Talkback: Discuss: This isn't a great road

ripsawII

16/07/2012 at 10:32

Having just returned from a tour of Europe I have to say these switchback roads are great fun - I wouldn't bother pushing the front tho, I would go in slow and try to power out in 1st trying to turn the bike on the back wheel then wheelie to the next bend. Loved it. It helps if you are on something like a Tuono.
However the best road we found was a sweepy, undulating roller-coaster which began in a small retail park outside a nondescript village in the Eifel region of Germany.

Drenched

16/07/2012 at 11:22

I am with Mr Cope on this, at the end of the day I would rather get a flow going.

It's variety of corners and speeds that interest me, my favourite road is a B road in Devon where there are some long sweepers followed by tight double S bends, massive changes in elevation and even the odd blind crest. I have ridden that road almost every week for the last 2 years and it's 30 miles of motoring heaven for me.

The only thing I would change would be to make the hedges/trees smaller so that I had a better view of the road ahead, and potential hazards. From what I understand Yorkshire/Scotland have roads like this, but with less hedge rows. :)

Phil Taylor

16/07/2012 at 14:37

It's more the thrill of getting there, finding that elusive road and feeling the sense of adventure riding it for me.

The Col du Mont Cenis is more of a 'bikers' road.

Check out this video to see what my idea of the perfect road is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6siK1fwy6kY&list=UUeJWaTq_JvtVHzj5WQuQe7A&index=8&feature=plcp

thoppa

16/07/2012 at 17:02

One of my favourite roads in Europe heads south west out of San Marino. All the traffic takes the highway so this roads is empty, except for the bikers having a real blast on a variety of curves. So, yes, tarmac quality is important, a variety of curves is important, good conditions are important, but most important of all, no sodding cars or trucks or other slow road users. In the pic, the road is empty with a good surface, seemingly good conditions and no traffic. Three out of four ain't bad.

thoppa

16/07/2012 at 17:08

Oops, just noticed a couple vehicles in the pic. So maybe that road is not so good.

The road I was talking about is, I think, the SP258. Most of the traffic is on the S3 autostrada.

http://www.sanmarinosite.com/eng/carteuro.html

Drapes

16/07/2012 at 18:29

I've done a few trips in europe, usually bike in the back of the motor home, and it depends what bike you are on. I've taken superbikes and found the best roads are along valley's rather than over the mountains and areas such as the ardennes/nurburgring area. But my favourite has been on a husaberg supermoto on roads like the picture in the alps. Backing it in to hairpins and doing a wheelie out and you are not really going fast enough to do much damage, as long as you dont go over the edge.

Mark John 3

16/07/2012 at 19:12

Quite agree on Drapes' comments, it really does matter what bike you are on. During my last trip to the Alps, you didn't see many "plastic rockets" going up and down the Stelvio pass; and after 8 hours of riding on switchbacks I can testify why, I spent most of my time dancing on the gear lever, slipping the clutch to get any drive on right handers and propping most up my weight up with my wrists, needless to say at the hotel that evening I was F**ked.
But the GS brigade there were in bliss, Torquey motor, sit up and beg handling, anti-drive suspension and ABS, they seemed relaxed, at a decent pace but in a seemingly safe manner.

Anthony Janicska

17/07/2012 at 01:08

Point, squirt, slow tight down, turn, point, squirt, slow right down turn, etc etc......???? dont get it...there are some great roads i have ridden (mostly in Australia) that dont look any where near as pretty but were just amazing.....track riding is still the best buzz

Lizzierymer Rymer

17/07/2012 at 12:43

We have stone walls instead!

George's Shed

17/07/2012 at 12:50

Ramsey to Douglas now thats a great road

BiKenG

17/07/2012 at 13:21

To each his own and as others have said, variety is the spice of riding. I love the twisty hairpins and also the long fast flowing stuff. It's only motorways (and similar) that I don't like and try to avoid.

