Germany to France: Riding the Foggy Vosges | Motorcycle Trip 2025

The journey begins.
Three friends. Two wheels. Six unforgettable days across Germany, France, and Switzerland.

In Part 1 of our cinematic motorcycle travel series, we kick off in the romantic town of Heidelberg, Germany, and ride through intense rain, fog, and rolling landscapes into the mystical Vosges Mountains. En route, we explore the historic charm of Colmar, a postcard-perfect gem in eastern France.

What to expect in this episode (Days 1 & 2):
• Motorcycle touring through Europe’s backroads
• Adventure riding in foggy French mountains
• Breathtaking drone views over the Vosges
• Rain-soaked roads, real conversations, and raw moments
• Travel through Heidelberg, Colmar, Belfort, and beyond
• A visual story of friendship, freedom, and brotherhood on two wheels

Whether you’re into Europe travel vlogs, motorcycle road trips, or just great storytelling with beautiful visuals—this series is for you.

Hit Subscribe to join us on the entire journey:
• Part 2: Swiss lakes, alpine passes, and soul-stirring rides
• Part 3: Germany’s Black Forest and the final leg home

Shot in Summer 2025 | Real riders. Real roads. Real memories.

Follow us for more stories, reels, and behind-the-scenes:
Instagram: [@dermotorradman]

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#motorcycletravel #europeroadtrip #francetravel #germanytravel
#colmar #motorbikeriding #heidelberg
#MotorcycleAdventure #MotoVlogEurope #vosges #rideandexplore

