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
The Corniche de l’Estérel, “The most beautiful road in France” according to the Touring Club of France, is a 40km coastal route from Fréjus-St Raphaël to the Bay of Cannes around and over the red volcanic rock of the Estérel Massif. Also known as the Corniche d’Or, the road is never straight and level for long. It’s always close to the sea with dazzling views of the turquoise water contrasting with the red volcanic rock. The Corniche d’Or was built for views not speed though of course it’s fun push it a bit where you can.
First service completed, so riding now without revs restrictions and with the benefit of the mechanic’s magic touch tightening up everything and making my new RR a fantastic bike to ride. Time to check out the bike’s full capabilities to the max. Supple in curves, responsive to the throttle and sure in braking. The RR’s slogan is “Born to race” and yes it loves to race although maybe I’ll leave the “Bred to win” part of the slogan to others.
Friday morning roads clear and dry; still early enough in the year for the air to be a little fresh so, after yesterday’s chill, I was more comfortable wearing my winter leathers.
Running-in completed, clock now showing more that 1000 km, it’s become time to show my new RR its first Alpine col; this was the Col du Labouret, 1,240 m., in the Alpes de Haut-Provence between Digne-les-Bains and Barcelonette. These clear blue skies are misleading, an hour out of Marseille I pulled in to a rest area and enjoyed a long conversation about bikes with a road maintenance guy whilst regaining the feeling in my fingers. He runs a 1200 Bandit and enjoys riding faster than 200 km/hr where he can; apparently the belly-pan is the first piece of that bike to scratch when you lean over... and the police don’t take much interest in you if you’re only doing 140 to 150 km/hr: bikers and cops (and biker cops) are very aware that the legal limit on an autoroute is 130 km/hr in fine weather and 90 km/hr on a Route Nationale.
Coffee, croissant, home-made raspberry jam from Brighton (thanks: Terry) and yoghurt in the sunshine on my balcony in Marseille, a promising start to a day’s riding.
The glint of the copper coloured panels on the side of a neighbour’s CBR600FW springs to life in the sunshine of the morning of the Equinox in Barons Court. Not the glint of the Wagner’s Rheinmaidens’ gold in the Rhine but for me a reminder of a powerful allure.
The allure that I first saw one spring dawn on my way to a breakfast television studio in 1998, which led me to buy the exact same model and colour, then leathers to match. Not at all my first bike, that 600cc bike took me to the Swiss Alps, Tuscany and above all to discover Provence and Marseille. In between trips, the orange bike took me faithfully to studios to work on major national television programmes.
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.
