I'd been thinking of going to the Nurburgring for a while now but always bottled it. So spur of the moment thing, I booked it. That way I couldnt back out. I decided to go down there on my own to challenge myself a bit and to see if I could do it. I prepped the bike before some of us on here went to olivers mount. To make sure nothing was having off. I've been reading the kriega and venture luggage post and decided to do it on the cheap. I bought a roll up bag for £25 and holds up to 50L! I already had a renntec rack that came with the bike. I ended up packing more than I needed. The bag never moved and was stable at speed. For directions I used my old tom tom one and bought a mount and case from an American company called Adaptiv mount. The mount was brilliant. It attached onto the HESD and didnt move, it was easy to read at speed. I didnt bother with bluetooth headset to listen to instructions. I powered using a mini USB from the battery and hide the wiring under the fuel tank cover. It came with a switch so I put that under the pillion seat so it could easilly be turned off and not to drain the battery (just in case). 1st June I left Leicester for Folkestone. I stayed overnight on the coast and was bored after being about an hour. I got an early booking for the Euro tunnel just in case it was busy. The place was deserted, hardly any cars. So I just rode on, easy! The weather was brilliant the whole time I was in Europe. Lucky because I didnt have any waterproofs For some reason my my sat nav thought the quickest way was through France, Belgium, Holland then into the centre of Germany then down to the Nurburgring! ! As soon as I reached Holland I headed south off the motorway and found the twisties. Amazing roads around the Nurburgring. Ive never experienced roads like them before and make you relise how bad they are here in he UK. I stayed at the Sliders Guest House which is a great place to stay. There was mainly bikers there all from the UK. All the rideouts were brilliant. Especially the b258 and Cocum (i think thats how you pernounce it). My only regret is I didnt stay longer to explore. I went to the Nurburgring on Mon 3rd June in the evening. I thought it was busy but apparently it was empty because the queues can be 1km away from the carpark. Funny thing was I got out on track and thought this aint bad. Next thing I hear some one locking up, tyres squealing. I look in my mirrors and this Porsche comes flying past and drifts around me for the rest of the lap I didnt know where I was going and kelt looking in my mirrors! I couldnt believe the elevation changes and how high the kurbs were. I couldn't concentrate when going round. But had a massive smile on my face.
Luckily a few blokes were leaving for the UK same time as me so I tagged along. I didnt trust my sat nav! One of them had worn his tyre down. Cords were starting to show halfway back home. When we stopped near Calais they pointed me in the right direction and I set off on my own to the tunnel. Now Im back, Im really curious wether he made it back. My 2006 Fireblade never missed a beat. No problems with the bike! The only problem was with me. My lankey legs were cramped. Would rearsets help with more leg room or do they mainly improve ground clearance on track? It had to be done.
Thanks, if I wasnt going to the Isle of Man in August id go again! Im going to book it for next year.
the place is addictive hey mate, has an aura about it that’s hard to explain unless you've been... imagine 1st track day nerves / intimidation x 10! lol great write up mate, and yup, judging by pics that was quiet, although not sure about 1km queue’s?? was there last time on a busy Sunday and the car parks were jammed, but not queuing on the outside road?? I love it – could sit on the balcony of the café watching the bikes and cars come and go all day!! Will be there approx. this time in exactly 7 days!! Woop woop…
Its hard to explain but my head was fucked after doing one lap. I hardly had the bike leant over Have fun in a week, I sure you will! Im jealous already
Ha ha... It's a proper brain fcuk that's why!! Got to stay focused on ahead, but also of behind, so many different factors to consider above a track day it's amazing!! Each lap is like a session lol Yeah can't wait, it's a 100 year classic car fri to sun lunchtime also so should be a good atmosphere!!
Fair play to you for going over on your own, it's an awesome place Round about this time in exactly 2 weeks i should be pulling up to a hotel in Cochem to stay for 4 days ( that is after we have done a track day at Spa first ) Then for the next 4 days we are hitting the local roads and a few stop-offs at the ring, cant wait and i also get to finish my lap from 13 years ago !!!
I haven't really been that far on the blade so I fancied the challenge to see if I could get there on my own. Couldnt resist going. Let me know how you get on at Spa. I saw the signs on the way back and was very tempted to go there! Cochem is a great place. There are some great roads and view around there.
Thanks for the write up and pics James. I'm off to MotoGP Catalunya on Tuesday and it'll be my first time riding abroad as well as my first GP. Can't wait. I will try and take a few snaps and do a write up if I make it back in one piece