Someone at work today mentioned a position avilable in Germany for a 3 year tour and the first place I came to investigate was here, only to find the European forum almost empty! Just one post with JZH, keny, Dutchy, V4 Rosso, and jupp -- where's everyone else? :blink:
I was lucky enough to spend two weeks there about a year ago, but didn't have the chance to ride a bike on that trip. From the little bit that I saw, it looked like there was no shortage of curvy roads. I hope that some of you guys can give me the push I need to drop everything here and return to Deutschland. :wheel:
[image: View Post]Rhodes, on Feb 11 2008, 07:48 PM, said:
Someone at work today mentioned a position avilable in Germany for a 3 year tour and the first place I came to investigate was here, only to find the European forum almost empty! Just one post with JZH, keny, Dutchy, V4 Rosso, and jupp -- where's everyone else? :blink:
I was lucky enough to spend two weeks there about a year ago, but didn't have the chance to ride a bike on that trip. From the little bit that I saw, it looked like there was no shortage of curvy roads. I hope that some of you guys can give me the push I need to drop everything here and return to Deutschland. :wheel:
Hi ,
I live in Greece . Everything here is fine , but it's two day trip from Germany ...
Southeastern Spain. (Murcia). Wicked riding around here: Sierra Nevada, local Sierras, the ones at Alicante are awesome, then there's the Pyrenees a day or two away (see my thread on the Pyrenees trip). Great weather, all-year-round riding conditions. Hardly ever rains. Great food. Long way from Germany though, although your Euro goes further here if you're earning in Germany or northern Europe in general.
[image: View Post]Dutchy, on Feb 11 2008, 09:19 PM, said:
make sure you negotiate a pay in Euro's not dollars........
Yeah, like the same figure, but in Euros :joystick: :joystick:
Don't fret, there are plenty of VFR riders over here in Europe, only they mostly prefer their own websites in their own language. Several from the Spanish VFR site (see my signature) have come on line here to check out the how-tos, but then they ask me to translate them...
[image: View Post]Auspa�ol, on Feb 11 2008, 03:32 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Dutchy, on Feb 11 2008, 09:19 PM, said:
make sure you negotiate a pay in Euro's not dollars........
Yeah, like the same figure, but in Euros :joystick: :joystick:
Don't fret, there are plenty of VFR riders over here in Europe, only they mostly prefer their own websites in their own language. Several from the Spanish VFR site (see my signature) have come on line here to check out the how-tos, but then they ask me to translate them...
Thanks for the responses! I figured there were a few lurkers around that I just needed to lure into the open. :rolleyes:
As a lateral move, of sorts, I wouldn't be able to switch currencies, but I believe there's some kind of allowance for the poor performance of the dollar in foreign markets.
Are there any major differences between the bikes sold over there compared to the ones sold stateside? I think there were some emissions differences and I remember seeing an Aprilia while I was over there that had a big sign about it not being legal in the U.S. I'm guessing just from the difference in currency that it would be a better idea to get one here and bring it with me (if I do end up getting a new one).
[image: View Post]seamus, on Feb 11 2008, 07:40 PM, said:
If you don't really want to go, I'll go for you. I'm begging the Army to send me back. Where in Germany?
douglasthecook is in Germany too.
Not sure where yet, it's way, way early still (in the rumor stages). But I've been twice so far and I'm seriously considering the move. Three years just seems like a long time... :unsure:
Yup, I'm stationed @ Spangdahlem, Germany. 45 minutes from the Nurburgring, 60 minutes from Spa-Francorchamps, and about 15 seconds away from some pretty good beers. If you have any questions about the area, ask and I'll do my best to answer them for you.
3 years is nothing really, once they're oveer you'll think they've flown by... I left Oz more than ten years ago now for a two-year sabatical...
Actually 3 years is perfect. It's long enough for you to learn the language fluently and never forget how to speak it really well, actually 2 years is enough, if you apply yourself or have a good ear and head for languages. And I'm talking starting from scratch... and English has quite a lot of Germanic aspects built in...
Just the emissions stuff, as far as I know, oh yeah, and of course, the colour choices...
shoot I would go to Germany just for the beer! The riding in Bavaria must be awful though, all those impossible mountain passes? How could any body stand it?
But, it's not for everyone... I can tell you tragic tales of fellow Yanks coming, seeing and getting the hell out again. One guy I know bugged out of an absolute plum of an assigment in Rome in favor of Abuja, Nigeria! (Bet his VFR got a lot of miles there, lol...actually, he did better in his next one--went to Johannesburg, where I think he still is.) I know others who never seem to have made it off the base--they could have been in Florida for all they knew (except, perhaps, for the weather...)
Me, I knew I wanted to come back to Europe (been here over ten years now) following my 4.5 month motorcycle tour just after graduating from university in California.
If you're young, free and even considering it, go for it! Germany's not really my fave European place, but I've lived and worked there for a couple of years on and off (sometimes commuting back to London on the weekends) and will probably end up moving there within the next year or so. It is much closer to the Alps and Italia than London...
Motorcycling is taken much more...seriously, shall we say, in Germany than in the USA. Some good, some bad points, but made up for by the overall experience and proximity to other, different European countries.
[image: View Post]JZH, on Feb 13 2008, 11:28 AM, said:
But, it's not for everyone... I can tell you tragic tales of fellow Yanks coming, seeing and getting the hell out again. One guy I know bugged out of an absolute plum of an assigment in Rome in favor of Abuja, Nigeria! (Bet his VFR got a lot of miles there, lol...actually, he did better in his next one--went to Johannesburg, where I think he still is.) I know others who never seem to have made it off the base--they could have been in Florida for all they knew (except, perhaps, for the weather...)
