Scotland west coast, 5 days, 1098 S

[notarian]

First attempt at a post with pics - fingers crossed this works.

After waiting 4 months for winter and college studies to end I finally collected the 1098 S from Ducati Glasgow on Thursday and although it is essentially a track bike, one can’t just ride it home to Aberdeen = a 5 day ride out north of Glasgow and Scotland’s west coast then cross country and home.

1pm, Ducati Glasgow and the good staff want to line me out on the bike and this normally takes a couple of hours = after 45 minutes, enough already, just give me the keys, I’ll sort it out no bother and read the owners manual tonight in bed.

Kreig 10 litre tail pack containing 4 socks, 4 tee-shirts, 1 pr trousers, airline size toilet bag, Avon ‘skin so soft’ midgie repellent, small tube of concentrated clothes wash. Bum pack containing cell phone, camera, cash, wallet. That’s me, sorted for 5 days (actually longer if need be) and off.

Route is Glasgow to Invergarry where a pal on a Yam FJR will meet me tomorrow morning. Then further north to Ray and Gilli’s cottage at Gruinard Bay. Forecast for today and tomorrow is partly cloudy, some rain sprinkles, Saturday, Sunday and Monday is for 70 degrees and clear blue skies.

45 torturous minutes getting out of the city heading north on the A81 towards Aberfoyle, Duke’s Pass, the Trousachs and the North.


Duke’s Pass is one of the best mini roads in Scotland, especially from Aberfoyle to Brig o Turk – and onto Callander and gives one their first taste of what’s to come in the Highlands.



North on the A82 and Rannoch Moor, uninhabitable, remote, desolate and the entrance to Glen Coe






Possibly my favourite road in Scotland – 20 mile Kinlochleven loop taken north to south is better suited to the Multistrada or the 640 KTM Duke II. At least one can get out of second gear. Where the Duke II falls into corners and the Multi carves them effortlessly, the 1098 is unforgiving and demands more precise impute. There’s a lot to this bike I don’t understand yet.

Loch Leven


Quick blast up from Loch Leven to Invergarry and the Invergarry Hotel. 6pm, tired, sore and in need of a Laugavulin and a Guinness. Sorry, no pics but a fine hotel at reasonable prices, good food and the staff was most accommodating in locking the bike in one of the sheds for the night.

First day impressions – I’m still not connected with this bike. First long ride of the season and the 1098 is a torture machine – my hands, wrists, neck, back and hips hurt. 900mg of aspirin, 3 whisky’s and a stout – ah…much better.

Morning text message from my pal – front fork seals repaired, but picked up a nail in the rear tyre on the way home and will have to pass on the ride. Hmm…change of route and back south towards Ft. William and the 15 minute Corran ferry to Ardnamurchan peninsula.

Corran ferry and the riding gods have cleared the skies.


Ardnamurchan is off the beaten track, but has fine, smooth tarmac single tracks. No tour busses here, Pal.

Isle of Mull in the distance



Coves and beaches dot the coastline – rugged and empty



Tranquillity





The Viaduct


4 hours of Ardnamurchan serenity cut by the sound of Termi’s and its time to pick up the pace for Gruinard Bay which is a few hours distant.

Up the A82 again to Ft Augustus and Loch Ness. Then onto one of the most magnificent roads in Scotland to Kyle Lochalsh.

Canal lock at Ft. Augustus





Dead centre at the southern tip of Loch Ness, looking up the Great Glen



Castle Eileen Donan and the rain clouds close in


Another spur of the moment plan – I’m on the doorstep to Skye and some of the best biking on the planet and stunning scenery. Gruinard will have to wait until tomorrow.



Skye / Cullin Moors



Old Man Storr



The Black Cullins


Morning Skye ride finished and time to head over the A890 from Kyle to Lochcarron with a stop for lunch at Viv’s Kishorn Seafood Bar. Press on to Shieldaig, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Loch Maree and Gruinard Bay.

Loch Maree



Gruinard Bay



Ray and Gilli’s Cottage is a beautiful sight after 7 hours on the torture rack. The body is beginning to get in shape – only 600mg of aspirin and mostly a sore neck and I’m coming to terms with the 1098 characteristics. Mostly when I’m still fresh for the first 4 hours and not yet knacked.

9am, beautiful clear sunny skies, warm and off to the far North and some of Scotland’s finest. Also time to show off the 1098 lines with some scenic snaps as a backdrop.

Little Loch Broom



Suilven



Inverkirkaig



Lochinver Pie Shop – always a treat with the finest lemon tart and pick up some pies for dinner (Wild boar with apricot, haggis neeps and tatties, rhubarb/strawberry, berry/apple).



Scotland single track – B869 north of Lochinver



B869 north of Drumbeg



Tarbec to Fangmore



Loch Stack



A very full day and time to take the fast way back to Ray and Gilli’s.

Evening sun at Loch Broom



Last day before heading home and an opportunity to ride some roads I haven’t been on before and take in the views riding south.


Second coast south of Aulbea



Badachro Bay



The Road – uh, what’s the speed limit again?



Glen at the foot of Loch Broom


The bad news is I’m riding home today. The good news is that I’ll be back in a fortnight for a 4 day ride with the Aberdeen daughter – two up on the Multistrada. Followed by an 8 day tour of Scotland in a month with California daughter and partner on the 3 bikes.

There’s more to learn with the 1098, but we are compatible now. It rewards one by demanding impute, smooth aggressive riding and moving around on the bike anything less is cruel and brutal. At the end of day 5 and 7.5 hours in the saddle, there was only a slightly sore neck and doses of aspirin a thing of the past. I was no longer looking like Quasimodo in need of a Jacuzzi.

