I ll be departing Galway 17th June, hoping to arrive at sicily port for Malta on the 22nd. Spending a week in Gozo, family flying in then for a friend wedding. and then return. planning 3 weeks in all ish.
Any route planning advice would be appreciated, especially the alps crossing. Of course there is plenty of room on the road for any other takers

Hi Reg

That is a trip and a half.

I did go to Gozo a few years ago but used the aluminium tube option.

In 2013 I made a trip to Rome on my 8v K100 crossing from Austria so probably best if I PM my number and we can have a chat.

I am just preparing for a trip to Bebra in Germany, myself and Trapper are attending a k1 Treffen.

We leave on Sunday from Rosslare, arriving in Cherbourg

I ll think I stay west, ie France, Swiss, Italy etc. EU is getting messy on the borders east side. Plus my french is good and Italian I can get by with. Then again, nothing is set in stone, only be at ferry for Malta on the 22nd:) otherwise my wife will kill me:)

Hi Reg,
I live in France just near Geneva.
If you wish, feel free to pass here for a night, I have a room for travellers and bikes in the garage can be compacted for one more.

That's very Kind of you, much appreciated. And you seem to be in a good position for the alpine crossing,   I ll PM you a few questions if you don't mind, regarding possible routes / advice. etc. Thanks again Buddy..

is there any good apps out there for motorbike friendly accomadation or campsites??

Sounds Epic Reg...Watch out for the Maltese...they drive in the Shade, whichever side of the road it be on!

Dunno about aps but Tackler picked up a magazine in France dedicated to Moto friendly Gites, hotels guesthouses etc. around the continent, Trying hard to remember the name here.

I've used Bike stay france to find a few places too.

Magazine is Le Journal des Motards and available supermarkets or Tabacs. Eight pages in the middle showing hotels in the various departments. Any decent map will have the department number. In most major towns and a few gems as well. 

The website is relais-motards.com  My French is not that good but I know Olaf can swear in French. Just don't mention a blue tent      Third on the right ...... apparently.

I must get that mag.
Galway was a beautiful 25c yesterday, so test drove the K11 around town. The Fan works but that is the hottest bike I ve ever had.
So off to town to renew my tax disc, purchase a switch , and fit a manual fan switch this weekend, and hopefully not F%^£ things up:)

PS.
88 the tooth fairy left the orginal RS black screen in my shed last week:) were you looking for one??

Anyhow , t-minus 1 week, haven't packed yet , but a spare pair of smalls, toothbrush and wallet should do it

Last Day at the grind stone, packing tonight.
I found the servimg.com site quite difficult to use with my phone, so I quess pictures will have to wait. Didn't put a manual fan switch into the bike, so I have to ignore the temp gauge and trust BMW engineering,,,,,fingers crossed.

Go N-eiri an bothar leat!

Safe travels Reg and enjoy the trip.

I must admit when travelling in the heat and in traffic stops I kill the engine to avoid the blast of super heated air that comes off the K when the fan kicks in.

Not much use to you on the K1100 but even better on the K100 you have the option of leg panels with or without vent slots....the RT doesn't have them and the LT does- perfect for winter riding and warm air around the body.

What day are you taking ferry? Friday?

Olaf

Thursday, for UK, channel tunnel friday morning, tom Tom set for twisty roads. 3 + weeks.. got the jitters, but all will be in focus when the engine starts see you lot in august sometime.

I ll keep an eye on the site, with the odd up date:)

What's for ya will no go by ya....

Reg wrote:Thursday, for UK, channel tunnel friday morning, tom Tom set for twisty roads. 3 + weeks.. got the jitters, but all will be in focus when the engine starts see you lot in august sometime.

I ll keep an eye on the site, with the odd up date:)

What's for ya will no go by ya....

It will kumbaya alright.

Reg wrote:Thursday, for UK, channel tunnel friday morning, tom Tom set for twisty roads. 3 + weeks.. got the jitters, but all will be in focus when the engine starts see you lot in august sometime.

I ll keep an eye on the site, with the odd up date:)

What's for ya will no go by ya....

Three months back we were plagued by a rash of reds in sheds...now we are getting the "Marrakech red" K1100 brigade doing some well serious rides. First Kaptain H does an extreme west to east ride (5000km+), now Reg is doing an extreme NW to SE of Europe ride (4000km each way?). Italy should be fantastic. I look forward to the report/photos.

Have a great ride Reg and hope she gets you to the church on time....don't be late!

Ride safe.

Reg wrote:I must get that mag.
Galway was a beautiful 25c yesterday, so test drove the K11 around town. The Fan works but that is the hottest bike I ve ever had.
So off to town to renew my tax disc, purchase a switch , and fit a manual fan switch this weekend, and hopefully not F%^£ things up:)

PS.
88 the tooth fairy left the orginal RS black screen in my shed last week:) were you looking for one??

Anyhow , t-minus 1 week, haven't packed yet , but a spare pair of smalls, toothbrush and wallet should do it

Put a manual override switch on it if you're worried about it. Lots of instructions on here.

Keep yourself well hydrated and you'll be grand.

Thanks for the offer of the screen but I got one thanks.

Hey Reg, fitting a fan switch will give you peace of mind but as long as the fan & its sensor are working as per designed you won't have any worries. I have never fitted a manual switch to my K1100LT and it handles city traffic if needed here in Oz in summer on 30C to 45C days. The fan will switch on for a couple of minutes at every couple of traffic lights and you can see the temp gauge going down almost as soon as the fan cuts in.

