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 Read more
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.
October 2024 I’d been on the hunt for a replacement for Vera, my trusty Honda VFR 800, for a few months. Uncharacteristically, I was taking my time—waiting for that magical moment when the bike would appear like a vision sent Read more
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. Read more
The Motorbike Forum challenge consists of taking a picture of your bike outside a specific number of locations, more pictures equal more points!
The route kicks off in the charming village of Cromford, just a stone’s throw from the rollercoaster vibes of Matlock Bath. From there, you’re in for a spectacular 100-mile loop around the stunning Peak District—a biker’s paradise packed with enough Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
With the year marching on the time had come for a trip to the scenic North Wales before the great UK weather put any thoughts of that region out of the mind for another year. Initial planning included a trip Read more
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 Read more
Back on the Road Again…although, with apologies to REO Speedwagon, not leaving, but a return to two-wheeled adventures. It was time to get the new wheels back into the groove and have a trip out. After a two-year two-wheeled break Read more
Twist A Go-Go The search for a more practical replacement to the Street Triple had gone through the Yamaha MT-10 (FZ-10), Kawasaki Z900 and arrived at the Honda NC750X. Having had an adventure bike previously this model had the potential Read more
A roadside diner with a difference. Offering our home produced breakfasts, meats, lunches, sandwiches and drinks … either to take away or eat in!
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 Read more
This short, 7-mile route takes you from Tilton on the Hill to Oakham starts by turning off the B6074 onto the Oakham Road.
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 Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
Daytona Road Star GTX Boots, engineered for maximum comfort, protection, and performance, these boots are ideal for long-distance riding in all weather conditions.
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 Read more
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 Read more
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.
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 Read more
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.
The B1257 from Helmsley to Clay Bank is a nice, fast flowing road with fantastic views of the Yorkshire countryside.
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 Read more
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
