Hi all, just returned from a small euro tour on the Blade and got a few pictures to share. 4 friends on a BMW, 2 Triumphs and me on the Blade 4 of us left UK on Monday morning on the mid morning tunnel and made our way through France, Belgium and into Luxemburg, staying at the legendary and certainly interesting Vianden. Total miles for the day was around 400. Up Tuesday, and made our way out of Luxemburg and down through Germany using the B500. Wow, what a road. The weather was dry and surprisingly little amount of traffic made an epic ride for the day. We stayed around 50 miles from the Swiss border in Germany. Total miles for the day was around 260. Out of Germany on Wednesday and into Switzerland making our way to the bottom of the Sustenpass for lunch. We then spent the afternoon riding the Sustenpass, the Grimselpass and the Furkapass. Amazing and certainly recommended if you get the chance. We then worked our way down to Martigny to stay for the evening. Total miles for the day around 260. On Thursday morning, my mates were heading down into Italy, but I had to head home for work, so it was a 13 hour door to door ride back out of Switzerland and France to get the early evening tunnel to get be back home. Total miles for the day 650!! The weather was kind throughout, and the Blade never missed a beat over the total 1640 miles I covered in 4 days. Was a life time opportunity and left with some great memories and epic roads to ride. Some photos to share...
Wow... they are some awesome views! How did your hand/wrists feel after the 4 days?? I want to do a Euro trip on my Blade but hands get sore after just 150miles
Thanks, was an awesome trip. Not too bad actually; you get used to it and take a few rest stops. The blade is surprisingly comfortable after a few days and I'm just over 6 foot. I get a slight buzzing vibration through the bars which probably doesn't help....
I'm 5ft4 so the Blade is almost like a touring bike for leg room for me!! As for the buzzing... riding my 2003 Blade feels like I'm steering using two vibrators on full noise.
Fantastic! Pity you didn't do the 48 mate...next time? When you go throughout the switchbacks on the 500, then it opens up to glorious shell grip, then you just cane it! Marvellous! The passes are something else too.... You did good mileage dude.... Bet you didn't chill out much?
Thanks. The 48 was just out of our reach, as I joined the tour late, but like you say the 500 is well worth the miles to get there Long days, but well worth it for the roads we got to ride on. Yesterday was fun at 650 miles all in; felt not too bad when I got home last night, but feeling it a little today...
Great write up mate.... And decent roads you got there, glad you enjoyed it.... Ro - must admit can't say I've heard vibration described so well tbh ha ha.... No that I'd know but all the aches and pains go away once the scenery and roads kick in... It's awesome
Great write up, done the same trip a few weeks ago but we were able to do the 48 (on Jimbo's recco) Looking at your picture's wish we could have done more of Switzerland. 2015 trip being planned now.
Stonking pictures Coogie, & good milage for the time permited. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Thanks guys, was the most mileage i'd done in a short time on the blade, but enjoyed every minute of it. A few more pictures from around the B500 and the Sustenpass, with a final one with the Furkapass in the background...
Was a cracking few days riding, long days and did a lot of miles, but we did get to relax in the evening and meet some great and interesting people along the way; but i guess that's what touring is all about....Looking forward to planning the 2015 tour to hopefully include some of the other great roads out there...
Brilliant! Perfect quick European get away! I'd be interested to see a google map route. I'll be definitely getting euro trip in next year.
Nice write up, a great quick trip. Went to Germany (Cochem, then the Mousel Valley, B500), Austria, Italy, Switzerland and back to Germany a couple of weeks ago for 9 days. It rained for 4 of those days (heavily) and we had snow at the top of Stelvio....had to bin one of Swiss days as it was just too wet so we missed Julier pass, Albula pass, Oberal pass, Furka pass Grimsel pass and Susten pass.... Shame as arguably my fav passes to do. Managed to get some dry passes in, and a bit of a play in the black forrest on the way home
Love the pictures and thank you for taking the time to do a write up - we could almost do with a separate section for 'Trip reports' The pictures of the passes brings back good memories of my first (but hopefully not my last) visit to the Swiss Alps in late May 2010 heading down to Mugello - then managed to take them in again on way back - but that trip needed 2 weeks off work - well done to get there and back in 4 days.
Thanks. Was a short trip due to the time I had, but such a great experience, I just had to share. Looking forward to planning a 2015 trip now, which will hopefully give me a few more days....
I'm planning on taking my blade abroad next summer, would have done it this year but I didn't know anyone else willing to tour sob!! The pics are making me want to do it even more now!!
