Oktoberfest 2013

[Squircle]

Hi all,

I passed my test a few weeks ago, and next year I'm gonna get a Street triple. My mates want to fly over to Munich for Oktoberfest next year, so I'm considering riding there on my own and meeting them there.

I'm starting planning now cos I'm excited about it and I want to make sure everything is in place early so I don't back out.

Any suggestions for routes/places to visit?

[Jenks]

as i live not far away from there... i would strongly suggest NOT riding into munich... but to one of the main trainstations and then going in on train! - its a LOT of hastle!
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Squircle]

OK cheers... is it safe leaving my bike at a trainstation for a week though?

[Casper]

I used to go to Padderborn twice a year on the bike. Quite a bit north of where you are going. Great roads and easy to use. Just watch on the motorway's for faster traffic coming up behind. Flash of the lights dont mean they are letting you out. It means i am coming through. Never had a problem in Germany with being unable to find fuel and there is plenty rest areas. Driving on the right for the first time is easy. I prefer it. Just stay with the flow of traffic when you leave the ferry and you will be used to it in no time.

[Jenks]

i cant see it being a problem. Theft and crime is a heck of a lot less in Germany as a whole. compaired to england.

As 1888 said, watch out on the autobahns. You might think your 150mph is quick.. untill something comes flying past you....
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Casper]

You working over there jenks or are you German? My mate moved over about 15 years ago and never came back. He lives in Holland now but still works in Germany. Think if i had a trade i would have been over myself. I love the place.

[Jenks]

Im english. I Moved over for my wife... (Who is also english, but moved over with her parents (Work))

I Dont plan on coming back either! - i had a trade when i moved, but thats a load of rubbish anyway. Its EU.

I Came here, started in a little resturant, did a speech course for 6 months, started an apprentiship at an amazing company. - They absolutilly love me.

I Would recommend it to anyone. England has gone too far down the pan!

pm if you want more info's - i dont want to spam OP's thread.

**((Ps. Beer is better here!!!))**
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Squircle]

Cheers for the advice guys, I'll definitely take the train into Munich, should take a bit of stress out of the whole thing.

I'm thinking of taking about 4/5 days to travel there, and a colleague has suggested going through France and Switzerland on the way, then more direct through Germany on way back. I'd like to see a few sights along the way, so any suggestions are welcome.

I drove on the right for a couple of weeks a few years back in Kefalonia (steep hairpin bends up mountains in a knackered 1.0 hire car... not fun!) and got used to it really quickly, so that doesn't worry me too much. I'll definitely keep the advice about the Autobahns in mind, think I'll do my best to keep out of the way!

[Casper]

I would not bother with France. Nothing against the French but the toll roads and new laws are a pain. I take it you will get the ferry to Rotterdam. Get along to the centre of Holland along the A15 and head south at the A2. Its all motorway south to the border but two hours max you can be in Germany. Spend time in the Black Forest area heading down to Stuttgart. If you have the time get right down to Lake Konstanz. I have been down that way and the roads are fantastic. If you go south of the Lake you are in Switzerland. Try and stay of the motorway as they charge you. You should be able to ride it free but if you get caught. I did not get caught. East for a few miles and you are in Austria. Depends on how much time you have you can play up the mountain roads running along the border with Germany. Ger as far as Innsbruck and head north for Munich for the piss up. That lot is doable in 3 days taking it easy.

[Squircle]

That looks like a great route. I'm an artist professionally but everythings on computer nowadays so part of the motivation of the trip is to photograph something that will inspire me to dig out the paintbrushes again. The Black Forest area looks perfect. I really want to try and get to Zurich if I can so I could go via Lake Konstanz and take in some of those fantastic roads!

This is such a major itch for me, I'm over 30 now and never did the whole gap year thing so I need a bit of adventure. Getting into biking has made all that seem so much more possible.

Cheers for the help. I know its a while off but I'll be posting details of the trip once I've done it. Can't wait!

[Slacker24seve...]

I'm going to Oktoberfest this year, but not by bike. I'm going on this.

