North Italy back to Calais?

[skulkerboyo]

Long time lurker and first post. Planning the first of many tours and got some amazing advice lurking here. Kit is all sorted etc and allt he Ts crossed and Is dotted as far what I need and need to know for this lark. So cheers for that .. . .now to the point.


So I have a nice route all planned out that takes a bit of Germany and some days at Oktoberfest. After that I plan to check out the Galvia pass (camp nearby).

I'll probably be heading past Milan and down to the coast to follow it probably as far as Marseilles or further depending.

From there I want a nice route back up to Calais but am at a loss for a good route and an idea of how long it should take.

Ideally I'd take a max of four days to get back up country. This is my first big Euro trip so want to take in some nice roads.

Any advice on that particular Italian coast and getting back from there? I defer to experience on this one - got a lovely five days planned and would love the last part to be a nice scenic trundle rather than a mad dash for the tunnel.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[Itchy]

Dodger on a ZX6RJ2 got from Nice to Liverpool in one day.

I've done it numerous times in 2-3.

A nice route to take is the N85. If you have the time do the N202 route around Castellane

From
Nice
Grasse
Castellane
Digne
Gap (north west or north east, I prefer NE route)
Grenoble
Chambery but camping on the shore of Lake Aix Les Bains is good too.

This is a mountainous, gorge twisty type route. There are hotel F1 and camp sites all along this route

From then on it's kind of boring A roads and a 500 mile run to Calais. Myself having to come from Manchester generally make it all the way to Reims and stop there on the first day.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[garth]

Pick up the route des grande alps anywhere you can, follow that, Vosges, then autoroute the last 350.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[Kris]

Did Pila (N Italy) to Medway in a day before.

Was on a Pan Euro mind. Wouldn't want to do that on a small sportsbike.
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[skulkerboyo]

My bum is sore just thinking about that ride in one day!

I'll look over those options and get back with any questions. Could be slow to ask though - not leaving until the end of September . . . .Oktoberfest innit!
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[Casper]

Been down that way twice. If doing teh north coast to France dont take the E80. If you have time take the proper coast road through all the small coastal towns (SS1) much more scenic and a few areas what look like a scene from the film Italian job.

[skulkerboyo]

Looks like I need to limit my Journey from the coast - let's say Genoa as a starting point - to four days. Is this doable taking in those scenic roads. I suppose I can always just do a mental super long day to make up time.

Bloody jobs
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[Casper]

I had came down from Germany, through Austria and Switzerland at Lake Konstanz. Down to Como scoot past Milan and also head for Genoa. From there along the coast and broke down in Spotorno so never got far. Once the pub was dry and fixed the car (ish) went down to Albenga then up to Amsterdam. Spotorno to Amsterdam was in a long day drive, 11 hours i think as its not all Motorway to start with.

[smob67]

I did this route last year, my advice, Monaco is overrated, as is the stelvio pass ( the route up from Switzerland and the route down to Italy) are far better, south of France up until about the Gap area give or take are good riding roads but shortly after become long straights with the odd village/town, and French car drivers in general are very bike aware thus making progress that much easier in certain situations though only my thoughts as I'm sure others will differ 😉 enjoy whatever though as it's what you make it at the end of the day.
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RM125, TS125, X5 200, X7 250, RD 350 LC ------- 25yrs later cbr600f (sold) - cbr1000rr (2014)

[skulkerboyo]

Looks like I'll stick with original plan down to genoa then coastal road to marseille then to digne, gap, grenoble, chambery then blast to paris then back to calais.

Allowing four to five days for this leg.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[gorillaonabik...]

[skulkerboyo]

Wow

a lot there

I'm mostly planning on just camping as I pass through and around these places so it's unlikely I'll stay in any of the cities overnight but I really don't know at this stage. I might mix it up and throw in a few nights in hotels depending on how I'm feeling.

You make marseille sound interesting. Perhaps a separate non bike related visit with the missus one weekend.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[gorillaonabik...]