Copying an Edelweiss bike tour.

[shinyside]

I've been browsing the edelweissbike.com site and would love to do something like their italian dolomites or french riviera tour.  They seem to have all contingencies planned out.  The $$$ is way too high though, especially the 2-up price.  Seems that you can get a BMW1150RT for around $900 a week if you just rent the bike; don't know if their are any reliable sources for good rides out there on paper or whatnot though.  For $1100 a week you can rent a Duc999  :lol:

Anybody else ever think about emulating one of these rides?

Landlocked in Nashville,
SS

[JamesG]

For our honeymoon we went to N. Italy. I looked into renting a bike or bikes, but the price was like you mentioned, out of sight! So we just rented a dinky car.

We pretty much just looked at a map of Tuscany and plotted a path from Milan to Genoa to Piza to Florence (and Muggello for the GPs) and then back to Milan. We made a few reservations for hotels thru the internet (and some of them actually got them), but mostly we wandered around and got a hotel where we found it.  Alot of Italians speak English, so communication really wasn't a problem. Some things are alittle odd like their "Pharmacia" (combo, docs office/drug/convience stores).
It was an ok time, but in hindsight, if I could do it again I think we should have splurged for bikes.  The roads in Northern Italy are absolutely incredible!  Probably do to the fact that we were crammed into a tiny cage instead of on bikes, we got real sick of driving becasue we set too ambitious a schedule for ourselves, seems we spent the whole week driving from place to place instead of enjoying the beautiful places we were in. Again, if we had been on a bike it might not have been too bad, but I would still have narrowed it down to one or two cities, or maybe even just hung out around one like Florence, we never even scratched the surface of the things to do in any one place... Also "We" missed an opportunity to visit the Ducati or Aprillia factories (mostly becasue I was already "making" Lita goto the GP races).

This is the one thing you get and don't get from the organized tours. The guides know the good roads and interesting places to see. But you also don't get to see out of the way places, or get to stop and do your own thing (be an obnoxious American tourist  :nana: ).

Another thing to keep in mind is the political climate, unfortunately.  The French have been real pissy to Americans as you might be aware. And even the Italians have been cold. I have a friend who lives at Aviano, and he's told me they have been snubbed a few times at touristy places like Rome and Venice, so I can only imagine what its like elsewhere. Also the euro has gotten alot stronger to the dollar which will make any trip to Europe that much more expensive.  

I think if I were planning the same trip again, I would either do England, or even stay in the States or Mexico.  There are several relatively cheap tours of N. Mexico and Baja that are just as exotic but closer to home.
As an alternative if the Italy trip fell thru, we were going to ride up the Mississippi river from its mouth (we got married in New Orleans)to its head waters.  That may have been a more enjoyable trip, and we still want to do it at some point.

Hope this rant helps and doesn't disapoint...

[scratch]

James, in reference to the "obnoxious Amercans", have you been listening to Howard Stern?

The rest of the world, and Mississippi, don't like Amercan sailors...

Sorta makes me think about how we are so concerned about the way we want to be treated, as motorcyclists, by the rest of the public. We should also be concerned about the way we present ourseves, as Americans, to the rest of the world... And, our service members are usually the first representatives of the United States that the rest of the world sees...

[shinyside]

Hmm... I remember being snubbed a few times when I was in Wien, but I picked a bad time (the week the war started... but how was I supposed to know?).

I'll have to do some more research, but my fiance and I would love to try and honeymoon at a place to stay in bolzono for 5 or so days and go riding from there as a home base.... then return the bike, and get a car for a couple of days(luggage carrying capacity) and stay in venice or something like that.  I hear the eurorail isn't always the best deal with recent price increases.  Bikes can be had for reasonable prices; as long as you don't go for the duc999 or other exotica.  When I say reasonable, I mean you can rent a nice european bike for less than a Harley in the States.  I can't imagine wanting to ride a Harley through Italy (maybe 40 years from now, ok...)


Thanks for brainstorming,
SS

[JamesG]

no I avoid Stern like he's the dumbass he is.

[JamesG]

we drove thru Bologna on our way back to Milan. Maybe we were tired or just spoiled from Florence & Piza, but that city wasn't very impresive. It seemed very industrial and I guess boring.

