Cherbourg to Bologna

Hi All

Me and my BH are planning a trip down to the Ducati factory late July 2009.  We will be catching the ferry to Cherbourg as we are staying in lower Normandy for a couple of days before heading south.  Can anyone recommend routes and cheap and / or nice places to stay.  We haven't decided whether to take one bike or two, obviously one will limit the luggage though (toothbrush, dress, sandals for me!).

Thanks for info

Lisa

Just look at the 1:1M Michelin or IGN map and draw an approximate straight line from Normandy to Annecy. Then follow the D / smaller N roads which roughly correspond to it. Then across the Alps on the Mont Cenis pass from Lanslebourg and you're well on the way.

Some people would suggest using satnav but I like the map as it gives you much more context.

Bill Shaw Mission Motos - Motorcycle Travel Solutions.

Cool Motorcycle Packing Stuff Generally less than you'd pay from the US direct.Discounts at the moment as trying to sell it all off.

www.motorbikefriendly.com - we are always looking for B&B owners (anywhere) to add  their B&B's to our free listing. Rider owned and run places especially welcome. Riders resource site - routes etc, ask questions of the locals.

RidersRest Bikers only B&B in the beautiful Central Massif - France

Touring France Touring routes - Central Massif on a motorcycle...

Thanks, how lon do you think that would take, comfortably?

Lisa

Bill Shaw Mission Motos - Motorcycle Travel Solutions.

Cool Motorcycle Packing Stuff Generally less than you'd pay from the US direct.Discounts at the moment as trying to sell it all off.

www.motorbikefriendly.com - we are always looking for B&B owners (anywhere) to add  their B&B's to our free listing. Rider owned and run places especially welcome. Riders resource site - routes etc, ask questions of the locals.

RidersRest Bikers only B&B in the beautiful Central Massif - France

Touring France Touring routes - Central Massif on a motorcycle...

We will be going to Lower Normandy first so that will be our starting point.  Has anyone got any idea how much time I should allow to comfortably travel down and how much time one should allow to explore Bologna.  We will be going down on a 916 and a 600 monster so I'm afraid I will be setting the pace - the slow one that is!

Lisa 

Bill Shaw Mission Motos - Motorcycle Travel Solutions.

Cool Motorcycle Packing Stuff Generally less than you'd pay from the US direct.Discounts at the moment as trying to sell it all off.

www.motorbikefriendly.com - we are always looking for B&B owners (anywhere) to add  their B&B's to our free listing. Rider owned and run places especially welcome. Riders resource site - routes etc, ask questions of the locals.

I would allow 14 days min for the whole trip there and back.  as a for instance I did a similar trip no motorways nice pace taking in a wedding at  Viereggio  before heading back North I documented the trip including maps and routes here www.whereistonynow.co.uk/france4.htm

 The route I outlined above in this thread would also be doable in a 10 to 14 days and you could use Peage if you wanted to get the no of days down.

Hope that helps 

RidersRest Bikers only B&B in the beautiful Central Massif - France

Touring France Touring routes - Central Massif on a motorcycle...

RidersRest Bikers only B&B in the beautiful Central Massif - France

Touring France Touring routes - Central Massif on a motorcycle...

I absolutely concur with Tony (although I had to reverse engineer it into KM)

An average of  60 KPH/40 MPH in rural france is about right. If you ride right to the speed limit - you can up that to 70kpH-80 KPH (max 50 MPH) but it can get very intense at that speed.

Mountainous regions - a 60 KPH average is pretty good going on the very twisty stuff - most people find 45-50 kph about right.

(there will be those who claim to go faster - but these figures are the ones that we use to calculate distances as 'locals')

Bill Shaw Mission Motos - Motorcycle Travel Solutions.

Cool Motorcycle Packing Stuff Generally less than you'd pay from the US direct.Discounts at the moment as trying to sell it all off.

www.motorbikefriendly.com - we are always looking for B&B owners (anywhere) to add  their B&B's to our free listing. Rider owned and run places especially welcome. Riders resource site - routes etc, ask questions of the locals.