Germany

parkmoy · Scooby Slapper Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Karma :

My son and I intend to ride from Calais to Bamberg for a beer festival in August. It's 500 miles give or take. We will allow 2 days to do it because we are relatively inexperienced bikers. I will be on a Deauville NT700 and he will be riding a Triumph TT.

Most of the route can be done on autobahns with the obvious advantages of speed and ease of navigation. It's also possible to do it on 'normal' roads but at times the navigation looks a bit complicated.

Any thoughts, advice, recommendations?

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

As it's for a beer festival I presume you want to get there asap?

I'd take the autobahn there, have a good time, then take the long route back.

From Calais you'll be getting the autoroute (free) into Belgium. Try to avoid Brussels it's very busy, and many routes are underground, so your sat nav won't work.

I'd stay the night in Cologne (at Camping berger, if camping), which is just 4 hours or so from Calais.

Then next day take the autobahn to Frankfurt. From there take local roads for a bit of fun before arriving at the festival.

Alternatively, if you fancy doing a bit more than 4 hours on your first day, ride through the Eiffel mountains, and again spend the night in Cologne.
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Maruchino · Spanner Monkey Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Karma :

Use a sat-nav.

parkmoy · Scooby Slapper Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Karma :

Thanks c-m, food for thought.

I would never have thought of that Maruchino Rolling Eyes

Any more useful suggestions? Wink

Maruchino · Spanner Monkey Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Karma :

Well I'm not sure what else you need? Your problem was that you thought the navigation looked difficult. Sat nav all but eradicates that problem.

Or is what you need from us not in the question you have posed? If so, please try again and I'll dig into my bag of helpful answers again! Mr. Green

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

Nothing more on the route, but here's a few little notes:

- Expect to pay to use the bathroom at service stations in Belgium and Germany (free in France)

- Double/triple check before pulling out to overtake on the autobahn. Some cars will be doing 155mph or more

- Also on the autobahn be wary as cars travelling well over 100mph can sudden do an emergency stop. this is usually due to road works (there's loads when travelling cross country on the autobahn)

- Really try to avoid Brussels unless you plan on having lunch there or something. traffic is a nightmare. If you do plan on staying there for lunch, try Fritland. It's close to nice square with some pretty buildings to look at, and parking close.

- Filtering is really easy in Europe. Everyone does it and cars leap of your way. The exception is Germany, where it can be frowned up on. Just don't do it in front of the Polizei

Other than that enjoy.

p.s French toilets don't have seats or paper.
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Dilyan · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Nov 2010 Karma :

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

My first trip was on a GPZ500 two-up. I was doing an indicated 120 ish, yet cars blowing by me.

Next trip on a ZXR750, even things up. Then a year later I destroyed many of them on a ZX9R. Laughing

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doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

Brussells has a big peripheral motorway like the M25 except most traffic seems to be going about 100mph.
But the city is congested, and full of bad drivers who jam the junctions at every opportunity, not fun.

Duke46 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 03 Jan 2012 Karma :

If you just want to get there use the motorways. But you will be bored witless. They're like over here but with lane discipline and faster.

I've been to Germany a few times and I use a couple of routes. Initially, just get through Belgium. It's very 'busy' so use the motorways. I go past Brussels from the A10 to A3 I think it is.

Once you get to Eupen though (just past Liege) I'd leave and head onto the back roads. There are some great roads in that region including around the Nurburgring and you'll be missing the lot if you sit on the autobahn.

Plot a route on google and it'll take you fairly directly if you drag it onto the A roads. Print it off if you wish. If you have a Tom Tom load the free Tyre software and you can use it to plan your route and save it before setting off.

Take your time, take in the scenery and roads and enjoy.
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In the garage '05 FZS1000S, '10 KTM990SMT, '13 Tiger 800 ABS
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Duke46 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 03 Jan 2012 Karma :

Beelzebob · Spanner Monkey Joined: 08 Sep 2010 Karma :

TheDonUK · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Karma :

Belgians are the worst tailgaters i have experienced, the lot of them, especially on or around the antwerp ring road drive nose astern... Shocked

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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

Duke46 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 03 Jan 2012 Karma :

I think the article on filtering Beelzebob linked to about sums it up - well spotted.

I've been told this a number of times while abroad and there's a few debates about it on the various touring websites. Filtering can incur a fine and 3 points (not sure how that works on our licenses though) but most likely the police won't be that bothered provided you're doing it safely. It's the avenging locals you need to be aware of. At least you get to pick up a few new German words - once you get someone to translate them!
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In the garage '05 FZS1000S, '10 KTM990SMT, '13 Tiger 800 ABS
Sold or scrapped '87 CZ125, '88 AR125, '86 GPZ500, '91 FJ1200, '05 XT600, '99&'05 CBR1100XX, '06 Pegaso 660

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

Never had any problems with the locals. On the autobahn tailbacks they moved out of the just as the Belgians and French do. I've cautious when police were around, but again not had an issuse on 7 trips through Germany.

Basically, just keep your wits about you and don't worry.
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Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
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Jenks · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 May 2006 Karma :

ive lived in germany for 2 years now.. dont let people scare you about the autobahn...

'normally' when people are driving fast, they will have their indicator on.... (In the outside lane) ...

Dont drive in the hard shoulder... bad bad news...
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magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

I have been to germany not far from where you are going bielfeld near paderborn.I did it in one go after coming off the ferry at 7am I took the 4.30am crossing from dover it was my first time and had no problems.The only advice I would say is to take a 5 litre jerry can as some garages may be quite a way apart from each other,I was cruising on my fz1 fazer with the fuel light flashing for what seemed like an age my ass was going abit but I managed to come across a garage and then hit a further 3-4 in 30 mile typical.
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linimo · L Plate Warrior Joined: 09 Feb 2012 Karma :