Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Put Together a Ride, Find Riding Partners, Ask Ride Advice

Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby helmut » Fri Nov 06, 2015 10:43 am

**************************** Edit July 27th, 2016
The rental bikes are gone. I envision to organize the next Alps tour in June 2018.
*****************************End edit



Hi there,

This is Helmut, a native German who's been living around the BWI area for 20+years. I've been doing some riding here and there and I've met a few of you BMWBMWs on some occasions. I'm not retired, but very blessed being able to take off about 2 months every year, which are spent riding a bike. Lately my riding focus has shifted back to Europe, namely the Alps. My German home-base is very close to the Alps and Lake Constance. There I have family and friends, and 2 motorcycles : A R1100GS and a lovely VStrom :shock: .

The last few times I rode the Alps, I've been taking various friends along, putting them up on one of my two motorcycles. And we always had a blast, because the Alps feature the best riding and collection of fantastic roads anywhere in the world. During those trips my buddies always told me to go and "expand" these fun tours to others. After some thought I finally decided to give this a try with a small group. So if you are interested, contact me, and eventually we could meet and go for a day ride locally to see if we are a good match for such a trip.

Greets
Helmut

*********************** Trip Details *********************************
(added info Dec-13-2015)


I would take up to 3 experienced solo riders along, for total of 4 bikes on the road.

Trip would start approx. mid September 2016. It would be 10-14 riding days. There is no fixed route. We look for hotels at the end of each riding day.


Total
cost estimate for 14 days of riding is less than $6000...... INCLUDING airfare, R1200GS rental bikes (with side/top cases, tankbag, GPS), hotels, meals, gas, tolls, European phone, trip from/to airport and beer. You pay all expenses (flight, hotels, meals, gas, bikes, etc) directly, as they are occurring. The rental R1200GS 's come with top/side case, tank bag, GPS. In the unlikely case that a bike brakes down, a backup bike would be available within a day.
(Estimate based on current exchange rate of $1.10 for 1 Euro).
That $6000 would include some serious over mileage on the rental bikes, and collision insurance ($1000 deductable). Here a breakdown of cost:

$1600 roundtrip Flight to Stuttgart or Munich
$200 train tickets to/from airport
$900 R1200GS for 2 weeks, including 3500km. Each kilometer after that is 0.27 Euro. With all back roads I expect 4000-4500km.
$300 (270 Euro)for additional 1000km
$310 (20Euro per day) for optional collision insurance
$2100 14days at $150 for hotels, breakfast, lunch , dinner, some beer, gas, tolls,

Grand Total Guestimate: $5410
To avoid nasty surprises, check with your health insurance to see what is covered abroad. You might want to add some travel (health) insurance.


---Bike rental place specifics:
They only rent R1200GS.
Securing a R1200GS will take a 100Euro non refundable deposit.
Full bike rental price is due 14 days before trip.
A $1100 (1000Euro) safety deposit is due when picking up rental bike.
Low seats are available. I strongly recommend that riders should be able to flatfoot the R1200GS at a stop. That comes in real handy during unexpected stops on steep and oddly shaped road surfaces. :oops:

Bike Rental Cancellations cost are fair:
100 Euro (your deposit), 2 weeks or more, before event.
40% of rental price if canceled 24hours to 13days before
70% of rental price if canceled less than 24hours before.




As for the ride: I prefer a somewhat spirited riding pace, with a few photo stops here and there. There will be fantastic sceneries with plenty of twisties, steep and narrow roads, cork screw switchbacks and some gravel roads. We will pass some cars and buses on windy mountain roads.

Various things are open for discussion:
If desired, we could only ride 10 days.
We may also throw in a sightseeing day, or not.
Some may take a day off, while others ride that day.
etc.

Below are some pictures and videos I took during my past trips through the Alps. This should give you an idea of what this trip could be like.

Videos:
https://vimeo.com/131727206
https://vimeo.com/132162752
https://vimeo.com/86783515
https://vimeo.com/141285912



Pictures
https://flic.kr/s/aHskg2gjsA
https://flic.kr/s/aHskmpGBN8
Last edited by helmut on Wed Jul 27, 2016 10:07 am, edited 2 times in total.
hellebauer who?
User avatar
helmut
Newbie
 
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:17 pm

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby bdimon » Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:28 pm

Wow six grand sounds very reasonable. I looked into European costs last year and came to about the same cost for half the number of days. I would like to go on a day ride with you and discuss things further.
Bruce Dimon
2020 F900XR
President :D
User avatar
bdimon
Board Guru
 
Posts: 973
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:22 pm
Location: Fairfax, VA

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby eap » Fri Nov 20, 2015 5:55 pm

Very enticing, beautiful videos. Especially this one https://vimeo.com/141285912

Would. Like to meet up...
eap
Chesapeake Bay Watershed http://www.chesapeakebay.net
"Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow, Ride, boldly ride, E.A.Poe
14 R1200GS LC
01 R1150GS (100K smiles)
81 R80G/S (~50k smiles)
IBA # 60680
User avatar
eap
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 1812
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2004 10:13 am
Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby helmut » Mon Nov 30, 2015 5:24 pm

Sorry for the late reply guys !

