Cooltours Motorcycle Touring in Europe Tip #02; Less Miles!

Many, for not to say ALL motorcyclists from abroad intend to ride the Alps, Dolomites, Tuscany etc. for the first time, do the same mistake: They are calculating a far to optimistic daily travel distance! Especially riders coming from the US are used to handle 300, 400 or even more miles per day without any problems and they think that the same is possible here too.

I hope there is a chance of talking you into less miles and, which comes in direct proportion connected to that, more fun. Read Cooltours Motorcycle Tip # 2, LESS Miles:

There are many rules of thumb handed around and of course everything is a thing of personal preferences. Here comes the secret code which, by any means, will keep you busy with allot of motorcycling every day. The code is...

300–500–700 and it says:

300 km’s (185mls): That’s what you can do in a nice, pretty long day on your motorcycle and in the middle of one of Europe's motorcycle paradise’, the Alps, the Dolomites, Tuscany, Pyrenees, French Alps, Black Forrest or Vosges. Stay below this number within your planning and you will have lots of fun and see lots of cool things. You will also have enough tim to take some pictures or just shortly dip your toe in that lake or river.

500 km’s (310mls): Such day would either contain some longer legs of Autobahn-Riding or it’s going to be not only a long, but a damn’ long day for you. You will mainly spend it on the motorcycle, and not make long an many stops for taking pics or filling your tummy and tank.

700 km’s (435mls): Well, that’s of course a possible distance to make too. For one, two, maybe even for three days. But you’ll spend lots of time on the Autobahn, fighting against overloaded Trucks and over-paced Fiat's and Toyota's and, most of all, you’ll have hours and hours of time to think about all the beautiful things that you just rode by with 120km/h-speed.

The 300-500–700 formula can also be expressed as following:

30-60-90 and it says:

Calculate not more than…

…30km/h in average in urban areas…
…60km/h in average if you ride the smaller country roads and…
…90km/h in average on fast roads.

In this contex, it might also be important to explain: In central Europe, especially in the Alps, the Dolomites or just in places where’s not the space to build extra-wide, 4-lane-roads (which is in fact is the case almost all over the place), it is quiet often simply not possible to overtake. Even with a motorcycle! So it will happen to you, that you stick behind a truck, a slow car or a bus for quiet a while which obviously lowers your average travel-distance dramaticaly.

To calm you down and to finally come to an end, please let me tell you on last thing: I do 100% guarantee to you, that, although you might not travel 400mls every day, you will have the time of your lifetime! It is an old wisdom, that quality comes far before quantity. Less is more!! But this is another pair of shoes and going to be the topic of one of my next installment.

Welcome to Europe, welcome to motorcycle paradise!

Merry Christmass

A merry Christmas to everybody!! Enjoy the time with who or what ever! I'm keeping finger crossed that you to finally might find the piece of motorcycle-riding-gear you ever have dreamt from under the Christmas tree!



Motorcycle Rentals in Central Europe

This is a list of motorcycle rental companys in and around town. Renting a motorcycle is no cheap pleasure for sure. As I find, and as I know from may people who have rented there, all of these three company's offer good service. Final cost is more or less the same and I'd make the decision where to rent based on how to get there, how to get back from there and where I intend to ride.
All of theme do also rent riding-gear and helmets.
All have english speaking staff. Just send theme an email and ask what you want to ask.

