Long distance.....
Discussion
I'm about to endure my first ball breaker. Early Sept. I'll be riding from London to Glasgow and a wee bit of West Scotland before heading back. This will be the longest journey I will have attempted by far, the longest so far being 3 hours.
For the trip up I have an BMW F800 which is pretty comfy by sports bike standards but is there any tricks to keeping my derriere in good shape. Also any extra insulation from road noise. I wear the usual ear plugs that are pretty good but 7 hours of noise is a lot.
Whilst I'm up there I'm going to nail some legendary Scottish roads as I know the place pretty well from a 4 wheel prospective but from a bike prospective this will be my first visit. Anybody reccomend good roads for bikes up the west coast.. I was thinking the A82 - Glasgow to Fort William...
Cheers
For the trip up I have an BMW F800 which is pretty comfy by sports bike standards but is there any tricks to keeping my derriere in good shape. Also any extra insulation from road noise. I wear the usual ear plugs that are pretty good but 7 hours of noise is a lot.
Whilst I'm up there I'm going to nail some legendary Scottish roads as I know the place pretty well from a 4 wheel prospective but from a bike prospective this will be my first visit. Anybody reccomend good roads for bikes up the west coast.. I was thinking the A82 - Glasgow to Fort William...
Cheers
The F800 will do the job just fine. In reality, that’s actually not a hugely long run though I’m sure it’ll take it’s toll on you as it’s your first time. Your concentration will suffer a bit and that’s of far more concern than extra ear plugs.
I like to do journeys like that as efficiently as possible. That means that I fill be bike with petrol the night before then don’t stop until I need to refuel. Stops are done as quickly as possible as I find I can’t really relax knowing I still have another X hundred miles to travel. Fill the bike, a quick stretch of the legs or visit to the facilities and a quick bite to eat/drink is about it. The whole thing takes less than about 10 minutes.
I keep speeds realistic as going faster often just means more fuel stops and risks unwanted attention from plod. Keeping up with the lane 3 ‘rep-mobiles’ on the motorway seems like a good compromise to me. On runs like that in the UK I rarely will add more than about 25mph on top of the limit and stick pretty much spot on to town limits (30’s and 40’s.)
However, everyone is different and you need to find a riding style that suits you.
As for roads, the A828 from Ballachulish to Oban is pretty impressive and the B863 from Ballachulish to Kinlochleven and back to North Ballachulish is the ‘proper’ way to Fort William rather than simply going over the bridge.
I like to do journeys like that as efficiently as possible. That means that I fill be bike with petrol the night before then don’t stop until I need to refuel. Stops are done as quickly as possible as I find I can’t really relax knowing I still have another X hundred miles to travel. Fill the bike, a quick stretch of the legs or visit to the facilities and a quick bite to eat/drink is about it. The whole thing takes less than about 10 minutes.
I keep speeds realistic as going faster often just means more fuel stops and risks unwanted attention from plod. Keeping up with the lane 3 ‘rep-mobiles’ on the motorway seems like a good compromise to me. On runs like that in the UK I rarely will add more than about 25mph on top of the limit and stick pretty much spot on to town limits (30’s and 40’s.)
However, everyone is different and you need to find a riding style that suits you.
As for roads, the A828 from Ballachulish to Oban is pretty impressive and the B863 from Ballachulish to Kinlochleven and back to North Ballachulish is the ‘proper’ way to Fort William rather than simply going over the bridge.
black-k1 said:
As for roads, the A828 from Ballachulish to Oban is pretty impressive and the B863 from Ballachulish to Kinlochleven and back to North Ballachulish is the ‘proper’ way to Fort William rather than simply going over the bridge.
Definately agree with this, some of the scenery is just breathtaking. I've been up to Scotland on my gixer and it was not that comfortable, add to that having to refuel every 120 miles with the smaller tank. A BMW on the other hand will be spot on! Make sure you take time to stretch legs, drink and eat something.Good luck, take some pictures for us!
John Laverick said:
Personally I would either:
a) Hire a van and drive the bike there
b) Fly up there and hire a bike.
Sitting on the motorway for probably 8 hours?? No thanks!!
I should say I'm motivated to ride all the way there because it's a lot cheaper than the above...a) Hire a van and drive the bike there
b) Fly up there and hire a bike.
Sitting on the motorway for probably 8 hours?? No thanks!!
Also I've wanted to do do a proper 'journey' for ages. My Stag do is in the middle of the trip so I'll have a few days when I'm not on the bike, and down the pub trollied instead.
xspencex said:
John Laverick said:
Personally I would either:
a) Hire a van and drive the bike there
b) Fly up there and hire a bike.
Sitting on the motorway for probably 8 hours?? No thanks!!
I should say I'm motivated to ride all the way there because it's a lot cheaper than the above...a) Hire a van and drive the bike there
b) Fly up there and hire a bike.
Sitting on the motorway for probably 8 hours?? No thanks!!
Also I've wanted to do do a proper 'journey' for ages. My Stag do is in the middle of the trip so I'll have a few days when I'm not on the bike, and down the pub trollied instead.
I wouldn't even contemplate the journey in the car to be honest [never mind on the bike] when the alternative flight costs about £70 [I regularly fly from Bristol to glasgow].
If you must take the bike up there then I'd seriously consder hiring a van ... what's the cost a couple of hundered? No brainer in my mind!!
Take 2 days to go up if you've got time, I rode to the lake district from Aberdeen (nothing like the distance you're doing) without going on motorways at all. Nine fun hours instead of 5 crap ones.
Ullapool is really nice, as is Oban and Gairloch. All of the roads north of Glasgow are good on the west coast. The A82 can be quite heavily policed though so watch out.
