April 2011 euro moto adventure!

[Wavex]

lol John, these pics were found on the internet... it's not actually my step dad (they do look the same though!)

I messed up though, as I assumed he still had his Piaggio MP3 400CC, but he actually sold it last year and got a Honda SW-T-400 to replace it, so that's what we'll ride.

The other ride is confirmed to be a 1200cc Bandit:

 

[mastakilla]

Sounds like a great trip. I'll be riding the Alps myself later this year, and if you're a TopGear fan, you'll know one of the best driving roads is Davos (Switserland) to Stelvio (Italy). You could do it in reversed order of course. Just google Davos to Stelvio for more info! Good luck and have fun!

 

[Tailgate]

I'm envious. Anything going over the Alps has to be top 10, no? Maybe some of our counterparts in Northern Italy would join up for a leg:
FazerItalia Forum

Those guys are near fanatical (maybe more than we) about FZ6 riders/members.

 

[Wavex]

Thanks mastakilla we'll check it out!

Stacy, Italians ride like crazy ppl, & without helmets (at least 10 years ago when I went), so we'll pass
How about you? you won't be somewhere in Europe next month? lol

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Just make sure you post plenty of pics on the forum along the way, if you have time. Many of us will want to be following along as if we were there with you, including myself.

Remember David, you are the forums staff photographer.

 

[amanlisman]

Have a great time! Good to see you guys coming over to Europe! You'll see, despite some things you might hear especially about France, we love Americans! (MacDonald's France has had the biggest growth rate of all the MacDo chains of Europe over the past decade or so, although that might not be the image of your country that you want to give first).

I'm in Rennes in the west, so the east / south-east is pretty foreign to me as far as riding is concerned. I'm planning my own trip with four friends from Ireland for 10 days at the end of June. We're targetting the southern alps.

I'm going to skip the long tiring bits by taking the train from Paris to Nice. You drop off your bike, they ship it the same evening while you make your way down on another train and you pick it up the next morning. My mates think I'm sad doing it that way, and they're going to drive the 1200 km from Cherbourg to Nice... They'll regret it when they meet up with me fresh and eager to head into the alps.

Look forward to hearing how things go!

 

[Unseen]

Alright so here is an update...

- Plane tickets for Cali Rider, my daughter (she is staying with my mom for 2 weeks ), and me are booked. Ended up being less than $1000 per round trip :rockon:

- Our rides are booked! This is what we'll be rocking:


LOL.....................................

He has a top case too and you can fit 2 helmets under the seat...


My best friend growing up willl lend us his 06 1200 Suzuki Bandit for free (we'll cover a set of tires and insurance):

:rockon:


- As far as the itinerary, We're going to ride from Strasbourg to Lyon the first day (through the road of wines, and a bunch of other stuff) to stay at a friend's house the first night.
Then the next day we'll ride to the French riviera, where we'll start the Coast ride from around Montpellier I think, heading East, all to Arles, Salon de Provence (I have family down there), and then through Nice and Italy... then back up through Italy, Switzerland (I have family there too), Germany (family), maybe Amsterdam , and then finish in Strasbourg... the details are being worked on... total of 9days...

I CAN'T WAIT!!! :rockon:

Cool trip guys. I hop you have good weather, as it's only April...

I'll keep an eye on this thread to see if you are near Amsterdam

 

[seb101]

You guys might be quite lucky as the temps have started rising already, from next week it should be above 10C almost in every place in europe and the south will be even warmer (close to sea level that is ) You guys will enjoy the pure torque of the bandit 1200 from 2k revs almsot to the red

 

[Wavex]

Just make sure you post plenty of pics on the forum along the way, if you have time. Many of us will want to be following along as if we were there with you, including myself.

Remember David, you are the forums staff photographer.

lol You know we'll have tons of pics! Whether we'll be able to post regularly is another question :cheer:

Have a great time! Good to see you guys coming over to Europe! You'll see, despite some things you might hear especially about France, we love Americans! (MacDonald's France has had the biggest growth rate of all the MacDo chains of Europe over the past decade or so, although that might not be the image of your country that you want to give first).

I'm in Rennes in the west, so the east / south-east is pretty foreign to me as far as riding is concerned. I'm planning my own trip with four friends from Ireland for 10 days at the end of June. We're targetting the southern alps.

I'm going to skip the long tiring bits by taking the train from Paris to Nice. You drop off your bike, they ship it the same evening while you make your way down on another train and you pick it up the next morning. My mates think I'm sad doing it that way, and they're going to drive the 1200 km from Cherbourg to Nice... They'll regret it when they meet up with me fresh and eager to head into the alps.

