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
Splashing through puddles round the back of Blencathra and Skiddaw and enjoying that smell of mud on hot exhaust with the cool splash of puddle on boots... Any excuse to pull on the big TCX Comp boots and ride!
These little roads are around Caldbeck Fell. The Ninja Z250SL isn’t meant for them but is lighter than many MX bikes and at least as nippy, but unfortunately there aren’t off-road or adventure tyres available for its wheel size.
I could do more of this...
Lakeside, Windermere
Thirlmere
Exploring Westmorland roads around the west side of Windermere. Conkers, lovely dappled light and autumn colours in the mixed woodlands. Not an early start, just 3.4°C in my garden at 7 am.
Took a break at the mega transport hub of Lakeside: lake steamer and standard gauge steam train of the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway meet road and footpaths through the woods.
Back home on the biker favourite road, the magnificent A6 from Kendal to Penrith over Shap Fell. Lots of midges: Scotland isn’t far away!
Green leathers greatly improve Road Presence on the little Ninja Z250SL.
Read more: Lakeside - Windermere - Lake District National Park
Great Langdale
Red Bank (25%)
Early ride in the morning mist on little roads of the Lake District, some with grass and gravel in the middle. My nippy Ninja Z250SL enjoying the steep hills and tight curves. Awesome views of the fells.Traditional pattern Belstaff leather jacket.
Lunch break stripped off in the sunshine with Samuel in his garden in Seascale, then shopping in a supermarket in Whitehaven, the port on the west coast of Cumbria. A fine sunset rounding off an amazing late-summer’s day out riding.
More photos: Red Bank, Wrynose and Hardknott - Lake District National Park
At the beach at Girvan, view of Ailsa Crag
Clatteringshaws Loch, Galloway Forest
Dumfries - New Galloway - Newton Stewart - Girvan - Stranraer - Corsewall Point
I’ve been riding to past Stranraer over what I would say is the other fantastic route in South Scotland, that’s through the Galloway Forest from Dumfries to Girvan. A route using the agility of the high-revving ZX4-RR with the lightweight Akrapovič exhaust and a minimal overnight bag. Up from Dumfries through livestock farmland, then a long ride through dumpy country with the road undulating and bending completely unpredictably, so no let up in rider concentration.
Ride up Hartside to Alston Moor to get to Carlisle the long way round. And practice the curves up Hartside.
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.
