Swiss/Italian Alps Route Planning

[g®eg]

Originally Posted by insureguy

. Where is Moto Mader?

they are in Aarau, a short train ride west of Zurich

http://motomader.ch/mader_content/home.php

ask for Tommy Pabst, he will hook you up

thomas.pabst@moto-mader.ch

[V Saarela]

Don´t try to go so many passes you can on this days. After a while it´s to much beuatiful wievs and yoy will get bored. Better to take few passes and give them more time instead.

I´ve found Stelvio and Grossglockner passes "have to do passes"

[rosmoe]

If you are near Stelvio, do check out Gavia.

[Pecha72]

If you´re gonna check out the Rhone-gletscher (source of Rhone), from there it´s possible to continue on the Rhone valley to Brig, and then rise up to the Simplon/Sempione pass, and then to Domodossola in Italy. You can visit the Cascata della Frua waterfalls from there (but that road is a dead-end).
And from Domodossola, there´s also a nice but very narrow road to Cannobio on the shores of Lago Maggiore. Was a very nice route IMO (..but I did it about 10 years ago).

[insureguy]

Thanks again all! I just emailed Tommy at Motomader. Checked out his website, aber ich nicht gut im Deutsch. I'll wait for his response....hopefully in English.

Anyone have any experience with Bosenberg in Frankfurt and Zurich? They appear to have a nice rental program.

[g®eg]

Originally Posted by insureguy

Thanks again all! I just emailed Tommy at Motomader. Checked out his website, aber ich nicht gut im Deutsch. I'll wait for his response....hopefully in English.

Anyone have any experience with Bosenberg in Frankfurt and Zurich? They appear to have a nice rental program.

Tommy has really good English, so no worries there. No experience with the other guys, but I'd say on the whole you really can't go wrong no matter where you end up.

[rosmoe]

If you are in Munich, check out www.allroundrents for motorcycles.

[MichaelJ]

Originally Posted by insureguy

It also sounds like many agree that Stelvio is a must see. The others think maybe its over-rated.

Both are correct. Being in the area on a motorcycle and not riding the Stelvio is like being a Catholic in Rome and not visiting the Vatican.

Originally Posted by insureguy

MichaelJ (neighbor), I was just in Sterling last week.

You should have PMed or called - we could have done lunch

Originally Posted by insureguy

I've studied Alpineroads.com for weeks, but while they give great commentary on the roads, they self admittedly don't offer much route planning.

Ya gotta ask under the "Trip Planning" section of the Forums. There are lots of appetizers up front, but the meat is in the forums. Good crew there - one of the few sites that has an annual get-together (which started almost by accident, but is now approaching Tradition status).

I've rented from BiancoBlu in Milan three times and Moto Mader twice. The second Moto Mader rental gave me the impetus to ship one of my bikes over. I had a slow speed (stopped, actually) tip over that resulted in CHF 1,400 of damage to the bike. Every piece that had a scratch was replaced. My old (80K mile+) GSX1100G now sleeps in Heidelberg and awaits my pleasure.

That being said - I highly recommend both places.

I don't get to play with brand new BMWs anymore, but I spend a group less money - and if it gets a scratch - meh.

For the Alpine part of your trip - you DO have a copy of John Hermann's book, don't you?

[insureguy]

Originally Posted by MichaelJ

Both are correct. Being in the area on a motorcycle and not riding the Stelvio is like being a Catholic in Rome and not visiting the Vatican.



You should have PMed or called - we could have done lunch

Yep....that Catholic in Rome thing, exactly what I thought about Stelvio. I'm thinking I need to do it so I can tell others, who haven't done it, how over-rated it really is!

Lunch in Sterling.....sure. You'll tell me more about riding in Switzerland? Where are you during the day.....working in Sterling? Was in Fairfax just today.

No. I know nothing of John Hermann. Googling right now.

[MichaelJ]

Originally Posted by insureguy

Lunch in Sterling.....sure. You'll tell me more about riding in Switzerland? Where are you during the day.....working in Sterling? Was in Fairfax just today.

I have reached that state of being that we all aspire to - a reasonably funded retirement. Assuming that the idiots just a bit east of me don't screw it up in the next month or so

As such, my schedule is, shall we say, flexible... Should you find yourself in the general area, give me a shout - PM to follow.

Originally Posted by insureguy

No. I know nothing of John Hermann. Googling right now.

"Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps and Beyond" (4th edition) Don't leave home without it. Hermann's web site

[Ken Fritz]

>>Oh yes - and you do know that Europe is heading out on vacation at the same time, don't you? <<
It's funny how how they work together all year and all go vacation in August to meet each other again in the same vacation spots and traffic jams.

[DantesDame]

Originally Posted by insureguy

You're all probably thinking I asked for help then I'm not sure where I'm renting yet. Normally I ship my bike over, but I'm definitely renting this time.

I've only stopped in to talk the guys in Schlieren (near Zurich) but they were very helpful. I like that they're an easy train ride direct from the Zurich airport.

I'll be moving to Basel in less than a month and might be able to find out more information for you once I settle in.