Magic Bike Rally Rüdesheim

[Sponk]

May 26-29 2005
Magic Bike Rally in Rüdesheim on the Rhine.

This is a fairly new rally that takes place in Rüdesheim on the Rhine river, in the Rheingau region of Germany. The town of Rüdesheim is a favorite among tourists and has a host of typical or rather stereotypical German restaurants and is a haven for kitschlovers from around the globe. The party takes place in a picturesque setting at the foot of the Brömserburg castle and offers the usual fare of music, Bratwursts, Beer and vendors.

The hightlight for any rider unfamiliar with the region are the great rides you can take. From Rüdesheim you can ride down the Rhine river valley which has been designated a world heritage site by UNESCO and to the left and right of this stunning valley you can hit the hills of Hunsrück and Taunus, ride the Moselle and Lahn river valleys- sureley some of the best riding in Germany. If you are into medieval castles and quaint towns this is the place to be. Also, this is one of the world´s premiere white wine growing regions, so if you´re into the grape juice, be sure to taste a glass or two of local Riesling when you get back to Rüdesheim.

There will be guided rides, a "treasure hunt" and what´s best: in recent years law enforcement was very lenient with bikers that were running loud (illegal in Germany) pipes and such during the rally. Let´s hope they still appreciate 10,000 bikers leaving their money as much this year!

Check out their website at
www.magic-bike-rally.de
for more info.

Oh, and if you can, show up early on the first day to receive a welcome package that in recent years contained among other things a baseball cap and a half pint bottle of Asbach Uralt Brandy from the distillery around the corner

C Ya
Sponk

[SteveHOHD]

When ARE they going to finish that bridge over the Bering Strait, and that road through Siberia.

I want to go !! ..mmmmm...Riesling

[AFNurse]

Now this does sound fun! Will have to see if I can make this one.... depends on if my fly fishing trip into Austria works out or falls through. Been up to this area once or twice from the KMC and it really does have some nice riding. Wife just went on a USO Rhine River Cruise there yesterday and had a great time.

[Coldstar]

I wonder how many times I'd get stopped for loud pipes traveling there from Prague with my V&H Sideshots...assuming the container arrives in time that is!

[Sponk]

Originally Posted by Coldstar

I wonder how many times I'd get stopped for loud pipes traveling there from Prague with my V&H Sideshots...assuming the container arrives in time that is!

In the Czech republic:
I guess not at all.

In Germany:
If you avoid any large settlements such as Frankfurt, Nuremburg etc.- anyone´s guess.

If you ride through Frankfurt:
ONCE- your bike will be spending spring on a police impound lot and you will be taking a train to Rüdesheim.

Greets
Sponk

[Coldstar]

Doh! That's not exactly the news I was hoping for. :p I know I can get away with it in the Czech Republic (for the most part anyway...maybe a bribe here and there), but not sure how strict the laws are everywhere else. Guess I can put my stock pipes on for a while when I want to leave the country.

[Sponk]

Sorry, dude! Didn´t want to spoil it for you!
Are you going to be riding with US or military plates or Czech plates? The military guys here can get away with murder, so you may be in luck. (I really hate them for that. ) Also they may show mercy if you are from another country and you may get off with a fine...

Some people will tell you that it isn´t all that bad, and for what it´s worth, I meant what I said about riding in the countryside. Your risk of running into police isn´t that high there. Problem is, you never know and at least if you are riding with German plates they can and will take your bike if they catch you riding a bike with loud or illegal pipes (illegal being anything that isn´t noted as installed in your "ships papers"- technically even legal, non-stock pipes are illegal without the correct paperwork...)

Munich and Frankfurt police are notorious for setting up dedicated motorcycle checkpoints, particularly in spring, for no other reason than to look for illegal equipment (99% of which will be loud pipes).

Never fret, though, the rest of Europe is half as bad. It´s the german inclination for being overly correct that makes life hard for bikers here (and I´m allowed to say so, I´m half german) Case in point: Germany will be the first EU country to introduce mandatory emissions testing for motorcycles as of next year.

Don´t let my stories scare you out of riding to german rallies though! Just be sure to keep that stock set of pipes around.

C YA
Sponk

[Coldstar]

Thanks for the info Sponk! I'll be riding around on my California plates for a while (at least until they expire! ), then on Czech plates. The cops aren't real bright in the Czech Republic and showing them a US driver's license will just confuse them, slip them a few korun and they'll leave, or just don't bother stopping (Skoda Fabia isn't much of a match against a HD in the city ). Since traveling through Germany (or Austria) is a requirement to get to the rest of Eruope (well, most of it anyway), I'm sure I'll be swapping pipes quite a bit though.

I'm not in the millitary, just taking a few years to go travel around and generally relax and see some friends and relatives in Europe.

Emissions testing for bikes...yech...that doesn't sound like fun, doubt the Czech Republic will follow that path anytime soon...more than half the cars there would fail!

If my bike shows up in time, I'll see if I can make it, sounds like a blast and partying in Germany is always memorable!

Cya
Mike

[Sponk]

Originally Posted by Coldstar

I'll be riding around on my California plates for a while (at least until they expire! ), then on Czech plates.

If my bike shows up in time, I'll see if I can make it, sounds like a blast and partying in Germany is always memorable!

Hey Mike!
If you are going to be riding with US plates you don´t have much to worry about. I know of several guys here that are riding bikes registered in the USA only to avoid the biannual TÜV vehicle inspections and the problems with the police. I don´t know how they do it- customs, insurance, plates expiring etc. but I am on that, because I´m getting really tired of all the sh1t you have to put up with here!

I posted the info on the rally even though I don´t yet know whether I´ll be able to make it there myself. I live only about 50km away, but don´t yet know whether or not I´ll have to work. I´ll post as soon as I know, and maybe the few of us that are around can meet up for a "mini-eyeball"?

C Ya there maybe!

[Coldstar]

Sounds great Sponk! I can't really commit to anything either right now...I fly out on Tuesday, but my bike won't arrive for another 40-50 days as it's just getting loaded on a cargo ship this week. Hopefully I'll be able to make it, but if not, Prague isn't so far away that there won't be other oportunities.

Cya
Mike