Motorbike bucket list - feel free to add more items
Discussion
Hi All
Aim - I am on holiday in New Zealand and was lucky to do night time skiing, an amazing experience that got me thinking about a “bucket list” of activities, especially on motorbikes which is something I thoroughly enjoy in all ways.
Rule - needs to be for all budgets, hence instead of saying “trackday in country xxx” it’s more about having the trackday experience at whatever budget and so on for the others. IOM could be any version of the IOM events or just a visit, again at whichever budget
Bucket list -
Do a track day - completed and loved them. Exhilarating to ride super fast without worrying about anything
Do RWYB Run what you Brung at Santa Pod - completed and one of the cheapest fun days on a motorbike. Loved doing quarter miles on my commuter bike going against nitro powered monsters
Buy my 15 ish year old dream bikes - completed as this one was easy and so much cheaper now the bikes are older! Always wanted BMW 1150 GS and a GSA. Bought and then sold each one consecutively. Loved owning what I wanted albeit 15 years later
Own a 150hp or thereabouts beast to experience the thrill of proper powarrrrr - part completed, had Yamaha FZ1 and loved the ridiculousness of the power at high RPMs. I can only imagine what the latest 180+hp bikes are like to live with
Do a long weekend trip, whether UK or Europe or other, just go - completed and now an annual event to do mini trips from home to UK or somewhere in Mid East France. Buy your Euro Tunnel early and it’s fairly cheap or Wngland has plenty of places to go. Just go
Road Race in Ireland - I can’t think of anything more fun than riding some Irish roads and finishing it off with watching some Irish road racing, whichever it might be
IOM TT or IOM Manx GP or just some IOM riding - whichever I can afford, I definitely want to go someday. Probably the Manx or just riding off peak, but then doing the mountain course a few times
Wheelie school - just because. Who doesn’t want to learn even if they don’t need it
Bikesafe - completed and great fun but I was lucky to get a copper who was pretty funny and rode quite fast which was nice
Ride to John O Groats or Lands End - probably Lands End purely because I’m warm blooded so the weather there suits me best. One for the future as part of a weekend away
Do some motocross or muddy byways - completed and really enjoyed riding around my local byways with cheap old motocross bikes and now on my Africa Twin but albeit just very light byways only now
Do a project bike - my aim would be to buy super uber cheap and over the years slowly do it up. One for when I retire. Ideally a bike from the year I was born
Do some kind of charity work that enables me to do it while riding a motorbike - completed, as I used to be a SERV S&SL rider while I lived in London and for those where that is too much commitment, one off rides charity runs are great too. Whatever you can do
Support when I can the YouTubers and Road Racers I like - part completed, as I bought stuff from John McGuinness at a Motorbike show. Want to do similar for 44 Teeth and their BBB plus a Michael Dunlop beanie hat, that chunky monkey has earned my respect tenfold kicking @ss in the last few years at IOM TT
Go to a track race to watch anything - completed, I was very lucky to be invited as a last minute cancellation replacement on a Silverstone event to watch Moto GP. Literally same morning, some poor bugger got food poisoning from day before so I got his ticket, you got to appreciate luck when it comes your way
—————
Well, that’s the starting point.
If anyone comes up with some great ideas please do add them here and every so often I’ll revise the list with the extras that make it 👍
Aim - I am on holiday in New Zealand and was lucky to do night time skiing, an amazing experience that got me thinking about a “bucket list” of activities, especially on motorbikes which is something I thoroughly enjoy in all ways.
