What's the deal with the Garmisch Biker meet ?

[Snowman]

Looking for info on the Gramisch Biker Meet. Giving it serious thought for 2007.

What's the best bet going organised or doing own thing.

WOBMW trip looks like £900 for a couple for the trip, not sure how that stands against a DIY job.

Appreciate any one elses experiences / comments etc.
Is it worth doing ?

Thanks

 

[John Armstrong]

Worth doing, go with friends on a tour as you'll need to have someone look after your seat in the tent. I went on this years WOBMW "tour" next years looks a lot different.

 

[Snowman]

Thanks John

What was the pace like -
I dont mind motorin on but I dontdo overtakin on blind bends etc to keep up. (or she who must be obeyed ends up bruisin the kidneys - think it's her idea of speed restriction - mind she hasnt done it since i got the GSA!! I must be slowin down)

I been told that that area of Germany has brilliant roads/scenary etc

 

[John Armstrong]

As I said my impressions of this year aren't relevant to next years tour. No pressure to keep up though, and everyone has route maps etc.

The roads in the area were great, best look for ones with the green snake next to it if it's on a Michelin map

The roads coming back via the Timmelsjoch, Stelvio, Furka, Grimsell were stunning in the superb weather. However, I've seen photo's of the Stelvio two weeks later and there was snow there

 

[Wicker]

I went to the 2005 Biker meet as the middle weekend of a two week tour. I pre-booked accommodation a couple of months ahead of the event via the Garmisch tourist board website. Very comfortable & quiet town centre B&B for 40 euro per night (single room) and only 15 minutes walk from the BMW event. There are plenty of hotels and pensions in the area so DIY touring option is fine if you book ahead early enough.

 

[Snowman]

Thanks Wicker

I used to like the idea of the group thing - did some things with the Honda UK riders cub back in 2000/2001 and they started off great but towards it's demise these almost finished up as a racetrack on the road. I like a 'steady' pace - but not something that could turn you into organ donor -
Consequently most things since I've done DIY too, maybe I'm ready to go group again !!! - plus a bit of comraderie can make a journey more interesting

I see your from north of the border, did you pickup the overnight ferry @ Hull over to Rottedam/Zeebrugge or did you trail all the way south to the Tunnel.

 

[Wicker]

I now tend to take the Newcastle - Ijumiden (Amsterdam) ferry. 2 hours ride from the house, 1730 sailing and into Holland for about 0900 the next day. An easy first day on the Dutch / Belgian motorways usaully sees me stop somewhere in the Mosel area for the first night. From there it is an easy second day to the Alps or Black Forest. When going to Croatia I stayed on the motorway and reached Nurnberg on the first day.

I have used the P&O Hull crossing once. It was okay but a but further to go.
Going to Spain necessitated the long haul to Plymouth to get the Brittany Ferry. I ended up leaving the day before to make sure I got there in time for the sailing. Coming back through England I did the 500 mile shome in one hit; it was horrible due to the heavy traffic all the way up to about Lancaster. That is one part of living in England that I do not miss.

 

[Snowman]

Thanks again Wicker

Just ran a quick check on the ferry costs
The Newcastle one is about £120 less than the Hull option

 

[Lord Snooty]

Where exactly in Garmish is the rally site?

It's just ocurred to me that we will be passing very close to Garmisch when we cross the Alps from Italy to Austria at the same time as the rally so I thought we should pop in for look see.

 

[andyclift]

Went to Garmisch last year and loved it.

Costs - £41.00 to cross channel (Norfolk Line to Dunkerque), fuel (obviously depends on your bike but a bit cheaper than UK), One night in decent hotel in Cologne for two with breakfast (booked on Expedia) cost 40 Euros. We could have done the trip in one day but wanted to visit Cologne. Didn't book for Garmisch, just turned up. Found good hotel near centre for 45 Euros for two with breakfast (they had no rooms for our first night but gave us the managers bedroom for 15 Euros!!). If you want to book in advance try Expedia. On a previous visit we booked the Mercure Hotel for 50 Euros but it would have cost over 100 if we just turned up.

Food in Garmisch is not expensive, at the Meeting its cheap. From memory a half chicken, chips and salad cost about 6 Euros. Beers cheap as well.

If you want to camp at the meeting the facilities are very good if a bit crowded and free. Most of the activities at the meeting are free as well.

I would not go as a group as I don't like being locked into a programme and it seems a lot cheaper to make your own plans.

Our preferred route is Dunkerque-Cologne-Garmisch as it avoids French tolls(and police) in favour of fast German autobahns. Check ViaMichelin website for route. It shows this one as their recommended as although it takes slightly longer than going through France it is much, much cheaper. No problem finding the Biker Meeting when you get there. Either follow the hundreds of bikes or, if that fails, there are big signs with BMW roundels all over town.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Where exactly in Garmish is the rally site?

Southern end of town, over the railway tracks. Or follow the occasional BMW biker passing by

 

[Twotter]

Went to the 2005 meet with a bunch from the blue site and had a great time. The 'show' was a bit of a disappointment in terms of what was actually there but it was very well organised and typically BWM.

The area though is stunning with some excellent roads & plenty of options for having a giggle in the twisties. A nice ride is to head over to see the Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang castle (Neuschwanstein ?) and head back along the Plannsee (?) lake (keep an eye out for saucy topless sunbathers ).

 

[judge]

Went to the 2005 meet with a bunch from the blue site and had a great time. The 'show' was a bit of a disappointment in terms of what was actually there but it was very well organised and typically BWM.

The area though is stunning with some excellent roads & plenty of options for having a giggle in the twisties. A nice ride is to head over to see the Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang castle (Neuschwanstein ?) and head back along the Plannsee (?) lake (keep an eye out for saucy topless sunbathers ).

What he said.

I went on the same trip and he's right ya know excellent organisation, BMW did a good job with theirs too

I wouldn't 'do' a flyer to the Bikermeeting and a flyer back, its just not worth it, our trip stuck the Bikermeeting on days 3 & 4 of a seven day trip, it meant we could dip in to the show as we saw fit but it would be criminal to be in that region and not go and play.

There are (or were) plenty of mapsource routes on the BMW site which should give you plenty to choose from.

 

[Jaq]

Well worth going.....I did it with Bilks in 2005, but we made our own way over, so just stopped when we wanted too......
Fantastic roads and scenery....the campsite was ok, all the relevant amenities were more than adequate......
And the Rally itself was brill!!.........