Nurburgring, yes, no, maybe, love it, hate it ?

[weeksy]

You watch something like this and can't help but be in awe, with the rider, the bike and the 'circuit'

Have you been ? How was it ? Do you want to go again ?

If not, would you like to? or is it all just a bit terrifying ?

[Skub]

Power to the man's elbow,that was a great watch.

I'd love to do the ring,but I hate travelling so it's never gonna happen. Probably just as well!

[Nordboy]

It definitely on my bucket list.

Me and my lad are going to do it, but in the car, probably his, as although i have a quick’ish estate (bmw 540i xdrive msport), when the pandemic is over he’ll be able to collect his new BMW M135i xdrive. Think that may be a little more fun.

[GuzziPaul]

Done it in a car, although a Renault Scenic possibly doesn't count. Tried to do it on my Tuono, they took the money but when I tried to get on the track they wouldn't let me. A Brithis Audi had shit its engine and the track was cars only till it was cleared up. Hung around for an hour before they decided bikes wouldn't be allowed out at all.
Went to try I get my money back but no refunds, they said the tickets were good for a year so come back some other time. By this time there was a big group of angry bikers all demanding their money back. I grabbed my mate and cleared off as i realised there would be lots of pished off bikers all trying to dispose of their tickets. Managed to sell ours for only a £5 loss.

Don't know if I would bother trying again especially as the road in the surrounding area are just as good, although with speed limits and junctions.

[G.P]

Looks like doing a trackday and sharing the track with every other kind of vehicle you can imagine.
I'd maybe do it in a car but have zero interest of doing it on a bike. Give me normal trackdays any day. By the way, I've done Mad Sunday at the TT a couple of times so am not completely risk averse!

There's a vid of a bloke who goes round in a stripped out VW UP! he laps faster than the 430 Ferarri he followed out on track - shows how much good track knowledege makes there. I remember IanB saying he went round in his S200 Honda and got overtaken round the outside by a Fiat multipla with a family of four in it. Helps if you no where the road goes...

[Yorick]

If I did it, I'd want about 20 goes to get the hang of it. There's summat amazing about chucking a litre bike at a blind bend at silly speed, knowing where the exit goes.

If I only did 1 lap, I wouldn't feel fulfilled.

[PitaNaanRoti]

Just over 80 laps for me.
Still don't know it.
Love the place, but with so many "fast cars" now, its not what is was for bikes and the Motoraad only days are almost non-existant.
Cars are just stupidly fast there because of the corner speed they carry and those who also know what is round the next bend (and the next, and the next, etc).
Knee down, long right up hill, 100+mph and Sabine comes around the left, in an M5, sideways, waving with 3 passengers screaming.
There is nothing that will prepare you for locals. Have to remember that some use it to go home and either drop out or in at Adenau.

[rodbargee]

We used to go regularly over a few years so never got to scratch the surface of learning the circuit, still the most dry mouthed rides That I've ever done, and never saw the ring that empty as the above vid. was always being passed by locals in golf's arriving sideways behind you with all four wheels screetching. it also became quite an expensive "'do" never got to book a ring taxi ride either. the roads in that area were IMO much more fun than riding the ring. But glad to have done it and got away with it. There is a vid somewhere of Brendan Kerle (Used to be on Vd ) riding from his Sliders geusthouse to the ring which almost beggerd belief. RIP Bren he was a lovely chap. Sliders was a very "odd" place to stay but interesting.

[rodbargee]

here's a Bren lap of The ring 7.36 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM8AzH8T6x8!! bit cruder than some of todays video mounts but still impressive!

[rodbargee]

here is a vid of a ride from sliders to the ring...not the mad one I was referring to but imaginine it at ring speed

good road though typical of the area.

Same road and another bunch of loons




'm kindof still hoping we're going to Spain too but we will have to make it later in the year

[scottyuk]

I've done 160+ laps in a car and I've had some training there. I feel I know it pretty well i.e. I can do laps in my mind, know the lines (not always the obvious racing line) etc BUT despite that when I did it on a bike it was like it was the very first time there. It was such a different experience for me. This was not least because I wasn't used to traffic catching and passing me with such frequency. I'm not even sure I enjoyed it that much. We were due back in 5 weeks time and I fancied giving it another go ... but I guess that'll have to wait for a while now.

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[hilldweller]

Just a single lap for me on a 650 Vstrom.

115mph flat out with a big touring screen. No risks taken. Lots of looking backwards.

But all the time I was thinking I was following in the footsteps of Fangio, Moss and the monsters they raced.

So well worth the €26 for memories that will last forever.

It also highlights just how awesome the TT riders are on a track that makes The Ring look simple.

