Table of contents
- The best applause curves in German-speaking countries In search of the curve frenzy
- Racing track and brisk country road driving are not the same thing
- Favorite curve on the public road is legitimate
- Hole pass
- Driving skills, correct line and tires with good grip
- Schwarzenbach dam
- A super athlete definitely has to run here
- Feldberg
- Steep template for forbidden security officers
- Bulkheads
- A highlight on the tour
- Schleizer triangle
- Great left-right combination with good grip
- Hohenstein
- Now it’s getting interesting …
- Zonko’s favorite curve in Austria
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The most beautiful applause curves in the German-speaking area.
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Our search for the top corners took us 1500 kilometers through the country – with the exception of the north. We feel with you!
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Hole pass.
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Punch, “Turn 6”. Start at moderate speed, late
Turn in to the left and “undercut” the curve. Provided
no oncoming traffic comes (clearly visible), easy to the center line
orientate yourself and gently pull on the gas.
Tobi Munchinger
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At the weekend, punching is a one-way street for motorcyclists – in the wrong direction!
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“A curve made for applause rides – unfortunately also regulated away here” – Uwe Seitz.
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Schwarzenbach dam.
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Rubber bollards delimit the open spaces behind the curve. But against
ride? Not really a good idea!
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It is best to drive around the blind corners to the right at half throttle until a clear view of the further course of the curve to the left and the oncoming lane is guaranteed. Then orientate towards the center line and accelerate.
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The lake as a panorama in the background, you can well imagine that the area attracts those looking for relaxation.
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“I’m not a fan of the dam. Here everything is screaming for handcuffs to click ”- Tobi Munchinger.
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Feldberg.
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At the entrance to the curve, stop at the center line and turn in gently. If the traffic situation is favorable, do not drive too far to the right, but rather let it be carried outwards to the center line. In the direction of the exit of the bend, fold increasingly to the right and continue to open the gas.
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Even if nothing is going on and there is no intention to riot: Motorcyclists have to stay outside. What shoud that?
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Modified hiking map on site: Fortunately, the motorcyclists on the Feldberg have a sense of humor and self-irony.
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“A nice curve. Unfortunately, one gets the impression that motorcyclists should be disgusted there ”- Ralf Schneider.
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Bulkheads.
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On the uphill approach, stop at the center line and stay there. With supporting throttle around the curve, towards the exit of the curve, shear to the right and continue to pull the throttle. Be prepared to tilt the motorcycle down even further in the last third.
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Riddles again! …
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Cars usually drive over it more slowly than motorcycles, for which the bars also tend to be dangerous.
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“If this curve were a woman, you would call it ‘interesting’ and ask for a second date” – Tobi Munchinger.
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Schleizer triangle.
Stephen Bower
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Buchhubel: Shear from the far right to the left, gently pulling the gas on the curbs around the bend. Bumps, don’t put too much pressure on the front wheel! Then drive to the left to get the next right at the curb.
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Whether Buchhubel or the wide chicane over to the Seng – such curves and curbs on public roads can only be found here in Schleiz. Too bad the rain slowed us down!
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“You notice right away at the races that Schleiz is actually a normal road – you need Cojones here!” – Uwe Seitz.
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Hohenstein.
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Hohenstein.
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Downhill the long left leads down into the Polenztal. It is slightly elevated on the outside and has a good grip, so theoretically it works quickly. It is best to hold it in the middle of the lane, only allow it to be carried slightly outwards in the curve. With increasing speed, cut in a little to the left and accelerate further.
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The excursion restaurant “Einkehr zur Rennstrecken” reminds you of days gone by and is located very close to Wartenbergstrasse.
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The Saxon Switzerland National Park is located in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Presumably the symbol on the stone represents an applause curve. Not a river, for example.
factstudio.de
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Rod.
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“Maybe one day I’ll jump over the border fence with the Enfield, like Steve McQueen” – Rod, political prisoner of the Confederates.
andreasriedmann.at
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Zonko.
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“According to Casanova: I love all curves! But the one that really impressed me ”- Fritz“ Zonko ”Triendl.
