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
Keys at last to my own CRF300 Rally (2022). First ride after the test ride over a year ago was bringing my new bike home from Carlisle. Nippy on the A591 but relatively unstable at speed outside town due to the knobbly tyres and the un-aerodynamic profile so I quickly chose minor roads of the sort I bought this bike to play on.
And it’s great, the long travel suspension and big spoked wheels soaking up the pot-holes, the tyres munching over the gravel and the grass. A little excursion to a quarry up a moorland track gathered the first splats of mud, although I was avoiding the puddles and the cowpats for the time being. Physically demanding to wrangle the bike off road though, but fun fun fun.
CBR600RR ABS (2017)
Early morning ride on Cap Canaille, overlooking the Calanques and the Mediterranean. A couple of slow runs over the Route des Crêtes aiming for precision not speed. And stops to enjoy the calm of the early morning away from the bustle of Marseille not far away.
Single photograph in almost ideal light: low angle, slightly diffuse with a simple composition.
Still too young to be a “Classic”, I see this bike model as the final evolution of one the last of the mid-range production sportsbikes with a paralell four engine. CBR600RR was the base model of the homologated Moto2 grand prix bike for the seasons 2010 to 2018.
Early start out of Marseille
Fuel stop within sight, smell and noise of the refineries
Early start to avoid the heat but it was still 25°C riding out from Marseille just after sunrise, and also moonrise and Venus rise. Avoiding the red light runners and those still high from Saturday night.
Fuel stop at the cheapest station around, it’s within sight of the refineries.
Chin-on-tank riding style opportunities crossing Le Crau, the wide flat area adjacent to the Camargue.
Gear check ride out from Marseille for a tour of Le Mont Sainte-Baume: this time it’s a new back protector, worn with a base layer under the one-piece perforated leathers. A three-can ride because of the afternoon heat, plus a cool-down at a village spring. Not easy in midsummer heat in Provence.
Great to rest up in the relative cool of the pine and oak forest at about 700 m. altitude on Sainte-Baume with half a dozen different species of butterflies and moths fluttering around.
Leathers peeled off pretty wet and fragrant back in Marseille: the afternoon was a lot hotter than the forecasts: I saw 34°C on a pharmacy thermometer in Gémenos.
The Dainese Pro-Speed Back Protector is a snug fit and didn’t chafe or feel hot, except the straps. Possibly it helps with the air back ventilation. No problems with a small rucksac. I’d prefer it was built in to the suit (as they used to be) but there’s more protection with the armour separate.
Lake District Fells seen from Hartside
Life on the open road under the wide skies
Summer leathers so great to feel closer to the bike and the road without all those winter layers.
Goldilocks would have liked that ride: not too hot and not too cold.
Little wind and roads clearish; except for horse-drawn vehicles presumably dispersing from Appleby Fair. Like bikers, these guys also appreciate the romance of the Open Road.
Moorland sheep are particularly effective at vehicle speed control.
Great roads, views and new performance tyres performing well. Happy rider!
And there really is a place named Ruffside.
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.