Jenks, have you been? If so I'd appreciate any useful info you might have. Squircle, I'll report back in October!!
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[Jenks]

[Ichy]

[kotachi]

I'm going to be there! better see you there Jenks..

I have decided to do a European bike tour for a month or two when I finish uni culminating in Oktoberfest...
____________________
CBT done - 24/03/2012, theory test done - 03/04/2012.. Mod 1 done -26/06/2012, Mod 2 done - 29/06/2012. Current steed: Cage.
Suntan Sid said: "Look at it this way, your employer wants to pay you the minimum amount, it thinks it can get away with, and extract from you the maximum amount of graft. Ergo it's your responsibility to ensure that karma is restored and you do as little work as you think you can get away with, for the maximum amount of money."

[Jenks]

well if people give me dates, ill go!
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[kotachi]

I'll give you dates when I'm in germany - be on the lookout for PM's, I'll almost certainly post sporadic updates on here as I go.
____________________
CBT done - 24/03/2012, theory test done - 03/04/2012.. Mod 1 done -26/06/2012, Mod 2 done - 29/06/2012. Current steed: Cage.
Suntan Sid said: "Look at it this way, your employer wants to pay you the minimum amount, it thinks it can get away with, and extract from you the maximum amount of graft. Ergo it's your responsibility to ensure that karma is restored and you do as little work as you think you can get away with, for the maximum amount of money."

[Casper]

[kotachi]

Sadly no, next year - I'm working full time this summer, else I would join you, sorry mate! But this isn't one of those overly-hopeful plans that won't happen I have the money and bike sorted, just need to finish uni and goooo..
____________________
CBT done - 24/03/2012, theory test done - 03/04/2012.. Mod 1 done -26/06/2012, Mod 2 done - 29/06/2012. Current steed: Cage.
Suntan Sid said: "Look at it this way, your employer wants to pay you the minimum amount, it thinks it can get away with, and extract from you the maximum amount of graft. Ergo it's your responsibility to ensure that karma is restored and you do as little work as you think you can get away with, for the maximum amount of money."

[.....]

I went to Oktoberfest in 2010, great fun. If you want to get into one of the beer halls during the day then get there early, really early, before 9am. Otherwise leave it until later in the evening when lots of people have staggered home already.

[Jenks]

[.....]

It's not a case of pushing into a table, you can't get in. The doors shut very early, security on the door operating a "one in, one out" policy and a huge crowd as the queue. At least that was how it was when I went.

We got in before 9am and proceeded to get very, very drunk. Then onto the rollercoasters at night

[Jenks]

woah, i was never refused entry, no matter how full!

I was only turned away and cops called on me when i had camo trousers and steel toecaps on!

But yes, rollercoasters after a session is extremly funny!
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Casper]

[kotachi]

Aye but well I graduate next June, go on holiday with my parents.. Cause I have to then jump on the bike and I'm going to do between a month and two months of Europe road tripping with a mate of mine.. Culminating in Oktoberfest or that's the plan atm!

And well then I shall maybe try and join you next year? I have a mate who lives in Munich and another in Hamburg.. Convenient haha
____________________
CBT done - 24/03/2012, theory test done - 03/04/2012.. Mod 1 done -26/06/2012, Mod 2 done - 29/06/2012. Current steed: Cage.
Suntan Sid said: "Look at it this way, your employer wants to pay you the minimum amount, it thinks it can get away with, and extract from you the maximum amount of graft. Ergo it's your responsibility to ensure that karma is restored and you do as little work as you think you can get away with, for the maximum amount of money."

[Tzemran]

I used to go to the Oktoberfest every year but only as a target. We used to take a different route every time and explore lots of other places on the way, spend a couple of evening at the festival drinking while spending the days touring the area and then take a different route home. You need your bike there! You are not going to spend all day every day in the tent at the festival. You want to be able to get out and visit Neuschwanstein etc. Look up Ludvig II, he built a lot of other places worth a visit as well. We used to go to places during the day and then head back to the festival in the evening.