Best and worst ride in 2016?
Discussion
Worst 1: Coming back from Bournemouth to Weybridge with a hangover so bad the petrol station cashier in Ropley asked me if I was ok. Twice. It was 6:30pm
Worst 2: The lunatic who abused and then tried to kill me on the way to work in the summer.
Best: Not nearly enough, actually. One standout was a blast down to a pub down south through Chiddingfold and Petworth to meet a friend for her birthday. I was late so the roads that were already good became even better.
Worst 2: The lunatic who abused and then tried to kill me on the way to work in the summer.
Best: Not nearly enough, actually. One standout was a blast down to a pub down south through Chiddingfold and Petworth to meet a friend for her birthday. I was late so the roads that were already good became even better.
Worst ride: Hastings May day ride. Fog, drizzle & wearing the wrong kit. I got soaked & to top it all, the public toilets in the park were absolutely rank - previous user must've eaten a Phal the night before 
Best ride: end of the summer ride down to West Wittering. Unremarkable roads, but everything seemed to hook up just right. Nice lady I parked next to on the seafront was genuinely interested in biking & was wearing some rather tasty boots
Best ride: end of the summer ride down to West Wittering. Unremarkable roads, but everything seemed to hook up just right. Nice lady I parked next to on the seafront was genuinely interested in biking & was wearing some rather tasty boots
Best: A ride up from Newcastle to Hawick then down towards Corbridge and home again with a mate on his 2015 BSB edition Fireblade and a bloke on a Tuono Factory, in the evening in May. Amazing roads, perfect visibility and conditions, virtually no traffic, the bike just felt so good underneath me.
Worst: The day I took the bike back to the dealers once the ECU decided it didn't like the full Akrapovic system and the idle and fueling on part throttle went to s
t, the bike was chugging along like a tractor and was jerky as hell, either lurching away or fighting not to stall. Not much fun in pissing rain, in the evening rush hour. Praise to Newcastle Motorcycles for getting it sorted. Riding away from the dealership with a smooth, glitch-free throttle and that first hard pull up the A1 with no stutters or stumbles was a great feeling.
Worst: The day I took the bike back to the dealers once the ECU decided it didn't like the full Akrapovic system and the idle and fueling on part throttle went to s
t, the bike was chugging along like a tractor and was jerky as hell, either lurching away or fighting not to stall. Not much fun in pissing rain, in the evening rush hour. Praise to Newcastle Motorcycles for getting it sorted. Riding away from the dealership with a smooth, glitch-free throttle and that first hard pull up the A1 with no stutters or stumbles was a great feeling.Best was definitely an hour round Surrey on a RnineT on a test ride from Vines. Sunny afternoon, not too much traffic and I really gelled with the bike.
I'm not really sure why I didn't buy it!
Second best was early on a Sunday coming back from Llandindrod Wells towards Leominster on my recently purchased Triumph Explorer...that bike handles pretty well too plus the triple is a gem. Miles and miles of sweeping A road with minimal traffic.
Haven't had a worst this year...some recent commutes with bell-end van and minicab drivers in the dark when it's raining have been seriously lacking in fun.
I'm not really sure why I didn't buy it!
Second best was early on a Sunday coming back from Llandindrod Wells towards Leominster on my recently purchased Triumph Explorer...that bike handles pretty well too plus the triple is a gem. Miles and miles of sweeping A road with minimal traffic.
Haven't had a worst this year...some recent commutes with bell-end van and minicab drivers in the dark when it's raining have been seriously lacking in fun.
moanthebairns said:
Best - The JW trackdays at Anglesey, that was proper brilliant. Empty groups, relaxed, and amazing views (when it wasn't pissing down). Saying that the trackday at knockhill where all the bsb paddock showed up for a test day was good.
Worst - Hard to pick one, I've had a crap year, some include, my crash at donington and an overnight in hospital with a brain injury. My bike breaking all day at Oulton and rushing around fixing it, I just wanted to go home.
But probably the worst was a 500 mile round trip to Ireland in 24 hours. From 4am to midnight it pissed it down, blew a gale and was fking miserable.
Glad to see I was part of both your first part of worst days Worst - Hard to pick one, I've had a crap year, some include, my crash at donington and an overnight in hospital with a brain injury. My bike breaking all day at Oulton and rushing around fixing it, I just wanted to go home.