Rule - needs to be for all budgets, hence instead of saying “trackday in country xxx” it’s more about having the trackday experience at whatever budget and so on for the others. IOM could be any version of the IOM events or just a visit, again at whichever budget
Bucket list -
Do a track day - completed and loved them. Exhilarating to ride super fast without worrying about anything
Do RWYB Run what you Brung at Santa Pod - completed and one of the cheapest fun days on a motorbike. Loved doing quarter miles on my commuter bike going against nitro powered monsters
Buy my 15 ish year old dream bikes - completed as this one was easy and so much cheaper now the bikes are older! Always wanted BMW 1150 GS and a GSA. Bought and then sold each one consecutively. Loved owning what I wanted albeit 15 years later
Own a 150hp or thereabouts beast to experience the thrill of proper powarrrrr - part completed, had Yamaha FZ1 and loved the ridiculousness of the power at high RPMs. I can only imagine what the latest 180+hp bikes are like to live with
Do a long weekend trip, whether UK or Europe or other, just go - completed and now an annual event to do mini trips from home to UK or somewhere in Mid East France. Buy your Euro Tunnel early and it’s fairly cheap or Wngland has plenty of places to go. Just go
Road Race in Ireland - I can’t think of anything more fun than riding some Irish roads and finishing it off with watching some Irish road racing, whichever it might be
IOM TT or IOM Manx GP or just some IOM riding - whichever I can afford, I definitely want to go someday. Probably the Manx or just riding off peak, but then doing the mountain course a few times
Wheelie school - just because. Who doesn’t want to learn even if they don’t need it
Bikesafe - completed and great fun but I was lucky to get a copper who was pretty funny and rode quite fast which was nice
Ride to John O Groats or Lands End - probably Lands End purely because I’m warm blooded so the weather there suits me best. One for the future as part of a weekend away
Do some motocross or muddy byways - completed and really enjoyed riding around my local byways with cheap old motocross bikes and now on my Africa Twin but albeit just very light byways only now
Do a project bike - my aim would be to buy super uber cheap and over the years slowly do it up. One for when I retire. Ideally a bike from the year I was born
Do some kind of charity work that enables me to do it while riding a motorbike - completed, as I used to be a SERV S&SL rider while I lived in London and for those where that is too much commitment, one off rides charity runs are great too. Whatever you can do
Support when I can the YouTubers and Road Racers I like - part completed, as I bought stuff from John McGuinness at a Motorbike show. Want to do similar for 44 Teeth and their BBB plus a Michael Dunlop beanie hat, that chunky monkey has earned my respect tenfold kicking @ss in the last few years at IOM TT
Go to a track race to watch anything - completed, I was very lucky to be invited as a last minute cancellation replacement on a Silverstone event to watch Moto GP. Literally same morning, some poor bugger got food poisoning from day before so I got his ticket, you got to appreciate luck when it comes your way
—————
Well, that’s the starting point.
If anyone comes up with some great ideas please do add them here and every so often I’ll revise the list with the extras that make it 👍
Yours is very long and very thorough.
I am the complete opposite (though not suggesting you're wrong). I just want to ride to Lithuania next summer on whatever bike I have at the time.
My wife is Lithuanian and any day now will give birth to our first child, she is taking a year off work and next summer she'll go to Lithuania for a month. I don't have enough annual leave so will only join them for a little bit, but rather than fly there would rather ride.
My route will be Google Maps + Avoid motorways and prebook hotels at 500-600km intervals.
Currently have a v-strom but really attracted to a Himalayan 450, not actually going to try and do anything about that until after Christmas. She is okay with the idea in principle, lets just see if that is still the case next spring.
I am the complete opposite (though not suggesting you're wrong). I just want to ride to Lithuania next summer on whatever bike I have at the time.
My wife is Lithuanian and any day now will give birth to our first child, she is taking a year off work and next summer she'll go to Lithuania for a month. I don't have enough annual leave so will only join them for a little bit, but rather than fly there would rather ride.
My route will be Google Maps + Avoid motorways and prebook hotels at 500-600km intervals.
Currently have a v-strom but really attracted to a Himalayan 450, not actually going to try and do anything about that until after Christmas. She is okay with the idea in principle, lets just see if that is still the case next spring.
Britzilian89 said:
Hi All
Ride to John O Groats or Lands End - probably Lands End purely because I’m warm blooded so the weather there suits me best. One for the future as part of a weekend away
—————
Well, that’s the starting point.
If anyone comes up with some great ideas please do add them here and every so often I’ll revise the list with the extras that make it ?
Depends on where you are starting from. John O'Groats is one of the best rides I've made as part of the NC500. Better done at either end of the season as the traffic can be appalling (relative to the roads) in peak summer. Plenty of other routes to take in whilst in the area but the North coast is exceptionally good.Ride to John O Groats or Lands End - probably Lands End purely because I’m warm blooded so the weather there suits me best. One for the future as part of a weekend away
—————
Well, that’s the starting point.