[scottyuk]

One lap of memories for €26 is great for an experience. However it's now crazy money if you want to get to grips with the place. I used to buy 25 lap tickets for a weekend and it worked out about €8 per lap. At the new prices sort of money I can get my bike shipped to a Euro track for 3 days and include hotels.

[formula400]

I've been twice on the bike, the trip there, back and around the area is stunning, had loads and loads of fun, 1st time my cousin went in his audi TT and took all the bags, then the 2nd time time was just 2 bikes, did mettet superbiker in october, but missed it due to my GSXR 750 dying road side. i loved every bit, the roads were incredible and had loads of fun.


the Ring its self i am not so sure, its to quick for me, only time I've every really been scared on a bike, there are lambo's and fiesta's coming around you what ever side they want at 500mph. I've done 2 laps and thats enough, but saying that i'd go back for sure, and maybe do a lap.

Me at the Nurbergring by lewis wilson, on Flickr

lewis by lewis wilson, on Flickr

Me on the ring by lewis wilson, on Flickr

[crust]

Lived in Germany back in the mid 80S combining despatch riding with putting miles on test bikes for Honda. The Ring used to be a 'stop off' on the way to or from a customer plus the occasional exclusive day with Honda, did a fair few laps.

Loved it and hated it, bike only days = wonderful, public days = very scary, had two serious moments - 1 - bounced off the side of a sight seeing coach, onto grass and along Armco, 2 - came round corner to find car side on, having spun.

Didn't go near the place for a good few years, did a lap - scared myself silly by going too fast thinking I knew where I was then finding out I didn't.

You've got to invest a lot of time and money to get to know it, then find times when its not full of cars, all the time making sure you don't bin it, that Armco takes no prisoners. Glad I've done it, got no desire to do it again.

Stayed with Bren twice, did rideouts with him both times, seriously fast rider, he drove us to a restaurant one night, scary, scary quick driver. RIP Bren

I agree with the 'odd' comment about Sliders.

[Yorick]

putting miles on test bikes for Honda. The Ring used to be a 'stop off' on the way to or from a customer plus the occasional exclusive day with Honda, did a fair few laps.

Tell us more

[formula400]

Stayed with Bren twice, did rideouts with him both times, seriously fast rider, he drove us to a restaurant one night, scary, scary quick driver. RIP Bren

I agree with the 'odd' comment about Sliders.

Me and 2 mates stayed there, absolute loon and legend rolled in to one. He took me out, he was on an old Fazer 1000 with a bald rear. Had one hand in his hip and most of the ride and was rapid.
This is a picture of my mate before the trip to a restaurant in the boot of his little car/van thing, I’ve never been in a car/van driven like it. Brilliant experience staying there.

[crust]

putting miles on test bikes for Honda. The Ring used to be a 'stop off' on the way to or from a customer plus the occasional exclusive day with Honda, did a fair few laps.

Tell us more

Honda Europe in Offenbach used to employ testers to put kilometres on bikes to test a variety of things, you would rock up in the morning, get assigned a bike, given some instructions, then off you go - do your 300/500 Km, then return it and fill out a questionnaire. Some of the testing was just put miles on it, other times it would be something specific, like how well does the radio work on a Goldwing or whats the fuel consumption like on a Dominator.

Every so often there would be specific 'events', a day at the Contidrome trying out tyres or a private booking of the Ring to put high speed miles on the shiny new VFR750. Top fun following the ring specialists around and being paid for it.

If it had paid better and been regular I'd have stayed.

[Yorick]

putting miles on test bikes for Honda. The Ring used to be a 'stop off' on the way to or from a customer plus the occasional exclusive day with Honda, did a fair few laps.

Tell us more

Honda Europe in Offenbach used to employ testers to put kilometres on bikes to test a variety of things, you would rock up in the morning, get assigned a bike, given some instructions, then off you go - do your 300/500 Km, then return it and fill out a questionnaire. Some of the testing was just put miles on it, other times it would be something specific, like how well does the radio work on a Goldwing or whats the fuel consumption like on a Dominator.

Every so often there would be specific 'events', a day at the Contidrome trying out tyres or a private booking of the Ring to put high speed miles on the shiny new VFR750. Top fun following the ring specialists around and being paid for it.

If it had paid better and been regular I'd have stayed.

Lucky baaaaaarstaaaard

[GunZenBomZ]

Done a good handful of trips, meet up's & what not there. You just have to remember that if you stuff it into the armco or drop oil. There will be a large bill awaiting you before you leave 'the toll road'. If the circuit is closed for an hour I recall it been 2,000euros fine. So behave & enjoy a nice blast but be warned the local police are always not far away.

It should be on most peoples bucket list because its 36miles of closed funnage.