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
Hardknott Pass (30%, 393 m.). View over Cockley Beck towards Wrynose Pass.
Hardknott Pass (30%, 393 m.)
Mega brill ride round most of the main road passes of the Lake District plus a couple of lakes. These passes are steep (20-30%) and most are single track roads with passing places through open moorland with sheep grazing. So different challenges to the passes in the Alps and the little bike does them well.
This was the route of my tour: starting at Keswick and Derwent Water, then Honister Pass (25%, 356 m.) - Newlands Hause (333 m.) - Whinlatter (318 m.) - Blakeley (Cold Fell) (293 m.) - Hardknott Pass (30%, 393 m.) - Wrynose Pass (25%, 393 m.) - Kirkstone Pass (20%, 454 m.) - Great Mell Fell (343 m.).
More photos: Lakeland road passes: Hardknott - Honister - Kirkstone etc
Back route out of Penrith, Cumbria
Just bought this 2016 Kawa 250 twin for riding out from Keswick. This is the lowest cc bike I’ve owned since 1978 and it’s turned out pretty well. It’s not a green laner, but just one ride out on it has already taken me along a couple of country roads I’d never have explored by car and they’re too far out from Keswick for a comfortable ride on a push bike. Anyhow, you could easily pay more for a new mountain trail bike or e-bike than the price of a 2016 250cc motorcycle.
Lucky enough to book a test ride and on a brilliant morning, I took the bike once round Richmond Park. The CRF300 Rally was fun right out of the dealer’s parking. Firm and sure when filtering in London traffic. A joy to aim straight at Richmond’s many speed ramps and just let the ample suspension and the spoked wheels take the bump. And as it will do that on just road bumps, what will it do on big stuff? So playing a bit in a rocky car park (ABS off) got the dust flying and started to show the CRF300’s potential off the tarmac.
Met with friend Mike for a chat at Brighton Madeira Drive seafront, he turned up on his BMW HP4 of course. Great view from our table: lots of happy thrill-seekers out in the sunshine.
Rowrah circuit is a fairly flat track that is home to Cumbria Kart Racing Club. It’s said to be fairly technical as a kart track and is located in a quarry. Rowrah is in the west of Cumbria, convenient from Egremont and Whitehaven; their diary shows Supermoto events as well as karts.
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.