I thought I was gonna get email notifications, but messed up that thread setting ! :?

Well, lets go on a day ride !
This coming weekend (Dec 5/6) looks to be sunny along with a balmy 50 degrees :mrgreen:

I also will send a PM with contact info .....


Helmut
hellebauer who?
User avatar
helmut
Newbie
 
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:17 pm

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby eap » Tue Dec 01, 2015 9:18 am

Hi Helmut. I am off Friday and available. Sat/Sun is my wedding aniversary so won't work.

Anyone else available on Friday? PM me.

I am flexible on route, but am thinking about a ride out to Old Town, Md to check out the low Potomac River bridge and some WV back roads....
eap
Chesapeake Bay Watershed http://www.chesapeakebay.net
"Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow, Ride, boldly ride, E.A.Poe
14 R1200GS LC
01 R1150GS (100K smiles)
81 R80G/S (~50k smiles)
IBA # 60680
User avatar
eap
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 1812
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2004 10:13 am
Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby bdimon » Tue Dec 01, 2015 3:09 pm

eap wrote:Hi Helmut. I am off Friday and available. Sat/Sun is my wedding aniversary so won't work.

Anyone else available on Friday? PM me.

I am flexible on route, but am thinking about a ride out to Old Town, Md to check out the low Potomac River bridge and some WV back roads....

I was planning to take off Friday to prepare for Christmas so I could ride Saturday. I could reverse it if Helmut wants to ride on Friday. I can go either way.
Bruce Dimon
2020 F900XR
President :D
User avatar
bdimon
Board Guru
 
Posts: 973
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:22 pm
Location: Fairfax, VA

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby max4215 » Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:25 am

Hi, Helmut
I would like to take this opportunity and set up the plan for september trip. Day ride is a great idea, so please e-mail me at max.bagh@yahoo.com for setting up a day ride.
Thanks
Max
max4215
Newbie
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2015 4:04 pm

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby helmut » Wed Jul 27, 2016 10:04 am

Hi Max,

long time no see ! And yes, let's go for a ride. I'll send you an email on that.

As for the Alps trip in September: I believed I had some guys lined up, but when time came to secure the rental bikes, they decided not to go. :shock: A day later the rental bikes were all gone. I was a tad disappointed, but no harm done. After all, I will still go 'cause I have my own bike in Germany. :)

For 2017 I cannot commit to organizing any Alps trips, because after 25 years in the USA my Visa runs out, and can likely not be renewed :roll:
Either way, I will have my hands full to re-organize my life. Excitement reigns. Despite unpredictable schedules in 2017, I sure will get some extended riding in, but always on short notice.

By 2018 the dust should have settled and I could envision leading an Alps tour in June 2018.


Aufwiedersehen
Helmut
hellebauer who?
User avatar
helmut
Newbie
 
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:17 pm

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby helmut » Sat Oct 01, 2016 10:55 am

So yes, as I wrote in my last post, I ended up going by myself ..... and, as predicted, had a blast !

Here a taste of what you missed: . :nana:

This video shows the last day of riding in Switzerland .......
https://vimeo.com/185115488

and here a taste of France
https://vimeo.com/184146461

and then there was this
https://vimeo.com/184248454

and plenty more ........

Save up for 2018 !
'til then :wave:

Helmut
hellebauer who?
User avatar
helmut
Newbie
 
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:17 pm

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby bdimon » Mon Oct 03, 2016 11:35 am

helmut wrote:So yes, as I wrote in my last post, I ended up going by myself ..... and, as predicted, had a blast !

Here a taste of what you missed: . :nana:
...
Save up for 2018 !
'til then :wave:

Helmut

Oh I so wish I could have gone! My daughter's wedding took my time and money this year. I'll start saving for 2018, both money and leave. Thanks for sharing the videos. The roads are both exhilarating and scary.
Bruce Dimon
2020 F900XR
President :D
User avatar
bdimon
Board Guru
 
Posts: 973
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:22 pm
Location: Fairfax, VA

Re: Riding the Alps in September 2016 - for "cheap"

Postby helmut » Sat May 20, 2017 2:09 pm

Hi Bruce & co, I'll see you at the SRR

Here some spring riding in my new (old) backyard ( will be moving back to Germany by fall ) ....
https://vimeo.com/215735722

Helmut
hellebauer who?
User avatar
helmut
Newbie
 
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:17 pm


Return to Organize a Ride!

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests

cron