day, so had to ring and get her to transfer the rest. Bless her, she played along)
She told me about the terrible Manchester thing, and I just wanted to drive away forever. Selfish.
So I fecked off to Geneva. It's pretty far, and the sat nav that came with the bike shows your altitude. Loads of France is really high, but it was roasting. I saw 29c more than once.
I couldn't see any digs I fancied in Geneva, so I got booking on the phone and found Domaine de la Sapiniere, which was lovely, and spotless.
Next morning Chamonix! Gorgeous. Then up the Grand St Bernard as two bikers in a petrol station checked their phones and reckoned it was open. It wasn't :-(
Turned back and started heading North. Swiss motorways cost €40 for a vignette and had nothing but traffic. The nav spat me off for 'severe traffic' and I pissed about through endless dullsvilles, often behind a bumpkin in a s
tty old tractor, and they won't pull over for the massive queue to pass. On ward into Germany, with traffic jams at ten at night in the motorway. No space on the Amsterdam ferry cos I'm a tosser and hadn't booked it, so turn first thing in morning turn left and aim for Calais. Mobbed as well. Then up the road with a night stop just after london cos I was shagged oot.
I'll disgrace myself by admitting even sat at 81 on the French Mways the bike returned 60.9 to the gallon (sorry), and that the audio system works well under 60, and I love it.
Sang like a loony the whole way.
And if I'm honest, lovely as the bike is, the quickshift/gearbox crunchy b
ks has me bemused on such a nice piece of kit.I can change much nicer than the shifter thing, and to finally shame myself, I think it'd be fab on a DSG !
(I've never tried one on a bike, but I love auto cars)
Flame away...
Andybow said:
Johnny50 said:
I'm off to the Alps next week on the bike..
Just how strict are they on the noise? (S1000r with full Akrapovic)
Not at all I'm france, Switzerland is a nightmare though, and they will stop you for anythingJust how strict are they on the noise? (S1000r with full Akrapovic)
Might try and get the OEM headers on before I go...
fridgedoctor said:
Steep indeed. Bloody phone ???????
In case anyone is interested, I got the bike Monday just after lunch, and thought I'd be as well nipping over the water as I was so far down.
I drove it from Camelford (looks like it's near lands end to me) to Newhaven, and got the night boat for 80 quid with a cabin!
It gets in early though, so I drove round to the D Day bits, then back for brekkie in Honfleur (lovely)
The two bridges you go over are SHOCKING HIGH !!!
Then I phoned in to tell my wife what I was up to (I hadn't mentioned buying it or going to France - that changed when I could only transfer 5k per day, so had to ring and get her to transfer the rest. Bless her, she played along)
She told me about the terrible Manchester thing, and I just wanted to drive away forever. Selfish.
So I fecked off to Geneva. It's pretty far, and the sat nav that came with the bike shows your altitude. Loads of France is really high, but it was roasting. I saw 29c more than once.
I couldn't see any digs I fancied in Geneva, so I got booking on the phone and found Domaine de la Sapiniere, which was lovely, and spotless.
Next morning Chamonix! Gorgeous. Then up the Grand St Bernard as two bikers in a petrol station checked their phones and reckoned it was open. It wasn't :-(
Turned back and started heading North. Swiss motorways cost €40 for a vignette and had nothing but traffic. The nav spat me off for 'severe traffic' and I pissed about through endless dullsvilles, often behind a bumpkin in a stty old tractor, and they won't pull over for the massive queue to pass.
On ward into Germany, with traffic jams at ten at night in the motorway. No space on the Amsterdam ferry cos I'm a tosser and hadn't booked it, so turn first thing in morning turn left and aim for Calais. Mobbed as well. Then up the road with a night stop just after london cos I was shagged oot.
I'll disgrace myself by admitting even sat at 81 on the French Mways the bike returned 60.9 to the gallon (sorry), and that the audio system works well under 60, and I love it.
Sang like a loony the whole way.
And if I'm honest, lovely as the bike is, the quickshift/gearbox crunchy bks has me bemused on such a nice piece of kit.
I can change much nicer than the shifter thing, and to finally shame myself, I think it'd be fab on a DSG !
(I've never tried one on a bike, but I love auto cars)
Flame away...
Sounds like you had a blast In case anyone is interested, I got the bike Monday just after lunch, and thought I'd be as well nipping over the water as I was so far down.
I drove it from Camelford (looks like it's near lands end to me) to Newhaven, and got the night boat for 80 quid with a cabin!
It gets in early though, so I drove round to the D Day bits, then back for brekkie in Honfleur (lovely)
The two bridges you go over are SHOCKING HIGH !!!
Then I phoned in to tell my wife what I was up to (I hadn't mentioned buying it or going to France - that changed when I could only transfer 5k per day, so had to ring and get her to transfer the rest. Bless her, she played along)
She told me about the terrible Manchester thing, and I just wanted to drive away forever. Selfish.
So I fecked off to Geneva. It's pretty far, and the sat nav that came with the bike shows your altitude. Loads of France is really high, but it was roasting. I saw 29c more than once.
I couldn't see any digs I fancied in Geneva, so I got booking on the phone and found Domaine de la Sapiniere, which was lovely, and spotless.
