Motobiker

If you're coming on that, please break a habit of a lifetime and check your chain. maybe clean and lubricate it too. (just for the hell of it) Another broken chain and then having to leave you behind at some random Belgian service station, due to another unrelated show stopping problem. is more than my nerves can stand. And I don't care if you only did it for free beer and sympathy at the Beilsturm... and more sympathy and free beer from some Belgian local. Its the principal of the thing. (not the lack of it)

@ReggiePezza probably around 3,000 miles.. depends a lot on the weather, if we need to relocate to wait it out. that could mean further east in Austria, south into Italy or south east to Slovenia. Also depends on which region of Austria we aim for on the Sunday. The Swiss end.. or directly to Zell am See. see how it goes.

Definitely not. Its going to most useful for our climb up the Grossglockner. Because its a fairly expensive toll road and is as much about the views as the road itself. we want the best conditions possible, Ideally a blue sky day, or at worst, any cloud much higher than the mountains. They have the same cameras up there.. Ive posted stills before on this thread. but here's the live link. getting a bit dark now mind. And they seem to have just had rain. https://edelweissspitze.panomax.com

Its a massive plus that there are so many of these webcams about, makes rides a lot less risky, we can simply check on conditions before setting off. Its a shame we won't get that same view though, as the main road runs along the base of that central mountain.. but hey ho. we might have a detour.

Trying to contain my excitement while watching how the spring thaw is progressing. (scrollable live webcam - new image every 10 minutes) https://valgardena.panomax.com/dantercepies

I had an MRA on mine.. and removed the top part. but there a million and one aftermarket accessories available for these bikes so finding the right one should be dead easy. for Spain I would likely go for a shorty 'sport' one. Like this one from Puig. or something along these lines.

Im happy with mine.. the newer 1100 version was made shorter (seat height) which doesn't really suit me. I like/need a tall bike.

The weight the 1100/1150 and especially the 1150 ADV was a huge issue.. and so reducing the weight was a really big priority for BMW when they were designing the 1200. especially the standard 1200. which was aimed predominantly at riders with an average inside leg.. and also women. who could never really manage the huge ADV.

Thats the standard bike, with a smaller fuel tank. also they used a few steel parts on my bike that were plastic on that one. like the rear grab rails/rack.

253KG with. 243KG without. and that includes a full tank. (300 mile range) by comparison my GS was 248. Bike feels a lot lighter to me though, that was immediately apparent when I got it. as the weight is carried low. I think they managed to shave off a few KGs on the latest bike, the 1100. But, its mostly designed to be a tourer and you expect weight.

Much. there was always a very small risk that some campsite owner might be awkward and insist on seeing vaccination proof and choose not to recognise the NHS app. but that's no longer a concern after Monday. The countdown is well under way now. 28 days to go!! Im having a new front tyre fitted week after next. ordered and booked. current tyre has about a 1000 miles left on it which won't do at all.

Austria. As of next Monday 16.05.2022 there is no longer a 3G requirement to enter Austria so no proof of vaccination, recovery or negative test is required. FFP2 masks are still required in supermarkets, pharmacy, doctors, banks, public transport etc. basically places that people are obliged to use. This is likely to remain in place until July.

No. Not in the slightest. Had one since 1997 so was long past the time to move on. It’s in good hands now. Just a shame it’s not coming with us next month.

Looks to me like copying Six like he’s some kind of positive role model has become a thing on this forum.

Memories @Rob M

No. No and... No. I don't think Ive even mentioned this years trip once in public, its been kept strictly "in house" private messages or phone only. Back in the day we all met on another, long departed forum and joined the other one when the previous forum closed down. The previous forum was very much into touring, The original owner did yearly tours and a lot of meets and organised local, or localish ride-outs, yearly camping meet-ups, with arrangements made for those unwilling to camp. And did a lot for charity too. The owner was killed on a tour to France. Then I came along and thought. I can do that. And so I did. Once we moved to the new forum, almost immediately I noticed a big difference.. an almost complete lack of interest or enthusiasm for touring. So, its mostly been the old gang ever since. And that's fine by me.

