Yamaha Offroad Experience
Discussion
I've been meaning to try my hand at off roading for years and finally booked a place at Yamaha's offroad school in mid Wales (spurred on by C2's recent BMW course).
The car is awaiting service so I had to take the bike out there, despite the forecast of grim weather. I Programmed the GPS, chucked on some waterproof luggage and set off.
Careful checking of the BBC's weather page on Friday morning told me to expect rain on the M54 and bang on schedule, the heavens opened up. Fortunately, I was in my Goretex Dainese gear and waterproof socks (they are the best invention ever!) so apart from my summer gloves getting wet, I was dry as a bone. It cleared up after an hour so by the time I reached Llanidloes everything was dry again.
The following morning at breakfast, I discovered that most of the guest house was doing the same course and a group of lads from Essex gave me a lift out to the Yamaha course.
A quick induction, handing out of clothing/armour/helmets and we were off. My steed was a 250 four stroke. We were led out by our instructor into the forest and through terrain and up slopes that you would struggle to walk up. Very early in the day we were scrabbling up lose slate (amazing what those bikes can withstand).
Mid morning we arrived at a motocross course they'd laid out. They talked through the basics of body positioning and we were encourage to 'get some air'. Some of the others had their own bikes and they were really good.
They then took us around some shocking terrain - I managed to drop the bike twice here! Then back for lunch - sarnies, bananas etc.
It was amazing how physical it was and I was getting pretty tired by then.
In the afternoon, we did a few loops of a pretty challenging curcuit they'd set up - a loop of about 3 miles. After this, we were seperated into two groups; a fast group and a steadier group. I was generally not too far behind the faster riders but I'd had enough of the tricky stuff so went in the steady group. I was glad I did as we did much more mileage and saw some fantastic scenery.
The day finished about 5pm so a quick clean up and it was time to set off back home. The R1 was perfect, as usual. Traffic in Wales was light so it was easy to keep up a fast average. Back to MK in about 3 hours with a stop for food.
I can't recommend off road riding enough, to those of you who haven't tried it. For anybody not asleep by now, their website is here. And there is a £20 discount for Yamaha owners!
http://www.yamaha-offroad-experience.co.uk/
The car is awaiting service so I had to take the bike out there, despite the forecast of grim weather. I Programmed the GPS, chucked on some waterproof luggage and set off.
Careful checking of the BBC's weather page on Friday morning told me to expect rain on the M54 and bang on schedule, the heavens opened up. Fortunately, I was in my Goretex Dainese gear and waterproof socks (they are the best invention ever!) so apart from my summer gloves getting wet, I was dry as a bone. It cleared up after an hour so by the time I reached Llanidloes everything was dry again.
The following morning at breakfast, I discovered that most of the guest house was doing the same course and a group of lads from Essex gave me a lift out to the Yamaha course.
A quick induction, handing out of clothing/armour/helmets and we were off. My steed was a 250 four stroke. We were led out by our instructor into the forest and through terrain and up slopes that you would struggle to walk up. Very early in the day we were scrabbling up lose slate (amazing what those bikes can withstand).
Mid morning we arrived at a motocross course they'd laid out. They talked through the basics of body positioning and we were encourage to 'get some air'. Some of the others had their own bikes and they were really good.
They then took us around some shocking terrain - I managed to drop the bike twice here! Then back for lunch - sarnies, bananas etc.
It was amazing how physical it was and I was getting pretty tired by then.
In the afternoon, we did a few loops of a pretty challenging curcuit they'd set up - a loop of about 3 miles. After this, we were seperated into two groups; a fast group and a steadier group. I was generally not too far behind the faster riders but I'd had enough of the tricky stuff so went in the steady group. I was glad I did as we did much more mileage and saw some fantastic scenery.
The day finished about 5pm so a quick clean up and it was time to set off back home. The R1 was perfect, as usual. Traffic in Wales was light so it was easy to keep up a fast average. Back to MK in about 3 hours with a stop for food.
