Trip to Italy
 

Folks,
I've tried to upload the photos from my latest jaunt to the Italian Alps but to no avail......so if you're interested, they can all be seen at the link below.

The top and bottom of the trip was 8 of us travelling down through France to pitch camp at a tiny place called Salbertrand for a few days. On the way down we did as many trails as we could squeeze in and once in Italy, we rode to the top of Mount Jafferau which is about 10,000ft. The Germans from our campsite stopped just short of the summit so we really had to make it! :smilies0346:

We avoided the dreaded motorways at all costs!!

Bikes on the trip inlcuded 2 x Teneres, 2 x BMW F800GS, 2 x KTM 690 Enduros, a beast of a KTM 950 Enduro and a well sorted XR600.

http://s924.photobucket.com/albums/a...%20off%20Road/

Any questions/observations give me a shout
cheers
Lairyboy

How did the guys on the 690 managed so many miles on that nightmare of a seat?

the 690 aint the worst, i feel sorry for the guy with the BMW F800GS... worst seat i have ever sat on.

Nice pics mate

Nice pics, looks tough going lots of bikes lying down, how did the different bikes compare?

The 690's and F800's had sheepskin covers and very stubborn riders:042:.......to be honest, the 690 riders accept that they are uncomfortable but when you stick to the D roads in France and break it up with as many trails as possible it's do-able........standing up at 70mph helps too......and the French police don't seem too bothered by that!

In the main, the trails were not too difficult and if truth be told, the least experienced of all of us were me and the other lad on the two Teneres. He fell off a few times but that was down to 'operator error' shall we say.

One day we split into 2 groups by accident; one group of the better riders (2 x 690s, a 950 super enduro and a XR600) followed the unpaved road indicated on the Garmin but soon became involved in an epic as it turned from steep river bed, to goat track etc. It got dark quickly and they had to spend the night up on the mountain as it got too dark to carry on. In the morning, the remaining sections were so difficult they had to 'walk' the bikes down.

I was in the other group who also had an eventful day. We took a different route and having stopped for a piss while the others in my group carried on I had a conversation with a local walker who told me it was impossible to get the bikes all the way over the mountain.......too late to stop the others so I chased them as best I could but we had also gone beyond the point of turning around. We also ended up walking the bikes down and I got a bit dehydrated but at least we made it to the campsite for beers!

As for a comparison of the bikes it's difficult but IMHO I'd say the Tenere's were bar far the best over distance and clearly better suited to the road but the KTM's were so much better off road; light, agile and more power (and carrying more skilled riders, ahem!) Mind you, that old R reg XR600 went well!

If the buildings you're referring to are the ones in ruins I think they are parts of an old fort. As for the tunnels, the longest one is about a kilometre in length and cuts deep into the mountain; it's pitch black in there, wet and slippery and you have to be wary of cyclists and other bikes either coming the other way or stopping in the middle (God knows what for?)

Half way up the trail to Mount Jaferau we came across a police 4x4 who were checking papers etc. They were very polite and helpful, warning us not to stay at the summit too long as bad weather was moving in. They even provided us with some maps and directions for other trails in the area.

Just a word of warning if anyone is thinking of doing the trails in this area; they are closed on Wednesdays and Saturdays and you absolutely must carry your bike log book, insurance certificate and your driving licence with you. If you don't it's a 38 Euro fine:wasted:

Brilliant mate !!:eusa_dance::icon_thumright::tshirt::applause::a pplause::applause:

Thanks Ricky.......now we'll have to start planning for next year's jaunt:toothy4::toothy4:......not sure where yet but it's always a laugh!