The Alps! Here I come!

[showerfan]

Can anyone recommend good routes through the Alps? I'm headed there next week Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy?

Any sweet passes that are closed to the average cager and tourist busses?

[Raux]

ask Stopintime, he's done them a couple of times.

[IZ]

Stelvio Pass. Italian Alps.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stelvio_Pass

The Dolomites are incredible as well.

[swampduc]

Stelvio Pass. Italian Alps.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stelvio_Pass

The Dolomites are incredible as well.

I did the Stelvio last year in an M3. It's not closed to cars, but there weren't any buses around. The bigger holdup came from the occasional cyclist, which shouldn't slow you down if you're on two wheels.

[Skybarney]

I wish I could remember what route I was on between in the French Alps on the way to Switzerland but all I can say it was incredible.  It went through a town called La Grand Bournaise (I doubt I got the spelling right) It was on the way there six Ducs went by us at Mach 4.  I was there paragliding my tush off for a few weeks and did not have a motorcycle with me.  It did however affect my decision to get out of Jap bikes and buy a Ducati when I grew up and could afford it.  The sound was amazing.

Although I have to say that paragliding several thousand feet above the Alps was quite incredible as well.  Take off in one Country and land in another.  Good times.

Enjoy the hell out of your trip.  It is a riders wet dream to get to play in the Alps.    

[stopintime]

This a good website to check out conditions and if the passes are open yet.
http://www.alpineroads.com/passstatus.php

Even if they're open, the highest passes will be wet well into June because of snow melting.

Around Andermatt, Switzerland - "the figure eight" passes 
Santa Gotthard-, Furka-, Grimsel- and Süsten Passes.

Stelvio/Stilfserjoch NorthEast of Bormio, Italy.
If closed, neighbour valley Müstair, Switzerland.

My favorite - the many roads around Cortina, Italy.

Scenic "must see" Grossglockner, Austria.

Check out these and let me know if too many of them are closed - I'll see if there are good alternatives.

[stopintime]

Hmmm... Stelvio might not happen for you 

Supposed to get almost a foot of snow tomorrow.

[Raux]

http://www.greenpass.bz.it/en/opening-time

[theprocess]

Planning on riding the alps next summer. This will be a good thread to refer back to.

Have a great ride and safe return!

[showerfan]

this has been the best biking of my life, including trackdays! the best of all, so far, has been in kärnten, austria, to and from the nockalmstraße http://www.nockalmstrasse.at/de/nockalmstrasse/motorrad/

the actual passes are not that great -- i did grossglockner as well, for example http://www.grossglockner.at/en/hochalpenstrasse/motorrad/ -- but it's too cold and wet up that high, and the steep hairpins give new meaning to the term "slow down." i'm have a LOT more fun in the valleys, where it's sunny and breezy and there are just a ton of endless, fast sweepers.

one other major problem: i'm on a k1300s. great bike for eating up miles on the auto-slab, but not a light twisties-carver. also -- having had a better r1200gs last year in the mountains and an AWESOME s1000rr last year on the track -- i can now say with certainty that BMW's, as dependable and smooth-operating as they are, are just plain boring.

going to go and find a ktm 1190 adventure or a multi tomorrow, maybe a supermoto or a hypermotard. then i'll hit cortina and andermatt the rest of the week!

[stopintime]

Good to hear that you enjoy it 

+1 on the valley roads being more fun - the higher hairpins are just necessary to get from one section to the next - and to take photos.

I'm quite sure you'll be even more excited when you hit Cortina and Andermatt areas.

Enjoy and be safe

[showerfan]

btw -- over 1,000 km in the Alps for a week, no problems at all. had a fantastic time! amazing roads

back in NYC for two days, hit by a truck making an illegal u-turn. hit and run, totaled my new panigale and severely broke my leg. three surgeries and three hospital-weeks later i am recovering at home, no weight bearing until september

i just sit in bed these days looking at motorcycle porn (and regular porn). as soon as i can walk, my insurance money is going to turn my wrecked 1199 into a pikes peak multistrada! and my monster is getting radial brembo masters, keihin flatslides, new cf mivvs, and some full LED lighting

[stopintime]

 
   ^^ silver lining 

[Howie]

Sorry to hear about your welcome back to New York City.

To a speedy, full recovery

[Ducatamount]

A Panigale in NYC?   

Sorry to hear about your injuries.