I came across this event while wasting time one evening on You Tube. Thought, man, this is amazing. Gotta do it! I entered the Dark(french red bull!) Dog Moto-Tour In France. It's 3200 km. over 7 days rally. There's navigation, time-keeping and every day has 2 -3 (all out) special stages on a closed road and or a race track. It's 99 % tiny back roads including a few dirt ones too! There's a fair amount of bike preparation. Like chucking out the instruments to make room for a Dakar style route sheet holder and the ICO timer & Trail Tech Vapor. Everything has to be safety wired and catch tanked. ( Like track days) Also, since Metzler is the sponsor that's what you gotta run. The bike is a 2001 Ducati S4 with Ohlins. I put some forged wheels on it that saved my hide the very first day when I had to jump a kerb whilst unable to slow down into a roundabout thanks to rain and diesel! Lighting is a big deal too. There's marathon days that start at 4:30 AM. and a night, time trial up a one lane mountain road. It's true, the darkest hour IS before the dawn! I used a J.W.Speaker (Harley) LED headlamp. That light is great if your going straight but when yer leaned way over it definitely helps to have 2 led fog lights also. I struggled with how to get the bike there. I finally opted to ride to Montreal from New York and put the bike on the same plane as myself. I couldn't take a chance on anything delaying it's timely arrival. The big advantage is that no is crating involved which means there's no hassle with what to do with it once you get there. The return was very problematic. I had wanted to save some $ and ship by sea, but I was unable to find anyone interested in shipping from Le Havre for a reasonable price. Hurricane Sandy meant it was ill advised to ride back from Montreal. I found a very professional shipper (EXACIEL AMC LOGISTIQUE) that crated the bike ($$$) and put it on Air France to New York.
Here's a video from a few (including my own) sources.

I was the first American to do it. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. Who's up to doing it with me next year? The weather could only be better. It is EPIC!

I couldn't figure out how to include pictures so you'll have to click here; Moto Tour

Hi fredgilb, welcome to HU.
Sounds like you have an absolute blast and that all went well for you.
I would like to know where that single lane mountain track was, please do tell.

Could you tell us more about where in France it was held, ( I know I could go and google, but it would be helpful in your post)

Also, the picasa link doesn't work for me, I get a page not found. The link you provide is;
I guess those little dots should not be there, can you check how you copied the link from Picasa and modify.

Regards,
Paul

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Hey, there is a green Kawasaki Versys in there, number 83, looks like he's doing alright too.

That mountain road looks to be somewhere in Rhône Alpes or Ardèche region. Maybe Ardèche as the road surface is pretty poor?

Love those French twisties

Paul

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The event starts in Val-de-Reuil. It's is a commune in the Eure department in Normandy in north-western France. It is located south of Rouen. The night crazyness is on the Mont Faron overlooking Toulon. Every year is a different route but they seem to start and finish in the same two towns and also use the Mont Faron. This was the first time they ran it at night. I asked one veteran if he didn't think it was a little crazy to do at night and he assured me it was much better because you had no idea how far down it was!
Here's a working link to the pictures; Picasa Web Albums - Fred Gilbert - Moto Tour

Isn't he? So fluid and relaxed. It's a 1000.

It's all here in one place

Dark Dog Moto-Tour in France - ADVrider