France trip - I survived!

[Jamoi]

Well contrary to popular belief, I went to France on the bike and actually made it home again!

Left on Wednesday night, returned on Tuesday morning.

Covered just shy of 2K miles.

15 bikes went, 12 returned.

Highlights were: The route Napoleon. The Milau bridge. The never ending hairpins and twisties through the mountains. Laying in snow 5 mins after getting kneedown! Meeting some great people.

It was mainly sports bikes, the riding was very spirited nearly all the time, to the point where I doubt we spent 1% of the day under a speed limit which was great as I'd never get away with it at home.

Pics:

Euro tunnel, loaded up with my Storms new buddies, a Ducati 1198, CBR1000rr fireblade, Suzuki Hayabusa, Mt09, bmws1000rr hp4 carbon... Storm was getting jealous!


After 1st night in Calais we headed to Borges via the lochnager ww1 crater:




Then on to Rodez:

Then on to rue st Catherine:




Then on to Annecy:









Then onto saint dizier, had a wicked tangle with a Touno round the mountains:


Lunch:



One of the funnest & fastest dudes I've ever met, Robbie:

Then home, via a b&b in Kent and a lot of cider in a pub..





I want to go again

[macdee]

We'll done Jamoi
Looked like great fun
You will have to post up the route, me and the mates might end up there next year
What happened the 3 bike that didn't return ,better name a shame the bikes

[sirch345]

That sounds brilliant Jamoi
Glad you got back home safely.

Thanks for the photo's, some great shot's there.

15 bikes went, 12 returned.

What happened to the other bikes/riders nothing bad I hope,

Chris.

[lloydie]

Looks like you had a good trip

[AMCQ46]

sounds great.............. some fast bikes to play with

bet you will be buzzing for a few weeks and having Bike withdrawl as you have to face mundain work

[Jamoi]

I guess I should explain about the non-returning bikes...

1 - There were 2 adventure bike guys on the trip and they went off to find some 'green lanes' en route, instead one of them found a tractor reversing into the road, bike was in 2 big bits and the poor guy shattered his pelvis and knee.

2 - The Hayabusa went into a unlit mountain tunnel and lost sight of the GSXR in front, found it but rear ended it and parked the bike and himself in the tunnel wall breaking a couple of ribs and trashing the busa :-(

3 - On the way home the guy on the S1000rr carbon decided "feck it, I'm off to Germany" so off he went and he is still there.

[AMCQ46]

I guess I should explain about the non-returning bikes...

1 - There were 2 adventure bike guys on the trip and they went off to find some 'green lanes' en route, instead one of them found a tractor reversing into the road, bike was in 2 big bits and the poor guy shattered his pelvis and knee.

2 - The Hayabusa went into a unlit mountain tunnel and lost sight of the GSXR in front, found it but rear ended it and parked the bike and himself in the tunnel wall breaking a couple of ribs and trashing the busa :-(

3 - On the way home the guy on the S1000rr carbon decided "feck it, I'm off to Germany" so off he went and he is still there.

3 I like, 1 & 2 are not good outcomes, sounds like a bad way to end your holiday............glad you survived as it sounds like there was some seriously fast riding

[sirch345]

Ouch that sounds painful to put it mildly for No's.1 and 2.

As Al says, I like No.3

Chris.

[Jamoi]

It was a huge shame about 1&2, certainly woke us all up and made us reflect on our own riding, but at least they will eventually be home and on the mend.

I was tempted by a detour to Germany, he was great fun to ride with


One interesting thing I noticed at the top of the mountain section, was my bike would no longer tick over and felt like it had 50hp must have been pretty high!

[TravisZack]

Sounds like a good trip, accidents aside..

We stayed by the lake at Annecy, was beautiful!

[simo]

That's some Trip that. Have you a special seat on your Storm.?

[darkember]

[bigtwinthing]

Brilliant trip, i am off next week just for 3 days for the WW1 sites etc.

[lumpyv]

well done jamoi !

scenary looks good

[Miztaziggy]

It was a huge shame about 1&2, certainly woke us all up and made us reflect on our own riding, but at least they will eventually be home and on the mend.

I was tempted by a detour to Germany, he was great fun to ride with


One interesting thing I noticed at the top of the mountain section, was my bike would no longer tick over and felt like it had 50hp must have been pretty high!

Yeah I noticed the same when I went a few years ago. Somewhere up in the Alps the R1 I was on felt like it lost quite a bit of power. It would no longer power wheelie in 1st even as hard as I would try, it felt like a 600.

How far south did you go? Did you go to Lyon and then over to Annesy or did you detour down into the Alps?