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Picture gallery: The most beautiful applause curves.
to travel
The best applause curves in German-speaking countries
The best applause curves in German-speaking countries
In search of the curve frenzy
Content of
With the help of the PS community, we want to draw a character study of the best turns and radii in German-speaking countries. Is there a perfect curve? If so, what makes it so special?
Tobias Munchinger
08/09/2016
The nicest connection between two points has to be a curve. Anyone who owns a reasonably sporty motorcycle knows that. But where is the best place to indulge in the cornering frenzy? In the picturesque surroundings of spectacular mountain passes? Would be a possibility, but at least as a house route highlight, because of the large spatial distance, is denied for many. So more grippy and low-traffic country roads? Sounds great, if only their rarity wasn’t that high. And what do you do if you don’t want to see a nice change of road direction within striking distance of your place of residence? So you prefer to go to the biker meeting around the corner, chat gasoline and sip coffee? In that case, the action might be neglected.
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To find out more, we launched an appeal some time ago through a large social network. We wanted to know from you which favorites you have in German-speaking countries and what characterizes the curve. The result: the most sympathies in the form of digitally raised thumbs and comments go to the “applause curve” on the B 276 between Schotten and Laubach. This is followed in second place by the long 180-degree curve on the great Feldberg in the Taunus. The so-called Buchhubel at the Schleizer Dreieck and the combination of curves at the Schwarzenbach dam near the B 500 in the Black Forest were also mentioned. According to the online community, there is a tie between the last links on the Lochenpass near Balingen on the Swabian Alb and curve ten on Wartenbergstrasse near Hohnstein in Saxon Switzerland. Behind Central Germany all the way up to the coast, most of the curves suddenly seem to turn into straight lines. In contrast to the south, there were hardly any suggestions from these regions – we sympathize with you and express our condolences!
Racing track and brisk country road driving are not the same thing
The subject of the curve itself and the applause curve in particular unfortunately has some unpleasant aspects and “excitement”. In the course of our survey, corners were often suggested that are decried as hotspots for accidents. Including the Kesselberg, the Sudelfeld or the Kyffhauser, to name just the “classics”. We prefer to steer clear of these areas. But even among the routes that made it into our curve study, there is “scorched earth”. Nasty rumble strips, sneaky police checks, especially on the weekends, as well as residents with wafer-thin nerves make many places less attractive. “It almost always starts with complaints from residents about noise and frenzy,” reveals an insider at the cops. “Unfortunately, this usually goes hand in hand with numerous accidents and makes the most extreme of all measures, namely road closures for motorcycles, possible in the first place.”
Sure, physical limits are best explored on a racetrack with run-off zones and gravel beds. It is not for nothing that “the longest left-hand bend in the world” at the Sachsenring gets quite a few “likes” in our online survey. However, the problem with the volume occurs even here. Anyone who causes too much noise at the Sachsenring at the level of the measuring device at the entrance to the pit lane will be kicked out. Also with standard exhaust. As great as driving on a closed-off piste may be, racing tracks and speedy country roads are not the same thing. For reasons of time and money, one can hardly completely replace the other.
Favorite curve on the public road is legitimate
We find it perfectly legitimate to have a favorite corner on the public road that you drive up and down as often as you want. However, our recommendation is to keep noise to a minimum in “sensitive areas”. Don’t act like hooligans and avoid popular hotspots, especially during rush hour and on weekends.
Our 1,500-kilometer tour from applause curve to applause curve shows anyway: You don’t come across the most attractive stretches and curves right at the bikers’ meeting, but in the wider area.
Hole pass
The voting by Facebook users sends us on a 1,500-kilometer lap that we reel off with our four bikes. The heartbeat rises at every motorway exit and we look forward to the applause curves, because nothing is more desolate than driving straight ahead – no matter how fast. The first corner is practically on the doorstep. Lochenpass sounds a bit grandiose, but at least there are six beautiful hairpin bends up 300 meters in altitude to the Swabian Alb – perfect athletic terrain for easy 600 meters. The last curve then fulfills all the requirements to make it into the hearts of the road sweepers as an applause curve: good asphalt, nice radius, good overview and an adjacent parking lot – only the sausage stand is missing!
