Moto rental in Europe: recommendations please

[Mr Earl]

My wife (a willing pillion) and I will be spending a month traveling through Europe in June.  The general route is London-->Paris-->Normandy-->Perigord/Midi-Pyrenees-->Provence-->Austria via N. Italy-->Munich/Freising (one day), flying out of Munich.  This is our 3rd trip to Europe, and we've been to these areas before.

We'll be driving a leased Renault after Paris.  I want very much to do some riding in Perigord, Provence, N. Italy, or Austria.  I've read here about renting a bike in Bolzano, Italy (we actually stopped there in 2004, but just for the day.)  A full day of riding would be OK, the itinerary won't allow much more than that - for this trip, anyway.

Please recommend from FHE any specific areas to ride (I lean toward the Dolomites) and any rental shops that have other than Harleys.  While a Ducati would be premium, I'd be happy with a BMW or even a Yamakawizuki.  Thanks!

[stopintime]

Club friends of mine rented Ducatis in France recently - a company run by Americans IIRC.
I'll check and see if I can find a link. (got it!)
http://www.columbus-international.com/

There is one in Italy as well. Red Tours or something like that.... (got it too!)
http://www.ducatitours.com/

I went through most of the areas you mention this summer.
There are so many great areas, so it's hard to pick one.
In general, I'd say stay away from the highest Alp passes - nice to have been over Stelvio and such, but not
 very exciting to ride through 40+ hairpins to get there. That leaves the Dolomites and French (lower) Alp areas.
From memory, route 900 from Italian/French border to Provence is the best route I've ever ridden.

[671M900]

$250 to ride a Streetfighter or 848 for a day? Sweet!

[rideserotta]

The 848 is reasonable. The 1098R is a different story.... "Ducatitours will require a €10,000 security deposit taken in the form of a pre-authorisation from the client's credit card before this bike is ridden by the client. This bike is only available as an extra charge option for tours a a rate of 400 euro per day"

Quite expensive!

[671M900]

Columbus seems to be the cheaper of the two and offers a cool membership deal. Ducati tours rents full leathers though.

[Raux]

you can buy full leathers for 160 euro in Germany at a place called Louis before you get to Italy

[Dieter29]

Try these guys: http://www.edelweissbike.com/en/cont/def/home.html  I have no personal experience with them but a friend of mine had a nice tour with them.  I will use them if I can't get my bike from the US to me in Kyiv.  Good luck.

[Betty]

Last year we were booked on a week long tour with Ducati Tours (now re-branded Red Bike Tours) as mentioned by Stopintime above. Unfortunately we didn't get to do the whole week but Joe and the guys did a good job sorting things out for us after my wife's accident ... so I can't not recommend them.

If you are limited for time I would contact them and see what the options are. Taking a tour or a guide will be the best way to make the most of the roads ... they can make sure you get on the right roads for the right riding. It would be a shame to waste much of your riding time looking for the right roads.

Just look out for errant Audi drivers

[Mr Earl]

<snip>
Just look out for errant Audi drivers

Huh.  A week ago, coming around a blind right-hander that's on one of the only twisties on my commute, an Audi coming from the opposite direction took his/her half of the road out of the middle.  If I hadn't been in the right-hand slot that day (which I usually am not), he/she would have killed me without doubt.

Thanks for the links and recommendations.  It's becoming more and more tempting to set up a moto vacation for next year and really saturate the N. Italy/Austria/E. France area.  Still would like to do a day rental this trip though - in case that Audi driver kills me between now and then!

[Raux]

careful with speed limits in france.