If anyone comes up with some great ideas please do add them here and every so often I’ll revise the list with the extras that make it ?
Linksmas said:
Yours is very long and very thorough.
I am the complete opposite (though not suggesting you're wrong). I just want to ride to Lithuania next summer on whatever bike I have at the time.
My wife is Lithuanian and any day now will give birth to our first child, she is taking a year off work and next summer she'll go to Lithuania for a month. I don't have enough annual leave so will only join them for a little bit, but rather than fly there would rather ride.
My route will be Google Maps + Avoid motorways and prebook hotels at 500-600km intervals.
Currently have a v-strom but really attracted to a Himalayan 450, not actually going to try and do anything about that until after Christmas. She is okay with the idea in principle, lets just see if that is still the case next spring.
Link that sounds great dude! Have fun what a great ride that will be 👍I am the complete opposite (though not suggesting you're wrong). I just want to ride to Lithuania next summer on whatever bike I have at the time.
My wife is Lithuanian and any day now will give birth to our first child, she is taking a year off work and next summer she'll go to Lithuania for a month. I don't have enough annual leave so will only join them for a little bit, but rather than fly there would rather ride.
My route will be Google Maps + Avoid motorways and prebook hotels at 500-600km intervals.
Currently have a v-strom but really attracted to a Himalayan 450, not actually going to try and do anything about that until after Christmas. She is okay with the idea in principle, lets just see if that is still the case next spring.
papa3 said:
Britzilian89 said:
Hi All
Ride to John O Groats or Lands End - probably Lands End purely because I’m warm blooded so the weather there suits me best. One for the future as part of a weekend away
—————
Well, that’s the starting point.
If anyone comes up with some great ideas please do add them here and every so often I’ll revise the list with the extras that make it ?
Depends on where you are starting from. John O'Groats is one of the best rides I've made as part of the NC500. Better done at either end of the season as the traffic can be appalling (relative to the roads) in peak summer. Plenty of other routes to take in whilst in the area but the North coast is exceptionally good.Ride to John O Groats or Lands End - probably Lands End purely because I’m warm blooded so the weather there suits me best. One for the future as part of a weekend away
—————
Well, that’s the starting point.
If anyone comes up with some great ideas please do add them here and every so often I’ll revise the list with the extras that make it ?
Yes I have heard about the NC500 being exceptional and beautiful to ride
May need to go on the list, but probably already under weekends away
A nice list but I'd suggest your distance aspirations are a little tame.
I've done track days - thought they were boring.
I have no interest in drag racing or wheelieing.
I've owned a 220bhp bike.
I've ridden a number of sports bikes.
My top list would be:
Get my SS50 moped and BMW R100CS back on the road.
Ride the whole of the Route des Grand Alpes in both directions.
Ride to my place on the Algarve via the Pyrenees and the Picos
Own an original (non pro-link) Honda CBX
Take Mrs K1 up the Romantic Road! (That's a road in Bavaria with lots of castles for those with grubby minds and thought something different!)
Do a road trip through the Rockies.
Do a read trip in New Zealand.
And a slightly bigger one ...
Maybe run a motorcycle tour company when I retire
I've done track days - thought they were boring.
I have no interest in drag racing or wheelieing.
I've owned a 220bhp bike.
I've ridden a number of sports bikes.
My top list would be:
Get my SS50 moped and BMW R100CS back on the road.
Ride the whole of the Route des Grand Alpes in both directions.
Ride to my place on the Algarve via the Pyrenees and the Picos
Own an original (non pro-link) Honda CBX
Take Mrs K1 up the Romantic Road! (That's a road in Bavaria with lots of castles for those with grubby minds and thought something different!)
Do a road trip through the Rockies.
Do a read trip in New Zealand.
And a slightly bigger one ...
