Places to stay in Germany
 

I'm new to Horizons Unlimited, but I am a regular on ADVrider.com. I was hoping to get some information on renting a bike and traveling in Germany. I will be in Frankfurt the first week of September, and I will be renting a bike September 4th through 6th. I'm planning on riding from Frankfurt to the Black Forest to Munich and back to Frankfurt. My plan right now is to rent a Valadero 125 from Allround Motorradvermitung. Is anyone familiar with this company, and will this bike be suitable from this trip. It will be just me and a small backpack. Also does anyone know of inexpensive or free places to stay in the Black Forest or Munich areas? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks!

Dave

Free places to stay usually mean camping in the wild :innocent:

Checking the youth hostels was quite an eye-opener for me: They are just about as expensive as staying in one of the biker hotels. The price range for bed & breakfast at the youth hostels is 20 - 30 Euros.

Maybe you could try couchsurfing.com

Unfortunately I do not know the company in Frankfurt. But the bike should be perfect for secondary roads. Get a good road map, like 1:200.000 or 1:300.000 (max) and check out the roads that are marked with a green line denoting scenic roads.

Free, no. But there are many inexpensive places to stay.

Download and print out the motorcycle friendly accomodations lists found on the 3rd link under my signature block. The first post lists them.

Thanks
 

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm still in the planning stage. Is that to much to see in 3 days? Is there anything I should definately make sure to see or do?

Germany
 

Hi,

Don't know if 3 days is enough. It really depends on your route. Personally (and I'm from Germany), I think you can easily spend 3 days in the Black Forest only. No need to go to Munich. You'll get PLENTY of scenic rotes in the Black Forest. Try to go to the local Automotive Association office. They're called "ADAC". Members get maps (incl. specific motorcycle maps) for free there. And they might even work together with other associations, such as the RAC / AA.
Most ADAC offices are easy-going, and if you ask nicely, they'll probably give you all the maps you need for free! The best thing about the maps: They've got points of interest on them.
If you go in September, try to go to the smaller villages and ask for the nearest "Besenwirtschaft". It's restaurants ran by local farmers & they traditionally sell their own produce: wine, cheese, meat, bread. Absolutely delicious & authentic for that region. (They have a special license and are only allowed to open around the harvesting time, I think August - October). They might even have cheap accomodation in their farmhouse if you ask nicely. (Though I wouldn't count on that!)

Hope this helps

Bjorn

I agree. If you try to see too much, you end up seeing nothing.

The B500 from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt is biking heaven. Take a small tent and you'll never struggle to find somewhere cheap to stay. I stayed here...

Campingplatz, Camping, Natur, Freudenstadt, Schwarzwald

... in May/June this year. Paid about 10 euro's per night. Really friendly people and speak good English and humoured my embarassing attempts at German.

Head towards Kaiserlautern, through the Pfalzerwald area on your way down to Freudenstadt. More than enough for 3 days.

MC touring maps
 

Sorry, didn't think about the ADAC but for Bjorn :thumbup1:

Here's a link offering MC route maps in PDF-format:
UEM-ONLINE.ORG

Scroll down and check out the Schwarzwald and Elsass area. Click on "emap MR9" and you can print your own maps with marked routes.

Hans

Update
 

Here's the update of what I have going on. I reserved a CBF600 from Allround Vermietung in Frankfurt from September 1st to 5th. Although I have to be back in Frankfurt on the 4th. From the responses I've received I will probably spend both nights in the Black Forest. I would camp, but I won't have enough room to bring my tent and camping stuff. I've registered on Couchsurfing.com. Hopefully that will work out. Thanks for all the help so far.
Dave