I can't recommend off road riding enough, to those of you who haven't tried it. For anybody not asleep by now, their website is here. And there is a £20 discount for Yamaha owners!
http://www.yamaha-offroad-experience.co.uk/
Hiya mate, went on this same course for two days in April and it was absolutley brill. Did you have the instuctor called Dylan? We had him and he was an absolutley awesome rider.
What I liked about the course was that they let you ride as fast as you want, so at the end of the first day I was basically flat out eveywhere! The bikes are pretty good too, but Ive since moved onto a KTM 450EXC-R which is even better again. It was a little bit of a nightmare to find as it is quite a secluded farm but other than that I couldnt find fault.
What you do find out very quikly though if you've only ever ridden road bikes, is that you need a completley different set of skills and it is quite physically demanding. But if you never done anything like this I couldnt recomend it higher, its very good..
What I liked about the course was that they let you ride as fast as you want, so at the end of the first day I was basically flat out eveywhere! The bikes are pretty good too, but Ive since moved onto a KTM 450EXC-R which is even better again. It was a little bit of a nightmare to find as it is quite a secluded farm but other than that I couldnt find fault.
What you do find out very quikly though if you've only ever ridden road bikes, is that you need a completley different set of skills and it is quite physically demanding. But if you never done anything like this I couldnt recomend it higher, its very good..
Edited by GavDav on Sunday 23 September 22:50
We had the older instructors.
I know what you mean about it being tiring. My heart was racing as I pulled in for lunch.
Bikes were all good - none more than 6 months old.
I didn't try the 450s although some of the more experienced riders would come hacking past on them.
My legs still ache, though!
I know what you mean about it being tiring. My heart was racing as I pulled in for lunch.
Bikes were all good - none more than 6 months old.
I didn't try the 450s although some of the more experienced riders would come hacking past on them.
My legs still ache, though!
R1_JON said:
Just booked myself and a mate on this for the end of Oct 
Can't wait...
RSV - do you reckon it's a bit ambitious to get there and back in one day? Is the overnight stay recommended?
Hi Jon Can't wait...RSV - do you reckon it's a bit ambitious to get there and back in one day? Is the overnight stay recommended?
Start is 9.30am so it is possible to do it in one day but you'd need an early start. It's do-able but the day is tiring. I think you'd really want to be fresh for it.
They have showers there so you could take a change of clothing and then drive back.
I rode back after the course, which finished around 5.30-6.00pm. I don't think I'd have been able to have got on the bike the day after!
Top fun. You'll enjoy it. I was talking to Oggs about maybe doing it in the Spring.
Cheers. Let me know if you book for the spring, I might be up for it.
Also looking at organising a lads weekend away doing this if you are interested:
http://www.andaluciantrailtours.com/
Also looking at organising a lads weekend away doing this if you are interested:
http://www.andaluciantrailtours.com/
rsv gone! said:
R1_JON said:
Did this yesterday. Excellent day out, although I feel like I've been run over by a bus today !
If its any consolation, you'll feel worse tomorrow.... 
So, anyone interested in this ?? : http://www.andaluciantrailtours.com/ It looks suprisingly cheap.
R1_JON said:
rsv gone! said:
R1_JON said:
Did this yesterday. Excellent day out, although I feel like I've been run over by a bus today !
If its any consolation, you'll feel worse tomorrow.... So, anyone interested in this ?? : http://www.andaluciantrailtours.com/ It looks suprisingly cheap.
Fats25 said:
R1_JON said:
rsv gone! said:
R1_JON said:
Did this yesterday. Excellent day out, although I feel like I've been run over by a bus today !
If its any consolation, you'll feel worse tomorrow.... So, anyone interested in this ?? : http://www.andaluciantrailtours.com/ It looks suprisingly cheap.
I have done http://www.andaluciantrailtours.com/ twice now. the Bolox.
Also check out www.thegreenlanecrew.co.uk
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