Hi fellow off-road riders,
I too enjoy riding off the beaten track, but it seems that here in CH it’s very limited. I have taken part in the Italian Hardalpitour a few times, so I’m not an enduro rider, but a novice like ADV rider who likes to explore.
I recently moved to Aargau after 20 plus years in Zurich, here I was pleasantly surprised to find a few off-road trails (wide enough for a car) to ride down. These are generally gravel tracks going between farmers’ fields. This I never saw in ZH. There was always a no motorised vehicle sign everywhere. I obviously don’t take these trails here in AG.
I’m hoping that I find myself on the correct side of the law when I ride these trails at speeds of up to 60 km/h, 2 or 3 gear stuff on my GS.
I was wondering what experiences you have had with the off-road topic here in CH? I hear the Jura some “legal” trails too, but the whole topic seems to be surrounded with a great deal of ambiguity.
I’m so keen, I’m due to take delivery of the new Tenere 700 at the end of the month.
So let me know your tips & tricks and maybe we head for a ride.
Cheers
Mark
First, unpaved roads through the forest are in general closed for motor vehicles, even if there is no sign. Art. 15 WaG
https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classifi...index.html#a15 With this knowledge a lot of seemingly "legal" roads in the Jura are actually not legal. On top of that, what is considered legally as forest might not be that obvious in the Jura as the definition includes: grazing forests, wooded pastures (Wytweiden), and chestnut and walnut groves;
Here a Wytweide: https://www.j3l.ch/de/P33293/wytweiden-von-montbautier
Note: Similar rules but slightly different and differing rules (Forrest law is set by each Bundesland) in neighboring Germany.
There are some exemptions when you can still use an unpaved road through the forest outside of emergencies and forest services usages:
- You have a special permit from the commune (very restrictive, sometimes also available to other unpaved roads closed to the general public).
- There is a white standard destination sign pointing to a certain place and there is no sign which forbids the use of the road.
- The sign which forbids motor traffic allows specific usages (Learn German French/Italian).
Now to your question about farm tracks. Those are, as far as I know, legal to drive on if there is no sign which would forbid it. Please be special courteous to all the other user of these roads, specially horse back riders (switch of the motorcycle and take a break so they can pass). Do not drive when or where you can expect a lot of pedestrians. Better drive a bit slower. Visit local restaurants/huts along the tracks, buy cheese and other local products. Do not drive on the same track day after day.
Very unlikely, given your description.
However you may be interested in what's called "Motocross" (alternative spelling "Moto Cross").
Basically a farmer defines a dirt track on his land (usually non-flat to make it interesting) and lets people have a ride for a not particularly small fee. Think of low triple-digit costs per day, of course subject to details and options chosen.
The following are three options more or less near you may want to check out. I know neither, but that said the last one looks the most promising.
Motocross Wohlen
Enduro Fun Park in Villmergen
Motocross Fricktal
What part of “stay at home” are you not understanding?