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Gargolov
11 photos
Jahn
1/11
A total of 21 motorcycles in the categories of athletes, all-rounders, travel enduros, fun bikes and naked bikes were tested in the Alps. Driving ahead here: Yamaha TMax, Ducati 1199 Panigale and Triumph Tiger Explorer (from left to right).
Jahn
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All naked and fun bikes of the Alpen Masters 2012 in the group.
Gargolov
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Passport control: Each pass has its own unique character – the Col de la Lombarde with two completely different climbs.
Jahn
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The test lap through the Maritime Alps is 130 kilometers long and combines almost all road conditions typical of the mountains.
Jahn
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The advantages: mostly moderate traffic, grippy asphalt and the accumulation of many long pass drives.
Jahn
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Full house: Few gas stations, many motorcycles – the Alpen Masters test team meets the local motorcycle scene in Vinadio.
Jahn
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Which key now belongs to which test machine?
Gargolov
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Up and down: The Alps increase the demands on man and machine – a top-class test area.
Jahn
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The 20-person test crew also included guests from Spain, France, Italy and Sweden.
Gargolov
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At the summit, the test bikes were set aside briefly.
Gargolov
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Summit storm: 20 motorcycles in five groups and a previous year’s winner in the competition – annual summer highlight, the MOTORRAD Alpine Masters.
The big motorcycle test in the Alps
Alpen Masters 2012: the best motorcycle for the Alps
Wide turns, tight turns and grandiose views. On a mountain tour, the senses reach their limit – so do the test machines. Raise the curtain on the biggest swing of the year, the MOTORRAD-Alpen-Masters.
D.he evening sun envelops the flat top of the Col de la Lombarde in a golden brown light. It is shortly before 8 p.m. when the testers climbed the 21 kilometers of the little-known but beautiful pass for the last time that day. Motors off. After a few moments, Sergio Romero breaks the devout silence. “Que día”, what a day, the editor of Motociclismo, MOTORRAD’s Spanish sister paper, mumbles to himself in awe. With these two words sums up the incomparable charm of a tour in the Alps. It is the combination of two extremes: the mountain world, which is so impressive in its rugged superiority, and the motorcycling experience that is focused on the essence in the alpine environment. Braking, clutching, shifting, folding down, straightening up, accelerating – all other aspects of a motorcycle are faded out and unimportant in those moments.
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The big motorcycle test in the Alps
Alpen Masters 2012: the best motorcycle for the Alps
Jahn
A total of 20 motorcycles in the categories athletes, all-rounders, travel enduros, fun bikes and naked bikes were tested in the Alps. Driving ahead here: Yamaha TMax, Ducati 1199 Panigale and Triumph Tiger Explorer (from left to right).
In this respect, the latest machines of the respective model year scramble for the crown of summiteers. Change places. The Alpine Masters series celebrated its premiere in 2005/2006 on the legendary Stilfser Joch, relocated to France to the passes around the Galibier for the 2007/2008 editions, before the Dolomites became the touchstone in 2009 and 2010. After a comeback on the Stilfser Joch, the test team climbed the steep ramps of the French Maritime Alps for the first time this year with a total of 21 test machines. And – hand on heart – from a driving point of view it is worth the 300 km longer journey compared to South Tyrol. Grippy asphalt, moderate traffic and an abundance of over 20 kilometers long pass driveways are unique. Tip: Due to the significantly better gastronomy, the MOTORRAD team lived on the Italian side of the passes in the small village of Pietraporzio.
The mode of hosting the Alpine Masters remains unchanged. A total of five, as homogeneous as possible, groups of four machines each are formed around all new releases, which are evaluated in a preliminary round by the MOTORRAD test crew according to a point system. The respective winner of the group moves into the final.
Gargolov
Passport control: Each pass has its own unique character – the Col de la Lombarde with two completely different climbs.
In which all five then meet the reigning Alpine Master, i.e. the winner of the previous year. In elimination mode, things get down to business. The number of points from the evaluation of the preliminary round no longer matters. The decision is based solely on the subjective impressions of the testers. On every pass on a final tour, which has been significantly expanded compared to the original test round, a motorcycle will be secretly voted out by the jury consisting of colleagues from the foreign sister magazines and some MOTORRAD editors. The last remaining machine will be crowned the new Alpen-Master.
What may sound so mundane at first often enough worries the jury members. Because carefree corner sharpening alone is not enough for a potential Alpine Masters winner. Suitability for two people, wind protection for arrival and departure, range and ABS also play a role in this rather emotional choice, despite the focus on core competencies. One of the reasons why, in the previous Alpen Masters editions, it was not the active, but under those rational aspects, weak fun or naked bikes that ended up at the top, but rather the more moderate group of all-rounders or travel enduros.