Moto Arrigoni, Zuerich
Type	Extras	[CHF]/day	fullcover /day
G650 GS 1-Zyl.	--	80	15
F650 GS 2 Zyl.	T	90	20
F800 GS	K/T/N	110	25
F800 ST	K	110	25
F800 R	K	110	25
S1000 RR	--	185	35
R1200 R	K/N	140	30
R1200 GS '09	K/T/N	130	30
R1200 GS '10	K/T/N#1	150	30
R1200 GS Adv.	K/T/N	160	35
R1200 RT '09	K*/T*/N*	155	35
R1200 RT '10	K*/T*/N/R	185	35
K1300 R	K	160	30
K1300 S	K	160	30
HP2 Megamoto	--	165	35
K1300 GT	K*/T*/N*	185	35
Prices incl. 300km/day, VAT. More-km's: --.40
Rent 7days, pay 6 only
Rent 14days, pay 10 only
2000.- Deposit (Liability retention)
Hobi Motos, Winterthur
Type	Extras	[CHF]/day	fullcover
F650GS	on request	130	incl.
F650GS (low)	on request	130	incl.
F800GS	on request	150	incl.
F800ST	on request	150	incl.
F800R	on request	130	incl.
G650 X-Moto	on request	100	incl.
R1200RT	on request	220	incl.
R1200GS	on request	200	incl.
S1000RR	on request	240	incl.
K1300R	on request	220	incl.
K1300S	on request	220	incl.
K1300GT	on request	240	incl.
Prices incl. 250km/day, VAT. More-km's: --.50
2000.- Deposit (Liability retention)
Moto Mader, Oberentfelden
Type	Extras	[CHF]/day	fullcover
F650GS	on request	125	s. below
F650GS	on request	135	s. below
F800GS	on request	145	s. below
F800ST	on request	n.a.	s. below
F800R	on request	145	s. below
G650 X-Moto	on request	n.a.	s. below
R1200RT	on request	200	s. below
R1200GS	on request	185	s. below
R1200 GS Adv.	on request	200	s. below
S1000RR	on request	130	s. below
K1300R	on request	210	s. below
K1300S	on request	210	s. below
K1300GT	on request	230	s. below
Prices incl. 300km/day, VAT. More-km's: --.50
2000.- Deposit (Liability retention)
Price' at 6days rental minumum
Fullcover: 1x 150 at rental 0-2 wks
Fullcover: 1x 250 at rental 2-4 wks
Extras	[CHF]/day
K = Sidecase	20
T = Topcase	10
N = BMW Navigator	20

• International drivers license required at Arrigoni
• All company's have other than BMW motorcycles for rent too.
• All Price' from official websites as per Dec. 23rd., 2010
• YES, I know! There might be cheaper ones. Don't beat me if you know good an more afordable ones! Let me know! Thanks!

Cooltours Motorcycle Touring in Europe Tip #01; Speeding

Speeding in Switzerland

Once in a while, visitors from abroad who was unlucky enough to get caugh wiht speeding complain about inflexibility of police and/or authority; "Terrible expensive fines!". "They don't warn you in advance when they check your speed! That's traping!" "The guy didn’t want to listen to what I had to explain!" "I got fined for beeing 1 km/h too fast only!"
Yes, I have red some of those story’s on the internet, and, of course, I have experienced them by myself, in many distinction. Swiss policeforces and their style of doing their job seems indeed to be different than others. Reason enough for me, to do a little essay on that topic to scare a bit the too braves amongst you and to take away fear from the feared.

Everybody knows: The average Swiss is correct in every respect (often enough even more than that). Their correctness, in fact, goes way over their ability for spontaneous flexibility or common sense. Of course, to become a cop, you need to be even more distinct on these characteristic. Correctness, obviously, is one of their main requirements at all.

Now, if for instance, the law says, that you’re allowed to ride your motorcycle 80km/h on this road, and the cop who’s checking your speed would tolerate you riding 90km/h or 100km/h… well… what value exactly would it have, establishing and enforcing this laws?

The issue, in many parts of the world, would probably be solved by explanation, speaking and listening to each other or, in short, some negotiation. It most likely would be in the power of the cop to let you off the hook and tell you to be more correct next time, which you still next time wouldn’t because you’re equally trusting in your negotiation skills than you trust in your riding skills. The bad news is: This is not as it works here! There’s no such thing like “variations” if it comes to speeding; Everybody gets the same treatment for the same fault.

