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“Transfagarasan” highway in Romania “Transfagarasan” highway in Romania
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  #1  
Old 9 Sep 2017
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“Transfagarasan” highway in Romania
Rode this in Sept & was most disappointed, as was every Biker I met. I would recommend you try another ride because the road condition is so bad its almost dangerous. Doing about 50 / 60 kph most of the time, wincing on every bump.
Except for the beginning the scenery is just riding thru a forest & the bends are inconsistent, many of them tightening on the exit & impossible to miss the bumps.
If you must do it, take a big trail bike with a meter of suspension movement.
The best place without a doubt was Serbia, great £1 a pint, stunning women & the way they take care of kids is noticeable. Great ambiance in a warm town square at night & they seem most content. Bike was faultless. Anyway it’s a tick on the Bucket List.
Gutt Fahrt
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  #2  
Old 9 Sep 2017
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Shame to hear that

How did you find riding in the rest of Romania? How was Romania in general, culturally? I'm planning a trip that way next year, and considered spending more time in Croatia instead.
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  #3  
Old 9 Sep 2017
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Transfagarasan is best north to south. After that, do transalpina south to north.

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  #4  
Old 10 Sep 2017
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Romania
Hey Guys

Well we rode it north to south & its sure doesn't fit my idea of a Biking road ~ or any of the many we talked to.. in fact it was far & away the worst part of the whole trip. Far better roads in the Alps, Pyrenees & Black forest etc..

Romania itself is just fine, roads are good & M'ways need a vignette so have about 10% of UK traffic ~ just watch your fuel as stations are a bit sparse. 4 star hotel in Arad with chandeliers in Reception & a massive great breakfast €40 ~ that's forty. English is fairly common & the people are just grand ~ a big smile works everywhere ~ no problems whatsoever. Forget all that UK media propaganda nonsense about 3rd world country & the orphans ~ the truth of that episode is far different.
I will go again, but carry on to the Black Sea.
Personally we would recommend Romania & Serbia ~ even the policeman was helpful !! We found the Croats a bit frosty.

Cheerz
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  #5  
Old 10 Sep 2017
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Looks like you didn't ride the correct road dude Forest, what forest? it's very little of forest there.

I rode it last year and it was stunning. Roads condition are very good except some small parts as in any country. Anyway I liked much better Transalpina though, even better scenery. In general I was surprised how good roads were in Romania.
Last edited by tremens; 10 Sep 2017 at 16:17.
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  #6  
Old 10 Sep 2017
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Romania
The trip was 3,500 miles ‘thru France Belgium Germany Austria Hungary Romania & Return via Bulgaria Serbia Croatia Slovenia & back to Austria Germany Belg & France.
In some Countries you need a vignette on the Autostrada , €5 for 5 days in Austria & Hungary, Romania is free for bikes ~ but remember to stick it where the Péage scanner can see it.

Tremans.. Well mate considering my pillion was a Romanian & we rode with a Romanian guy & my dash cam clearly shows miles of forest, not to mention numerous digital photos ~ we stayed in the ‘Balea Cascada’ Hotel, in a forest (more photos) & dozens of other Bikers all thought the same ~ then I have a reasonable feeling it was the correct /rubbish road.
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Old 11 Sep 2017
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I rode the Transfargasan south to north last year and didn't find the road surface particularly rubbish - maybe it has deteriorated over the last 12 months??

Also crossed the alps from Spain to Slovenia and would rate the Transfargasan as good as many of the rides in the alps - I rode it mid week and there was very little traffic which can't be said for many of the roads in the alps

I guess everybody has a view on what constitutes a good bike road
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Old 12 Sep 2017
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Hey Gents
Well we sure have a lively exchange o views here & of course ‘Rob Roamin’ is spot on ~ one Mans meat etc.
I know I didn’t have the ideal Bike for that road ~ FJR 1300, 2 up & fully loaded, about 475+ kg. We also rode mid-week, so traffic was not an issue, but crawling round bumpy, variable radius hairpins (on any Bike) is really not my personal idea of fun Biking. At one stage I was cringing with embarrassment at how slow we were going & expecting any moment to be passed by the hordes of Bikes on the road ~ not one single Bike passed us.
Conversely, ‘thru Serbia & Croatia we found some cracking roads, superb surface, constant radius, positive camber, 80+mph , sporting lean angle ~ real ‘Smile a Mile’ stuff.