Especially since the current travel enduro bikes are getting better and better at the balancing act between comfortable touring bikes and sporty country road bikes. Suspension that is easy to swallow, an upright sitting posture with a good overview of the game and powerful engines make these concepts ideal for the great alpine tour. Combine with it – apart from the dimensions and weight – almost all of the decisive aspects under the extreme conditions of the mountains. Whether that is why the winner of the travel enduro category, the Triumph Tiger Explorer, the reigning Alpine champion, the BMW R 1200 GS, can make life difficult, however, is up to the said jury.
Scoring system and test crew
Gargolov
Up and down: The Alps increase the demands on man and machine – a top-class test area.
The special features of the Alpen Masters classification
No terrain places higher demands on motorcycles and drivers than the Alps. This is why the Alpine Masters rating differs significantly from the 1000-point rating otherwise used by MOTORRAD. Additional aspects or a stronger weighting of already existing criteria emphasize the focus placed on the driving dynamics properties – while in this environment less relevant aspects (top speed, guarantee etc.) are not taken into account.
Additional criteria
- Acceleration 0-140 km / h
- Passage at 2700 m above sea level NN / in 2nd gear uphill with pillion passenger
- Suspension reserves, lean angle clearance and ground clearance when loading
- Downhill braking / fading
- Traction control
- Range on mountain passes
More weighted criteria
- Response / load change behavior
- coupling
- Shift / gear ratio
- ABS function
- Righting moment when braking
- Luggage storage
- Seating comfort passenger
- Wind and weather protection
Jahn
Peter Mayer.
MOTORCYCLE test crew
Peter Mayer (52)
Test editor
Speaks five languages - just not standard German. Has a soft spot for off-roaders and cycling.
Jahn
Karsten Schwers.
Karsten Schwers (40)
Top tester
Those who measure themselves against him have to be modest with second place – whether at work or in sports.
Jahn
Stefan Kaschel.
Stefan Kaschel (46)
Test editor
Critical mind, has something to complain about in everything – and usually a good solution.
Jahn
Eva Breutel
Eva Breutel (52)
Italy correspondent
She has an ear for Ducati, Guzzi and Co. – understandably, she lives in Bologna.
Jahn
Sven Loll.
Sven Loll (38)
Boy for everything
Whether a motorcycle instructor, model or photo driver – Sven is the man for the finer things in life.
Jahn
Rainer Froberg
Rainer Froberg (48)
Fleet manager
Tompers the editors’ two-wheeled flea circus – and mostly in a good mood.
Jahn
Sergio Romero.
The guests
Sergio Romero (34)
Motociclismo, Spain
triple Isle of Man participant
Loves the mountains – both on a motorcycle and while climbing.
Jahn
Thomas Cortesi.
Thomas Cortesi (25)
Moto Journal, France
Only feels at home in Gaul, only keeps the front wheel on the ground for the photo – albeit reluctantly.
Jahn
Andrea Tourmaniantz .
Andrea Tourmaniantz (48)
Inmoto, Italy
Started with a supermoto before the Alpine Masters and then with motocross – passion for motorcycles in Italian.
Jahn
Freddy Papunen
Freddy Papunen (29)
MOTORCYCLE, Sweden
Three-time Swedish superbike champion. Racing is more important to him – except for the big party at the midsummer festival.
The test track
Werel
Attractive area: The test track (red) is only a fraction of the grandiose motorcycle area of the Maritime Alps.
Werel
Many passes with big names beckon.
After the region around the Col de Galibier in 2007 and 2008, the MOTORRAD-Alpen-Masters returned to the French Alps for the 2012 edition. The advantages: mostly moderate traffic, grippy asphalt and the accumulation of many long pass drives. Also interesting: the proximity to the Côte d Azur, which is only 130 kilometers away.
On the 155-kilometer test lap (see map) almost all road conditions typical for the mountains occur. The Col de la Lombarde already offers almost all facets of alpine road construction with its winding east ramp (21 kilometers) and the extensive west side (20 kilometers). This is followed by the – literally – highlight, the 25-kilometer ascent to the highest of all paved Alpine passes, the 2715-meter-high Col de la Bonette.
After leaving for Jausiers, the D 900 turns to Col de Larche. The extremely fast turns are only interrupted shortly after the relatively low pass height (1991 meters) by 14 hairpin bends leading back into the Stura valley.
The starting point for the 2012 MOTORCYCLE Alpine Masters was the Hotel Regina delle Alpi (www.reginadellealpi.com) in the Italian village of Pietraporzio with 120 people. With moderate prices (room with half board from 55 euros), very good food, homemade ice cream, indoor swimming pool and motorcycle garages, the MOTORRAD editorial team can only recommend the house to the Italian and English speaking married couple Maura and Massimo.
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