[Kerry]

I used to know a guy from Bolzano; a red-headed (!?!) Italian with the last name of Marcantonio.  This was 20+ years ago though ... don't know if I could still find him and ask about places to stay.  He probably wouldn't know anyway - it seems like we never know the best places in our own hometowns.

[TheGoodGuy]

after I get my BS degree I want to go buy a motorcycle in europe ride around in a touring fashion and then import it to the US..

spend 2 - 3 months doing that.. now that's what i call a vacation.. now only if I have the money to do that. I better start saving.

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

If you want to do some touring here in the states, I can help you out. You have to have your own bike as I don't mess with renting them. I don't charge a whole lot, barely enough to break even. But I have been doing a lot of touring for some time now and have gotten familiar with a lot of the backroads in Colorado, Southern Utah, Northern New Mexico, Northern Alabama, Northern Georgia, Western North Carolina, Western Arkansas and all parts of Texas. I plan the routes, make the reservations, take a chase vehicle for the out of state stuff (out of Tx that is), preride all the routes to make sure they are good, find cool places to stop and things to see, good places to eat and stay, etc,... We're done with the long trips for this year and only have some stuff up to Arkansas, the Texas Hill Country and the East Texas Piney Woods left for the remainder of the year. The cool thing is that we ride pretty much year round here. So for you snowbirds, gimme a shout if you wanna come down.  

[shinyside]

Thanks Tourmeister!  You are just the type of tour I was looking for; but in Italy... unfortunately.  I'll keep you in mind in the future.

For now, I'm seriously seriously contemplating motocharlie;
http://moto-charlie.com/
Sounds like a sweeter deal than edelweiss.  If you've got a moment, check it out and tell me what you guys think!

SS

[miket]

The tours they suggest seem nice to me. Maybe a little too much to ride in too short a time. It probably means that you have to spend the whole day on the bike, and have little time to do anything else.

If I were you, I would make my own tour, it gives you a lot more freedom, and you can relax whenever you want. If you are on a honeymoon, you probably don't want to stress yourself out following other people's schedule. Besides the guy is based in Swissland, prices in Italy are usually cheaper (not sure about renting a bike though, I borrow my brother's when I go there .)
Just look at what they suggest, take a map and a tour guide, and make a plan. Then you can adapt your plans once there according to what you feel like.
Your idea of setting base in Bolzano seems reasonable if you have a lot of luggage. If you can travel light though, taking an hotel wherever you want to stop obviously gives you a lot more freedom. You can drop some luggage at a storage room in every big train station. Maybe the place where you rent the bike will also have some storage.

BTW, from Bolzano to Venice I would take a train, rather than renting a car. The train takes you right inside Venice and you don't have to worry about looking for parking. As you may guess, parking is a little scarse in Venice.

If I were you I would look for a newsgroup or a web board of English speaking EU riders (most northern EU people speak English fluently), and ask for tips on books or web sites. I know a couple, but they are in Italian. BTW, if you are in Italy, look for a store of the Touring Club Italiano. There is one in almost every big town. They carry large collections of maps and travel books, including in English. Website: http://www.touring.it/

I am not very familiar with area of the Dolomiti, I am more familiar with the western side of Alps, where Italy, France and Swissland meet, which is where I grew up. I could help more if you were going that way. As a matter of fact, we were there just a month ago, then we went to France and Spain. Anyway, roads are just fantastic, you'll love it.
Language should not be a big problem you should find easily someone who speaks some English. As for the political factor, I would consider it irrelevant. You may find the occasional idiot that makes confusion, but no more than you find in the US (and no EU parlament has renamed "american coffee" "freedom coffee" yet .)

On what dates are you planning to go?

-m

[shinyside]

I was thinking early June as weather seems to be nice and it would match the dates for our wedding.  I have read from
http://bma.buffnet.net/t_bikes/bike_tips.htm
that it might be better to pick up a narrower dualsportish bike like the 1150gs rather than the nice fancy faired 1150rt which I had originally planned.  This is on the basis of the narrow roads and the switchbacks which would be easier to navigate on the smaller bike.  The smaller bike seems more uncomfortable looking to me though.... Of course having road neither bike; I am clueless   Any thoughts?

