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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 4 Apr 2006
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Quote:
In the Alps, the top ten order is:

2862m La Bonette
2758m Col de l'Iseran
2758m Stilfser Joch
2744m Col Agnel
2678m Col du Restefond
2645m Col du Gali
2621m Passo di Gavia
2575 Grossglockner Hoch Tor
2509m Timmels Joch
2501m Umbrail Pass
[/B]
This top-ten is valid if you count paved roads only.
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  #2  
Old 1 Aug 2006
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and the unpaved...
this is a great thread, but pray tell what is the top 10 (rideable) including unpaved, gravel roads...
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  #3  
Old 1 Aug 2006
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The trouble is too many people want to go to these passes and their state of repair is not good. Some have fallen into disuse because they are too expensive to maintain, there is little "need" for them or they are in designated parks that or now reserved for walkers. Some are closed because they are liable to collaps.

The Italian police/rangers are known to use helicopters to patrol some of these passes an catch illegal riders/drivers.

I think some of the problem is too many full-blown crossers have been up them over the years. Instead of going for "the ride" and to see the sights, they treat it almost as competitive driving and carve up the surface. They also love them loud cans and that really pisses people off.

So we all loose out.
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Old 2 Aug 2006
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thanks,

the world is getting quite small...

I'm wanting to a weeks trip to southern France/Northern Italy. have you got any experience of good rides/places to camp?
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Old 2 Aug 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daves
thanks,
I'm wanting to a weeks trip to southern France/Northern Italy. have you got any experience of good rides/places to camp?
Last year I went to Piemont and make a basecamp in campsite "Boki" in
Bardoneccia, then do one-day trips around. There is a lot of fantastic
rideable trails in sourounding - Sommeiller, Assieta, Jafferau, Lago Nero,
Mullatiera, Col Rho and Freus, a lot of trails around Briancon, etc.
Leaving most of equipment in tent make life easier.

AnteK, XTZ 660
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Old 2 Aug 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daves
I'm wanting to a weeks trip to southern France/Northern Italy. have you got any experience of good rides/places to camp?
For the French part, you could do worse than a round trip of the moto camps on this site.
Nice roads in between them, especially the Augverne and Ardech.

http://www.campingmoto.com/

You do get all sorts staying at them!

John
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Old 11 Aug 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daves
this is a great thread, but pray tell what is the top 10 (rideable) including unpaved, gravel roads...
Only paved roads and only in the Alpine regions but here are my favourites:
http://www.alpineroads.com/toproads.php
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  #8  
Old 27 Dec 2006
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Karabe Gecidi
May I suggest, that maybe the highest is the 2.985 m Karabe Pass (Karabe Gecidi) in Turkey, betwen Gevas and Bahcesaray? No asphalt, but we passed this autumn by an Aprilia Futura and a Hayabusa :-) (the road is not for them).

And if you agree, than Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan is part of Europe maybe there are a lot of higher passes there.


Szabi
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Old 29 Dec 2006
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I just drove back through the alps and there is a big shortage of snow at the moment, nothing below 2000m. many of the high passes become ski runs in the winter and even in june can be closed, but given the current weather who knows. if you want a long run you could try The Route Des Grande Alps, it is about 400miles and awesome!! it takes in some of the highest passes, but is also spectacularly gorgeous!
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Old 14 Jan 2009
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there's the Stilfser Joch Pass 2.700m plus
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Old 22 Jan 2009
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Denis

The Passo dello Stelvio at 2758m is also known as the Stilfser Joch :-D
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Old 22 Jan 2009
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If you want a great read then get this book

Amazon.com: Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps and Corsica: John Hermann: Books

it includes a list in height order for paved roads

I bagged the highest- La Bonnette in 2007 in August and there was no snow at all

I visited the de Stelvio in the first week in June 2004 and it had been open the week before but closed due to avalanche when I got there!, the same week i went to the Gross Glockner and it was 28c at the foot and -1c at te summit and snowing

some pictures here 2004 Austria on the VFR | Innsbruck travel blog by BRIAN BRITCH | Page 2

Get the book and you will start pass bagging :-)

ps I went back the following July and the De-Stelvio was clear and warm
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  #13  
Old 4 Apr 2006
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Hi,

La Bonnette is only 2715m high (paved road). Motor vehicles are not allowed to go higher ;-)

And yes I think it's a "pass" as you can come by one side and go by the other.
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Old 5 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally posted by sebouille:

And yes I think it's a "pass" as you can come by one side and go by the other.
Ah, but then you are a Frenchman...

We were taking highest pass (and paved). If you remove the "loop" at la Bonette, it is not the highest pass. Thats all.

If you want to try a nice pass-run, I have a (very old), web page at http://www.bikerbytes.co.uk/ ... look under Touring. 24 Passes in 4 Days. Lovely stuff!

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Old 7 May 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Redboots
If you want to try a nice pass-run, I have a (very old), web page at http://www.bikerbytes.co.uk/ ... look under Touring. 24 Passes in 4 Days. Lovely stuff!
Yup, been on all of them...plus another 180+. I managed to take some on-bike videos of some of the passes to help me get through the winter months.

Nice site, except for that "Loud Pipes Save Lives" icon that moves across the text that I'm trying to read. Sorry bud, but little wonder a lot of pass roads and areas are closed to motorcycles with that "Loud Pipes Saves Lives" mentality. Its a poor excuse to justify their use.

I did get up the Pfitscherjoch (closed to motor traffic)...thanks to a stock pipe and friendly officials.
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