Introduction

The Nurburgring Nordschleife is possibly the ultimate motorcycling experience. The thrill of piloting your bike through the track's fiendish corners, along its flat-out straights and over its blind crests, is like nothing else.

With twenty years of experience of the 'Ring under my helmet, I thought I'd take some time out to write a guide for people thinking about their first trip to the legendary 13-mile circuit. 

Some Things You Need To Know

OK, let's start with the negative. A strange place to begin our journey perhaps, but I think it's important to draw your attention to an important fact: The Nurburgring is a dangerous place. People have died there and lots leave in an ambulance.

• There are many, many blind corners 
• There are lots of blind crests at the end of flat out straights with challenging corners immediately after them
• The surface is not always as grippy as you might think
• You will be startled by 'Ring experts on fast bikes who will appear from nowhere
• You will be competing for space with people in cars with downforce and track day tyres who know the circuit. Being overtaken by a V12 Ferrari with open exhausts doing 170mph, while you're doing 50 trying to work out which way the circuit goes next, isn't funny
• Cars (and sometimes bikes) can drop oil and coolant on to the circuit. I know someone who spent four months in hospital after losing it on a sump full of oil that had been depositied on the circuit by an exploding Porsche
• It will probaly rain

You may now be thinking "Why would anyone want to go there?" None of the above is meant to put you off - the 'Ring is a wonderful, unique, fascinating and thrilling place. I just want you to go with your eyes wide open, be aware of the dangers, and ride accordingly so you have a great time. Read on...

Getting There

The 'Ring isn't far away from the UK. Once you're on the mainland, it's half a day's ride away from ports like Zeebrugge and Rotterdam. It's a couple of hours further from the Channel ports.

The best way to get to the 'Ring is to find the E40 and head towards Koln/Cologne. Pick up the A61 at Kerpen, and head south towards Koblenz. You'll see signs for the B257 or B267 - these are great bike roads that sweep through the countryside and they're a great preparation for what's to come. They're also a welcome relief after miles of motorway.

On the way back, head East on the B412 or Northeast on the B257 and then follow the signs to Koln/Cologne. Keep an eye out for the E40 and use it to head towards Brussels.  

Where To Stay

There's lots of good value accommodation near the 'Ring but it tends to get booked up quickly. Plan your trip well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Here are some of the places I've stayed and would recommend.

Hotel zur Burg

This is my personal favourite. Situated in the village of Nurburg and a short ride from the circuit. All the rooms are named after famous racing drivers, and there's a cool collection of racing memorabilia (with a car bias) in the dining room. The beer is great and there's a a good value restaurant serving a range of typical german dishes.

Hotel Blaue Ecke

Situated in the quaint town of Adenau, the Blau Ecke is a great venue. The breakfast is excellent and the staff helpful and friendly. It's also close to a wide choice of bars and restaurants.

Hotel an der Nordschleife

Owned and run by 'Ring legend Eddy Mathey, the an der Nordschleife offers traditional hotel rooms in the main building and a choice of apartments next door. Situated next to the Breidscheid Bridge, you're right next to the circuit.

What To Take/Leave At Home

The weather at the 'Ring is notoriously changeable. You may be lucky and enjoy your whole trip in glorious sunshine. More likely, half the time it'll rain. Wear your leathers and take a waterproof oversuit with you.

I like to travel light and for a five day trip to the 'Ring (including two days transit time) I usually take:

• A pair of jeans
• Five T Shirts
• Five pairs of socks and underpants
• A pair of shoes
• Travel wash (for clothes)
• Deodorant, tooth brush and tooth paste
• Phone (with satnav app)
• Phone charger and lead
• Puncture kit
• Travel documents
• A base layer that I wash at the end of each day

I'd also recommend taking some basic tools so you can tighten anything that comes loose, and make basic adjustments. It's also a good idea to take a roll of gaffer tape and some cable ties. You could also take some of our titanium nuts and bolts!

There's no need to take towels or soap/shower gel as these are always provided in your hotel/B&B and on the ferry.

Keeping weight to a minimum will mean your bike still handles properly on the fantastic roads close to the 'Ring. If you fit some of our titanium nuts and bolts, your bike will be even lighter!

What To Expect At The Circuit

When you arrive at the gates, turn left in to the car park and look for the bike parking area. 

You'll need to buy a ticket before you venture out on to the circuit and you can do this at the office near the entry barriers. As of March 2023, the pricing structure is:

• 1 lap, Monday until Thursday, €30
• 1 lap, Friday until Sunday, €35
• Season pass, €3000

If you're going to be there for a full day, I'd suggest buying a nine lap ticket. You'll probably find there are frequent temporary circuit closures due to accidents and breakdowns. Anyone used to racking up the laps on a track day is going to be surprised how many laps you can realistically expect to do at the 'Ring. Add in a rain shower or two, and you'll find the time just gets eaten up. If it's an evening session, go for a four lap ticket.

Once you've bought a ticket and you're ready to go, approach the barriers. Press your ticket up against the reader and the barrier will open. Pull over to the right just after the barrier and stash your ticket and adjust your gloves. Now draw a deep breath because all hell is about to break loose!!!