Gutt Fahrt
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Old 13 Sep 2017
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Originally Posted by andyb74 View Post
Hey Gents
Well we sure have a lively exchange o views here & of course ‘Rob Roamin’ is spot on ~ one Mans meat etc.
I know I didn’t have the ideal Bike for that road ~ FJR 1300, 2 up & fully loaded, about 475+ kg.
You put your finger on the differences of opinion expressed earlier in this thread.
You haven't been "solo main stream adventure riding" off road (whatever the latter is and however it may be defined), utilising some sort of "lightweight" 20 year old machine fitted with a big front wheel, "offroad" tyres and with inner tubes and real wire spokes- you have been touring on a motorbike.
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Old 13 Sep 2017
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Hey Gents / Walkabout

Well each unto his own as always. But for sure, whatever you ride ~ allowing for budget etc etc Then I have all the time & respect in the world for anyone who gets out there & just does it. Hopefully having a ball and enriching their lives. Whether it be on Bikes, Sailing (my other Love), potholing or whatever.
My FJR is 15 years old & goes like a Swiss watch, bit of a pig at <5mph but simply excellent at 200kph & almost unaffected by side winds. Our trip of 3,500 miles (5,600 km) took ten days, 350 miles a day & a max of 550 miles, +34° to freezing pouring rain ~ whoopee for heated grips. But in comparison to many on this site it was kiddies stuff. Anyway, we Enjoyed it ~ even that rubbish road. Met some smashing People & a few eejits, c’est la Vie ~

Gutt Fahrt
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  #11  
Old 13 Sep 2017
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Originally Posted by andyb74 View Post
Hey Guys

Well we rode it north to south & its sure doesn't fit my idea of a Biking road ~ or any of the many we talked to.. in fact it was far & away the worst part of the whole trip. Far better roads in the Alps, Pyrenees & Black forest etc..
Your last post about your FJR sounds ever so slightly apologetic in tone: for me, it is a fine bike.

Regarding this rubbish road, how does it compare with, say, the Pass of the Cattle up your way or, say, the Route des Cretes in France?
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Old 14 Sep 2017
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Hey Mo Ami, are you sure you read the same wurdz ? if this is apologetic my Dongle is a didgeridoo..
"" My FJR is 15 years old & goes like a Swiss watch, bit of a pig at <5mph but simply excellent at 200kph & almost unaffected by side winds ""

No idea about your Rides MonAmi, but compared to Route Napoleon from Grasse to Castellane (par Hayabusa) , Transfagarasan highway really is rubbish.

Gutt Fahrt
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  #13  
Old 22 Sep 2017
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Motorbikes do not need any vignette in Romania.Period.

Transfagarasan is an amazing road, except if you are riding a supersport bike, or expect roads to be super smooth. These are alpine roads - not a race track.

Go and explore the smaller roads, it is fantastic.
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Old 22 Sep 2017
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Originally Posted by truecolors View Post
These are alpine roads - not a race track.
So is the Grossglockner route which has one of the best of surfaces at pretty high altitudes. The Route des Cretes that I mentioned about a week ago also has very good surfacing - Austria and France maintain their high altitude roads to a very high standard despite the inclement weather and general conditions.
Either of them would be great as a road race venue a la the Isle of Man route; perhaps not so for the Transfagarasan road?
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Old 24 Sep 2017
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We rode the trans about three years ago now can't say I was that impressed either , the transalpina was a lot better...loved the country though currently in a very very wet Slovenia have found some cracking empty roads here shame I'm in a rental clio still will b back early June on the mutley BTW thought it was bad with drivers in the UK on mobiles here its a blxxdy epidemic
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