Maybe run a motorcycle tour company when I retire
Interesting thread, will expand later but for now will offer my favourite "bucket list" topics:
Ride the passes: yes I've been lucky to get to the Alps this year and tick off many boxes, but there's several in the UK to ride. A trip around Dumfries & Galloway, the North Pennines and Lake District could tick a lot off in a weekend. Also....
Most xxx: expanding on LE/JOG there's most southerly/northern/east/west/high/low etc throughout our four nations. IIRC One of my favourite roads is the 5th highest paved road in England and three of the remaining four run off it. Mull of Galloway is the most southerly point in Scotland, and has a decent restaurant.
Highest pubs: ticked off two, not made it to the Sportsman yet, but a Three Pubs challenge (drinks at all three within 24 hours) would be fun.
Ride the passes: yes I've been lucky to get to the Alps this year and tick off many boxes, but there's several in the UK to ride. A trip around Dumfries & Galloway, the North Pennines and Lake District could tick a lot off in a weekend. Also....
Most xxx: expanding on LE/JOG there's most southerly/northern/east/west/high/low etc throughout our four nations. IIRC One of my favourite roads is the 5th highest paved road in England and three of the remaining four run off it. Mull of Galloway is the most southerly point in Scotland, and has a decent restaurant.
Highest pubs: ticked off two, not made it to the Sportsman yet, but a Three Pubs challenge (drinks at all three within 24 hours) would be fun.
black-k1 said:
A nice list but I'd suggest your distance aspirations are a little tame.
I've done track days - thought they were boring.
I have no interest in drag racing or wheelieing.
I've owned a 220bhp bike.
I've ridden a number of sports bikes.
My top list would be:
Get my SS50 moped and BMW R100CS back on the road.
Ride the whole of the Route des Grand Alpes in both directions.
Ride to my place on the Algarve via the Pyrenees and the Picos
Own an original (non pro-link) Honda CBX
Take Mrs K1 up the Romantic Road! (That's a road in Bavaria with lots of castles for those with grubby minds and thought something different!)
Do a road trip through the Rockies.
Do a read trip in New Zealand.
And a slightly bigger one ...
Maybe run a motorcycle tour company when I retire
Ola K1I've done track days - thought they were boring.
I have no interest in drag racing or wheelieing.
I've owned a 220bhp bike.
I've ridden a number of sports bikes.
My top list would be:
Get my SS50 moped and BMW R100CS back on the road.
Ride the whole of the Route des Grand Alpes in both directions.
Ride to my place on the Algarve via the Pyrenees and the Picos
Own an original (non pro-link) Honda CBX
Take Mrs K1 up the Romantic Road! (That's a road in Bavaria with lots of castles for those with grubby minds and thought something different!)
Do a road trip through the Rockies.
Do a read trip in New Zealand.
And a slightly bigger one ...
Maybe run a motorcycle tour company when I retire
Great list and much more specific than mine. Although I would make a couple of points.
Trackday - I simply do not understand how they can be described as “boring”, especially fast & flowing tracks like Silverstone GP full track and the far cheaper Bedford Autodrome which I also loved riding on. It is a great thing to do even if only once on a bike, for the sheer thrill of it. Silverstone was hilariously fast.
Owning a 220hp bike - Now THAT probably makes a great story in itself. But if you don’t like track days, what is the actual point of 220hp and 70mph!?!
Anyway, I do like your other ideas and they all sit nicely under the trips away umbrella
Britzilian89 said:
GSA_fattie said:
Ride the length of Europe between Nordkapp, Norway and Tarifa, Spain
win the lottery - BSB/roads team
That’s a good idea GSAwin the lottery - BSB/roads team
There is probably a separate thread of “bucket list post lottery win” while this one is more the grounded and realistic version of that
I did the TT this year for the first time which had been on my bucket list for over 20 years for just over £200 plus spending money (albeit Practice week). £149 for the return ferry with bike and £70 camping for 6 nights. Had the weather played ball it would have been all day Monday practice and Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday evening practice plus the pre-TT classic on the Southern 100 course on the Sunday. As it was, I saw pre-TT classic races on the Sunday, about 30 minutes on the Monday and full Tuesday and Wednesday evenings practice, but had a fab time. Saw the whole of the island, rode the full course and saw the bikes at speed.
towser44 said:
I did the TT this year for the first time which had been on my bucket list for over 20 years for just over £200 plus spending money (albeit Practice week). £149 for the return ferry with bike and £70 camping for 6 nights. Had the weather played ball it would have been all day Monday practice and Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday evening practice plus the pre-TT classic on the Southern 100 course on the Sunday. As it was, I saw pre-TT classic races on the Sunday, about 30 minutes on the Monday and full Tuesday and Wednesday evenings practice, but had a fab time. Saw the whole of the island, rode the full course and saw the bikes at speed.