I was thinnking tour groupish, b/c I am afraid of too many variables when going to unknown regions in europe for my honeymoon.  Language won't be too bad (I know german and my fiance knows french, luckily we speak english as well... albeit with a californian + southern slur), its just the thought of navigating and mapping through the alps.   Brainless lemming behavior is sometimes desired.   Group riding has its disadvantages as you guys have mentioned as well... especially when my girls behind gets sore; hard to break off from the group.

Rambling brainstorming again,
Thanks guys
SS

[Kerry]

Sometime last year I found a web site for an Italian touring outfit that took kind of a "minimalist" approach.  They offered accomodation arrangements in support of largely self-guided tours.

The idea was that you would stay one night in the first "hotel" (converted country farmhouse) on the route, then tour in two different directions for the next two days, returning to the same place each night.  On the thrid day you would drive/ride to a different hotel where you would stay for the next 3 nights as you toured that area.

I think each "tour" included 3 or 4 different farmhouses / areas.  I'm not sure how much of Italy was covered by their various tours.  I was looking into a Tuscany-centered tour.

If you like, I can look back through my browser links at home, and the ads in my Rider magazines....

[shinyside]

Aha!  You must speak of http://www.levolpiciccione.it/e/tours.htm

This is also an interesting option.  

However, I am leaning towards this British outfit at present. $1600 for 10nights including hotel stay and some dinners/breakfasts. option of having a luggage car carry your stuff.
http://www.mcitours.com/
The ardeche, french alps tour looks interesting.  I'd have to "hire" my own bike though... not much of a problem; a yamaha diversion xj900s can be had at $500 a week!  Not the type of bike you dream of riding, but it's an option.
http://www.raceways.net/bikeprofile.asp?Make=Yamaha&ModelID=25

Ok, that's way too many links in a post.

SS

[miket]

I thoroughly agree with what that web site says about bike choice. You do see some heavy sport-touring bikes on the Alps, but most are either crotch rockets or DS. I don't think I have ever seens a goldwing. I can't tell you from the the passenger's point of view (or buttocks ) , but, if I were limited to BMWs, the 1150gs would be my choice. The F650GS would be good too, as long as you stay off the motorways. The XJ900 is a good compromise. But why renting it in UK? If you take a tour based there you'd probably have to ride to your destination and back through the French Autoroute, which is not my idea of fun.

I have been a few times in the area of the Ardeche (one time canoeing). The roads in the canyons are nice, but to me it does not compare to the beauty of the other tours in Swissland and Italy. On the other hand, you get to stay on the French Riviera, which is also nice.

I have never had big problems navigating in Europe, only some in large towns, but you won't go through any. Roads are well marked, much better so than in the US. And if you take a wrong turn, big deal, you're on vacation, you can afford it. Just relax and enjoy the diversion.
Anyway, it seems that you're set with a guided tour, so just pick the one that suits you best.

June is probably the best time to be there. Days are long, mostly dry and fresh, and there aren't many turists around yet. It may be still a little chilly on the mountains, so make sure to bring your warm gear. Bring also your rain gear with you all time, the weather changes rather quickly in the mountains.
I may actually be around there too in June, as I have to be in St. Petersbourg at the end of the month. I may try to visit my parents on the way to there.

-m

[shinyside]

As I understand it, we start in London; and they provide a ferry for the
Dover/Calais crossing outward/return.  I really need to get a good atlas to see where we are going for this ride....  Part of the reason France is a good option, is that my fiance wants to practice her French.

My target bike now is a Honda ST1100 Pan;  need to talk my way into renting one, since the dealer has 30yr old age minimum (we're 25).   Seems reasonable, now the the Pan has been outdated by the ST1300.

Flying into London will be much cheaper too, I hear.

SS!

[miket]

If you're on an organized tour with a bunch of Brits she won't have much of a chance of practicing her French.
I usually can fly to Turin for ~$100 more than flying to London. I assume flights to Nice or Marseille are about the same price. If you factor in price of gas, tolls, which are both very expensive in EU, and time you spend far from your intended destination, it's not worth it. Consider that just to go thru France, it will take you roughly 12 hrs and you will have to go around Paris and Lyon.
The main difference with the other tours, as I see it, is that you will be looking at the mountains "down-up" from the canyons, as opposed to "up-down" from the passes. I prefer the latter.

That is one heavy bike to go in the twisties. However, it almost makes sense if you're coming from London.