Teruel exists. And although it is not usually one of the preferred tourist destinations in our country, it has a diversity of landscapes, mountains and roads that are well worth getting to know. In addition, for a few years now there have been several specific routes for motorcycles that have emerged around the MotorLand Aragón circuit and were sponsored by MotoGP rider Álex Rins.
In parallel to this initiative, other nearby regions set out to promote their tourist attractions and that is where “The Silent Route” was born. A winding route along the A-1702 road of 63 kilometres that crosses large natural spaces and has become very popular among those who visit the area.
As it is a linear route, you can start it in the northern or southern part. In my case, I started it from the N-211, at the height of La Venta de la Pintada, just 50 kilometres from Alcañiz and very close to Gargallo. A sign welcomes you to the route and invites you to leave a sticker from your motorcycle club, something that is already very common in many obligatory motorcycle pilgrimage points.
What you notice when you start the tour along The Silent Route is that its name couldn’t be more apt. The low traffic and the tranquility of the area invite you to take the tour calmly, enjoying the landscape. The first obligatory stop is just before reaching the town of Ejulve. There awaits you a huge motorcycle glove representing the universal biker greeting, the biker “V”, where a photo is a must.
Just after passing through this small town, a small climb begins that leads directly to the most photographed point of the entire route, the famous 4-metre sculpture of the “Silencioso”, a male mountain goat. From this viewpoint you can see the so-called “Sky line” of Alto Maestrazgo, a group of mountains and hills.
From here begins the most fun and winding part of the entire route. It begins by descending through the Puerto de Los Degollados, very close to the Guadalope River. A beautiful route that goes into a wooded area with wide curves and good visibility up to the Órganos de Montoro viewpoint, a spectacular rock wall with shapes reminiscent of organ pipes. From there we continue to the detour to Pitarque, which, although not part of the official route, is worth a visit.
And on the way to this small town, we came across a succession of tunnels dug directly into the rock. Although it is true that the road is very narrow and quite broken, it can be accessed without problems with any type of motorcycle. Right in the town hall square I took the opportunity to stop and eat something, and it is where I realized the involvement that the towns have with the very Silent RouteIn the small bar where I was, they had gifts with their logo on them for sale, and they were interested in knowing where you came from and how you had discovered this route.
Once back on the main road, the next point of interest on The Silent Route is Villarluengo, a beautiful village hanging over a ravine. Here the road becomes narrower and more fun, with stunning views on one side and a large stone wall on the other until you reach Cañada de Benatanduz, another village with its houses hanging over the ravine.
The last stop before the end of The Silent Route is just a few kilometres away, and it is a rest area with a striking reproduction of the bus that used to travel along this road and which was called “El Caimán” by the locals, as it was green and had a lizard drawn on the front. And shortly after we find ourselves at the end of this “The Silent Route”, duly indicated by a sign.
The Silent Route: Things to keep in mind
Depending on the time of year you decide to do The Silent Route, you may encounter snow. The proximity of the Valdelinares ski resort and the altitude of the terrain can mean you can enjoy the landscape tinged with white.
You should also always take a safety margin when tackling curves with poor visibility, as during my journey I came across stones that fell off the walls stuck to the asphalt. Otherwise, it is well worth taking this route very slowly and stopping often at the different viewpoints you come across and enjoying the impressive views it offers.
The Silent Route: our chosen bike
To do this The Silent Route, I used the Voge 900 DSX. A bike that is currently on everyone’s lips due to its excellent quality-price ratio. And after several days with it, I understand it perfectly. It is an asphalt-oriented Trail bike, but it does not give up on escapes on dirt tracks thanks to its 21” front wheel, its spoked rims and its Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires.
In my case, I’ve used it 100% on asphalt, combining stretches of highway with roads of all kinds. Despite going with the cases at full capacity, the bike behaves perfectly at all times. On the highway, the protection is more than enough to be comfortable, even in the rain. In addition, being able to use gadgets such as cruise control means you can drive in a fairly relaxed manner.
The behaviour on conventional roads has been perfect. This Voge 900 DSX is very agile in the curves, and having an anti-rebound clutch and quicksifter helps to maintain a lively pace. The 95 HP of power offered by the twin-cylinder engine developed in conjunction with BMW are perfectly dosable to adapt to any circumstance and the bike pushes well even at low revs. The Brembo brakes have good bite, although the feel was a little spongy for my taste.
In short, it is a model fully equipped with driving modes (Rain, Road, Sport and Enduro), proximity radar with warning light in the rear-view mirrors, auxiliary fog lights, heated grips and seat, TFT screen with Bluetooth connection to the mobile phone and navigation assistant… and all this for just over €9,000, to which you have to add €898 if you want the two side cases and the rear top case.