Next morning Chamonix! Gorgeous. Then up the Grand St Bernard as two bikers in a petrol station checked their phones and reckoned it was open. It wasn't :-(
Turned back and started heading North. Swiss motorways cost €40 for a vignette and had nothing but traffic. The nav spat me off for 'severe traffic' and I pissed about through endless dullsvilles, often behind a bumpkin in a s
tty old tractor, and they won't pull over for the massive queue to pass. On ward into Germany, with traffic jams at ten at night in the motorway. No space on the Amsterdam ferry cos I'm a tosser and hadn't booked it, so turn first thing in morning turn left and aim for Calais. Mobbed as well. Then up the road with a night stop just after london cos I was shagged oot.
I'll disgrace myself by admitting even sat at 81 on the French Mways the bike returned 60.9 to the gallon (sorry), and that the audio system works well under 60, and I love it.
Sang like a loony the whole way.
And if I'm honest, lovely as the bike is, the quickshift/gearbox crunchy b
ks has me bemused on such a nice piece of kit.I can change much nicer than the shifter thing, and to finally shame myself, I think it'd be fab on a DSG !
(I've never tried one on a bike, but I love auto cars)
Flame away...
The quickshifter on the R1200 engine isn't fantastic. On the S1000, however I really enjoyed it!!
Enjoy the bike...oh and it looked like there's more luggage space on the Vespa
Cheers
Yeah it was ace actually. Could've done with more time off the bike. I never had one proper sit down evening meal or a beer till last night, in the UK, which was poor on my part.
That gearbox makes you look a plum at lights trying to get into first without the horrible crunch.
The Vespa is worse though, does the crunch / lurch AND has a box full of neutral with only 4 fggn gears!
Hard luggage is handy, but have u seen the money BMW want for the top box
I've had really good cars for less
Yeah it was ace actually. Could've done with more time off the bike. I never had one proper sit down evening meal or a beer till last night, in the UK, which was poor on my part.
That gearbox makes you look a plum at lights trying to get into first without the horrible crunch.
The Vespa is worse though, does the crunch / lurch AND has a box full of neutral with only 4 fggn gears!
Hard luggage is handy, but have u seen the money BMW want for the top box
I've had really good cars for less
fridgedoctor said:
Cheers
Yeah it was ace actually. Could've done with more time off the bike. I never had one proper sit down evening meal or a beer till last night, in the UK, which was poor on my part.
That gearbox makes you look a plum at lights trying to get into first without the horrible crunch.
The Vespa is worse though, does the crunch / lurch AND has a box full of neutral with only 4 fggn gears!
Hard luggage is handy, but have u seen the money BMW want for the top box
I've had really good cars for less
Certainly have seen the cost. My old man had a, well, mishap shall we say with his and a new one is vvv spendy.Yeah it was ace actually. Could've done with more time off the bike. I never had one proper sit down evening meal or a beer till last night, in the UK, which was poor on my part.
That gearbox makes you look a plum at lights trying to get into first without the horrible crunch.
The Vespa is worse though, does the crunch / lurch AND has a box full of neutral with only 4 fggn gears!
Hard luggage is handy, but have u seen the money BMW want for the top box
I've had really good cars for less
Keep an eye out on the bay...although of course that won't be keyed the same as your current ones.
For me, touring is all about the time off the bike as well as on it. I don't mind if there's a couple of long 'relocation days', however I'm also keen to stop for a morning chocolate milkshake (the thicker the better), nice lunch, afternoon milkshake (even thicker!) and a nice dinner with a bottle of wine.
I also know people who do nothing but ride as fast as possible for as long as possible, eating and pissing at fuel stops and think that staying at a hotel is both a waste of time and money.
Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Don't get me started on the iron butt guys!!
The Moose said:
fridgedoctor said:
Cheers
Yeah it was ace actually. Could've done with more time off the bike. I never had one proper sit down evening meal or a beer till last night, in the UK, which was poor on my part.
That gearbox makes you look a plum at lights trying to get into first without the horrible crunch.
The Vespa is worse though, does the crunch / lurch AND has a box full of neutral with only 4 fggn gears!
Hard luggage is handy, but have u seen the money BMW want for the top box
I've had really good cars for less
Certainly have seen the cost. My old man had a, well, mishap shall we say with his and a new one is vvv spendy.Yeah it was ace actually. Could've done with more time off the bike. I never had one proper sit down evening meal or a beer till last night, in the UK, which was poor on my part.
That gearbox makes you look a plum at lights trying to get into first without the horrible crunch.
The Vespa is worse though, does the crunch / lurch AND has a box full of neutral with only 4 fggn gears!
Hard luggage is handy, but have u seen the money BMW want for the top box
I've had really good cars for less
Keep an eye out on the bay...although of course that won't be keyed the same as your current ones.
For me, touring is all about the time off the bike as well as on it. I don't mind if there's a couple of long 'relocation days', however I'm also keen to stop for a morning chocolate milkshake (the thicker the better), nice lunch, afternoon milkshake (even thicker!) and a nice dinner with a bottle of wine.
I also know people who do nothing but ride as fast as possible for as long as possible, eating and pissing at fuel stops and think that staying at a hotel is both a waste of time and money.
Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Don't get me started on the iron butt guys!!
Old Gits tours sound great then, I deffo need more time to enjoy the places I've actually arrived in.
And some pints when I get there!
Edit to add for Moose!
Followed your advice and scored an old shape top box from eBay for a fabby 62 great British quids.
What a complete bks I've made of painting it though.
And some pints when I get there!
Edited by fridgedoctor on Wednesday 31st January 22:08
Edit to add for Moose!
Followed your advice and scored an old shape top box from eBay for a fabby 62 great British quids.
What a complete b
ks I've made of painting it though.Edited by fridgedoctor on Wednesday 31st January 22:10
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