indeed. I do the overthinking so the people who come along with me don't have anything to worry about. if the weather is going to turn bad and we need to move, I can tell them about where we're going, how far it is and what to expect when we get there. Im not sure that's actually a bad thing. I know people who take a different approach: "we're going to X. if it rains - tough. if there's low cloud and you can't see anything - tough. we're going to X. pack waterproofs" no thanks. This is my second attempt at a group ride to Austria. previously defeated at the last minute by bad weather that was set to last for days, rain for the ride down and more rain once we arrived. I had a plan B that had already been mentioned - so it wasn't such a disappointment for the guys. none of whom wanted to be riding through heavy rain for days on end. We saw the rain clouds in the distance as we headed in the opposite direction. to the south of France and the Vercors. and the sun and heat.

One of the usual waifs and strays @ReggiePezza who normally comes along each year has decided to throw away all sense and join up for this year too. Had a bit of a rethink about the Sunday and assuming good weather, an early start and a bit of enthusiasm we may head directly for Zell am See. So we will then have the possibility of trying for the Grossglockner on the Monday. If not then there are other options and we can try again on the Tuesday or move south close to the Italian border to our (hopefully) long term base camp. Near the south end of the Glockner road and handy for the Dolomites. Again, if the weather moves in that location allows an easy escape either south into Italy. (Probably towards Garda) or south east to Slovenia. Where we can bask in the sun until the weather moves away. im quite keen on going to Slovenia if possible. Lovely place.

It certainly is. looks rather different later in the summer. same view.

They have started clearing the snow from the Grossglockner (can see tarmac!!), 2 weeks early. It doesn't normally start until the 1st of May. Not really a big deal. but it does add to the excitement somewhat. 58 days and counting.

Your sounding a lot like six. Best advice, block him then you won’t be tempted to mimic him.

They sold loads of them too.

Apparently, according to a friend of mine the bike has changed quite markedly for this new model year. But, anyway it seems to have a market as I see quite a lot of them on my travels. It’s not an exciting bike… it’s a practical commuter and lazy tourer. Mild mannered and ideal for some new riders.

I really like the Ötztal Valley, the climb up to the pass quickly loses sight of it though. But the ride along it’s length is very nice and should be fairly quiet with it being a normal working week. The pass is a restricted road so much better than the stelvio. The 2nd highest paved road in Europe is just off it. Though it’s a bit of an anticlimax. Last time I managed to avoid the museum and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to manage that same feat of self sacrifice this time too. Of course this all assumes we will use that pass, it would be nice. But there are others and I think it’s a mistake to get too excited about a specific goal until it is happening. It’s not all about me, once we get to Austria on the Sunday night I’ll have great fun putting rob on the spot with a few choices of what to do…. As we’re there. “There” being the western end, in Voralberg, not far from the Silvretta hochalpenstrasse for example. Or we might just have to leg it into Italy asap and get to our basecamp as the weather looks very promising over that way. There is also the Umbrail pass which avoids the worst of the Stelvio and allows a quick visit to the summit, without the tedium. Followed by Gavia. Decisions Decisions. Umbrail.

That was grim and unexpected, a lesson learnt. But we were on a mission that day to get from A to B as fast as possible and it seemed easier to keep going than to stop. I won’t do that again. It’s easy enough to stop and add a layer if there is no rush and there shouldn’t be. We’ll have a full day on the Glockner. Maybe do the full length non stop and bookmark stopping places. Then do it again in reverse, stop for lunch. And then do it again with lots of stops to ooh and aah at the views and take photos. It’s a remarkable road. One to be savoured. Coffee and cake. And end the day by doing part of the southern loop or take in the Pustertaler high road on the way back to base camp. Top up with fuel (ready for the next day and grab some beers and supper from the Aldi. last time I was there was middle of May. I remember the temperature was 3c, Did that spoil it? Absolutely not. The scenery was stunning. The road was perfect. The sun was warm.. when it appeared. The cloud level was very high. Had we (me and jack) not been dressed for the conditions it would have been horrible, but as it was. It was great and Jack, to this day will wax lyrical about our day on the tops,