North coast 500 on Honda 90's: August 2017
Nov 28, 2017 13:36:44 GMT 1
steven, steve h, and 3 more like this
Post by billbott on Nov 28, 2017 13:36:44 GMT 1
So, the North Coast 500 on Honda 90’s.
We set of on Sunday morning at 8.30am from Bolton, up through the usual Kirkby Lonsdale and over Shap. Rather than follow the exact route, we headed to the West coast Port of Ardrossan. We took a diversion to ride the ‘raiders trail’ we had heard about which was basically a track through woodland – C90 suspension ensures you feel every rut and bump!
Total mileage for the day was over 270, but due to the relaxed riding position it was easy.
Monday morning was lashing it down, but we stuck to the plan and caught the ferry across to Arran, minor mishap on the way when Daz hit a patch of diesel, filled his pants but he stayed on. We then rode clockwise, the long way around to the ferry port at the top and missed the boat by 10 minutes! Due to inclement weather we ended up waiting 5 hours for the next crossing… It was then 100 miles across to Fort William and we arrived at 8pm.
Tuesday we rode 50 miles across to Malaig from where we would sail over to Skye… The ferry port shite hawk couldn’t wait to tell us there was no room until 6.30pm – not even my charm would sway him so it was back to Fort William and up to Applecross via the Bealach na Bar (Applecross Pass) – great fun and a bit more trail riding when we got to the top. Stayed in the Applecross Inn, fantastic views, good trough and a few beers…
Wednesday up to Ullapool over some more brilliant roads and stayed in a crappy old hotel. The midgies made an appearance too along with some rain.
Thursday was the best day, right across the top of Scotland in the sunshine to Thurso via Durness. The views are stunning. Met up with a couple of lads off the C90 forum along the way, then another one of our mates met us at Thurso having couriered his scoot all the way up! When we got to the hotel, Chip, the lad who met us looked a bit wobbly on his bike so we checked and found that 12 of the 36 spokes in his back wheel had broken!!! How it stayed in one piece defies belief – the 2 lads from Thurso had a spare luckily so we fitted that so he could continue.
Friday down to Inverness via John ‘O’ Groats, the weather had turned and it was open A roads, not ideal for 6 C90’s but we held them flat out for mile after mile without a single problem.
Saturday we rode down to Peebles but disaster again struck Chip: he came off just outside Peebles. His front end failed – two top bolts from his forks had fallen out causing the front wheel to tuck under and wedge into the engine! Long story short, his mate and his missus drove all the way up and rescued him at 1.30am – he was ok luckily, just bumped and bruised.
Sunday we headed home via Devils Bridge. No-one seemed to believe where we had been. Home by 6pm.
Not a single puncture or mechanical failure for the 5 that set off and came back. All the bikes ticked over silently. Unbelievable really considering they had been thrashed for a total of 1450 miles each! Each used maybe an egg cup full of oil.
Few photo’s of the trip:
We set of on Sunday morning at 8.30am from Bolton, up through the usual Kirkby Lonsdale and over Shap. Rather than follow the exact route, we headed to the West coast Port of Ardrossan. We took a diversion to ride the ‘raiders trail’ we had heard about which was basically a track through woodland – C90 suspension ensures you feel every rut and bump!
Total mileage for the day was over 270, but due to the relaxed riding position it was easy.
Monday morning was lashing it down, but we stuck to the plan and caught the ferry across to Arran, minor mishap on the way when Daz hit a patch of diesel, filled his pants but he stayed on. We then rode clockwise, the long way around to the ferry port at the top and missed the boat by 10 minutes! Due to inclement weather we ended up waiting 5 hours for the next crossing… It was then 100 miles across to Fort William and we arrived at 8pm.
Tuesday we rode 50 miles across to Malaig from where we would sail over to Skye… The ferry port shite hawk couldn’t wait to tell us there was no room until 6.30pm – not even my charm would sway him so it was back to Fort William and up to Applecross via the Bealach na Bar (Applecross Pass) – great fun and a bit more trail riding when we got to the top. Stayed in the Applecross Inn, fantastic views, good trough and a few beers…
Wednesday up to Ullapool over some more brilliant roads and stayed in a crappy old hotel. The midgies made an appearance too along with some rain.
Thursday was the best day, right across the top of Scotland in the sunshine to Thurso via Durness. The views are stunning. Met up with a couple of lads off the C90 forum along the way, then another one of our mates met us at Thurso having couriered his scoot all the way up! When we got to the hotel, Chip, the lad who met us looked a bit wobbly on his bike so we checked and found that 12 of the 36 spokes in his back wheel had broken!!! How it stayed in one piece defies belief – the 2 lads from Thurso had a spare luckily so we fitted that so he could continue.
Friday down to Inverness via John ‘O’ Groats, the weather had turned and it was open A roads, not ideal for 6 C90’s but we held them flat out for mile after mile without a single problem.
Saturday we rode down to Peebles but disaster again struck Chip: he came off just outside Peebles. His front end failed – two top bolts from his forks had fallen out causing the front wheel to tuck under and wedge into the engine! Long story short, his mate and his missus drove all the way up and rescued him at 1.30am – he was ok luckily, just bumped and bruised.
Sunday we headed home via Devils Bridge. No-one seemed to believe where we had been. Home by 6pm.
Not a single puncture or mechanical failure for the 5 that set off and came back. All the bikes ticked over silently. Unbelievable really considering they had been thrashed for a total of 1450 miles each! Each used maybe an egg cup full of oil.
Few photo’s of the trip:
told him its worth quite a bit, he said been offered £1600 for it.
