Stuck in the UK for weeks. Any escape tips?

[Croak]

Will be doing a series of two-week trips to London for work, flying over today, then back to London again in early June, and finally late August (dodging the biggest Olympics bullets).  I'll have weekends off, including the upcoming May 7th long weekend, and was thinking of hiring a bike to get out of the city on the weekends, if I could find a place that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and also requires 3x the replacement price as a deposit.    

Any suggestions?  I've done the London tourist crawl already, but the rest of the UK has been "fly over country" for me, so I'd like to see it...and see it the proper way, on a motorbike.

Oh, and they have me staying right on Oxford Street/Bond.   Not my choice, other than the fact that it's in walking distance of the recording studio we're working out of.

[greench440]

Head for the Scottish highlands.  Maybe even John O'Groats.

[Orson]

Click on the topic of UK pictures a couple of posts down  

You can reach Somerset & Devonshire in half a day. Lovely, archetypical English countryside.

Then there's the Cotswolds.

The Peak District, Wales and the Lake District are a bit further and maybe a bit far for a weekend trip.

[dtor]

Why not find a rental place somewhere west of London, take the train there and avoid the higher rental cost and riding in and out of London?

[Mrs. DantesDame]

You guys are not addressing his need of an affordable set of wheels  

I suggest that Croak buys that beast that Papa wants for him with the caveat that he can ride it while he's in the UK. When the summer's over, Papa can reimburse Croak for most of the purchase cost and then has his bike and Croak has some awesome memories!


Did that make any sense at all?  

[RBEmerson]

Makes sense to me.  Sounds like a win-win if Croak can front the money.  If not, the idea of renting outside of London makes tons of sense.  

[Papa Lazarou]

I've been looking at cheap bikes here, unsurprisingly they need to be cheap.

There are some really good deals on early to mid 90s Triumphs, particularly the 750 triples.

There are a number of sites to look on:
Ebay UK
MCN http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikes-for-sale/
Visordown
UKbike

+ a few more. The early Hinckley Triumphs are bullet proof and won't be as tatty as same age Japanese bikes. There's always the SV650-you can get a clean early 2000s model for not much.

There are quite a lot of hire shops. There's one in the New Forest-not too far from London, which rents old British bikes.

Croak, if you need a place to stay when you are not working, get in touch. I live about 25 miles south of London, near the coast.

[bubba zanetti]

Weekend trip to Brighton via Horsham and the Brighton Rd then back via Eastbourne.

[Papa Lazarou]

Weekend trip to Brighton via Horsham and the Brighton Rd then back via Eastbourne.

My house is your house.

[bubba zanetti]

I wish I could  Papa !!

Croak ... Ducati 696



Ducati Monster 696
This hot blooded roadster has all the characteristics from its racing pedigree. Superb styling,handling and an exhaust note to die for!

3 Days is 250 GBP


http://www.abouttownbikehire.co.uk/

About 8k from Oxford/Bond at Wandsworth Town Station ... easy peasy !    Get on the tube at Oxford Circus ... 30 mins max. Gawd I love London. And please, head to Piccadilly and into Soho. Right nearby is the Cockney Pride Pub. They used to have a back room called the Pigs Ear !! OMG !  Stay till closing ... when the time bell rings ... head to the tube and as you do ...  listen to Who are You?  
  

  

[Orson]

I've said it several times before, but it bears repeating  

I find the UK to be one of the most underrated riding destinations in Europe  

[bubba zanetti]

The UK and Italy were striking to me as countries within a country. One could travel a few hours and encounter something new, pronounced difference in dialect and cuisine.

[Croak]

I have arrived.  

Thanks everyone, for input as well as offers of hospitality!  I love this forum.  

Need a couple days to get my head screwed back on straight before I firm up any sort of plans for next weekend and beyond.  

[Papa Lazarou]

Don't hesitate to ask if you need a place to stay or whatever.

[RBEmerson]

I've said it several times before, but it bears repeating  

I find the UK to be one of the most underrated riding destinations in Europe  

And, compared to Italy, I suspect the drivers are generally not quite so homicidal.  

[davenay67]

I've said it several times before, but it bears repeating  

I find the UK to be one of the most underrated riding destinations in Europe  

I grew up there, lived in the NorthWest all my life. Practically had the Lake District on my back doorstep and explored every road. Even Scotland was an easy weekend, the West coast is just amazing.

I moved to CA in '97, and as good as the roads there are, they did not make the UK pale at all.

My '92 Trident 900 is still there, living up a set of thick blankets in my parents garage. She is pristine, but the carbs have gummed up and she won't run now until they are cleaned. If someone could get her running then they are wlcome to ride around on her.

[Papa Lazarou]

Just got back from, Dartmoor. There's a good destintation and you get the Hound of the Baskervilles thrown in for free.

[canban]

A bit late , but here goes

I had a good experience with this outfit
http://www.raceways.net/aboutus.php

My suggestion for a weekend ride, Snowdonia N. Wales, and if you have the inclination stop in at Portmeirion
http://www.portmeirion-village.com/