Great example Touser, love it £70 for 6 nights is super cheap
I’ve got two that I’d like to tick of the b l,
Firstly, to ride the Pacific Coast Highway from Olympic National Park all the way to the Mexican border, bike type is not that important as it’s just a ribbon of tarmac with the ocean on one side and mountains to the tother. A Bonneville would be perfect.
Secondly, buy a Goldwing, never ridden one but it’s just one of those things that I need to get done.
Firstly, to ride the Pacific Coast Highway from Olympic National Park all the way to the Mexican border, bike type is not that important as it’s just a ribbon of tarmac with the ocean on one side and mountains to the tother. A Bonneville would be perfect.
Secondly, buy a Goldwing, never ridden one but it’s just one of those things that I need to get done.
Essarell said:
I’ve got two that I’d like to tick of the b l,
Firstly, to ride the Pacific Coast Highway from Olympic National Park all the way to the Mexican border, bike type is not that important as it’s just a ribbon of tarmac with the ocean on one side and mountains to the tother. A Bonneville would be perfect.
Secondly, buy a Goldwing, never ridden one but it’s just one of those things that I need to get done.
You know what, there is a little bit of me that is with you - a Honda Goldwing riding would be fascinating as I hear it’s got deliciously rich torque at all RPMsFirstly, to ride the Pacific Coast Highway from Olympic National Park all the way to the Mexican border, bike type is not that important as it’s just a ribbon of tarmac with the ocean on one side and mountains to the tother. A Bonneville would be perfect.
Secondly, buy a Goldwing, never ridden one but it’s just one of those things that I need to get done.
Britzilian89 said:
Ola K1
Great list and much more specific than mine. Although I would make a couple of points.
Trackday - I simply do not understand how they can be described as “boring”, especially fast & flowing tracks like Silverstone GP full track and the far cheaper Bedford Autodrome which I also loved riding on. It is a great thing to do even if only once on a bike, for the sheer thrill of it. Silverstone was hilariously fast.
Owning a 220hp bike - Now THAT probably makes a great story in itself. But if you don’t like track days, what is the actual point of 220hp and 70mph!?!
Anyway, I do like your other ideas and they all sit nicely under the trips away umbrella
Going around the same mile and a bit, riding near to the limit, without going over it, while other idiots are all around you trying to do the same, all the time thinking about how expensive the bike would be to fix and how the old body won't bounce like it did 20+ years ago lost its appeal pretty quickly. There were always good people faster than me, and idiots faster than me so what was the point.Great list and much more specific than mine. Although I would make a couple of points.
Trackday - I simply do not understand how they can be described as “boring”, especially fast & flowing tracks like Silverstone GP full track and the far cheaper Bedford Autodrome which I also loved riding on. It is a great thing to do even if only once on a bike, for the sheer thrill of it. Silverstone was hilariously fast.
Owning a 220hp bike - Now THAT probably makes a great story in itself. But if you don’t like track days, what is the actual point of 220hp and 70mph!?!
Anyway, I do like your other ideas and they all sit nicely under the trips away umbrella
As for 220bhp (flashed H2 SX), it was just a bit quicker than 197bhp (stock H2 SX), which was just a bit quicker than 175bhp (K1300S) which was just a bit quicker than ... All were easy to ride in every situation from town to autobahn and from B road to Alpine pass. 220bhp just meant that whatever amount of go you felt was needed was instantly, but not frighteningly or uncontrollably, available. As for 70mph, a 10hhp 125 can do that so anything over that is there through choice not necessity. So why worry about 220bhp rather than 175bhp, or 125bhp or 75bhp?
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