it started with a message a rough plan three 
friends and a mutual itch for the unknown we   didn’t know exactly what we were chasing 
maybe mountains maybe Mormons but we knew   it had to be on two wheels on April 17th we 
left H Highleberg heading west towards the W   three motorcycles six days three countries and 
almost 2,000 kilometers of twists weather silence   and joy we rode through narrow forest roads 
over mountain passes drowning in fog past lakes   so still they felt like the time had stopped and 
through towns where no one spoke our language but   the motorcycle always did the talking we weren’t 
just riding machines we were chasing presence that   rare kind of peace you only feel when your helmet 
wiser fogs up and your mind finally clears this   isn’t a how to or a travel tip list it’s a story 
of camaraderie of grit of getting lost and just   loving it welcome to our film Across Mountains 
and Borders grab your helmet and let’s go for a [Music] ride guys thank you for being a wonderful host 
so this is Mr rishab finally answering to that   question this garage belongs to Mr rishab this 
guy has the coolest bike in the lot the ZX 10R   a very foggy and rainy welcome to 2025 riding 
season this is your host Akshai Lotanker and   off we are to the first ride of 2025 to France 
we start our ride from Rishab House which is   near H Highleberg and we go in the direction of 
France this year surprisingly March and even the   last half of February was quite of forgiving but 
it was highly unpredictable so I could only ride   for a couple of hours and then it used to get 
really cold in the night i don’t mind if this   is the weather if this is how the rains are going 
to be just a light drizzle and the temperature is   also good it’s 10° the problem starts when it 
starts raining heavily or it is extremely windy   suddenly the temperature plummets to four 
five or six and then it’s really cold no   matter which bike you on this is the kind 
of setup what I am having today yesterday   I mounted this bag vertically and I’m also 
having a rucksack with me so I couldn’t sit   properly so I thought this is a better setup 
here comes our second rider Mr abash and his ZH2 finally so guys this is the third rider Mr manil hey 
do side by side you see this is much more a   little bit spread out I think so the geometry 
on this bike is a bit more aggressive a bit   more compressed I think so but obviously down 
there the heart of this machine is a bit more   chunkier a bit more powerful than the elder 
sibling but the DNA is the same it’s the DNA   of a GS really really grateful man last week I 
rode with an M1000RR yesterday I rode with ZX10R   and today I’m getting to ride with two of the 
best bikes in the in their own segment the ZH2   with a supercharger and the GS300 so for the last 
2 hours we have been figuring out how to connect   a Cardo device to a non-Cardo device because Manil 
has a Senna and we me and Abash we both have Cardo   so somehow we figured that thing out and now we 
are all connected it’s almost 12:00 we thought   like our first break would have been at 12:00 but 
that’s not the case now this is our first get to   know ride with Manil so we have to understand our 
riding patterns how he rides how we ride and yeah   to come together in a sync yeah I hope it works 
out and we turn out to be a more than temporary   group which will be riding through Germany which 
will be riding through Europe for 2025 and for   the upcoming years the idea was simple ride into 
France climb the Voj and chase some mountain roads   easy enough except the fog had other plans 
it started with rain not a dramatic storm no   lightning just that relentless cold drizzle the 
kind that sneaks into your gloves and stays with   you three bikes three soaked helmets and about 300 
kilometers of uncertainty ahead the streets were   slick the sky was a heavy gray blanket no signs 
of sun no warmth just the sound of tires slicing   through water and the engines humming through the 
silence so Manil so far how’s the ride amazing   kind of a relaxing ride relaxing because of the 
weather we want to rev our motorcycles but the   weather is not allowing us also we learned today 
that the land uses the country roads on France you   can only ride up to 70 km per hour on the autoban 
it’s 130 and then suddenly you have 50 for like   50 m and then 70 again that’s a bit uh more I 
guess uh 1 one and a half hours we have to reach   our destination and the destination the check-in 
time starts from 5:00 so we got to align ourselves   properly today connect our intercoms properly 
because every 10 seconds Manil’s intercom is   getting disconnected so I had to press a button 
reset it and then Manil is live for 10 seconds   with us right so whatever info he has to give 
it’s 10 seconds and then it gets disconnected   so we cross K’s road and the sky just closes in 
thick clouds like we are riding through someone’s   wet wool sweater visibility gone just follow 
the faint tail light ahead and hope it’s not   a mailbox [Music] then comes the best part called 
the Udor a mountain pass for its views but guess   what we saw absolutely nothing just white air 
wet corners and breaks squealing through the mist   temperatures dropped to 2° and then one it didn’t 
matter anyways the cold was as it is a companion   one we didn’t invite but we had to ride with but 
weirdly I loved it because this this discomfort   this madness it’s why we ride the cold the wet 
the slow crawl through the misty mountain roads   like call the duna it wasn’t just a ride it was a 
fight against the weather against the fog against   your own comfort zone By the time we reach Santi 
devou we were soaked to the bone but smiling day   one didn’t greet us with sunshine it tested us 
and honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way   it’s looking at me how beautiful hello this is 
the Airbnb and the entire top floor is ours so   it is really nice now it’s 7:00 we need to fetch 
something to eat and all today was exciting we   got a new rider with us with a new bike that was 
quite exciting and he’s riding pretty well man   i’m enjoying his company so for the next few days 
this is going to be you know everything no office   no expectations pure motorcycle driving and I care 
a damn man whether it snows it rains it’s sunny   i don’t give a damn those who know me 
they know it’s only important that I am   on these two wheels and these two wheels are 
moving please stay tuned to the channel wait   for the upcoming videos i hope you like 
the content what I’m trying to make give   your suggestions down in the comment box 
like share subscribe [Music] [Applause] a very good morning to day two and here is how it starts a door to our happiness hey don’t 
close us this is all what a rider needs   some hot coffee in the morning 
and to see his rides like this   we were all positive about today that the roads 
are going to be dry by 12:00 1:00 but looking at   the weather it does not seem to be the case 
mr manil good morning good morning how are   you good charged up i’m very happy that the 
bikes are safe that’s what I said that’s what   I said oh this guy was one step ahead you 
see there there he has put a lock as well now that’s obsession that’s a rider’s obsession 
it’s a good obsession and see Z H2 off-roading man   why don’t you put knobbies on your Z H2 Havash 
now that we are already off-roading maybe you   put a 19 in or a 21 in wheel in the front and 
some 50/50 adventure tires and go for the Trans   European oh my god that would be best the how 
how I believe how the Indian vloggers do right   first Hayabu side in Ladak first Hayabu side 
Nepal so Abasan would be first Z H2 first [Music] Indian day two started in Santi Devo with 
something we hadn’t seen the day before   dry roads the rain had finally taken a break 