Home, safe and clean - a tired Duc asleep at the end of the dining table


I never tire of riding Scotland at any time of the year barring winter. When the sun is shining there are few places as fine as Scotland. The roads are twisty and good, the scenery is powerful and magnificent. One gets a breathtaking scenic change every 45 minutes. Hospitality is everywhere and Ray and Gilli are the finest hosts in a gorgeous location.

[Tyrroneous]

Fantastic views of bike and scenery.  

[atypical1]

Outstanding report!!! Wonderful pics of such a beautiful area. I really, really need to ride up there.

Glad you finally became one with your bike. It takes a while with Ducs in general to really become one with them. Like you mentioned, they really reward good inputs and solid riding skills.

Keep up the posts.

james

[Dr Gil]

Wow, that was a trip!  I'm so jealous.  

The color in your pictures is simply stunning.  Nicely done!  

[atadaskew]

Excellent!  If you have not done so already, setting up the suspension/ride height for your weight will transform the feel of the bike.
Lovely photos.

[FJR-UK]

Beautiful views. Beautiful bike. Brings back fond memories. Cheers!  

[nevinfs327]

Great pics and report.  Particularly enjoyed the insights on the bike as well.  Hopefully will deter me from wanting one...nah.

Looks like you had really fantastic weather, too.  I'd love to ride Scotland.  

[bobo]

you know, i lived in bonnie scotland for 46 years and never saw any of the beautiful places. when i rode, it was just to go back and forward to work. makes me so mad now...b.b.

[FutRider]

Incredible!  That's all I can say.

[notarian]

Wow, that was a trip!  I'm so jealous.  

The color in your pictures is simply stunning.  Nicely done!  

Thanks Doc,

It isn't me and my camera, its just Scotland. When the sun is shining, it is stunning. But, as you have been to the UK, you may already know this.

Excellent!  If you have not done so already, setting up the suspension/ride height for your weight will transform the feel of the bike.
Lovely photos.

Atadaskew, that's the next step - sorting the suspension. But it will be for the track which will probably mean raising the rear height a bit and even worse on the wrist and arms for any travels and stiffening the forks. But, you are absolutely correct, it must be done to get the best from the bike.

BTW, the slipper clutch is a delight on the road as well as just about necessary on the track. I know there has been some argument over this, but I'm now on the positive side of having one for the road.

Cheers,

Note

[XbbX]

Note, I will be in Aberdeen the whole month of August on business(big blue). I'll keep an eye out for you-you'll be easy to spot on that bike. Might flag you down for a whiskey.

great pics by the way..


also, any motorcycle rentals in Aberdeen?

Cheers,

Wade

[maropa9]

I have to come back to Scotland to see a green scenery.

[Baron Samedi]

That pic of Loch Ness should be on the cover of a magazine. Nice report.  

[notarian]

Note, I will be in Aberdeen the whole month of August on business(big blue). I'll keep an eye out for you-you'll be easy to spot on that bike. Might flag you down for a whiskey.

great pics by the way..


also, any motorcycle rentals in Aberdeen?

Cheers,

Wade

Wade,

I may not be home during August - summer dive superintendent work calls at that time. Since I'm back in college full time during the rest of the year, July and August are what pay the yearly bills and college fees.

Try McGowan's Honda / Yamaha in Aberdeen for a bike rental. I phoned them recently about renting bikes for my daughter and son in law when I was having trouble finding an insurance company willing to insure non-Europeans for an 8 day ride on my bikes. Got that sorted, I'm pleased to say.

Anyway, McGowan's were compatible with other Scottish companies on rates for rentals and less than some. They are a fairly respected dealer here.

Good luck,

Note

[Ant]

Damn you! It was sunny and hot when I went around that same route but it was hazy Crap colour in the photos I took, the important thing is that I saw it and remember it (and am planning on going back up there!)

[Baron Samedi]

Damn you! It was sunny and hot when I went around that same route but it was hazy Crap colour in the photos I took, the important thing is that I saw it and remember it (and am planning on going back up there!)

Will anyone sponsor me to do the same ride on a Velo Solex?

[XbbX]

Thanks Note....good info.

[Ant]

Will anyone sponsor me to do the same ride on a Velo Solex?

I'll give you a tenner if you can get over Bealach Na Bo  

[Baron Samedi]

I'll give you a tenner if you can get over Bealach Na Bo  

Oh, come on, the moped costs £900 new. A tenner won't even fill the huge tank...

[DaveG]

i'm headed there this sunday

sadly no bike (least of all the 1098) but a rented mondeo

[Orson]

Those are some Chamber of Commerce photos  

Job well done!  

[robdog1701]

Increadible, you are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place.

[Boyaghan]

Great report  

Brings back memories of my mini tour in '06. I wasn't as fortunate as you with the weather as it rained heavily for 4 days out of seven. But that's Scotland for ye  

Hoping to get back up next Spring, staying near Loch Awe.
Maybe I'll actually get to see Glencoe next time (rather than concentrating on battling the wind and rain as I ride through   )

Totally agree about the A87 to the Kyle of Lochalsh, cracking road  

Thanks again for posting this.

[SpitfireTriple]

Beautiful bike, beautiful scenery.

But I lived in Scotland for 4 years. So I know for a fact that you must have photo-shopped-in the blue skies  

My only concern is that my 46YO bones would not stand more than 10 miles on such a steed.

[EricJ]

Wow! Fantastic pictures and ride report! please post up some more ride reports from scotland. Just great!  
Eric

[OregonDavid]

Great ride report! Scotland has always been a fantasy ride for me. I hope I get the chance to ride that beautiful country someday.  

[JonS]

Very nice photos! I don't know how I missed this great report the first time? This isn't helping my lust for European travel.