You see, fines for speeding within a certain level be within an affordable range. Everything above is going to be heavily expensive for foreigners (as local Police can not take away your driver’s license, in the case of a legal proceeding it'll be very expensive) and, depending on the amount of exceeding these levels, would have the loss of my driving permission as a consequence.

There is no pardon in villages and within city-limits, which is 50km/h. It is again one level tougher if you get caught in a 30km/s section, as they are usually in the neighbourhood of schools! It’s going to be painful from the beginning.

My personal limits are (on the speedometer of the motorcycle or car):
<30km/h, <55km/h, <90km/h, <110km/h and <140km/h. Staying within these limits make sure, that it's not going to be too painfull if bad luck strickes you.

To come to an end on this essay: There’s a big plus on the whole system. As said already above: “You  pay what you see”! So if you see an 80 km/h sign, you know you will get away with 84, but you will pay with 1km/h more. AND: You'll pay same amount than everybody else does. Not more, but also not less.

Same, btw., is valid for shopping, restaurants and most services: If you see a price-tag of CHF 100.00 on a product in a window, you exactly will pay 100.00 for exactly this product. You will not be cheated or ripped off in any causes. YOU PAY WHAT YOU SEE.

How to answer Season Greetings

Do you have losts of contact with customers, suppliers, partners in your business? Yes? Than you for sure have received lots of Seasons-Greetings, this year too, ain't you? There are four different options to choose from to answer:

Option 1:

Dear Jack

I have received your handwritten Seasons Greetings today and did read it with greatest pleasure! I am very much pleased to work with people like you. People who seem indeed to bring the business term “partnership” to a totally different level. People who not only find value in products, price and services, but also in humans. It is more than great, working with people and organizations who recognize their partners as nothing else than exactly that; Partners.

Thank you very much for giving me the one more confirmation that I am work with a partner who’s willing to do the extra mile for me.

Option 2:

Dear all at Lazy Inc. Co. Ltd.

Thank you for the Season Greetings on the nicely preprinted, personally signed card which received me today.

See you next year (in case I have no other option).

Option 3:

Sabrina

No Season Greetings form Rough & Tough Inc., that’s quiet unusual. Thank you anyway for that, it saves me from pulling option 3.

Sending very best whishes for a great and successful new year and looking very much forwad to discuss price-structure on our next meeting.

Option 4:

Lads’n’Gents at Marketing Dept. of High-Tech Ltd.

Today I received your Season Greetings–Standard-Email. Thanks. May I at this occasion kindly ask you to defiately take me off your mailing list.

Please also forward my email to your sales representative which I am herewith asking to delete my contact data immediately. I just received confirmation of Medium-Tech Co. that they will gladly accept my yearly orders in the quiet lousy range of US$ 25’000.- from next year on. 


How many times could you pull option 1 this year?

Alto Adige (Suedtirol), Italy, With A Gang of Friends

Now, as winter is so long and snow falls down as there would be no tomorrow, it is highly time to follow up some tours from this year's motorcycle season!

The place to inspect was the area of northern Italy which, since the olds remember, doesn’t want to belong to Italy, but still does anyway. Some call the place “Alto Adige”, others call it “Suedtirol”, again others just call it “Motorcyclist’s Paradise”. It’s not about politics in this report, actually it’s not even a ride report but much more a brief overview about the history of origins of one of the loveliest places for motorcyclists I know.



How ever one might call the place … All do know: This is the place where milk and honey flows. This is the spot on earth which God, the creator, did spoil so much with beauty, that arriving in this region’s heart indeed feels like arriving at the place one for ever wants to remain, never want to leave anymore. Lakes, embedded between vineyards and rivers. The smell of grapes mixes with the perfume of millions of blooming flowers and the flavor of untouched forests.

And this is how it all came:
As, after creating all this beauty, God was very much scared that the place soon might be discovered by awkward, rude and reckless human. He was quick with the decision to cover the place as good as ever possible, immediately started to build some huge piles of rock in the north, and called them “The Alps” at the opening party.