and the skies gave us a moment of peace for   the first stretch the ride felt light 
easy a calm before the next climb for   the last 15 20 minutes we have been riding 
through such patches under the speed limit   no curves nothing just a lot of zebra crossings 
i hope we desert the city soon and we enter into   the real curves here i’m just waiting that 
thing to happen so finally I can see some curves i kid you not my face is freezing 
i have opened my helmet and I’m riding   and it’s 3° i just cannot close my 
visor it’s all gone it’s all [ __ ] up come [Music] on my head has started paining how 
long this has been 2 3 kilometers and look at my   condition it is so damn cold it is so damn cold 
wow this is fascinating guys but this is so damn   dangerous my hands are frozen i just cannot feel 
my hands the grip heating is on and even then I’m   not able to feel my hands so I pity Abash who does 
not have anything like this on his bike i wonder   how he’s going to do it guys this is no joke this 
is not at all for an amateur rider in fact even   we did not expect that it’ll be this challenging 
although it’s exciting but yeah we have to tell   the truth right so it is extremely challenging 
i am a bit nervous at this moment to be honest   like 5 minutes ago I was complaining that I am in 
cities I am in traffic and what has to be done why   the curves aren’t coming and here they are 10 15 
minutes of those curves and that kind of weather   will just shake you apart will make you so humble 
when you ride such a machine in these conditions   and you overestimate it will just ground you 
what a thrilling experience we rode through the   sleepy towns soft curves flat countryside there 
was a sense of relief like the worst was behind   us breakfast was quick the spirits high then 
came a detour that none of us had planned but   we were glad we took manil had suggested Kolmar 
and Kolmar was magic it felt like riding into a   living postcard colorful timber framed houses 
canal side cafes Easter decorations everywhere   the town was buzzing with spring energy and the 
smell of baked goods drifted through the lanes   she offered us one and it was so damn delicious 
that everybody just wanted to have more so that’s   the confidence in your product what you should 
have man forgot to mention the name of that shop   so guys just take a screenshot of this but you 
got to come here if you come to Kalmar yes [Music] sir poor people only this guy is loaded 
you see this this guy I’m I’m trying to   look as touristy as I can but it’s not working 
although it’s good architecture good vibe good   places around me but still I’m thinking about 
the bike which is parked inside the garage and   when we would be resuming the ride again we 
spend an hour or two wandering like tourists   with helmets in our hands and childlike 
grins on our faces it was one of those   moments where the ride paused and life showed 
up but as always the road had more in store   after leaving Kmar the terrain shifted again 
the cities faded and the mountains returned [Music] [Applause] [Music]   it’s 2° and I was busy flying the drone and my 
hands are numb now the fingers are gone it’s   burning moment you take a break the rhythm breaks 
uncomfortable for me to ride in this weather   i have to acquaint myself again to 
the weather to the road the actual   riding starts after maybe 5 to 10 minutes you 
know after I’m used to the frame the road is   so bad that I have to saddle it out else 
my lower back would just take the damage to the trekers the hikers the cyclists 
in this weather it’s no logic it’s no   practicality just pure passion and 
love for doing what they are doing   you know greatness passion love sacrifice 
it needs that craziness no normal person   can do this thing because normal person 
has the ability to spoil everything by   checking whether there’s a logic in this 
whether this thing is practical or not you feel that the hilltops would 
be narrowed you know here you see   the mountain tops are huge they 
are flat it’s a big station on   the top you have everything you have 
restaurants you have the ski lifts [Music] The temperatures dropped fog rolled in 
like a curtain and the visibility sank we were back in the thick of it twisting through 
cold narrow passes where every turn demanded attention but something had changed 
in us what had felt overwhelming   the day before now felt familiar we 
handled the motorcycle better [Music] heat up here [Music] short update uh still 1 and 1/2 hours of ride 
left now it’s 5:00 we’ll be reaching by 6:30 or   something and the second half of the day it has 
been a darling darling darling day the curves   the roads especially in this weather i have not 
ridden the GS in such a manner and this is not any   special effect or anything this is you see the 
weather you see what I’m talking about look at   this this is the road visibility is I believe for 
150 200 m dangerous and thrilling at the same time   it’s I cannot put it in words but this is playing 
with your mentality adjusting your vision figuring   out the road and at the same time the temperature 
is 2° right now when I’m talking to you the   temperature is 2° and yeah at one point of time my 
hands were numb even now they’re numb but I don’t   give a damn now so yeah this is how today has been 
this was clear just couple of minutes ago when I   arrived here this was pretty clear what about 
your experience how’s the ride so far beautiful   enjoying simply beautiful no complaints perfect 
for the uh road today right and Abash to he’s the   pro rider of the group with a pro bike with a pro 
setup show your setup this is a setup now there is   no logic there is no practicality right here but 
it’s just pure passion when one person decides to   ride on such bike with such a big bag hats off 
to this guy who does it again and again playing   games the weather is playing games with us and 
I don’t know what to say i’m excited i’m nervous   i’m thrilled i am happy i feel like I’m about to 
cry at this moment we have been riding for so long   right did we ever get such kind of a weather and 
dry tarmac that’s the most surprising thing what   I have that is true that’s so surprising april 
always [ __ ] our rides you know it’s weather is   but now I’m there’s so much of moisture in the air 
right now and still the tarmac is dry the tarmac   is dry it’s getting the grip that we want perfect 
perfect and you see this forget us see this people this time we got to be careful now because the   weather is really dangerous 
because there’s extremely low visibility there will be patches i 
know this because I stay in such a   region that there will be patches where 
the road visibility just goes out like   this one so I’m quite of anticipating these things day two gave us contrast sun and fog city and 
summits celebration and solitude but most of   all it reminded us that no two days on the road 
are ever the same and that was the beauty of it [Music] i don’t know if this is not the therapy what 
everyone needs in his life then what could heal   that person i just don’t know you see this here 
it’s 11° now imagine where we were it was 2° and   now it is 11° what the body has to go through to 
get adjusted to such temperature differences today   altogether was a surreal experience this this even 
if we plan this will not happen the final stretch   into Belffort was smoother partly because of 
the roads were kinder and partly because we were   tougher now we checked into our apartment parked 
the bikes and let the fatigue settle in yesterday   I forgot to give you a room tour so I thought I’ll 
do this first this is our stay for the night this   is one bedroom this is obviously it should be the 
washroom man yeah and I don’t know what this is   ah there’s one more bed oh it’s really flimsy yeah   there’s one more bed here so 
perfect perfect for the night