Europe this Friday!
Discussion
I"ve got a Husqvarna Norden 901 and, with my brother on a KTM Superadventure S, I'm heading off on Friday for a Euro tour.
Our only plan so far is Dover-Calais, Stelvio, Florence, Slovenia, Croatia...
What is the best route please from Calais to Stelvio (aproaching from Bormio)?
Many thanks in advance for help...derision and negativity not welcome
Our only plan so far is Dover-Calais, Stelvio, Florence, Slovenia, Croatia...
What is the best route please from Calais to Stelvio (aproaching from Bormio)?
Many thanks in advance for help...derision and negativity not welcome
Wow! That's sounds like a fun trip. I'm sure you'll have a great time. As for the route suggestions ...
The are a huge number of options , almost all of which are good. I don't particularly like Switzerland. There are some great passes into and out of Switzerland and the scenery is stunning but, well, let's just say I'd not choose a route through Switzerland if there were alternative available. (Many will disagree and that's their choice.)
For me, I'd head down through France towards Annecy then head over the Little St. Bernard pass to Aosta. From there I'd head for the Lakes via small roads and then up towards Stelvio.
As it happens that, at least in part, is what the Old Gits are doing in June.
The are a huge number of options , almost all of which are good. I don't particularly like Switzerland. There are some great passes into and out of Switzerland and the scenery is stunning but, well, let's just say I'd not choose a route through Switzerland if there were alternative available. (Many will disagree and that's their choice.)
For me, I'd head down through France towards Annecy then head over the Little St. Bernard pass to Aosta. From there I'd head for the Lakes via small roads and then up towards Stelvio.
As it happens that, at least in part, is what the Old Gits are doing in June.
GreenMaster said:
I"ve got a Husqvarna Norden 901 and, with my brother on a KTM Superadventure S, I'm heading off on Friday for a Euro tour.
Our only plan so far is Dover-Calais, Stelvio, Florence, Slovenia, Croatia...
What is the best route please from Calais to Stelvio (aproaching from Bormio)?
Many thanks in advance for help...derision and negativity not welcome
That sounds like a belter of a trip. Our only plan so far is Dover-Calais, Stelvio, Florence, Slovenia, Croatia...
What is the best route please from Calais to Stelvio (aproaching from Bormio)?
Many thanks in advance for help...derision and negativity not welcome
I can’t offer any advice on routes as such, but have you been watching Chris Eades trip on his Baron Von Grumble YouTube channel?
He has been through Slovenia and Croatia and it looks like he’s picked up some fantastic roads over there. Might be worth giving it a watch and plugging the locations he’s passed through in to your satnav?
I think it depends on if speed is more important than taking your time. Black-K1's suggestion is a bit of a round-about-way. I'd go from Calais head to Lille. then head along the Ardennes section towards Baden-Baden, do the B-500 down towards the alps. Look at staying on the Bodensee. And then onwards to Stelvio. That bit alone will be 3 nights.
P.S. Stelvio is one of the worst passes, but seeing as you are going further east its understandable why its on the list (IMHO)
P.S. Stelvio is one of the worst passes, but seeing as you are going further east its understandable why its on the list (IMHO)
There are many ways to get to the Stelvio but at the moment I expect it´s still shut as are most of the high mountain passes such as Col DÍseran, and Col de la Bonnette in France, the Furka, Susten and Grimsel passes in Switzerland.
They are all likely to opèn on the next couple of weeks.
For Swiss passes check out https://alpen-paesse.ch/
For passes near Bormio check out https://www.bormio.eu/en/alpine-passes but that website was last updated in April.
If you haven´t ridden the Stevio before then ride it as a tick the box exercise but there are many many more enjoyable passes to ride in the Alps and Dolomites.
As for getting there I'd head for Baden Baden via the Eifel mountains and head at least part of the way down the B500 before heading South East.
They are all likely to opèn on the next couple of weeks.
For Swiss passes check out https://alpen-paesse.ch/
For passes near Bormio check out https://www.bormio.eu/en/alpine-passes but that website was last updated in April.
If you haven´t ridden the Stevio before then ride it as a tick the box exercise but there are many many more enjoyable passes to ride in the Alps and Dolomites.
As for getting there I'd head for Baden Baden via the Eifel mountains and head at least part of the way down the B500 before heading South East.
KTMsm said:
Bear in mind the Swiss have horrific penalties regarding speeding
Just one of the reasons I prefer to avoid Switzerland! 
FezSpider said:
I always use the route napoleon going down to the south of France. An amazing Road.
A great road to ride and definitely worth riding, but hardly on the route to Stelvio ...Edited by black-k1 on Tuesday 23 May 07:29
A KTM and a huskey.. Hope you've got good European breakdown cover? 
I'd love to do this ride (on my Super Adventure) and do as many mountain passes as I could. Careful in the Swiss parts. The guys off 44teeth were only a couple of kph from going to prison for something like 130 in a 80...easy done on a big bike. Finishing on the Croatian coast road which looks amazing.
There used to be a train from near Calais that would take your car/bike all the way to Croatia so if that's still running you could ride it one way and train it back.
I'd love to do this ride (on my Super Adventure) and do as many mountain passes as I could. Careful in the Swiss parts. The guys off 44teeth were only a couple of kph from going to prison for something like 130 in a 80...easy done on a big bike. Finishing on the Croatian coast road which looks amazing.
There used to be a train from near Calais that would take your car/bike all the way to Croatia so if that's still running you could ride it one way and train it back.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff