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General => General => Topic started by: JZS 600 on 13 May 2012, 07:56:30 pm

Title: The B500
Post by: JZS 600 on 13 May 2012, 07:56:30 pm

Thinking of going over to the Black Forest in September and looking for tips...
 
I'm looking at riding the B 500, has anyone had any experiance and pointers for campsites etc? All I've seen bikerwise is the Pension William which gets glowing reviews.
 
All help gratefully received!

Title: The B500
Post by: cable tie on 13 May 2012, 08:10:54 pm

I'm off there in a couple of weeks, I've rode it many times fantastic rd the 500.

But a word of WARNING you now have to stick to the speed limits and watch where you overtake, there is a massive police crackdown on the 500 it just started within the last couple of weeks manly weekends, the police use a k1200rs and a r12rt both unmarked and have state of the art video equipment and in the event you can outrun em they have a c43 Amg estate as there chase car ! Now that you will not outrun. I've seen pics of the bikes and the above car and a couple of bods from the uk got done only the other week for making progress (overtaking) they was on gs bikes as well.

Ive got a link to enlighten you about the crackdown I'll dig it out.

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: JZS 600 on 13 May 2012, 08:16:49 pm

Bummer, will have to take it easy then! My mate on his GSXR Thou will be pissed but there you go,,, Good tip, cheers.

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: cable tie on 13 May 2012, 09:48:34 pm

Heres the link .
 http://swrmediathek.de/player.htm?show=0b628820-954e-11e1-be17-0026b975f2e6 (http://swrmediathek.de/player.htm?show=0b628820-954e-11e1-be17-0026b975f2e6)

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: sadlonelygit on 13 May 2012, 09:59:21 pm

we stayed at oppenau in a guest house for 8€ ea mit Frühstück and a garage to put the bikes in!!
germans are very good about warning you about speed traps, but when we went we didn't have to contend with unmarked bikes/cars.

".............We arrive in Oppenau mid afternoon with the thermometer nudging 20C. a swift trip to the tourist info secures us a 16€ a room mit breakfast und accomodation. they also have a nice garage for us to park up in, result apart from their total lack of English. (Karl & Maria Oberle, Jahnstr.10, 77728 Oppenau Tel. 078042117)
 

(http://www.therevcounter.com/images/statusicon/wol_error.gif)

Click this bar to view the full image.

(http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k104/homeorwork1/DSCF0410.jpg)
 We decided to settle in and sort out the bikes. One of our group, a relative novice, was complaining about the handling of his striple, so after a quick test ride i find he has bugger all rear compression damping and the front end is just very tired. Talking of tyres, as we rolled it into the garage, we noticed a shiney nail in his rear, bugger. It was decided that we take a pressure reading and check it again in the morning.
 after that we scoped out the local eateries. The tourist info had recommended a place, but the starters were 8€ so we passed. Found a little tavern run by a Polish lass (never would have guessed by her perfect German, Italien and passable english). 4 meals, 8 grosse beers 3 coffees and a schwartztee, 60€.
 Saturday broke warm and sunny, it boded well. tyre pressure was 38psi, so good enough to ride on. We headed out on a 'scenic' route to warm up on. From Oppenau, sharp right onto a logging road, then up to the B500, then right towards Bad Greisbach, then Bad Peterstal, then back to Oppenau to the bike shop to see vos kosten reifen, bitte.
 The nice man in the bike shop said he could get a tyre in 2 hours, but 220€, eek! Checked pressure again, 40psi, so worth taking a risk on. So now we tackle the famous Schwartzstrasse (http://www.therevcounter.com/uk-motorbike-forum/10232-weekend-in-germany.html) .
 
 After that we headed off to Baden-Baden up the B500, what a cracking road with splendid views, shame about the 70 kmh limit (more of which later). Well, it's like Bath, with thermal waters and quaint 19th century terraces. We meet an Austrian guy, married to an Englishwoman who tells us to go to Titisee, as it's the 'in' place for bikers, so mount up.
 So now we are heading south on the B500, and as three of us are hooning around the bends, we get a big flash from a Merc coming the other way. So 70 kmh it is then. We travel for a few K's and see nothing, then down below us, on a forestry road i see a van, and between the barrier and the road is the camera, crafty beggars. So we take it easy for a few more K's then open them up again.
 We peel off the B500 onto the L96, the road surface changes from grippy tarmac to an overbanded nightmare, with everchanging grip levels. Speeds are low as we are passing through quite a few villages, but still kicking on when traffic permits. 2 out of the three pull out a bit, and decide to swap bikes whilst waiting for the newbie. and we waited.......a bit longer, then as we were about to go back a german lady screeches up and babbles something at us. no translation needed (http://www.therevcounter.com/images/smilies/sad.gif)
 It was the worst mile or 2 of our riding careers. Not knowing what we'd find there. As we rounded a corner, cars parked up with hazards going, we saw his bike in the middle of the field, surrounded by people and a familiar, tall bald bloke directing it all, he's up and walking, praise the lord.
 After parking up, and taking some piccies for posterity, we dived in and collected various bits from around the field, got it back onto the road and assessed the damage.
 

(http://www.therevcounter.com/images/statusicon/wol_error.gif)

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(http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k104/homeorwork1/DSCF0429.jpg)
 Bent forks, yokes? plastics on both sides, garmin mount, bars, clocks and key snapped in ignition. "I was only doing 30, and it just let go!" We checked the tyres just in case, 38 psi rear, 32 psi front
 Started to sort out the recovery, what fun that was! Then over the horizon arrives Captain Slow on the FJ, thinking we were waiting for him, then he sees the stricken striple.
 Remember the speed trap, well apparently no-one had flashed him and he had a nice bill from the Polizei for 100€ for being 66kmh over the limit.
 After 2 hours the recovery bloke turns up, and tells us that last year he had 80 call outs down this road. Cold comfort i'm sure. Captain Slow stayed with the truck to give his son a lift home, we two took a subdued ride back to the digs.
 Back to our local tavern in the evening, but not before trying 'Biker Bar', bitch kept our change. We had a discussion about whether he should let his wife know about the crash. Of course, as it happened on a weekend, his recovery insurance/vehicle insurance offices were only logging calls, to be dealt with on monday, the day we were due to return.
 Sunday dawned hot and bright, so we split from C.S. and headed off to Titisee, bit disappointed when we got there, had coffee then headed off to Todtnau, to have a look at the Hasenhorn coaster. My advice, get a multi-ticket, it's brilliant!
 

(http://www.therevcounter.com/images/statusicon/wol_error.gif)

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(http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k104/homeorwork1/DSCF0442.jpg)
 We went over the hills to Freiburg im Breisgau for lunch, then onto the autobahn back to Offenburg. Being chased by cars at 120mph is interesting, nice not having to keep one eye open for the feds, and concentrate 100% on the job in hand, with 35k to go we wound it on, sat nav showing 236 kmh as my max, at 5 feet from my mate  who was gently pulling away. Barking mad but great fun, really made you feel alive.
 Sunday night we tried 1 more bar, oh-er, bit like night of the living dead, but mein frau gave us some microwaved bagels, which she then charged us for when we went to pay.
 Back to the Polish bar, where i impressed our host with my comprehensive mastery of the Polish language, "good day, 2 beers please, good-bye, stuffed dumplings and 'crazy dog'".
 I think we had more beers on sunday as i felt a bit groggy in the morning, and it was a bit cloudy as well."

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: pitternator on 14 May 2012, 08:05:11 am

Thing to watch with the 500 is the changing of speed limits at any intersection  or rest areas.Its not a high speed road tbh , I have risked it and done a few klicks at 90 plus ( mph) but its  as great to ride it for the views/ bikes/ lots of places to stop and eat / drink.I last rode it in 2011, when the open limit was mostly only about 60 odd kph...seems crazy , but I bet there are dozens of accidents even so.It aint the ring....and it has lots of traffic.
Then by contrast you get on the autobahn, and you can do what you like !
I plan to ride it this july en route to augsberg, and can also recommend baden baden as a fine lunch stop. In the town centre there are lots of pavement cafes and a dedicated bike park.One thing to watch out for is germany is bringing in low emmission zones in some town centres, and as most bikes dont have cat converters they cant go in there ! Dont think baden baden is on the list though.

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: JZS 600 on 14 May 2012, 08:32:09 am

Good advice, cheers!
 
Looks like I'll have plenty of time to admire the scenery then, which is OK at my time of life...
 
Still, can't beat a bit of beer and sausage  :lol

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: chr999chr on 14 May 2012, 12:08:40 pm

Try to avoid the B500 at the weekend especially on Sunday it is packed with huge tour buses, cars, walkers, and cyclists  :\ 

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: JZS 600 on 14 May 2012, 12:32:43 pm

That's the long weekend plan out the window then

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: Phil on 14 May 2012, 05:38:27 pm

I went down to the Black Forest again last September after the Nurburgring WSB. The ride there from the Ring is good if you avoid the autobahns.
The B500 is a good scenic ride but very busy at weekends and speed limits as mentioned already.  Id take the point of view that it would be a scenic highlight and not a place to have a thrash.
Pics 22-40 are from the BF area and B500. Away from the main A roads and B500, some are well surfaced, some aren't, but generally the BF is a very nice area. There are a lot of roads passing through meadows with no hedges so you can see the road up ahead for a long distance. The weather looked bad for the few days after, so I legged it North.
http://www.photobox.co.uk/slideshow?album_id=891822444 (http://www.photobox.co.uk/slideshow?album_id=891822444)

Roads to avoid in the area, due to lorries and heavy traffic, are the 31 West from Freiburg and 28 West from Offenburg. If there wasnt the trafic, they would be good.
 
A lot of junctions have 70kph speed limits around them. Its best to obey those, as people pulling out are expecting people to obey the limits, as they tend to do so in Germany. Plod sometimes set up speed traps up in areas where there are speed limits, I cant recall seeing one away from such an area.

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: Phil on 14 May 2012, 05:58:36 pm

Quote from: pitternator on 14 May 2012, 08:05:11 am

I plan to ride it this july en route to augsberg, 

I did it the other way and came cross this road west of Ulm. I didnt go to the Black Forest in the end as it looked like it was pissing it down up there.

(http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/2068/img3219ss.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/804/img3219ss.jpg/)

 

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: chris.biker on 14 May 2012, 09:49:50 pm

I like the look of that road.

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: pitternator on 15 May 2012, 07:32:51 am

the 28 road tracks from freudenstadt to augsberg / ulm area.Taking in reutlingen and tubingen......you can get it up on google maps by putting in these towns and clkicking to avoid highways.
On the whole it is a very pleasant cross country road, each time I have ridden it ( x3) its been  a nice ride.A opportunity to see rural germany. I never noticed too much traffic either.

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: Phil on 15 May 2012, 06:27:31 pm

Quote from: Phil on 14 May 2012, 05:38:27 pm

Roads to avoid in the area, due to lorries and heavy traffic, are the 31 West from Freiburg and 28 West from Offenburg. If there wasnt the trafic, they would be good.

Whoops, I meant East from Freiburg and East from Offenburg,  as they get lorries leaving the autobahns down the Rhein valley heading into the BF.

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: JZS 600 on 15 May 2012, 07:36:23 pm

Went to a wedding in Tubigen once, very pleasant with lots of beer etc,,,,

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: River Valley on 16 May 2012, 12:38:17 pm

Worth staying a while in the Eifel region and the Mosel Valley too, either on way down to BF and the 500 or the way back, as it can be on route. We've literally hundreds of roads that are like and better than that pictured.

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: sadlonelygit on 16 May 2012, 12:44:58 pm

the road east out of Bruttig-Fankel :D and the panoramastrasse at cochem to name just 2

Title: Re: The B500
Post by: Phil on 16 May 2012, 06:21:43 pm

Quote from: sadlonelygit on 16 May 2012, 12:44:58 pm

the road east out of Bruttig-Fankel :D and the panoramastrasse at cochem to name just 2

This one, K36?

http://g.co/maps/dkmpf (http://g.co/maps/dkmpf)

I stayed in that village for WSB at the 'ring once, here http://www.haus-panorama-hess.de/ (http://www.haus-panorama-hess.de/) Very comfortable B&B and the lady wished me a 'Gut Fahrt' as I left :lol guess it means good journey or something like that