Having said that, the Stelvio is not as much fun as other passes. The turns are just so tight a sports bike has to be on full lock all the way round and in some cases, that's still not tight enough when something comes the other way. No surprise, just not enough lock. Yes, something like a GS would be ideal for that road, but I'd advise against it on a sportsbike. Not so much a problem, more a lack of fun.

Ben Copes' comment about having to sit the bike up because there's something coming the other way is simply a clear indication of how badly he is attempting to ride these roads. You really should never be surprised and have to take evasive measures just due to something coming the other way. Sorry, that's just bad riding technique and dismissing all such roads on this basis is either naive or simply being deliberatly provocative.

Madridpunch

17/07/2012 at 13:46

I love to have a few Hairpins thrown in for variety, but 20 or 30 one after the other, no thanks. My favourite road so far, the D500 south from Baden Baden, starts of with some tighter stuff and then opens out into long sweepers, perfect (almost) road surface and not much 4 wheel traffic. Any of the side roads off it will provide all the hairpins you want as well!Perfect

D Linden

17/07/2012 at 13:56

This looks like a picture of the Transfagarasan in Romania.

I've been following an Indian Journalist, Sunny, who rode to World Ducati Week and took pics along the way.It actually looks like it might have been one of his pics????

He absolutely loved that road but he said the Transalpina was a little better.
http://www.missionredpla.net/missionredplanetphotos.html

barnsley biker 2

17/07/2012 at 17:11

Great roads are a personal think, its like saying that something obscure by a band called led airship or summat is the best record ever cos I like it, if it means nothing to you or has no great memory attached its just music.

The road depends on who you are with, where you are going to or from, weather, mood etc. for me the worst road is the A61 of Barnsley taarn.

Because we are stuck on this sceptred isle, held in by the seas edge, The best road for me is the first one my front wheel touches when I get off the ferry and I am abroad, that piece of foreign road can take me to china, India, Russia, the far east, the Mediterranean coast, Norway and the frozen north, all without a break in the tarmac. now that’s a good road!

Vinnychoff

17/07/2012 at 21:07

I have driven to Italy from the Uk and some of the best roads are around the alps and around the lakes. The drivers add to the experience as I have never been pointed at or shouted at for trying to get up to speed. Every ones aim is to get to point b as fast and safely as possible. Even on a cycle I have never had a car carve me up or make me scared. The road conditon in general is very good and the drivers are more forgiving than here. Two good reasons to enjoy the twisties

Sacha Padovani

17/07/2012 at 23:18

I have to agree with Cope. Being based in Tuscany, in Italy, I have lots of nice roads in the hills nearby, not necessarily the famous ones like the Passo del Muraglione, and loathe the switchbacks: too much of a struggle on a big twin, (SV1000), much better on a 4 cylinders. Flowing stuff is much much better, like the SS74 road from the lake of Bolsena to the sea. I agree with Thoppa, Badia Tedalda is a really nice bit, not too twisty, you can carry some corner speed. Plus, I too have been blown away by the SchwarzWaldHochStrasse, in the Bavarian Black Forest, which ends in the fantastic sweepers of the D500 in Baden Baden.
Oh, and the Grimsel and Furka passes are fabulous, too. Definitely NOT Stelvio.

Trav73

18/07/2012 at 04:58

Gorge Road in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia is the gateway to many a greater road. Elevation and camber changes. fast and slow corners.
And we get 6 months of summer over here...

Scott Andrew

18/07/2012 at 07:32

I've been on both the Stelvio and Transfagaras which are both good roads for their own reasons. I'm a regular Fast group trackday rider, and to compare riding either of these roads like you would a track, is absurd. They are tourist routes....simple as that! Scenic, rolling and ridden progressively with good throttle control are as exhilarating as any decent road. For fantastic scenery and empty, rolling roads, mountains, valleys....the E761 from Serbia to Sarajevo in Bosnia, doesn't get better than that :-D

brt

18/07/2012 at 07:45

That's in Chile close on the border with Argentina. It's a brutal but great place and I don't know why that place would make me complain about the roads! :)

Sparkwood

18/07/2012 at 13:10

It's great to hear someone tell it like it really is!

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