Comparing two lightweight adventure bikes for maybe riding a bit more in Corsica next year. KTM 390 Adventure and Honda NX500 are both light weight and offer more than enough power for local roads. Either way it’s a step up in comfort from a sportsbike, so maybe less tiring to ride but with a loss of precision and sense of the road surface. So I’m looking for light weight, low rider fatigue and manoeuvrability more than power.

More: Comparing two lightweight adventure bikes - NX500 & KTM390

Just an initial look, mainly to see if my feet would sit easily on the ground, unlike the CRF300 Rally I was riding a couple of years ago. Yes is the answer (see grin!), meaning NX500 is a possibility for a riding project I’m considering for 2025. Thinking of a small adventures bike with light weight and manoeuvrability more important than power. Next step is a test ride.

Aigues Mortes

Great weather so a day out riding the roads of the Camargue, the delta of the Rhône between Marseille and Nîmes. Long straight roads then 90° corners, quite different fun to the mountain cols. Coffee in a traditional bar in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in the Alpilles meeting with Jonathan from one of the biker groups online.
My picnic lunch at a drive-in artisan boulangerie at Aigues Mortes was something rather different: Roquefort quiche then a pain-aux-raisons with pistache and raspberry jam filling.
One of my best days of riding this year, topped off with watching the thrilling MotoGP from Phillip Island, Australia.

More photos: La Camargue

An afternoon’s ride-out to the Col de l’Espigoulier (723 m.) to enjoy the hazy sunshine and air at 27°. By no means the only bike out for a session on this fun road just outside Marseille. Photo-bombed as well as out-run on the road while I was working on lines and apexes. Also, keeping the speed well down and being very careful as this was the afternoon following a dawn flight from Heathrow. The usual battle with the Marseille traffic was worthwhile!

Read more: Col de l'Espigoulier (723 m.)