Though the rocks was very steep and rough and though they was covered by a dangerous white and thick layer of ice which indeed worked as a trap for many, it soon turned out that it might not be enough shelter and protection for Alto Adige. Well, the place was just too beautiful and way too much temptation emitting.


So he decided to again stretch the Alps further from the North, in a long bow to the Southwest. This effort ended up in a spectacular, impressive and scary barrier made of rocks and ice from all the North to the west of Alto Adige. The Place now was covered and everybody felt quite happy, as at the same time this barrier kept away bad weather influence coming from the northern seas, all across the continent.


As a result, the place developed brilliant and did very much profit from this sanction. But this, of course, did make it even more attractive to any kind of enemy. So God decided one day again, to take another, last attempt to cover the place and keep it as beautiful as it still was at that time. In a huge effort he built even more rough and sharper peaks than before. Hundreds and hundreds of the steepest and most authoritative structures one can imagine, and he placed it right to the east of Alto Adige.The name of this red and awesomely looking shield: “The Dolomites”.

Alto Adige was now covered on tree sides by a zillion of tons of the strongest barrier of rocks, stone, dirt and pure steepness and danger. By the time mankind slowly arose, the place was still in very best condition. People only very slowly populated the area and took very much care to it, wisely farmed land, water and air.


But still after hundreds of thousands of years, the temptation for everybody else was simply to big. Everybody wanted to take at least a little glimpse at what was known as the place of beauty and happyness.


Back in the early years of the 18th Century than, some even brave and likewise strong men started to build a path over the rocks. It was used for generations and it took very, very long until it finally got extended to a path in modern style….

…to be used with modern vehicles.

Anyway, it still was not very easy to undertake the journey down to Alto Adige, the land where children say “Pizza” and “red wine” long before the say Mom and Dad and the land, which offers more twisties than all the rest of the whole Eurasian landmass.

To ensure that everybody who’s willing and powerful enough to do the journey will find the right way, people placed markers on the most important spots of the way southbound. Some of markers ended up as less…

… others as much more famous:

How ever: There’s three clear signs to recognise people who managed to find their way down to Alto Adige: It’s the light in their eyes…

…their excitement …

… and their bliss having done it finally.

More and more, small groups of brave and presistant young men and woman try to get over these mountains today. It’s just the same undertaking as the prospectors took back in the 1800’s when they climbed Chilkood pass by feet to get up to the Yukon. Only not gold is tempting nowaday's prospectors, but pure freedom for bunch of, a bit of sun long before the rest of the continent gets it, crystal clear lakes, ruby red wine and endless twisties, that is what they are grasping at.

Lots of tears have been shed so far. Tears of pain, doubts and fail, but also tears of pleasure, felicity and pride. Many in the meantime have done it ….

….and it’s only a question of time who’ll be next!

Have a seat and a breath, you might want to think about it first.

Off-season

Shall I laugh or shall I cry? 25-30 cm's new snow tonight! Well, that means for sure loads of fun for my daughter. No question one of the greates joye a man can have!
On the other hand, the GS is never more far from beeing moved around than it is today and this indeed is a 100% downer!

Well, looks like it's time for family now and also time for taking care about 'customers' too! No better time than winter with it's long and freezing cold nights to set up a tourplan! So, get up, tell me something about your dream of that epic motorcycle ride in/around Europe!!

That's how commute looks like on a early December Monday evening at -3C. One might be thinking that it has absolutely nothing to do with motorcycling! But one couldn't be more wrong with that! Never in a year's cycle I'm more dreaming about the rideouts I have done. Never I am having more ideas of where to go and what to do than on such terrible cold weeks!

A Winter Ride around the block

Made a short ride over the hills around my place, just to at least hear the sound, feel the feel and get some wind into (the none-existing) hair.
My bikedealer offered coffee and cookies and some looks on the latest BMW models. Nice reason to dig the bike out and recharge the battery on it's natual way!