Soloing the Alps

[Dischord]

Am I mad to consider this as my 'first' trip abroad on a bike? It has been one of my goals to ride over the Alps for ages now and I've decided 2014 is the year I will do it. I'm going to sort my passport out in the next few weeks so it is ready to go.

My proposed route is something along the lines of - France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and then back hitting as many Alpine passes as I can along the way. How do you guys go about planning routes is it just a case of doing research and then plotting it all into a sat nav as you go?

Absolute n00b to touring, a 2hr hoon is about as much as I do
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2012 KTM EXC 250

Check out my vids - https://www.youtube.com/user/KTMSparky/videos

[Marmalade]

It's just a lot of 2 hr hoons tied together.

I usually work out a few places to go and head in their general direction, never had a problem finding a cheap place to stay and don't like the restriction of pre booking places as sometimes you'll get somewhere and want to stay longer.
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[captain cheesestick]

Hello mate,
new to the internet and this site myself but have toured all over Scandanavia and Europe many many times,just get the passport,do your bike prep and go,
I have lost count of the trips i've made to Southern Italy ,used to leave Coventry around midnight ride down to Dover get the ferry across to Calais,ride down to Lyon overnight there and then a long days ride across the Alps(A43) on to Naples via Chambery and the Frejus Tunnel arriving the next night.
The Alps can be both beautiful and a complete nightmare.
I guess you will be travelling in summer and during daylight hours in which case its absolutely stunning,
I unfortinately had many crossings at night and in snow which is a scarey nightmare .
Keep off the Autostrada (motorway) in Italy and France unless in a hurry as there expensive and deadly dull especially through central France,
Take your time and take a puncture repair kit

goodluck
Captain Cheesestick

[Clanger]

Speak to Phoenix, he's been out that way solo with his bike...
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Rigga]

[Marmalade]

[Dilyan]

I'd go for a EU breakdown cover if not included in your insurance. Small price to pay for peace of mind.

Not keen on camping?
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Current: 2007 VFR800; Ex: 2001 YZF600R Thundercat
Škoda Octavia (yes, a taxi driver)

[barrkel]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Just point your bike in vaguely the right direction and do it!
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[Kradmelder]

I don't know about europe, but I do 2500 km solo off road trips regular. Europe with tar roads and help everwhere and safety, will be easy. Solo is lekker.

I pack a tent and sleeping bag for primitive camping as a last resort
Avoid overnights in major towns
I have a route in gps with all I want to see programmed, but deviate for nice roads.The gps recalculates to my waypoints. Final distance is always much greater than planned
Booking in adavance restricts you. I just ride ride and look for for a place 1-2 hrs before sunset
Don't over plan. Have a general goal and a few must sees, and alter by time weather and mood. You will meet people who will give you other places to see
Keep a few reserve days
Never give women you meet your real contact details

Take lots of pics and make a ride report here so that we don't think you are a total self absorbed selfish bastard


A warning: solo touring is addictive
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[coyotie]

l,m doing the same thing this year in the first weeks of sept, just wondered if anyone knows the average prices of a hotels & campsites fuel ,food in swizterland .France, Italy plus is there a campsite in or close to Andermatt don,t seem to be able to find one on internet but that does,nt allways mean there is,nt one , l luv stopping for the night pitching the tent an enjoying the chillout with my bike next to my tent really nothing beats it ,hotel yes if really cold an wet to dry things out ,one other thing post office travel cards you can load up with euros before you leave ,has anyone used one in these countries are they chip an pin usable at unmanned fuel stations
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The open road to a biker is like a poem to a writer

VFR800i My current Ride

[captain cheesestick]

Always camp wild myself,maybe because i'm a tight bas***d,if you need to use accomodation look to small towns with pensions (boarding houses),Hotels are expensive in all 3 countries mentioned,
Personally i always camped near petrol stations in France ,they normally have open spaces nearby,never had any problems although i know of a few stories of people getting robbed in summer in Southern France targeted around Lyon area which is where i used to overnight,maybe i was just lucky .

[Tungtvann]

[Kradmelder]

[Enduro Numpty]

No, you are most definitely not mad for wanting to see the Alps. Just go for it. My camping days are very much over and like others use booking.com. When we book hotels we make sure there is decent and free parking and free wifi. We usually book one or two days in advance. As for motorways/autobahns, they aren't particularly good fun but if you've got a reasonably powerful bike you can easily do vast distances in a short time. Our plan this year is get off boat in Amsterdam, head for an over nighter with friends in Kassel (Germany) and then an easy day of autobahn to the Bodensee and on to the alps and the real fun. Other than that nothing else is planned.

[spnorm]

I'd recommend this book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Journeys-Through-Alps-More/dp/1884313701/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372102159&sr=8-1&keywords=Motorcycling+alps+and+corsica although I only paid about £15 for mine

[Dischord]

I guess that settles it then. Thanks very much guys, now the planning begins I would rather camp tbh but is it as easy as just find somewhere quiet and pitch up or would you only recommend using designated camping sites? Very excited for this now
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2012 KTM EXC 250

Check out my vids - https://www.youtube.com/user/KTMSparky/videos

[Lyam]

I've done it twice myself 1st time I had only had my license 3 months, it's alot nicerto rride in Europe than the UK, I can't recommend the route design grandeur alps enough best holiday of my life!

[Peirre oBollox]

[Lyam]

This phone is useless for posting with haha

[captain cheesestick]

Camp sites get extremely busy in summer in France and Italy,i have known many instances of people being turned away from full sites even on motorbikes in summer without having pre-booked.
I always "wild camp" ,normally in villages or just outside ,always asking permission of the local farmer/land owner and have never been refused.
I like winging it and never even book ferry tickets just turning up ,occassionally had to wait for the next ferry but not very often being on a bike.
I have spoken with lots of bikers when touring,some like me wing it just going with the flow,others pre book everything ,
Your choice really

[Lyam]

This phone is useless for posting with haha

[gorillaonabik...]

Go for it. Twisties in the alps are absolutely awesome. You will learn loads and I am very jealous as it is absolutely fantastic. I will be taking the girlfriend down to the S of France on the bike but would much prefer to twist my way around the alps. Just amazing.

Also, if you're going towards the end of July, and around Geneva, just watch out for the Paleo de Neon. Staying in Geneva when the 'Paleo de Neon' is on gets seriously expensive.

And to give you a word of warning, I am banned from going to Switzerland because I exceeded the speed limit by 4mph and may have forgotten to pay the fine. They tracked me down in the UK and warned me if I fly into Geneva within the next 5 years, I'll be getting used to prison food...
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[garth]

[gorillaonabik...]