Circuit Guide

I'm not going to attempt to provide a corner-by-corner guide to the Nordschleife - It'd be pointless unless you were able to stop to read it before each bend. Instead, I've written about some notable parts of the circuit that you should have some knowledge of before venturing out on your own. 

Adenauer Forst 

This is the corner (or combination of corners) that’s most likely to catch you out. It’s a tricky left/right combo that's at the end of a flat-out section at the top of a slight incline. Because of this, it’s impossible to read until you’re right on it. Take it steady on the entry and be prepared to turn hard. 

Not easy but great fun once you get the hang of it.

Bergwerk

A great, slightly uphill right hander that's well surfaced and smooth. Leads on to a left that takes you on to Kesselchen.

Kesselchen 

A fast exit from Bergwerk will set you up nicely for this long straigt(ish) section of track. It's an opportunity to really open your bike up.

Caraciola-Karrussell 

One of the most famous corners at the ‘Ring due to its unusual banked nature. It was named after racing driver Rudolph Caracciola who had the idea of using the banked drainage section on the inside of the corner instead of the flat asphalt around the outside. It’s a bit un-nerving the first time you tip into it but you’ll find your bike will almost steer itself around with very little input from you. 

On the way out, your bike will naturally wheelie over the join between the banking and the “official” track.

Flugplatz

The hill above this section of track used to be used to launch gliders. The literal translation of the name is "Flying Place" which is the feeling you'll get as you ride through it.

Kleines Karusell

In English, the "Little Carousel" - a smaller version of Caraciola's and also with a concrete inner section that you should use. 

When It Rains

If the track is wet, stay off it. There are approximately fifteen different types of surface on the 'Ring with varying amounts of not very much wet grip.  Add some invisible oil and coolant deposits and you have a recipe for falling off.

If you can't go out on the circuit, there are lots of other things to do. For example...

'Ring Museum - This is well worth a look even though it's heavily car biased. There is some truly fantastic machinery on display and some of the exhibits are interactive.

Nurburgring Carrera Slot Car Track - A miniature 'Ring.

The Kartbahn - The Official Nurburgring Kart track runs electric karts that feel genuinely fast. Take your helmet and you won't need to hire one that's already been used by hundreds of other people.

You can also go for a ride on the local roads - you don't have to pay to use them and some are almost as good as the 'Ring itself. A good one to start with is the B258 between Nurburg and Blankenheim - this is a truly incredible stretch of road and as much fun in the wet as the dry. 

There are lots of roads to ride - just have a look at the map and avoid the major routes. Virtually all the roads in the area are mega. Have some fun exploring. 

Learning The Circuit

At the 'Ring, circuit knowledge is (almost) everything. The best way to learn the track is to ride it. Sadly, that's not always possible - so what about some alternatives?

Games Console

This seems like an obvious thing to do and there's certainly some merit in putting in the laps. Modern racing games are almost photo-realistic and using one will help you gain  circuit knowledge.

There are some issues to be aware of though:

• The 'Ring looks pretty much the same all around - just crash barriers and trees. Don't trust your memory of the game too much when you're out on the real thing
• Games can't show the severity of the elevation changes you will experience. These will make some of your braking distances much further than you think because of the momentum you'll be carrying in the downhill sections. 

YouTube

Watching YouTube videos is particularly useful for getting an idea of the correct line (as long as the person in the video knows what they're doing!) and generally familiarising yourself with the circuit. As with the games console though, be careful - the elevation changes don't come across properly on  screen and they can easily catch you out.

 Important Advice

• The 'Ring is classified as a public highway and German traffic law applies - make sure your insurance covers you
• Have a good breakdown insurance policy and make sure it includes the 'Ring 
• Anyone riding a bike abroad should have medical insurance. Take an EHIC card too - they're free and they entitle you to basic medical care in the EU. However, they don't cover you for medical expenses and these can quickly mount up e.g. airlift by helicopter to a hospital in Cologne
• If you cause the circuit to close, you'll be liable for lost revenue. You'll also have to pay for any damage to crash barriers etc
• If your bike has a loud pipe, consider putting the standard one back on. There's a noise limit at the circuit and people do get refused entry.
• Remember to warm your tyres for the first few kilometres
• The 'Ring isn't open every day. Follow this link to make sure it's going to be open when you're there
• Treat the Nurburgring as if it was a trip down your favrourite road with no speed limits and nothing coming the other way until you have learned the circuit. Don't ride like you're on a track day - apart from a few places, there is no run off at the 'Ring
• Build your speed gradually as you get to know where you're going
• Until you're going fast enough to keep up with the general pace of other riders/drivers, stay on the right of the circuit. Doing this will help keep you out of the way of faster people by keeping you off the racing line, thus stopping you becoming a mobile road block
• Keep looking in your mirrors so you get plenty of warning of other faster 'Ring users
• Forget about lap times. Let the thrill come from mastering the track, and the speed will follow naturally. 
• Remember, the point is to have fun and come back safely 

OK, there you have it. A brief guide to the Nurburgring - the most insane place on Earth.

Take care and have a great trip!

Paul, RSR Moto Ltd

Disclaimer: The 'Ring is a dangerous place. You go there at your own risk and I/we will not be responsible if things go wrong.