Motorbiking
"Biker" for me usually means motorbiking, though I also have a couple of mountain-bikes... see Trail Bike
My current motorbikes are a Honda CBR600RR ABS 2017 and a Kawasaki Ninja Z250SL.
Previously I have owned: Kawasaki ZX4-RR (Ninja anniversary edition), Honda CRF300 Rally, Honda CBR600RR 2005, Honda CBR600FW, Honda VF750F, Yamaha FJ600, Suzuki GSX750EX, Yamaha FJ750, Yamaha XJ900, Kawasaki Z750 and I passed my riding test on my Kawasaki KH250.
See also my Motorbiking web links
Hartside - Hadrian’s Wall - Carter Bar - Cheviot Hills - Kielder Forest
Raid ride from the Lake District to Northumberland then the Scottish Borders, a sort of Reivers raid in reverse. Up the twisty road to Hartside Summit (575 m.) with photos taken for me by an electric company linesman up a pole while he was waiting for other work to complete. He rides a KTM 990. Fantastic views of my Ninja Z250SL and the Eden Valley beyond.
On to Alston, coffee stop at Haltwhistle; next Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish Border at Carter Bar (418 m.). Refuelling at Jedburgh then the ride down through Kielder Forest and calling in at the grim fortress of Hermitage Castle before a tea-time stop for a luscious chocolate cake at Newcastleton, still in Scotland.
Dawn as I gear up to ride north from Marseille
The great pleasure of riding to the Alps of Upper Provence for a few days on my CBR600RR and meeting with my riding mate from Annecy, riding his GSX750. We rode together many of the Alpine cols around and up to the great Col du Galibier (2642 m.) between Savoie and Provence.
Col du Galibier (2642 m.)
Filling up at Le Bourg-d’Oisans (724 m.)
Cols du Glandon, Télégraphe, Galiber, Sarenne - Étape 20, Le Tour de France 2026
Riding the route of Day 20 of the Tour de France on my CBR600RR sportsbike. Interesting riding moderately as a sports motorbiker and reading the road as a cyclist. Gives a whole new aspect to these cols I know pretty well. The direct route from Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez is 13.7 km. and 1714 m. altitude gain, it’s the famous 21 Hairpins route. Day 20 of Le Tour this year used a route of 170.9 km with height gain/loss of 5450 m. taking in a number of notable climbs, including the mysthic Galibier.
More photos: Fighting the granite - Day 20, Tour de France 2026
Setting out from Keswick
Midsummer day ride out from Keswick on my Ninja Z250SL to the thrilling roads of the North Pennines. Sharpening up my biker reactions on the curves up to Hartside Summit (575 m.). Several times round for pictures by roadside photographers using my camera. Then the loop on the high fells from Alston to Middleton-in-Teesdale, a long and sweeping route renowned with bikers. A great view down Teesdale at the summit, 532 m. altitude
Silent and dry, we found the Canada Heights motocross circuit on our hike in the Darent Valley in Kent. It’s a fearsome MX track and Trials obstacles course, I have some idea what they would be like to ride on a mountain bike but taking on this stuff riding a full-power MX bike is a major step up. Wow! and respect for the riders.
Seeing the track silent, without the thunder of single cylinder engines, the bustle of the riders and crowd, was like an archaeological field trip. Many of the other woods around here are gently obscuring camps from WW1 and WW2; the woods where the track is now housed Canadian troops in WW1, hence the name. Canada Heights MX track is owned and run by Sidcup and District Motorcycle Club.
Subcategories
Alps Biker 2016
I'm riding light for a week on the mountain roads of the Alps. No laptop, although I do have my SLR camera but photos will have to wait till I'm back in Marseille..
I left Marseille for a long ride north via the Col de la Croix Haute (1179 m.) to Saint-Gervais under Mont Blanc. A bit of rain towards the end of the day which cleaned the Provence dust off my white leathers and boots but didn't soak me through.
