touring scotland...

[katrider]

Some photos of my recent tour of Scotland, Isle of Man and Northern England.

Rented a VFR 800 from New Horizon's Bike Hire in Manchester, got a very reasonable deal...550 pounds for two weeks, included a cell phone with 60 minutes and a TomTom satnav. The bike was the older non-VTEC model (2000??) but was in top shape, clean, great tires (Pirelli multi-compounds) and full hard luggage. I can recommend Wayne's business to anyone...but be aware that he is in a stae of flux right now. He was in a nice big garage until this year when the economy for bike rentals kinda tanked and he had a choice: shut down or move the business in with his mom! Bless his mom...

So he works out of her living room, and at first it's disconcerting, but I went thru with my plans and came away impressed with the level of service he provides and in the end I had a great, I mean great trip.

[katrider]

more photos...

the little shop in Capel en-le Frith was a treat...full of Ducati and sport bike high performance goodies, the guy backs three different riders for the IoM TT and the Manx GP, and he's located in this tiny English village in the Peaks... very cool.

[katrider]

Only letting me post four at a time, so here's some more.

[katrider]

More...

The IoM was a last minute addition to the trip but one of the highlights.

This place has a serious obsession with the motorcycle!! Every pub, Indian restaurant, museum, hotel lobby has pictures of racing motorcycles and most also have photos of rally cars at pace. Motorhead Island would be a better name.

[katrider]

I have never ridden outside of north America, so the whole left-side of the road deal was an adventure. The road signs were confusing at first and the roundabouts were fun, but once I got into the highlands it all made sense!! The single track roads were easy, just ride in the middle!

I found that as long as I had traffic around me it was a piece of cake, I would just follow them. And when there wasn't traffic around, then it didn't matter what I did. The real danger came when I was a pedestrian...I almost walked in front of cars on numerous occassions because I looked left first!

The speed enforcement was interesting...a constant reminder of camera enforcement was everywhere, but I found out that the little vans were what needed to be looked out for, except on the IoM...there they used good old fashioned cops with radar guns along the side of the road.

The weather was very similar to the Pacific Northwest in the fall...rain, sun, wind all in the same day. I was there 19 days and had four days of rain and another 5 days of overcast, but also ten days of sun, so overall it was good. The fall colors were just starting to show and this was late Sept thru early Oct.

Really enjoyed the country side and the small village atmosphere, castles, gardens, great bike roads up in Scotland and little traffic. Great bike roads in N England too, but lots more traffic...

The people were fantastic, always welcoming and interested in that I was a yank. No animosity whatsoever and very friendly. Even the pub atmosphere was friendly and joking...lots different from the last time I was in the UK (1972).

The motorcycle culture is very alive and well in the UK, but I heard lots of rumours about limits being placed on bikes. Interesting to see what happens there. Also, there is no Weather Channel!!!! Everyday was a guess as to whether I needed to kit up or ride in just my jeans. Well, there were a couple of days that were no guessing game...2 inches of rain in Liverpool!! What a nightmare...

But overall I would rate the trip 5 stars and encourage anyone to ride the roads of Scotland...

[katrider]

Here's one of those IoM pubs with a wall of bike memorabilia and photos...

[Orson]

Looks great! Wish it wuz me!    

I've always thought the British isles are vastly underrated as a touring destination  

The weather was very similar to the Pacific Northwest in the fall...rain, sun, wind all in the same day. I was there 19 days and had four days of rain and another 5 days of overcast, but also ten days of sun, so overall it was good.

That's a fantastic success rate   As FJR-UK would say, on a sunny day, it's hard to beat riding in Scotland  

I hope we'll see a trip report out of this  

[stefrrr]

Cool!

[FJR-UK]

I almost walked in front of cars on numerous occassions because I looked left first!

In central London, they paint arrows on the street at intersections to show people which way to look. There is a special "You're Not In Kansas Any More" ward in the hospitals.

I was there 19 days and had four days of rain and another 5 days of overcast, but also ten days of sun, so overall it was good.

A 50% sun ratio is very good, indeed!

The people were fantastic, always welcoming and interested in that I was a yank. No animosity whatsoever and very friendly.

Things have definitely changed for the better since the end of the Bush era. I think Obama's Nobel Peace award was a reflection of the rest of the world's sense of relief.

Yes, Scotland on a sunny day is motorcycle heaven.

Glad you enjoyed yourself.

[Gaw]

In central London, they paint arrows on the street at intersections to show people which way to look. There is a special "You're Not In Kansas Any More" ward in the hospitals.

I've been in London this summer, in central London no problem but in the rest of the city I went mad. At the end I looked to both sides  


50% sun ratio must be grat, last year my friend was in Scotland and had 100% days of rain. His VFR looked a jet ski  

[katrider]

50% sun ratio must be grat, last year my friend was in Scotland and had 100% days of rain. His VFR looked a jet ski  

I felt that way when I rode thru Liverpool...it rained hard all the way thru and when I hit the M56 the trucks made it impossible.

My joke was I had just come from the Isle of Man but had not taken the ferry but had ridden from there!!

Proper trip report is coming soon as things settle down here at home...buying a new home and moving etc.

[newhorizons]

No word of the the first 30 seconds on the bike i see  

[katrider]

No word of the the first 30 seconds on the bike i see  

Well...that was being saved for my full trip report...

too bad we didn't get a picture of THAT!!

The story goes: I hopped on the bike first time and am going to follow the rental owner out of Manchester...I pull forward and the bike feels real heavy to the left. I just keep pulling forward and suddenly over she goes!!!! Turns out the bike parked next is pushing on the hard side case and I couldn't see what was going on.

Wayne, the owner, watches the whole thing unfold, runs over and helps me right the bike (no damage except to egos...) and says I officially have the record: 6 inches ridden before the bike is dumped!!!

So, the truth has been told. Oh, and not so much as a scare on the ride so I obviously got it out of the way right off the bat.

[notarian]

I wondered if you'd find a suitable bike for the cost you were trying for and I think you scored exceptionally well with the VFR. $800 for two week's rental is very good.

So, I'm glad you got to see part of Scotland and am looking forward to the ride report.

Cheers,

Note

[katrider]

I wondered if you'd find a suitable bike for the cost you were trying for and I think you scored exceptionally well with the VFR. $800 for two week's rental is very good.

I thought so too...in fact, the next cheapest was almost twice, though they were new bikes. That's a problem too, in that the older VFR, while in tip top mechanical shape had a few nicks and scrapes, so I felt more at ease with it should something happen say in a parking lot or, in my case...6 inches into the ride!! So I preferred a little more seasoned ride and the price allowed me to bring home a lot more gifts.

[ANZAC]

The roads are tight and pretty much car free when you get out of town.  Watch out for the drainage ruts on the roads edge.  The country is JUST like riding in the Pacific Northwest but with fewer trees.

My wife is a Davidson whose clan seat is the Tullock Castle out of Dingwall up next to Inverness.  People in Scotland are great - just a little cranky sometimes  

I would choose Scotland over Ireland any day for touring - recommended.

[Papa Lazarou]

Strange. There is something very different in Great Britain to anywhere else in the world. The variety of geology is greater than anywhere else. Same for everyting else in such a small place. I live here and I have not even begun to explore it.