Germany bound next month

[sleazy rider]

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,63200.0.html

I'm still trying to get everything settled.  Lodging is good.  Food, I'll make do.  Motorcycle?  Where to rent in Frankfurt?  I've sent messages to a couple places and expect to hear something soon, but damn, they're really proud of their bikes.  Two weeks is going to cost about $1800 US for a mid size bike like the TransAlp.  Any help would be sincerely appreciated in making some arrangements.

[blkhrt81]

Where are you planning to go sleazy? Sorry, can't help with suggestions, other than Knopf tours, heard some good things about him. Stay right on the autobahn and watch your mirrors, those black cars come up FAST!

[sleazy rider]

I'm going to see my son in Kaiserslautern for a couple days at the start and end of the two weeks.  Other than that, I'm a free man to roam as I please.  Someone here has made contact about renting me their bike which is stored at Knopf's place.  That would be the most elegant solution to a rental one could find.  I'd rather pay someone on this board than a total stranger even though I've had good experiences renting before.  

I'm a slow lane camper when in new situations, so no worries about fast black cars there.    My main goals are to experience the new to me cultures, foods and people.  Autobahns are for the locals.  I'm thinking about staying off them totally and immersing myself in Germany, France and maybe as far south as Switzerland.  It's too bad I spent my years in school learning Spanish.  

The Garmin Europe maps were purchased and installed yesterday evening, so my Sunday will be spent creating, modifying and storing routes which will probably get tossed when I land in-country.  

I'd love to meet up with some local ST.n members for a beer and conversation.  PMs would be best, as I'll not have a real phone there.  I'm packing a laptop/iPad for internet access and some evening reading and reporting.

[blkhrt81]

Hey sleazy, I just checked your other thread on the dates. My daughter is meeting me in Kiev June 12th and then we are heading back through Europe to the UK. Maybe we could arrange to meet somewhere along the way?

[sleazy rider]

Absolutely!  That would work for me.  I'm arranging to rent a TranAlp with bags for the entire trip.  I just hope it likes it's namesake, the Alps.

[servicerifle]

I just PMed you.  I'll be in the same area, the same time.

[mxvet57]

Gezz it sounds like theres going to be a party.

[Ralf]

Meet up in Munich for some beers?

BTW If you're near Kaiserlautern, you should visit Johanniskreuz, a popular local motorcycle rideout destination

[Joey Stalin]

just coming in to the thread to say that i'm jealous. renting a bike in germany is something i want to do before i die. good luck!

[Global Rider]

Two weeks is going to cost about $1800 US for a mid size bike like the TransAlp.

Thats a lot considering my friend is renting a Honda CBF 1000 for two weeks including: three hard bags, increased insurance coverage (lower deductible) and unlimited mileage for about 1100€.

[sleazy rider]

That was the best deal I could locate in Frankfurt.  $1200 Euros with bags.  Hey, it's only money and it's my first adventure on the continent.  I'll have fun and that's what counts.

[Global Rider]

That was the best deal I could locate in Frankfurt.  $1200 Euros with bags.  Hey, it's only money and it's my first adventure on the continent.  I'll have fun and that's what counts.

Trust me, you will. You might even come back spoiled.

I only posted the rates so that you know lower rates are available if you look around and if you can fly into another airport the next time...you do know there will be a next time.   My friend is flying into Munich and renting in Landshut...a 40 minute train ride away.

I'm heading over for 6 weeks this summer; year 17 in a row.  

[sleazy rider]

Oh, the plans are already in the works for a 2012 spring trip.    With that much advance notice, I'm sure I can do better.  Next time, I'm gonna have to take the wife.  I told her this is an advance scouting party to see if the natives are friendly.  The basic reason for going into Frankfurt is my son is stationed in Kaiserslautern at Ramstein AB.  After he transitions to his next duty station in 2013, Japan might be my next ride report.  That would also suck.  

[Joey Stalin]

Make sure that you hit the BMW factory and museum in Munich, and I particularly enjoyed the Audi museum in Ingolstadt. It was a surprisingly good display, free, large, and I never knew Audi had such a long history producing (small) motorcycles with their Wanderer and DKW brands.