Ride Report: Day trips out of Weisbaden Germany

[Scud]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuXmgkDSoNs

I had some business in Wiesbaden recently and rented a BMW 310GS from the Motorrad Center there. I saw several Moto Guzzis on my rides, including a lovely black V11 LeMans. I had two totally free days, along with one free morning, and some evenings to go exploring.

The wee-GS was fun to ride. Light, nimble, comfortable, and very pleasant in urban environments and on bad pavement. It maxed out at 145kph, so not exactly the ruler of the Autobahn... But it buzzed along competently at sustained "high" speeds for 30 minute stretches. As professional reviewers have noted, it is not a serious dirt bike, but I found that it had decent dirt road manners - although I bottomed out the rear suspension on a rut that my Husqvarna would not have even noticed.

The mountains near Weisbadan, and in the forests to the South, near the French border, have many lovely, narrow paved roads, and many dirt roads using by loggers, hunters, and campers. So much to explore... natural, cultural, and gastronomical.

[Lcarlson]

 

[Lannis]

That's really good - looks like a combination of western North Carolina, Cornwall, and ... well, the restaurants don't, that looks uniquely German to me.

I cringed when you hit a couple of those mudholes in a turn, I was ready for a bit of sky-ground-sky-ground videography.   Must be a pretty good woods bike after all ... !

Lannis

[Chuck in Indiana]

One of your finer videos, Mr. Scudder. 
Lannis.. this ain't Scud's first rodeo..

[Scud]

That's really good - looks like a combination of western North Carolina, Cornwall, and ... well, the restaurants don't, that looks uniquely German to me.

I cringed when you hit a couple of those mudholes in a turn, I was ready for a bit of sky-ground-sky-ground videography.   Must be a pretty good woods bike after all ... !

Lannis

I like to stop in the small local places, wherever I go. The apricot and cheese pastry... 

As for the bike in the woods, it's decent enough on dirt roads. I traversed a few ruts, roots, and rocks, but being accustomed to "real" dirt bikes, I was not impressed. For comparison, my Husky 701 weighs about 50 pounds less, has twice the power and a far superior suspension (and about twice the price tag to go with all that). However, as a good little do-everything bike I am impressed by the 310GS. I flogged it mercilessly on a few occasions and it never complained.  But it was very happy burbling along on the backroads.

[Lannis]

I like to stop in the small local places, wherever I go. The apricot and cheese pastry... 

As for the bike in the woods, it's decent enough on dirt roads. I traversed a few ruts, roots, and rocks, but being accustomed to "real" dirt bikes, I was not impressed. For comparison, my Husky 701 weighs about 50 pounds less, has twice the power and a far superior suspension (and about twice the price tag to go with all that). However, as a good little do-everything bike I am impressed by the 310GS. I flogged it mercilessly on a few occasions and it never complained.  But it was very happy burbling along on the backroads.

BMW 310s, Kaw Versys 300s, and Honda 300s are starting to show up (at places I go) with serious riders on them ... people who have had everything, not beginners looking to "move up" later, but people who have learned to appreciate the benefits of 400 pound bikes that will run highway speeds ....

Lannis

[Lannis]

Lannis.. this ain't Scud's first rodeo..

... which will give you an indication between the gap in MY dirt skills and HIS ... !!

Dirt, rough, gravel, ruts I can do OK with.   I am not now and never have been very good at mud ....

Lannis

[azguzzirep]

That's all right in my backyard!!

[Guzzi Gal]

Well done vid with an excellent tune!

[Meinolf]

Hi,

I had some business in Wiesbaden recently... I had two totally free days, along with one free morning, and some evenings to go exploring.

Beard brought your post to my attention. Give us a shout the next time you are in the area, it would have been our pleasure to show you around. Though you managed nicely by yourself, judging by your video.

Cheers
Meinolf

[Scud]

Thanks for the offer of showing me around. I may take you up on that if I have an opportunity to get back there again. On this trip, my schedule was a bit uncertain. I knew I'd have some free days, but other than Saturday, I wasn't sure how everything was going to work out - so it was hard to plan.

Likewise - if you ever make it San Diego, I'd be happy to show you around. And you can use one of my bikes.

[nick949]

Great video - thanks. I liked the alternating road shots and stills. Love that collapsed tower - Roman?

Nick

[Scud]

That split tower is one of the older parts of Heidelberg Castle, which goes back maybe 800 years.  Here's the wikipedia page for the Castle, which indicates that it was a powder-room that exploded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_Castle

Outside of the Wiesbaden and Rhine river area, I had only two destination "goals" on my trip:

1 - Heidelberg - because it just seemed like a cool old city to visit and there were twisty mountain roads to the North and South. I learned that it is quite stereotypical of Americans to visit Heidelberg, so I was disappointed in myself for that, but I still enjoyed it and I bought a T-shirt.

2 - Fleckenstien - because I had seen a picture that captivated me. It's one of those old castles that was precariously perched upon a pinnacle. Plus it was across the French border (in a French National Park) via twisty mountain roads. Here's Wiki on Fleckenstein:
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Fleckenstein

Both goals involved some navigation challenges... but that's all part of the fun.

Two funny (at least to me) stories from the trip:

On one occasion, I stopped for coffee where I saw several other motorcycles. It's nice that so many Germans speak English, and everyone I talked with seemed cool - just part of that informal international fraternity that binds all of us motorcyclists in some way. But one guy on a BMW 1200GS was not so friendly toward my rented 310GS: "That bike is made in India... for women riders." I noticed (but didn't mention) that my wee-GS had mud on it and his was spotless.

When I stopped in Wispertube, which is a motorcycle-friendly stop that I stumbled upon, I shared a table with some locals (on a BMW and a Kawasaki) and learned that my planned route to the riverside city of Lorch was closed. They were also headed to Lorch and decided to backtrack and go around. I said I would go to the closure and see if there was a way around. There was, but it was bumpy. Just as I finished my coffee and pastry in Lorch, I saw them drive through town.

[azguzzirep]

Heidelberg is cool. Nice view of the river and twin bridges from the castle.  There are many restored castles on the Rhine, the Marksburg being a fine example.

My first stop will be Strasburg, then south to Mulhausen to see the Schlumph brothers museum, then further south and west to Massat, France.

[Lannis]

But one guy on a BMW 1200GS was not so friendly toward my rented 310GS: "That bike is made in India... for women riders." I noticed (but didn't mention) that my wee-GS had mud on it and his was spotless.

Some things are universal.   If that guy were in the USA on a big Harley and you rode up on a Sportster, you'd hear something very similar .... !!

Lannis

[twowings]

Sweet! Thanks for posting...

[Meinolf]

Hi,

I may take you up on that if I have an opportunity to get back there again.

Please do.

Best contact me via email (v11driver (at) gmail.com).

Cheers
Meinolf

[perter]

I can recommend Ladenburg as an alternative to Heidelberg. Less known and smaller but more autentic IMO... or at least it was 20yrs ago when I worked at ABB and visited the plant there.