Sachsenring & Italian Alps “Track & Tour” is on for a third year
The tour that started it all is on again. Four days riding the Italian Alps and two days track time at the MotoGP course of Sachsenring
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How to choose your Alps weapon
Rule 1: Reserve early, some bikes book up quick.
Rule 2: Forget ego. Choose a bike that fits your size. Big bikes don’t impress the Alps. Mid-sized bikes nimble bikes rule the roads here. They are more fun and safer in the insanely tight hairpins.
Here are our thoughts on the models available.
F800GS – More of a dirt bike feel than a street bike. We’d only recommend this if the rider were really tall but wanted something lighter than the 1200GS.
F800R – Excellent alps weapon, small naked bike, nimble and fun to really thrash around. Slightly taller seat height than the F800GT.
F800GT – Short riders rejoice. This is the sport touring machine made just for you and makes big riders wish they could shrink. Nimble torquey with nice wind protection on the long stretches, it’s the perfect combo for alps as long as you can fit on it comfortably.
R1200GS – This is standard issue in the Alps and the big tall GS riders often out maneuver the sport bikes on the tight turns. New water-cooled engine has more power and the suspension is excellent. This is also standard issue for our couples riders as it’s a great balance between comfort and nimbleness. For a single rider this will cost you an extra $120.
R1200R – This a the new water-cooled version, if you are a shorter rider this could be the perfect balance. Think of it as BMW’s answer to a Ducati Monster. It’s a powerful heavy engine, packed in a lightweight naked body. We are quite envious of smaller experienced riders who will really enjoy this new 2015 model. This will cost you an extra $150
R1200RS – The same as the R1200R with some sexy plastic up top. The extra plastic isn’t needed in the Alps but might be handy on those short stretches of autobahn we will take heading back to Munich. This will cost you an extra $175
S1000XR – There’s only a few of these and it’ll cost you an extra $250 but this is the new BMW meant to go head to head with the Ducati Multistrada..We suspect this is a wicked good machine and worth the extra money if we can reserve one of the few that are available.
R1200RT – For a large couple that wants some comfort for the day but still wants to navigate the tight hairpins of the Dolomite passes this is really the right choice. The new water cooled boxer engine is plenty powerful, the handling surprisingly sporty and the amenities are quite luxurious. It’ll cost an extra $300 but boy will your passenger have the best seat in the house for the most stunning mountain views in Europe.
How are the Track Days Structured
You will be riding on Sachsenring during a typical motorcycle track day. You’ll be riding the course with local Germans. Okay so their English is a little strange, but they are riders just like you. German track days typically run four groups of 20min sessions with a break for lunch. Our German track day partner will get you placed into one of the four groups and yes you’ll get your lap times. Simple fare is available for lunch, Leod Escapes recommends the potato and sausage soup on cooler days.
Germany’s Sachsenring
Races have been happening here near the small village of Hohenstein-Ernsttahl since 1927. MotoGP legend Giacomo Agostini holds the record for the old road course. In the 1990s a new closed circuit Sachsering was built to be much safer than traditional road courses. The 2.9km track, has become the official home of the German MotoGP since 1998. The track has considerable elevation changes as it is built on top of a hill. The straight is built on the crest of a hill and curves down the sides. Sachsenring is a world class facility kept organized and clean as you’d expect Germans to do. Downhill twists, sweepers on hills and a long uphill straight with absurdly big gravel run offs make this track a challenge, but a safe one. We’ve moved our dates up three weeks this year to have better assurances of good weather. Sachsenring is a very technical course and we’ve arranged instructors to show you the lines and work with you during your track days to improve your skills.
Got Questions? Contact the Tour Master of this tour, Cat MacLeod, at cat@leodescapes.com or call (510)-914-1048. For more information about this tour got to www.leodescapes.com/toursDetail.php?tid=T019
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