But probably the worst was a 500 mile round trip to Ireland in 24 hours. From 4am to midnight it pissed it down, blew a gale and was f
king miserable. 
Best: a few - a great blast down to the Raven with a colleague who was back into bikes after 20 years off an on his new Panigale. A few great rides in company in Derbyshire and Wales. And one on my own when I'd got the VFR back and memorably nailed a corner I don't normally have the balls to do fast and properly near the Ponderosa.
Worst: the day I got the VFR back, and although I was ill and strangely bloating up like a very sick feeling balloon, was determined to collect the bike after looking forward to this moment all year. Rode it off for half a mile (in the middle of nowhere) and broke down - garage had drained the fuel tank, and had re-filled it with a teaspoon of fuel. Needless to say that after pushing this crazy heavy bike (well, 4x my weight) I was feeling somewhat worse for wear and very dizzy. But friendly biker strangers saved the day, and got me fuel
Worst: the day I got the VFR back, and although I was ill and strangely bloating up like a very sick feeling balloon, was determined to collect the bike after looking forward to this moment all year. Rode it off for half a mile (in the middle of nowhere) and broke down - garage had drained the fuel tank, and had re-filled it with a teaspoon of fuel. Needless to say that after pushing this crazy heavy bike (well, 4x my weight) I was feeling somewhat worse for wear and very dizzy. But friendly biker strangers saved the day, and got me fuel
Best: I shipped the bike to Oslo then rode it up to the Nordkapp through Sweden and Finland before heading back down the coast of Norway. A mostly blissful 3700+ mile two week solo trip.
Worst: One day on the trip I had heavy rain all day, and it was 7 degrees. I ended up taking my time through tunnels to give me a break from the rain. Even with heated grips, vest and seat it was properly horrible. I though water was coming into my gear but it turned out to be mostly dry, just a full day of riding through a fridge while totally drenched.
That or the boredom that is Swedish forests for two days. Nothing but trees and bugs.
Worst: One day on the trip I had heavy rain all day, and it was 7 degrees. I ended up taking my time through tunnels to give me a break from the rain. Even with heated grips, vest and seat it was properly horrible. I though water was coming into my gear but it turned out to be mostly dry, just a full day of riding through a fridge while totally drenched.
That or the boredom that is Swedish forests for two days. Nothing but trees and bugs.
Speed addicted said:
Best: I shipped the bike to Oslo then rode it up to the Nordkapp through Sweden and Finland before heading back down the coast of Norway. A mostly blissful 3700+ mile two week solo trip.
Worst: One day on the trip I had heavy rain all day, and it was 7 degrees. I ended up taking my time through tunnels to give me a break from the rain. Even with heated grips, vest and seat it was properly horrible. I though water was coming into my gear but it turned out to be mostly dry, just a full day of riding through a fridge while totally drenched.
That or the boredom that is Swedish forests for two days. Nothing but trees and bugs.
Got pictures or a trip report up somewhere? I'm keen to do this same trip. Worst: One day on the trip I had heavy rain all day, and it was 7 degrees. I ended up taking my time through tunnels to give me a break from the rain. Even with heated grips, vest and seat it was properly horrible. I though water was coming into my gear but it turned out to be mostly dry, just a full day of riding through a fridge while totally drenched.
That or the boredom that is Swedish forests for two days. Nothing but trees and bugs.
Hmm.
Worst might have been yesterday. 240 mile round trip in 3 degree weather in vented summer gloves. That was chilly.
The other might have been the ride back from the PB trackday full leathers in 30 degree heat, thumping headache, overheating bike and traffic crawling. Both were hideous.
Best ride? Not really sure. Had a few good rides on twisty roads, nothing super stand out though.
Worst might have been yesterday. 240 mile round trip in 3 degree weather in vented summer gloves. That was chilly.
The other might have been the ride back from the PB trackday full leathers in 30 degree heat, thumping headache, overheating bike and traffic crawling. Both were hideous.
Best ride? Not really sure. Had a few good rides on twisty roads, nothing super stand out though.
308mate said:
Speed addicted said:
Best: I shipped the bike to Oslo then rode it up to the Nordkapp through Sweden and Finland before heading back down the coast of Norway. A mostly blissful 3700+ mile two week solo trip.
Worst: One day on the trip I had heavy rain all day, and it was 7 degrees. I ended up taking my time through tunnels to give me a break from the rain. Even with heated grips, vest and seat it was properly horrible. I though water was coming into my gear but it turned out to be mostly dry, just a full day of riding through a fridge while totally drenched.
