Bikes
BMW R1250GS TE Triple Black
May 2026 Meet Morticia, My BMW R1250GS TE Triple Black Some milestones in riding deserve more than a quick social media update. They deserve a moment to sit back, reflect, and look ahead at the open road. If you’ve been following my recent motorcycling updates, you’ll know that a few Read more
Bikes
Triumph Speed 400
May 2026 The upside of selling Clifford, my fire-breathing red Triumph Sprint ST 1050, was that I now had a large, echoing, motorcycle shaped void in my garage. It was so empty I swear Gina (my BMW R1200GS, queen of boxer powered brilliance) started getting echo lonely at night. I Read more
2025
Rig’s 2025 TMBF Challenge
The Motorbike Forum challenge begins with obtaining your unique number (mine happens to be 404). Next, you consult the provided map to discover all the locations you can visit. At each spot, you need to snap a photo featuring yourself or your bike at the location, with your unique number clearly visible in the picture as proof of your visit.
Bikes
Rig’s Triumph Sprint ST 1050
October 2024 I’d been hunting for Vera’s replacement with uncharacteristic patience, waiting for a sign from the Motorcycle Gods. Naturally, that sign appeared while I was “just having a quick look” at the ukgser.com forum, a site more addictive than caffeine and twice as expensive. I saw her: a Triumph Read more
Honda
Rig’s Honda VFR800Fi
I’d been hunting for a project bike for a while—something to get my hands dirty with, tinker around, and play. But I also wanted a winter ride. Basically, I needed a winter project that didn’t involve binge-watching YouTube bike rebuilds. By sheer luck (or fate, maybe?), a good friend mentioned Read more
2023
Rig’s TMBF 2023 Challenge
The Motorbike Forum challenge consists of taking a picture of your bike outside a specific number of locations, more pictures equal more points!
England
Peak District Loop (Cat & Fiddle and Snake Pass)
If you’re looking for one of the best motorcycle routes in the Peak District, this 100 mile loop starting in Cromford delivers some of the most famous roads and scenery the region has to offer. The ride begins in the historic village of Cromford, just minutes away from the bustling Read more
Bikes
BMW R1200GS Rallye
July 2021 The empty space in my garage where Dora, my Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer once lived didn’t stay empty for long, within a few days there was another beast taking up residence, meet Gina my BMW R1200GS Rallye and I love it, Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit… July Read more
England
B1190 – Bardney to Horncastle
The B1190 – a motorcyclist’s playground, where the bends are as fast-flowing as your adrenaline! This road twists and turns like it’s trying to show off, with curves that’ll have you leaning in like you’re riding through a live-action race scene (minus the explosions). From Bardney to Horncastle, the road’s Read more
2021
Rig’s TMBF 2021 Challenge 100
With 2020 basically being a write-off, in more ways than one due to a myopic car driver failing to stop at a give way and writing off my Kawasaki Versys 1000 and nearly me in the process, bike riding has been dramatically reduced due to my injuries. I decided that Read more
Bikes
Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer
June 2020 After the sudden and tragic demise of Fiona, my Kawasaki Versys 1000, I found myself in need of a new ride. I was tempted to just get another Versys 1000, I mean, who wouldn’t want to keep riding the big green beast? But then I remembered a long-standing Read more
Bikes
Kawasaki Versys 1000
August 2019 With Betty, my beloved BMW R1200GS, off to a new owner, it was time to find a worthy successor. Of course, I already had a shortlist in mind—because, let’s be honest, I’ve spent more time window shopping bikes than I have riding them! I’d never owned a Kawasaki, Read more
Biker Friendly Cafes
Through The Gate
A roadside diner with a difference. Offering our home produced breakfasts, meats, lunches, sandwiches and drinks … either to take away or eat in!
2019
Bedford (The Bendy)
While having a mooch around the Adventure Bike Rider Forum I spotted a very interesting route that has been posted by Hammy named Bedford (The Bendy) and boy was it bendy! The route took me past Melton Mowbray and I recalled that the members of the East Midlands region of Read more
England
Tilton on the Hill to Oakham
This short, 7-mile route takes you from Tilton on the Hill to Oakham starts by turning off the B6074 onto the Oakham Road.
2019
Day in the Cotswolds
While the UK was basking in unusually warm February temperatures (18 degrees Celsius) I decided to replace the front tyre as it was getting very low, well it had covered an astonishing 7,572 miles and while the rear tyre still had about 1,000 miles of tread left and had ‘only’ Read more
2019
New Year’s Day ride to Grindleford Cafe
2019 looked like it was going to start in a very unusual fashion, it was going to warm (for the time of year, 10 degrees Celsius) and dry and with nothing planned the only sensible thing to do would be to get out on the bike. While I was contemplating Read more
2019
Rig’s TMBF 2019 Challenge 100
For the sixth consecutive year—yes, that’s right, folks, a streak more consistent than the British weather disappointing you on a bank holiday, Rig is once again revving up to take part in the illustrious, the legendary, the absolutely wheely exciting Motorbike Forum UK Challenge 100! This grand adventure is lovingly Read more
Product Reviews
Daytona Road Star GTX Boots
Daytona Road Star GTX Boots, engineered for maximum comfort, protection, and performance, these boots are ideal for long-distance riding in all weather conditions.
2018
Rig’s TMBF 2018 Challenge 100
For the 5th year running Rig is taking part in The Motorbike Forum UK Challenge 100 which is organised by the splendid fellows over at themotorbikeforum.co.uk. The challenge consists of visiting 100 locations that are divided into 10 groups based on region and also 10 pubs. The pubs can be Read more
2017
Triumph Factory Visitor Experience
The new Triumph factory visitor experiance opened it’s doors on the 1st of November 2017, and now a few weeks later I finally had time to head over to Hinckley and take a look. The Triumph factory visitor experience is located at Triumph’s factory number 2, otherwise known as their Read more
Our Favourite Roads
B4391 – A5 to Bala to Ffestiniog
If you’re heading along the A5 between Shrewsbury and Oswestry the B4396/B4391 into Bala and then onto Ffestiniog has some nice twisty roads and fantastic views.
Bikes
BMW R1200GS
So, the time had come to bid farewell to my trusty Yamaha FJR1300 and welcome a new steed into my life: a BMW R1200GS, affectionately named ‘Betty’—because, well, it was a scorching hot day when I bought her, and the name just stuck. I’d been eyeing the BMW GS for Read more
Our Favourite Roads
A4233 – Aberdare to Maerdy
Take the A4233 from Aberdare to Maerdy, this is a very short, 5 mile road but it’s full of some great, switch back corners.
England
B1257 – Helmsley to Clay Bank
The B1257 from Helmsley to Clay Bank is a nice, fast flowing road with fantastic views of the Yorkshire countryside.
2017
Rig’s TMBF 2017 Challenge 100
For the fourth year running Rig is taking part in The Motorbike Forum UK Challenge 100 which is organised by the splendid fellows over at themotorbikeforum.co.uk. The challenge consists of visiting 90 locations that are divided into 9 groups based on region and also 10 pubs. The pubs can be Read more
England
B1176 – Grantham to Corby Glen
From the A52 island near Grantham take the B1176 to A151 at Corby Glen, signposted Old Somerby and Bourne You can download this route as a GPX file via this LINK
2016
2 Pubs and 2 Castles
It’s another glorious Saturday morning and with the rest of the RigsVille collective doing their own it was time to get out on the FJR and bag a few locations for this years TMBF 2016 Challenge 100. After looking at my progress map I realised that I only needed 2 Read more