Test Ride in the Vosges

Test Ride in the Vosges

A Touratech team set off on a test ride into the Vosges Mountains with four of the latest, fully equipped adventure bikes. Machines and accessories had to show their colours on the smallest of lanes, on winding country roads and adventurous trails.

Cold dew still lies on the meadows as we start our four adventure bikes for the autumn test ride. A total of nine cylinders create a feel-good atmosphere on this cool morning with their powerful, cultivated sound. At the start are the Aprilia Tuareg 660, Ducati DesertX, Husqvarna 901 Norden and Triumph Tiger 1200 – all in full touring regalia. 

The test team is a colourful mix from different departments of the company. Christian and Philipp are from marketing, Jo is responsible for the webshop and Jens looks after the extensive fleet. What unites them is their enthusiasm for adventure bikes and adventurous tours – in this case, the joint mission to gather impressions and experiences with the latest Touratech accessories under real-life conditions.

Before we set off, let's take a look at the navigation systems: Destination Vosges Mountains. The low mountain range in neighbouring France is traditionally one of Touratech's favourite regions when new accessories are to be subjected to a final test ride. And this is not only because they are within easy reach of the Black Forest on the other side of the Upper Rhine Graben. The special charm of the region is the contrast between valleys with picturesque, winding half-timbered villages and the rugged beauty of the higher altitude areas.

A detour on the "Route des Crêtes", one of the most impressive mountain roads in France, is a must on our tour. It runs along the main ridge of the southern Vosges Mountains almost entirely at an altitude of 1200 metres. The route stretches over approximately 75 kilometres from the Col du Bonhomme in the north via the Col de la Schlucht, Hohneck, Markstein, Grand Ballon and Cernay to Thann in the south.

Deciduous and mixed forests line the winding road. On a clear day, there are magnificent views of the Rhine plain and the Black Forest opposite. With a bit of luck, you can also see the Alps.

The road surface is very variable. From well paved, wide roads to unpaved agricultural tracks, there's nothing your wheels won't come in contact with. Due to the often snowy winters, many of the routes in the Vosges Mountains are repeatedly patched up with tar and bitumen.

This is where the adventure bikes, partly equipped with standard material and partly with suspension components from Touratech Suspension, can prove their strengths.

As autumn not only shows its golden side during our tour, but also conjures up mighty banks of fog, the test riders are glad to have the perfect clothing. Some of the team are wearing the Compañero Rambler laminate suit; the others are fitted out with the Compañero Traveller – with the foul-weather suit, "Weather Traveller," made of waterproof and windproof Gore-Tex three-layer laminate on top, of course. It almost goes without saying that their feet are going to stay dry and warm, because the whole troop is equipped with Destino Ultimate GTX boots.

Test drives and photo shoots fortunately leave us just enough time to enjoy the culinary delights of the Vosges in addition to the riding delights. Along the magnificent routes, there are many of those typical Alsatian mountain inns, the "Fermes Auberges". Here, motorcycle travellers find affordable accommodation as well as a good range of regional specialities. In addition to hearty meals and cheeses typical of the area, the famous blueberry cake – tarte myrtille – is a delicacy not to be missed.

At Le Markstein, we take the opportunity to relax and allow ourselves to be won over by the regional cuisine in the cosy restaurant, "1183 Table de Caractère".

Statements on the motorbikes used

Husqvarna Norden 901

 

"I found the Husqvarna 901 Norden convincing in every situation, whether on narrow, winding village roads, gravel paths or through nippy passages. We'd upgraded the suspension with components from Touratech Suspension. This made the handling of the Norden even more precise and it convinced me with its exact feedback."

Jo Wolframm, Head of E-Commerce Touratech

Husqvarna 901 Norden

Two-cylinder in-line engine, 889 cubic capacity, 104 hp with 8000 rpm, spring travel (v/h) 220/215 mm, 204 kg*

Touratech Parts Husqvarna 901 Norden

  1. ZEGA Evo X special system for Husqvarna Norden 901
    ZEGA Evo X special system for Husqvarna Norden 901
    As low as €1,323.43
  2. Touratech Suspension Cartridge Kit Extreme for Husqvarna Norden 901 from 2022
    Touratech Suspension Cartridge Kit Extreme for Husqvarna Norden 901 from 2022
    €1,322.65
  3. Touratech Suspension shock absorber for Husqvarna Norden 901 from 2022 type Extreme
    Touratech Suspension shock absorber for Husqvarna Norden 901 from 2022 type Extreme
    €1,393.24
  4. ZEGA Evo Topcase *And-S*, 25 litres with Rapid Trap
    ZEGA Evo Topcase *And-S*, 25 litres with Rapid Trap
    €467.56
  5. Tank crash bar stainless steel for Husqvarna Norden 901
    Tank crash bar stainless steel for Husqvarna Norden 901
    €264.62
  6. Stainless steel fairing crash bar for Husqvarna Norden 901
    Stainless steel fairing crash bar for Husqvarna Norden 901
    €264.62
  7. Pillion seat bag EXTREME Edition, by Touratech Waterproof
    Pillion seat bag EXTREME Edition, by Touratech Waterproof
    €194.03
  8. Hand protectors DEFENSA Expedition for KTM, Husqvarna
    Hand protectors DEFENSA Expedition for KTM, Husqvarna
    As low as €158.73

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Aprilia Tuareg 660

 

"I was positively surprised by the Aprilia Tuareg 660. It's a machine in which you very quickly gain confidence, and leaning into the bends is child's play. The agile two-cylinder wants to be ridden actively. The suspension was already well tuned in the standard setting. However, my feeling is that the "Offroad" setting is not optimal for gravel passages. I got along much better with the Explore mode. The Tuareg is an all-round great bike that should provide a wide range of rider personalities with positive experiences."

