Alps Tour info...

[OB_Factory]

A couple of my best riding buds and I are planning a 2-3 week bike trip through the Alps in 2001. We are in the beginning stages of gathering information and are turning up questions that you guys may have experience with or know someone who does.

1. Best tour company? We are currently looking at Edelweiss Bike Travel, Motorcycle Adventures “Beach’s Toursâ€, Warren Motorcycle Transport and Lotus Tours (they rent Ducati’s). All options seem to come with a “chase†vehicle, provide various routes, etc. Anyone have experience with these or others?

2. Rent a bike or ship my own bike? It seems that shipping my own bike will cost about $2,000. Pluses are that I get to ride MY bike. Minuses are that if it breaks down, I may be stuck, plus the additional expense of shipping. I’m not sure I want to ride a BMW for two to three weeks through some of the best roads in the world.

3. Recommended “Must See†sites roads etc?


[This message has been edited by Factory (edited 30 December 1999).]

 

[OB_Factory]

You have to be kidding - no one has any Alps experience?

 

[OB_VegasDude]

The swiss have some experience.............hehe

 

[OB_Factory]

Vegas - It's late, you just got me laughing. Thanks!

 

[OB_BigPete]

Hey Factory, don't know if you're serious or not, but if you are....I can help you loads!
I have just spent 12 months in Switzerland and 7000 Busa miles of Alpine pass riding!!
I don't know about escorted tours, but I can help with bike hire, routes and best roads etc. Hell - I'll even be your guide myself if I can fit it in.
E-mail me at pete.balshaw@btinternet.com
......happy millenium guys...........BP

 

[OB_Factory]

Yep, we are VERY serious! I'm on my way out the door to go dirt bike riding today and tomorrow. I'll e-mail ya as soon as I get back!

 

[OB_ROR]

A friend has done two or three Edelweiss tours - Germany/Switzerland and Spain I know for sure. He was very pleased and he's very picky. He found the pace ultra fast and he's a fast rider. He made friends that he's kept up with for years.

On his last ride he ended up with a VFR800 and was so impressed with it he bought one to add to his stable after he got home. Its faster and a whole lot more reliable than his Duc 907 Paso and a lot better balanced and smoother than his R1100RS.

 

[OB_Konrad]

Factory,
Can some of us be rude and invite ourselves

 

[OB_Factory]

ROR - Thanks for the info based on your friends experience. I've also heard of similar experiences about Edelweiss. They seem to have a very solid rep.

Konrad - I think it would be cool to have a lot of people on the trip/tour that we are at least familiar with. We are VERY early in the planning stages, so all we know for sure right now is that we want to ride the Alps and that we need to wait until 2001 to go. One of my buds that is going with us, did an Alps tour in 91 with Edelweiss. I need to e-mail Big Pete and get more information from him too. I'll keep any details/info posted as it's available. Is your e-mail in your profile?