You will know that punching is popular among motorcyclists when you drive from Weilstetten at the latest. There is that two-wheeler discrimination emblazoned there, which unmistakably points out to us that punching at the weekend is taboo, at least from this direction of travel. On this Monday, however, only the 80 km / h limit can harm us. And the idiot in his decommissioned THW-Magirus in front of us, who did not get the tank full enough and in almost every left bend the road is covered with overflowing diesel. Kindly close the streets for such publicly dangerous solid posts!
Driving skills, correct line and tires with good grip
Turns like the “Punch Turn 6” are a stunner for show drivers. You don’t have to race like crazy to cut a good figure and get your knee on the asphalt. Driving skills, of course, the right line is important, nice weather and warm tires with good grip. That way, all onlookers in the parking lot will be ecstatic, without even the slightest trace of breaking the law. In such left-hand bends, it is important to wait long enough before turning in and “undercut” the bend at the entrance. Because it is not only at the Lochen that trucks or drivers who are too sporty and ambitious who push past the middle line at the apex of the bend like to come across. But if you have the right line of sight when turning and look far into the curve, you will be rewarded with a full overview in this corner, because inside there is only a gently sloping meadow that provides a full view of what is happening.
Of all the curves on our tour, I liked this one the best. But once through is completely enough, because there are plenty of great curves in the Swabian Alb and in the neighboring Black Forest and when I get on my motorcycle, I primarily ride for my own pleasure. It doesn’t need any spectators, and near the famous applause curve, the density of race organizers is simply too high for me.
Schwarzenbach dam
I used to like to be on the way down to Oppenau. It only crosses the Black Forest High Road for a short time, then follows turn after turn. Most of the time it wasn’t very busy. Then a quick cup of coffee at the gas station in town, and then back to Stuttgart via the now freshly tarred refuge.
I haven’t seen the Schwarzenbach dam yet. In the direction of Baden-Baden, at some point the B 500 turns right to Forbach and the reservoir. The aforementioned combinations of curves run right along the water and end at a large parking lot for hikers with a small snack bar for hungry day trippers. We meet a local who joins us with his ZX-10R. “It’s all hell going on here on Saturdays and Sundays, you can hardly drive there,” he tells us. “The spectators are standing around in the asphalt surfaces behind the curves, and sooner or later someone will lie down. I’ve already seen a lot of bad accidents here. ”He continues to report frequent speed controls, mostly carried out“ from ambush ”. He would still like to come here to chat and meet people.
A super athlete definitely has to run here
We take a stand, take a closer look at the curves on the lake and realize: A super sports car has to be there in any case. The radii allow deep lean angles if the speed is forbidden correspondingly high. Better not to misjudge yourself. The asphalted areas behind the curves are not at all suitable as run-off areas. They are too small and there are gravel lying around. And when there are really spectators there on the weekends, of course, things get particularly tricky. A departure would be a disaster.
In the parking lot curves with the asphalt surfaces in the background, you have a good view of the oncoming traffic coming from the left. To the right you are always a few meters in blind flight. At least the asphalt is so grippy that it allows you to bend to a certain extent. A few photos later, a truck comes towards me on the opposite lane. All of a sudden it stands there and protrudes a good bit into my lane, when I am not approaching so slowly on the R1 in an inclined position. Keep going, that just fits. Then we pack up and continue the journey. Press here with commitment? Does not have to be!
Feldberg
On the ascent to Feldberg im Taunus, the applause curve is the first curve after several kilometers, largely straight. Presumably that’s what defines their rank. The course is also pleasing: A loop drawn far around, decent pace, long, tense floating in an inclined position. In both directions, the curve opens a little after the entrance, so it closes again towards the end – regardless of whether it is uphill or downhill. No problem if you keep a little lean angle in reserve, especially since the surface offers a lot of grip and has only a few damaged areas.
So everything is fine? Unfortunately not. The relatively heavy traffic is the minor problem. Motorcyclists there probably fell in over-zeal or the meeting there is a thorn in the side of the authorities, or both. In any case, the road construction department set a speed limit of 50 km / h and let ripple strips run across the roadway at both ends. They are not entirely harmless. Even sensitive spring elements cannot be ironed flat. This is annoying when driving uphill because you have a pull on your bike in an inclined position while you rumble over the first two pack of rumble strips. Even with moderate acceleration, the rear wheel of the Brutale 800 bounced to the side and the engine slammed into the traction control. So it’s better not to accelerate, and the rhythm is gone. When wet, the stripes border a dangerous interference with road traffic. In addition, many drivers slow down to below 30 km / h in view of the stripes. That forces more than the usual safety distance.