That or the boredom that is Swedish forests for two days. Nothing but trees and bugs.
Got pictures or a trip report up somewhere? I'm keen to do this same trip. Worst: One day on the trip I had heavy rain all day, and it was 7 degrees. I ended up taking my time through tunnels to give me a break from the rain. Even with heated grips, vest and seat it was properly horrible. I though water was coming into my gear but it turned out to be mostly dry, just a full day of riding through a fridge while totally drenched.
That or the boredom that is Swedish forests for two days. Nothing but trees and bugs.
Start at the bottom and work up! If you need any info I'm happy to help.
Speed addicted said:
308mate said:
Speed addicted said:
Best: I shipped the bike to Oslo then rode it up to the Nordkapp through Sweden and Finland before heading back down the coast of Norway. A mostly blissful 3700+ mile two week solo trip.
Worst: One day on the trip I had heavy rain all day, and it was 7 degrees. I ended up taking my time through tunnels to give me a break from the rain. Even with heated grips, vest and seat it was properly horrible. I though water was coming into my gear but it turned out to be mostly dry, just a full day of riding through a fridge while totally drenched.
That or the boredom that is Swedish forests for two days. Nothing but trees and bugs.
Got pictures or a trip report up somewhere? I'm keen to do this same trip. Worst: One day on the trip I had heavy rain all day, and it was 7 degrees. I ended up taking my time through tunnels to give me a break from the rain. Even with heated grips, vest and seat it was properly horrible. I though water was coming into my gear but it turned out to be mostly dry, just a full day of riding through a fridge while totally drenched.
That or the boredom that is Swedish forests for two days. Nothing but trees and bugs.
Great write up and pictures. Enjoyed reading through all that. Cheers.
Start at the bottom and work up! If you need any info I'm happy to help.
Mastodon2 said:
Best: A ride up from Newcastle to Hawick
Best route in the north east. Same road (Carter Bar to Hawick), every turn clicked and I felt more comfortable than ever before. I can remember more about that ride than any other this year.Worst, non really stand out other than the late Autumn rides when the leaves started to blight the country roads and the dirt and muck started to make the country roads no fun anymore.
Best this year was riding the TT circuit. It had been on my bucket list for longer than I care to remember and it lived up to my expectations. Need to work on my lap times though 
Worst was the same trip riding back on the M6 & M25. Due to rain and st traffic we filtered for mile after mile and to top it all off my IPhone drowned in my water filled pocket
Worst was the same trip riding back on the M6 & M25. Due to rain and s
t traffic we filtered for mile after mile and to top it all off my IPhone drowned in my water filled pocketBest: Spa in August, on track for 2 days with 4 good friends. Day 2, we had great weather, warm dry track, having a superb battle with my friend as we cut through the traffic, spinning up through blanchimont 1 at 160mph, and generally feeling absolutely amazing and like I actually knew what I was doing on a bike
Worst: Cartagena in October. Gearbox broke on day 1, hated the track, then I crashed my mates bike on day 2. Felt like a total knob and now hating bikes and making me wonder why I bother.
Worst: Cartagena in October. Gearbox broke on day 1, hated the track, then I crashed my mates bike on day 2. Felt like a total knob and now hating bikes and making me wonder why I bother.
few great moments this year for me -
1. first track day at cadwell on my tuono chasing an instructor on a s1000rr through Coppice in the sun
2. riding a bsa b31 350 chasing my dad on a bsa zb34 500 on the back lanes near our house. Flat out at 50mph, hardly any brakes and a rigid rear end over Essex bumps made for an exciting ride
3. Test rode a 1299 panigale with my mate, who was trying a 959. Awesome hour of riding.
no bad rides this year for me..
1. first track day at cadwell on my tuono chasing an instructor on a s1000rr through Coppice in the sun
2. riding a bsa b31 350 chasing my dad on a bsa zb34 500 on the back lanes near our house. Flat out at 50mph, hardly any brakes and a rigid rear end over Essex bumps made for an exciting ride
3. Test rode a 1299 panigale with my mate, who was trying a 959. Awesome hour of riding.
no bad rides this year for me..
Speed addicted said:
www.leportphotographic.co.uk/blog
Start at the bottom and work up! If you need any info I'm happy to help.
Enjoyed thatStart at the bottom and work up! If you need any info I'm happy to help.
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