Look forward to hearing how things go!

Good luck on your trip! You should definitely ride down there though!!!!

BTW, I was born in Alsace et j`ai grandi a cote de Strasbourg jusqu'a mes 18ans, et je suis toujours Francais (green card)

Cool trip guys. I hop you have good weather, as it's only April...

I'll keep an eye on this thread to see if you are near Amsterdam

I wish we had enough time for Amsterdam!! I looked into it, but it's going to be tough to fit it all in..........................

 

[amanlisman]

l
BTW, I was born in Alsace et j`ai grandi a cote de Strasbourg jusqu'a mes 18ans, et je suis toujours Francais (green card)

Ok! Tu es français vivant aux E-U et moi, irlandais (et un peu canadien sur les bords de par ma maman) vivant en France! Vive l'international!

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Are you flying on Air France? And if yes, are you flying on the A380?

 

[Davey]

Dammit I wish I was going to be here to join you guys for a leg of this trip! I miss the Rhone Alpes region where I lived last year; the roads were simply amazing! I was truly spoilt there with my Fazer!

Now living in Paris is killing me, the roads are all dead straight and everything is flat! A Harley guy I met told me about a road to the west of Paris. He said it was pretty good. I checked it out one weekend and I counted all of about 15 decent corners in about 50km! It was rammed full of bikers all the same - I could hardly keep both hands on the bars from waving.

Wavex, I'm not sure if it's on your way but you won't be too far from it if you're heading south from Lyon, but I can really recommend Les Gorges de l'Ardeche, Ardeche department. Great road along the gorge with some amazing scenery.

I'm hoping to get down that way in the summer to round off my tyres!

 

[Cali rider]

Wavex and I depart for France et. al. on this Saturday and will return in 15 days. The complete itinerary is finalized and is quite involved. I am sure we will update this page with pics and stories throuout the journey. Basically, we will go from the northeast of France (Saverne) down the Road of Wines to Lyon, Arles, Salon-de-Provence. From there we travel to the Mediterranean coast and travel by ferry to Corsica to ride for 1 1/2 days. Returning to the mainland we continue through St Tropez, Monaco, then north through the Alps to Colmar, over to Germany to travel some awesome roads and back to Saverne for a day of rest/parties before coming back to America.

It.

Will.

ROCK.

 

[rsw81]

It.

Will.

ROCK.

Understatement of the year:rockon:

 

[Tailgate]

Wavex and I depart for France et. al. on this Saturday and will return in 15 days. The complete itinerary is finalized and is quite involved. I am sure we will update this page with pics and stories throuout the journey. Basically, we will go from the northeast of France (Saverne) down the Road of Wines to Lyon, Arles, Salon-de-Provence. From there we travel to the Mediterranean coast and travel by ferry to Corsica to ride for 1 1/2 days. Returning to the mainland we continue through St Tropez, Monaco, then north through the Alps to Colmar, over to Germany to travel some awesome roads and back to Saverne for a day of rest/parties before coming back to America.
Will.

ROCK.

St. Trop---the beach where everybody takes clothes off? Well, maybe not in April... Hey John, maybe you and Dave can run into James Bond at the Casino de Monte Carlo (hah,hah)

 

[Lefty]

David and John,
Just wanted to wish you two the best for your upcoming trip. May you have safe travels, great weather, meet fantastic people, and have the trip of a lifetime. :thumbup:

 

[Motogiro]

Man! Best of wishes to both of my good friends! What a great adventure it will be!

 

[lytehouse]

And behave yourselves! :spank:







:justkidding: you guys have a safe trip....can't wait to hear & see pics of this adventure! Stay safe.

 

[Cloggy]

Hope you have a great trip, looking forward to the pics :thumbup:

 

[Wavex]

Thank you all! It's been quite the adventure just to get to today.... let's just say it's been the busiest time in my life in the past few weeks :BLAA:

We're now 15hours from taking off from LAX for Paris, all packed up, and I can't sit still........ I am sure we will remember that trip!

Are you flying on Air France? And if yes, are you flying on the A380?

I don't think they have an A380 from LAX to Paris CDG yet, but that would rock! Funny you mention the A380 because I'll be spending the day at Airbus in Toulouse on Tuesday next week (business)

Wavex, I'm not sure if it's on your way but you won't be too far from it if you're heading south from Lyon, but I can really recommend Les Gorges de l'Ardeche, Ardeche department. Great road along the gorge with some amazing scenery.

Yep, we're going through some of that :rockon:

It.

Will.

ROCK.

w00t! +1 ^