Steep template for forbidden security officers
And finally, the curve is not even suitable as a meeting point. The inside car park is closed to motorbikes. Motorcyclists have to park elsewhere and walk there. Why? The answer is given by some Mad Max circles in the parking lot. A steep template for illegal security officers. The only question is whether the space would also be closed to cars if burn-out artists on four wheels came to fruition there? It is also difficult to understand to what extent motorcyclists are supposed to be safer to wander around on the road.
But that’s probably not the point. Here, the often annoying side effects of a motorcycle get-together should be suppressed by pure nudging. However, this creates more resistance than insight and is therefore stupid and dysfunctional. My tip: protest massively against rumble strips and road closures and look for other meeting points and driving routes.
Bulkheads
From the Feldberg, the PS caravan moves on to Schotten in the Vogelsberg district. My R1 demands a certain ability to suffer at a slow pace and over land. The machine goes hard on the gas, annoys with its imprecise clutch and tortures the joints. Time for more speed and lean angle. On the B 276 in the direction of Laubach is the Falltorhaus biker meeting, where we enjoy a cold apple spritzer and a portion of french fries or a salad. The drink goes down like nothing, the food … well, we’re here because of the curve.
And that’s just a few meters behind the Falltorhaus at the end of a downhill passage. The entrance to a dirt road is exactly at the apex, where we stop and inspect the situation. Towards the outer edge of the road, the curve appears to be relatively excessive. Similar to the Grober Feldberg, it has a wonderful horseshoe shape, but a bit narrower. A kind of green island borders the inner lane. Cans and cigarette butts lying around indicate temporary public visits. Behind the entrance to the dirt road, the guardrail has underrun protection downhill. It seems as if all the attributes of an exemplary applause curve are gathered together. A turn like from a picture book, unfortunately with a few thorns. Rumble marks again! On the other hand, the general volume of traffic is limited, luckily not a single truck comes by. Up on the R1, and first warm up the tires.
A highlight on the tour
The applause curve is easy to see and the asphalt is one of the most grippy to date. Here and there scratches on the surface indicate that some candidates overestimated the grip level, however. How you can fall here is not entirely obvious. Too cold tires, too much adrenaline in your blood? The curve itself is not particularly fast. Due to the elevated edge of the road, you can let it run in quickly. There is certainly not often something like that in the wild. With the R1 I drive the bend in second gear at moderate speed.
Tricky: At the end of the curve, the curve closes up and down at the last moment. Proper loading is not possible because the machine needs a little more pressure in an inclined position. No problem with the R1. The rumble strips are annoying because they are fully in the braking zone at the corner entrance and hit the chassis again when accelerating out of the corner. Still a highlight for me on our tour, even if I find the further course of the B 276 rather boring. When an older driver snaps at our photographer (“What are you doing, I’ll call the police”) we finally drive on.
Schleizer triangle
The Schleizer triangle is something special! For me, besides the Nurburgring-Nordschleife, one of these far too rare German anachronisms. A racetrack where everyday traffic usually rolls – where else can you find it? Unfortunately, on this “Tour de Virage” Thuringian rain, we put a spanner in the works, according to our reader voting, to check the combination of curves at Buchhubel for their applause qualities – and that in the country road trim. Since I have already driven the German Twin Trophy races here twice, however, it falls to me to ponder the advantages of the Schleizer curve.
When you race here, it is certainly a big plus that nothing comes in the opposite direction, the road maintenance department has removed delimitation posts and other obstacles along the road, and the law enforcement officers only watch the motorbikes out of curiosity. However, the Buchhubel is also a bit tricky in the race track assessment because the run-off zone is not particularly large and at the latest in the second, the right-hand bend, the fate of “Cornfield open, motorcycle in, cornfield closed, motorcycle away” threatens at the latest in the second, right-hand bend, with a departure Bow flies across the field.