Now the amount of hot air it pumps out past your legs is another matter but the bike will be fine.

Would love to be on that trip with you - enjoy.

Cheers

Twill be grand, believe it or not, I am sporting my first non-button smart phone. I was trying to post a replay with a picture last night, but gave up, That's going to be a learning curve.

As long as I keep going forward, and the tomtom doesn't give up, all will be well

What's wrong with a good old paper map?!!! I can't be doing with these new-fangled electronic thingies. Yer can't beat studying a good map for entertainment.

I just subscribed to the Ordnance Survey online maps, then found it didn't cover Northern Ireland .

Reg wrote:Twill be grand, believe it or not, I am sporting my first non-button smart phone. I was trying to post a replay with a picture last night, but gave up, That's going to be a learning curve.

As long as I keep going forward, and the tomtom doesn't give up, all will be well

I still have push button phone and laugh every time a call drops because some bugger has touched his smart phone off his ear and killed the call. My grown up kids have smart phones all over but they still can't type messages as fast as the Blackberry. Progress?

You want to send a letter to someone...20 years ago you put it on a machine, pressed a couple of buttons, off it went on a fax and landed on their desk. Now you must turn on a computer, a scanner, wait for them to get themselves sorted electronically, put the letter in the scanner and email it. Then you have to ring the guy to tell him go to his email and he has to go fire up his computer, his printer and then sit down and get the thing printed. Progress?

You want to travel? Now you buy a bike that has bells, whistles, active this and electronic that. 30 years ago you got a bike with twin cams, fuel injection, water cooled, last forever. You want to repair the old one you go to your parts box or else Motorworks and you have your parts in 2 days. Your newer model, oh dear, they are on back order, a few weeks, no we cant repair the old part and its €2,500 to sort it. Progress?

But satnavs? How ever did I find my way to Budapest in 2012? All I had was a 3" x 3" post it note. Doesn't need a battery, the lead doesn't break. Progress?

Kant beat the K!. Ride safe and enjoy the trip.

My Dive compass and papermap are also on tankbag... I don't trust technology, even thou I work with it everyday..

One of the joys of not exactly knowing where you are is you'll always find somewhere new.
However, when you have to be at a wedding on time, it comes in handy....

Been counting the days for you Reg, hope you're at the ferry terminal when today dawns for you and the sea is kind for the crossing to Malta.

Cheers

Reg, 

This website has a few maps of roads to ride in Europe.  Covers the Alpes quite well.

Alpineroads.com  

Enjoy, Dave.

Well iam here in gozo al is well with the k1100, long story, but having a ball,, its rained on till swiss, then after the 10 km tunnel, we popped out into blue skies and sunshine


Still cant figure this stupid phone, ut will give update on return, this exactally what they are built for, the k that is :-)

Very impressed. Enjoy Malta  

Lovely spot Gozo. Was there in the 90's - enjoy. Regarding the phone the old forum pic posting process wasn't compatible with iPads and the smart phone devices so wait for an old Fangled PC

Good to hear you made it safely to Malta Reg. You would've had some spectacular scenery along the way. My recent trans-Oz crossing (about 8,000 km) was spectacularly flat and I can remember exclaiming to myself one day..."oh look!! There's a tree".  (see my avatar)
I had my fair share of rain as well.

Youre right mate, this is exactly what the K1100 was made for. It loves to be out on the road munching those miles.
Cheers

Feck Malta,this gozo, yes this trip was far from flat, high light was lake como,fell in love with the place, sorry if text makes no sense via I can't see what I am writing on this phone, sitting down planning rtm trip, my clock passed thru 0 3:5 times so far, she only needed ,1/4 ,letter oil, and the k had to sustained 120 ,,+ for a long time, actually I am I super impressed,s sorry can't do pic, plus can't that pics at speed, any homes to stay on way home would be appreciated

Well on way back day one gozo,tolta,to Sicily Italy,stayed in place called briatico, stupid satnav out to kill me didn't plan of roads with on tarmac, up at 5 today, from there to current cold beer in attigliano north of Roma, iron butt or what ? 11hours in 30 +, the heat is hard, but solo, so missing kids and tracking home, beautiful mountains hear, and the Italian know how to build bike roads, it's fast here, and 88 sorry to hear of slip, it I still wear leathers even tho it's cooking me, , only another shit load of miles to. Go before the west of Eire😂

Love to be able to upload a photo or 2, but site is blocked in most places. In French Alps, pure bike heaven , nearly home, have another day of play here, before reaching sealevel again, ,2 more days to boat home , clock is now 7000 ,+km, great place to spent a week camping, that's next year's plan😂

Might be on for that Kamping trip next year.......missed out on it this year. Will might too but exams may hold that back as its best done late May to avoid excess heat.

Won't be going over to K1100 though, even though I tried out Wills before he bought it. I liked it but reminded me of my LT when I struggled with it height/weight. The RT doesn't do that to me.

Looking forward to a few photos when you get back.

Warning virus on servimg , encryption on all files on PC, am I the only one to come across this, got it trying to up load a photo of me out side stradbally,on my return

Haven't heard of it yet Reg - you're the first. What anti virus are you using?

Well the pictures dont do the trip justice,but if you want to know what it was like, you are going to have to get of the Royal arse and drive it youselves,

Its a youtube link to a slideshow.

Seems like a long time ago, back at work, head down...starting to save for more fuel:)

https://youtu.be/cN8zJ-69jsM

Neat Reg! I like that little Cafe Racer you met along the way!