Christian Fässler, Online Marketing Manager

Aprilia Tuareg 660

Two-cylinder in-line engine, 659 cubic capacity, 80 hp at 9250 rpm, spring travel (v/h) 240/215 mm, 187 kg*

Touratech Parts Aprilia Tuareg 660

  1. ZEGA Evo Topcase *And-Black*, 38 litres with Rapid Trap
    ZEGA Evo Topcase *And-Black*, 38 litres with Rapid Trap
    €467.56
  2. ZEGA Topcase / Luggage rack black, stainless steel for Aprilia Tuareg 660
    ZEGA Topcase / Luggage rack black, stainless steel for Aprilia Tuareg 660
    €167.56
  3. Tank bag Ibarra Midi
    Tank bag Ibarra Midi
    €158.73
  4. Hand protectors DEFENSA Expedition for Aprilia Tuareg 660
    Hand protectors DEFENSA Expedition for Aprilia Tuareg 660
    €158.73
  5. "Works" long-distance foot pegs for Triumph Tiger 900/ 800/ 800XC/ 800XCX, Tiger Explorer/ 1200 (2022-)
    "Works" long-distance foot pegs for Triumph Tiger 900/ 800/ 800XC/ 800XCX, Tiger Explorer/ 1200 (2022-)
    €132.26
  6. Headlamp guard black with quick release fastener for Aprilia Tuareg 660 *OFFROAD USE ONLY*
    Headlamp guard black with quick release fastener for Aprilia Tuareg 660 *OFFROAD USE ONLY*
    €123.44
  7. ZEGA Evo lock set for 2 cases
    ZEGA Evo lock set for 2 cases
    €57.26
  8. Rear brake fluid reservoir guard, black for KTM 890 Adv/ Adv R/ 790 Adv / Adv R/ 1290 S Adv (2021-)/Husqvarna Norden 901/ Aprilia Tuareg 660
    Rear brake fluid reservoir guard, black for KTM 890 Adv/ Adv R/ 790 Adv / Adv R/ 1290 S Adv (2021-)/Husqvarna Norden 901/ Aprilia Tuareg 660
    €39.62

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Triumph Tiger 1200

 

"The Triumph Tiger 1200 impressed me. It has a comfortable seating position (even with a pillion passenger) and great handling characteristics. The engine is enormously powerful and smooth. Despite its weight, this machine is surprisingly easy to handle. I found the way the numerous presets are executed somewhat annoying. The many buttons on the left-hand control unit tend to distract you from what's happening on the road. The bottom line is that the Triumph Tiger 1200 is a great adventure bike that is the right choice for everything from solo tours to big trips with a pillion passenger and lots of luggage."

Jens Wehrle, Fleet Manager

Triumph Tiger 1200

Three-cylinder in-line engine, 1160 cubic capacity, 150 hp at 9000 rpm, spring travel (v/h) 200/200 mm, 240 kg

Touratech Parts Triumph Tiger 1200

  1. ZEGA Evo aluminium pannier system for Triumph Tiger 1200 (2022-)
    ZEGA Evo aluminium pannier system for Triumph Tiger 1200 (2022-)
    As low as €1,102.85
  2. Hand protectors DEFENSA Expedition, black, for Triumph Tiger 1200 (-2022)
    Hand protectors DEFENSA Expedition, black, for Triumph Tiger 1200 (-2022)
    €158.73
  3. Headlight guard with quick release fastener for Triumph Tiger 1200 (2022-) *OFFROAD USE ONLY*
    Headlight guard with quick release fastener for Triumph Tiger 1200 (2022-) *OFFROAD USE ONLY*
    €123.44
  4. Rokstraps STRAP IT™ Motorbike Adjustable *black-blue/green*
    Rokstraps STRAP IT™ Motorbike Adjustable *black-blue/green*
    €21.97
  5. Headlamp guard black with quick release fastener for Aprilia Tuareg 660 *OFFROAD USE ONLY*
    Headlamp guard black with quick release fastener for Aprilia Tuareg 660 *OFFROAD USE ONLY*
    €123.44
  6. ZEGA Evo lock set for 2 cases
    ZEGA Evo lock set for 2 cases
    €57.26
  7. Rear brake fluid reservoir guard, black for KTM 890 Adv/ Adv R/ 790 Adv / Adv R/ 1290 S Adv (2021-)/Husqvarna Norden 901/ Aprilia Tuareg 660
    Rear brake fluid reservoir guard, black for KTM 890 Adv/ Adv R/ 790 Adv / Adv R/ 1290 S Adv (2021-)/Husqvarna Norden 901/ Aprilia Tuareg 660
    €39.62
Ducati DesertX

 

"The Ducati DesertX is not as hefty live as it often appears in photos. With its white dress and classic double headlight, it comes across as simple and elegant. Visually, it reminds me of the machines from the classic era of adventure bikes at the end of the 80s and beginning of the 90s. Technically, however, the Ducati is state-of-the-art. The powerful V-twin impresses me with its sensitive throttle response, and after a few metres I've become completely familiar with the vehicle. I haven't ridden a more coherent bike in a long time."

Philipp Blum, Marketing Manager

Ducati DesertX

Two-cylinder V-engine, 937 cubic capacity, 110 hp with 9250 rpm, spring travel (v/h) 220/230 mm, 202 kg*

Touratech Parts Ducati DesertX

  1. Tank bag Ibarra Midi
    Tank bag Ibarra Midi
    €158.73
  2. Tail Rack Bag+ EXTREME Edition by Touratech Waterproof
    Tail Rack Bag+ EXTREME Edition by Touratech Waterproof
    €132.27



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