ADVERTORIAL: Explore Fascinating Transylvania By Motorbike With Twisted Planet Tours

Twisted Planet specialises in Transylvanian motorcycle tours. We provide all inclusive rides with the flexibility to travel at your own pace if you wish.

We are currently running a promotion, where you can save 10% off the standard price if you book and pay before 31st of March. Read the story below on how it all began and visit their website for more information, contact details and booking on the bottom of the page.  

How It All Began....

In summer 2011 had the trip of the lifetime! Two months in Europe with my girlfriend who was awesome enough to come with me to the Mugello Moto GP. (She told me to say this. In reality, she only came because I took her to Lake Como…)

I also took my trusty GSXR 1000, bought brand new in 2005. I'd since put over 65,000 kms on the clock, including an insane amount of track days, and I was slightly worried she wouldn't survive Europe. To make sure, I had her leak down tested (she was toight!), new tires, clutch cable, fresh oil and filters. With the motor and still pumping 158hp on the dyno, she was good to go!

In those two months, I covered another 14,000kms through the South of France, Switzerland, The Italian Dolomites, Tuscany and my birthplace Transylvania. Though I call Australia home, riding through the hills where I grew up was fulfilling a childhood fantasy.

Now, I know Transylvania is popularly known as a place for bats and vampires. But this place, especially for bike riders, is so much better than any story you may have watched or read about. For starters, people, including the police, love motorbikes! The speeds are enforced in towns and villages, as they should be, but outside they are mere guidelines. You can quite easily go through the gears without fear of the firing squad you'd get on The Great Ocean Road or the Spurs.

I tested this out with my childhood friend Josef, who now owns a successful motorbike and accessories shop. He is part of the KUNN Racing Team that hosts regular off-road international races including The Hargita 12hr Enduro, which is famous all over Europe. They also regularly attend the off-road insanities that are known as The Red Bull Romaniacs and the Erzberg rodeo. In short, he knows how to ride. Just as well since the mountain passes are not the place to learn about counter steering. Being a local, he knows his way around the country like the back of his hand. All the best places to shred rubber, to stop for sightseeing and the best places to grab a bite. There really is just no substitute for local knowledge. Josef regularly takes tourists on guided rides: this weekend I had an exclusive tour of the Tranfagarasan, voted as the best driving road by the UK Top Gear Crew. The trip also included a visit to Bran castle, yes, where Vlad the Impaler (aka Dracula) lived.

He had a large choice of bikes and, since we were going to swap and change throughout the trip, he gave me first choice from his fleet. I love big bore machinery, so I chose the latest model Honda CB1000R. The bike is essentially a naked CBR1000R with different cam profiles, to get the power on earlier, and wide upright sitting bars that allow for quick flicking of the bike into corners. The lack of wind protection was an initial concern as over 190kms your helmet wants to come off and your neck muscles go stiff and veiny. I didn't have to worry, this place is too winding to get that kind of speed, which of course meant that other things went stiff and veiny…

We took off from our home town of Szekelyudvarhely (say that quickly 50 times…), just at the foot of the Hargita mountains that link into the Transylvanian alps. The scenery was awesome. The flowing curves of the road and the oak forest reminded me of the hills of Tuscany a few weeks earlier. The sun was shimmering through the trees, so tinted visors were a must. Although it was the middle of summer, the shade of the trees made it cool enough for us to wear full leathers. Just as well that we were protected, as the road was technical with blind and sometimes off camber corners, and no speed advisory board. One bend followed the next, with barely any straights between them. As we got closer to the Transfagarasan pass, the road became steeper and the change in vegetation was dramatic. The oak trees turned into silver pine and not much later the air was too thin for anything but shrubs to survive. We were well over 2000 metres

The Gixer could feel the lack of air as well. She lost quite a bit of her power, which meant corners where I'd normally use 2nd or 3rd, she needed to take one click down. I didn't care though, I WAS on the best riding road in the world…it even had ripple strips. The Top Gear boys were right, it was like "every corner on every racetrack put together"…The intensity could compare to any ride day I have ever done except that the kitty litter was replaced with no barriers and 100+ meter drops. This was no place to overcook the brakes.

On the summit the Balea lake awaited. Its pristine clear water is fed by snow, but at over 2500m above sea level it was too high for any fish to survive in. We were starving, so we had lunch at the lakeside restaurant. The food was awesome, its richly spiced flavors reminded me of my mother's cooking. 

The day could not get any better. But then it did. After lunch we went to check out the Southside of the mountain and we were not disappointed. The bends were equally technical but not as tight, and they allowed winding up the revs. Which is exactly what we did. Descending into thicker air brought the power back into our bikes, which just egged us on to push harder…

Too much fun meant we had to stay on the mountain overnight, which suited me down pat as the places cater for tourists of all budgets. We got a confortable guesthouse / motel where we were once again fed beyond mobility.

The next day, after one more ride up/down the Transfagarasan we took the scenic route back home. It was not a big decision to make. On our way we visited the Bran castle, famed for being the pad of Vlad the impalor. Entering the place takes you back into medieval times, looking through the windows makes you feel you are back there, however could not help thinking how shite must it have been to live in a place like that without a bike…

The weekend wasn't perfect though as I did run out of battery from my helmet cam…there was no record me going up the Transfagarasan...bummer. But then we come up with a novel and simple solution…repeat the following weekend…phew

This trip is too good not to share, so I've teamed up with my tour guide (and soon to be yours), Josef, to organize a series or Transylvania rides this Summer. You will ride some of the twistiest roads in Europe, through spectacular natural scenery, visiting ancient castles and monasteries and staying in deluxe accommodation. Pillions are welcome, which will help you plead your case, and there is a support van for those who don't want to sit on a bike all day (and your luggage).

Dates are available in July and August, and you can find out more at www.twistedplanet.com.au.

This trip is too good not to share, so I've teamed up with my experienced tour guide (and soon to be yours), Josef, to organize a series or Transylvania rides July and August this Summer. You will ride some of the twistiest roads in Europe, through spectacular natural scenery, visiting ancient castles and monasteries and staying in deluxe accommodation. Pillions are welcome, which will help you plead your case, and there is a support van for those who don't want to sit on their bike all day (and for your luggage). The tour includes airport pickup/drop offs, accommodation, most meals and of course bike hire. If you have your own bike it's even cheaper!

Now all you have to do is head over to the at www.twistedplanet.com.au website to find out more, look at your availability on the dates listed and book your place. The riding spots are already being taken and we expect them to be sold out soon!