Fuel isn't really a problem unless it's a sunday. There are loads of B+B's around too, but I found that some will only have twin rooms and charge you for that.
Watch out for sheep and deer.
(edite for not reading the post properly)
Ullapool is really nice, as is Oban and Gairloch. All of the roads north of Glasgow are good on the west coast. The A82 can be quite heavily policed though so watch out.
Fuel isn't really a problem unless it's a sunday. There are loads of B+B's around too, but I found that some will only have twin rooms and charge you for that.
Watch out for sheep and deer.
(edite for not reading the post properly)
Edited by Speed addicted on Wednesday 30th July 17:22
John Laverick said:
I'm not trying to talk you out of it ... but honestly 8 hours there on the bike and 8 hours back will be absolutely hell!!
I wouldn't even contemplate the journey in the car to be honest [never mind on the bike] when the alternative flight costs about £70 [I regularly fly from Bristol to glasgow].
If you must take the bike up there then I'd seriously consder hiring a van ... what's the cost a couple of hundered? No brainer in my mind!!
I would be very happy on my bike with an 8 hour journey there and an 8 hour journey back. (I've done it many times.) I also think the likes of Nick Saunders would view it as a run to the shops!I wouldn't even contemplate the journey in the car to be honest [never mind on the bike] when the alternative flight costs about £70 [I regularly fly from Bristol to glasgow].
If you must take the bike up there then I'd seriously consder hiring a van ... what's the cost a couple of hundered? No brainer in my mind!!
Each to their own.
Plan a route that allows you some bits of off motorway riding to break up some of the monotony. Easy to plan and if you do it by coming off at an earlier junction and dropping back on at another then you can cut them out if you feel you're not making progress enough.
Next thing is a few essentials, Breakdown cover, mobile phone fully charged, a puncture kit for tubeless tyres with extra air canisters, a couple of bottles of water and a few mars bars and the obligatory waterproofs. If you've got a sat nav then pop it in somewhere for those oh shoot moments when the fun of riding has got the better of your sense of direction
edited to add would be worth coming off the M6 at the Lancaster turn off and heading through Caton and Hornby etc up to devils bridge (where you will obviously stop for a bacon butty and a brew) then along A65 to the Kendal junction of M6 and off along Motorway again.
Next thing is a few essentials, Breakdown cover, mobile phone fully charged, a puncture kit for tubeless tyres with extra air canisters, a couple of bottles of water and a few mars bars and the obligatory waterproofs. If you've got a sat nav then pop it in somewhere for those oh shoot moments when the fun of riding has got the better of your sense of direction
edited to add would be worth coming off the M6 at the Lancaster turn off and heading through Caton and Hornby etc up to devils bridge (where you will obviously stop for a bacon butty and a brew) then along A65 to the Kendal junction of M6 and off along Motorway again.
Edited by wolf1 on Wednesday 30th July 20:29
Don't worry about the people saying they wouldn't consider it, they're sports bike riders, you're on a far better bike for doing that kind of trip, though I agree with what someone else said about keeping the speeds down. Cruising at 85 will only take about 40 minutes longer than cruising at 100 but you'll be a lot less tired at the end
Speed addicted said:
Take 2 days to go up if you've got time,
If you've got the time that's the way forward. Once you get above the midlands the roads get pretty good. Came back from the Lake district cross country last year, took all day but was far more fun than sitting on the motorway, though that kind of trip may depend on how much luggage you're carrying.Edited by Speed addicted on Wednesday 30th July 17:22
Howitzer said:
Definitely go for it, just try to do as much of it as possible while avoiding motorways and it will be a great little adventure.
Dave!
Absolutely. Don't take the easy comfy option, experience the back roads at your leisure and stop when you want. Be a cracking little adventure.Dave!
RizzoTheRat said:
Don't worry about the people saying they wouldn't consider it, they're sports bike riders, you're on a far better bike for doing that kind of trip, though I agree with what someone else said about keeping the speeds down. Cruising at 85 will only take about 40 minutes longer than cruising at 100 but you'll be a lot less tired at the end
hey,I am about to ride my GSX-R600 from Birmingham to South of Bordeaux. So there 
IsMad said:
RizzoTheRat said:
Don't worry about the people saying they wouldn't consider it, they're sports bike riders, you're on a far better bike for doing that kind of trip, though I agree with what someone else said about keeping the speeds down. Cruising at 85 will only take about 40 minutes longer than cruising at 100 but you'll be a lot less tired at the end
hey,I am about to ride my GSX-R600 from Birmingham to South of Bordeaux. So there Your back/legs are gonna kill ya!!!
You'll be absolutely knackered by the time you get there, never mind coming back. Riding when tired is not nice. Best tip I can give you is to wear some cycling shorts. The padding makes things much more bearable. Take a spare pair of socks and gloves, in case it rains. Stop regularly to take on fluids, it'll help you keep your concentration.
If you can manage to get near the west coast, try Applecross. It's epic. http://www.applecross.uk.com/index.htm
And, enjoy it. It's not a competition, so slow down, take in the views, stop and take pictures so you can share when you get back.
If you can manage to get near the west coast, try Applecross. It's epic. http://www.applecross.uk.com/index.htm
And, enjoy it. It's not a competition, so slow down, take in the views, stop and take pictures so you can share when you get back.
Edited by NeilBeforeZod on Thursday 31st July 10:49
IsMad said:
RizzoTheRat said:
Don't worry about the people saying they wouldn't consider it, they're sports bike riders, you're on a far better bike for doing that kind of trip, though I agree with what someone else said about keeping the speeds down. Cruising at 85 will only take about 40 minutes longer than cruising at 100 but you'll be a lot less tired at the end
hey,I am about to ride my GSX-R600 from Birmingham to South of Bordeaux. So there 
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