Me, I knew I wanted to come back to Europe (been here over ten years now) following my 4.5 month motorcycle tour just after graduating from university in California.
If you're young, free and even considering it, go for it! Germany's not really my fave European place, but I've lived and worked there for a couple of years on and off (sometimes commuting back to London on the weekends) and will probably end up moving there within the next year or so. It is much closer to the Alps and Italia than London...
Motorcycling is taken much more...seriously, shall we say, in Germany than in the USA. Some good, some bad points, but made up for by the overall experience and proximity to other, different European countries.
Ciao,
I've been there twice so far and I've also met people that have lived in other countries for years and never left the base. I don't know how that's even possible, but they do it. :blink: I knew someone that didn't want to leave the hotel while he was in Japan for three weeks. So far I've been to Germany, Italy, Greece, Japan, Korea, Guam, and Bahrain and I did my best to see as much as I could while I was at all of them. I'm horrible at languages, but I do my best to at least learn "hello" and "thank you" wherever I go. I'm just hoping that this opportunity pans out. I'd hate to get my hopes up and then not get the job.
I figured that I would follow up on this since it actually happened -- I'm here in Stuttgart until Sept. Now that I'm here, I'm looking for a bike but not really finding what I want. I called a guy about an '01 Aprilia SL 1000 Falco, but he had already sold it. There's another guy with a '96 VFR a few hours away, but he's asking $4600 (22k mi) which seems pretty high to me. KBB has it retailing for ~$3700. The low miles don't make much of a difference to me as I would probably end up selling when I left to avoid the shipping costs back. The last thing I need is a second 4th Gen... :laugh:
Anyone here see a good deal for a summer ride or have a suggestion on an offer for him? I'd be willing to take a train to another country to pick a bike up and ride it back if the deal was worth it.
Buy a german bike, most of them are very well cared for and have been checked yearly (MOT).
I think one of the best sources is mobile.de to find a new ride.
[image: View Post]V4 Rosso, on May 20 2008, 01:58 PM, said:
Buy a german bike, most of them are very well cared for and have been checked yearly (MOT).
I think one of the best sources is mobile.de to find a new ride.
And $4600 for a clean '96 is not a bad deal. Forget about KBB, this is Europe ;p
Thanks for the link, Rosso. I was hoping to catch someone about to PCS home and willing to take a hit on the price to make sure it was sold. Still considering the '96 -- it just seemed a bit high. There was a guy in the states selling a clean '97 for just over $3k. It's a lot cheaper paying USD than EUR these days too... :unsure:
The Falco looked like a great touring bike if I could find one at the right price. I think I'd like to try something different than the VFR for a while. Anyone have any experience with them?
It is not just the dollar versus the euro. There is a lot of tax on new bikes, have a look at what a new VFR cost over here and compare that to US prices.
Never done it, but it looks like a nice trip. Some of the other routes on that site look good too but I can't find detailed directions. Am I overlooking something?
[image: View Post]Rhodes, on Feb 11 2008, 09:48 PM, said:
Someone at work today mentioned a position avilable in Germany for a 3 year tour and the first place I came to investigate was here, only to find the European forum almost empty! Just one post with JZH, keny, Dutchy, V4 Rosso, and jupp -- where's everyone else? :blink:
Hi from Norway.
Situated in the northern part of Europe, Norway is not a member of the EU.
That is obvious when looking at our roads. Not built for cars, but excellent for motorcycling.
Only having some 250 kms of four lane highway standard, it's a pain to get around the country quickly by car, but its a heaven for biking, (not mentioning the heavy fine rates we have). See for yourself in this promotional video for BMW: BMW R1200RT - A Journey Through Norway
[image: View Post]tob, on Aug 4 2008, 03:25 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Rhodes, on Feb 11 2008, 09:48 PM, said:
Someone at work today mentioned a position avilable in Germany for a 3 year tour and the first place I came to investigate was here, only to find the European forum almost empty! Just one post with JZH, keny, Dutchy, V4 Rosso, and jupp -- where's everyone else? :blink:
Hi from Norway.
Situated in the northern part of Europe, Norway is not a member of the EU.
That is obvious when looking at our roads. Not built for cars, but excellent for motorcycling.
Only having some 250 kms of four lane highway standard, it's a pain to get around the country quickly by car, but its a heaven for biking, (not mentioning the heavy fine rates we have). See for yourself in this promotional video for BMW: BMW R1200RT - A Journey Through Norway
Norway is sure a great country for bikes, but expensive. I was touring there on my VFR back in 2002! Sure love to go back some day.
Hi you from Spain! I will come to Barcelona 9th to 12th April. Not whit a bike, but would sure be nice to meet some new folks from VFRD if possible.
Let me know.
I'm from Romania ....if somebody will came i recommend the mountain road called "Transfagarasan" also "cheia" ,visit the N-E monasteries from Moldova etc...i attached some pictures from last trip from "dobrogea" ...just let me know if somebody comes for a trip or across the country...see ya!
[image: View Post]keny, on 03 March 2009 - 11:20 AM, said:
Hi you from Spain! I will come to Barcelona 9th to 12th April. Not whit a bike, but would sure be nice to meet some new folks from VFRD if possible.
Let me know.
Hey Keny... sorry I didn't see this... you should have sent me a PM... I could have hooked you up with people in BCN...
[image: View Post]schumy, on 19 May 2010 - 03:54 PM, said:
Hello there,
I'm from Romania ....if somebody will came i recommend the mountain road called "Transfagarasan" also "cheia" ,visit the N-E monasteries from Moldova etc...i attached some pictures from last trip from "dobrogea" ...just let me know if somebody comes for a trip or across the country...see ya!
nice!
big tour for this year is going to be norway... but i'd like to do romania next year. i'll be sure to ask you some questions when i start doing the research.
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