Great left-right combination with good grip
In terms of driving, the left-right combination with good grip is great, and a lot of people sit in the stands during the races. It is best to stay to the right for a long time, even to the right of the white line, then turn in resolutely and shouldn’t be right inside the curb at the apex, because it’s damn bumpy with the risk of falling over the front wheel. In everyday use, of course, this line does not work, because the center line and the oncoming traffic are unhealthy against the ideal line.
The same applies to the immediately following right, which you take from the far left in the race. The curve hangs a bit. On the brakes up to the crown you have to be careful again that the front wheel doesn’t collapse. Anyone who drives like this naturally blows the 100 km / h according to the StVO. Unfortunately, we didn’t drive on a day-to-day basis, that would have been damn interesting for us, who only know Schleiz as a race track.
Hohenstein
Coming from Rathewalde, we are approaching our final destination: Hohnstein in Saxon Switzerland. Over a large, rather confusing intersection, you go downhill on Wartenbergstrasse into the tumult of curves. Hill climbs used to be held here, among other things, but that was an eternity and three days ago. It’s actually a shame, because all the small to medium sharp 180-degree bends down into the Polenztal are a pleasure. “Sweeping” is not exactly the right name, because these can be driven much more smoothly here than on passes. Of course, there are no delay thresholds on passes, but I don’t let that take away the fun on the Super Duke.
Arrived at the bottom of the Polenz valley, the similarly winding ascent to Hohnstein follows. The asphalt has seen better days on this section of the route. When I arrived in the small town of Hohnstein, the question arises: Where was the curve ten I was looking for? Must have overlooked it in the lean angle. I’ll just go back on the roller coaster. Not bad either, on the contrary! The stage is even more fun for me in the opposite direction because it is well paved from the Polenztal up, can be driven smoothly and has two lanes. Even if the allowed 60 or 80 km / h maximum speed is adhered to, fat inclines are possible. The situation becomes more acute as soon as it starts to drizzle, as it is now. Because of the trees protruding over the road, the ground is wet and slippery to varying degrees. Hui, the front wheel is already collapsing. Since I kept to the 80 km / h, I can barely catch it.
Now it’s getting interesting …
Suddenly turn ten is right in front of us. Slightly elevated at the edge of the road and very spacious, that has to be it. It is the very first left when you drive down Wartenbergstrabe via the fat intersection. Now it’s getting interesting. If we organize too many Halligalli here, someone is sure to threaten us with state power again. A couple of guys from the road construction department are having lunch in the car park for hikers right at the apex of the curve. Nothing for me, nothing for you, they block the street for us for a few moments.
What are we lucky children! With a super sports car you would be able to hammer down this curve at high speed if you had the slope to yourself. On the Super Duke there are rich slides, you can drift deep into them. Lean wheelies work anyway. If these curves didn’t exist, I would still visit the area again. Lunch for six, beer for two euros. Sounds like a real alternative to the other Switzerland, right??
Zonko’s favorite curve in Austria
When PS-Tobi asked me about the most beautiful corner in Austria, I first shrugged my shoulders helplessly. He could have asked about the mathematical proof of the Riemann hypothesis (distribution of prime numbers). No idea. The so-called Alpine republic is full of divine radii. But there is actually a relatively wide 180-degree bend that means more to me than anyone else. It is the “second Schloss Ambras curve” on the road from Innsbruck to Aldrans. Here I have already knocked down the Yamaha FS1, sanded the exhausts of my Puch 250 SG and once almost shot my brother’s XS 650 into the surrounding fields because I was so distracted and euphoric by David Bowie’s “Starman” in the Walkman, that I missed the ideal braking point. This curve triggers many memories – also of the nearest swimming pool “Schonruh”, which was later closed, grew and is now a property with a villa.
But since I’m always on the road with a certain reserve, the corner that I love most in terms of sloping dynamics is the four-way corner on the Pannoniaring. Here, braking out of the opponent is often very successful on the inside, and when you accelerate out of the way, the front wheel lifts off the small hilltop, provided you are sufficiently motorized. In this curve I feel the power and the glory and the full quality of the machine. I don’t hold it against her that the four-man shot me straight to the hospital in Sarvar via highsider. I’m not resentful.
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