6 replies to this topic

[mototdm]

The Stella Alpina Rally starts this Friday. Have any of you guys been to it on a TDM 9er in standard trim. What I mean really is without any mods to suspension , no bash plate & stuff like that. Or will it be a XT660 in the future. 

[jono49]

Just looked it up!......And the answer is NO!!! II dont fancy my teeth being rattled out and standing that distance, But? what cracking scenery and with the correctly prepared bike I would imagine this event would be a Hoot!

 

http://www.fastlane9...stella2013.html

Edited by jono49, 09 July 2014 - 09:16 pm.

[James]

MotoTDM,

I did the Stella Alpina a few years ago on my Africa Twin. It's a brilliant event and easily doable on a TDM with road tyres, no bash plate, etc.

I saw a couple of Fireblades, a GPz900r, a 1200 Goldwing and many other road bikes that had all made it to the top. Of course you'll see lots of 'dual sport' bikes like XTZ's, XRV's, GS's and also lots of 'tossers on crossers'; a confidently ridden TDM would be an ideal ride. Yes the back end will get squirrelly, yes there are some big drop offs and very tight hairpins (usually with a dropped GS or two to be missed), but that's a big part of the fun. If you've got ABS on your 9 make sure you can disable it, keep your hands off the front brake and you'll be fine.

The event was started many years ago by a local and his mates, the intention was/is for it to be ridden on road bikes. There is still extra kudos going up on a bike that most would consider unsuitable

Most years you can't get to the top, it's usually blocked by snow.

There are some other fantastic 'soft road' graded tracks in the area - colle dell'Assietta colle dello Finestre - etc. I'll dig out some pics

After stirring up this ghost I might go down again next year on my TDM assuming it and I are both up to the job

Edited by James, 25 August 2014 - 05:11 pm.

[James]

Here you go...

 

See the Ninja? That went to the top.

 

 

MZ and Ural outfits on the way up.

 

 

Typical Stella Alpina (col de Sommelier) road surface. It gets a bit rockier further up.

 

 

Looking down colle dello Finestre. 

 

 

colle dell'Assietta

Edited by James, 25 August 2014 - 05:55 pm.

[dapleb]

That looks allorra fun, just my kinda thing.

[James]

That looks allorra fun, just my kinda thing.

Next year dapleb? Second weekend in July, I'll 'collect you on the way

Edited by James, 25 August 2014 - 07:58 pm.

[dapleb]

Sadly I dont git to choose me holibobs and second weekend in July aint one of em!!  Very annoying at times......like now.