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
Riding a sportsbike is an athletic activity where specific training helps performance and enjoyment on the bike. So here is a postcard of exercises for bikers as an addition to general gym plans. Plus, a training aim is helpful to maintain motivation. You can also do these exercises in a gym.
- Lifting the bike shouldn’t be necessary but it does help if you have some idea on how to do it, just in case. Have a spotter - don’t try this alone! Might be safer in a gym as a dead lift.
- Side leg raise (including the weight of the boot) helps with getting the leg over the bike, especially towards the end of a ride day.
- Quad stretches help with cornering.
- Wall push-ups develop the shoulders and lower arms, for controlling the bike under acceleration and braking.
As with any exercise, stop immediately if you notice sharp pain. A warm-up is recommended.
Photoset that started as a bit of a laff when I noticed a derelict industrial site that looked promising as a photo location.
Ride out from Keswick to blow the winter dust off my Ninja Z250SL. I checked out the curvaceous Ullswater lakeside road and the old A6 primary road to Shap summit, both great biking roads. My first sporty ride for a few weeks and my leg muscles (quads) a bit sore afterwards so the green mist must have got me.
Sunlight on the snow on Blencathra (868 m.)
Dowthwaitehead and snow on Hart Side (756 m.)
Winter’s back in the Lake District. A couple of stormy nights. Trees down, rivers full and the tops of the fells are white. The afternoon’s bikeable on my Ninja Z250SL superlightweight but an off-road bike would be better. Heated gloves good. Tyres cold and hard. Lots of water run-off but it’s not frozen. Concentration essential. Dramatic clouds. Epic sights through the visor so worth plenty of halts to appreciate the views.
Home, gear off. Toasted hot cross buns from the Keswick baker with a mug of tea. That’s got to be a good afternoon.
Blencathra (868 m.)
Hartside
Ride out from Keswick to enjoy the spring sunshine on my Ninja Z250SL in the North Pennines. The road from Melmerby (79 m.) up to Hartside Summit (575 m.) is one of the best biker challenges in England, both up and down. Worth running a few times, just for the sport.
CBR600RR 2026
The man with the tattoos handed me the key to the devil bike. He knew I would play. From the first corner, a roundabout on a slope out of the bike boutique, I was hooked. The little black devil of a bike hooked up with the devil in me. We knew the roads, they were dry and clear and we let it rip.
Read more: An afternoon with a little black devil of a bike - CBR600RR 2026 test ride
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.
