Tag: Adventure

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Riding

2025 Plan: Harley Davidson Rental Exploring San Diego, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree

Harley Davidson Rental San Diego to Palm Springs

2024 has been a tough year for me and downright shit at times. I’m woefully overdue for some decent motorcycle therapy and a good adventure, something to look forward to and bring back some positivity and saddle time.

My work has roped me into doing a tradeshow in San Diego at the end of January. It’ll be a crazy few days, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to take a couple of extra days to rent a bike and explore more of California. The last time I had such a chance was way back in 2019, pre-covid when I rented a Yamaha Super Ténéré to explore Yosemite National Park, which all seems a lifetime ago.  It’s high time I booked another Californian biking adventure, a chance to explore the South of the state I’ve not ridden yet.

The decent folks at EagleRider had some great winter discounts on offer, though their San Diego shop only had Harley Davidson’s available to rent. Not my first choice of bike, but having done a couple of Harley Davidson rentals in the past, I know they can be a good laugh and are great for some chilled-out touring. I’ve gone for the Road Glide, a big bagger with fixed front fairing, as EagleRider had reduced all their Hogs to the same price, so no reason not to try one of the bigger models!

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Riding Videos

Lake Tahoe Motorcycle Ride and Yamaha Super Ténéré XT1200 Review

Check out this new video or a chilled-out Lake Tahoe motorcycle ride as part of my past motorcycle trip to Yosemite. Located on the California/Nevada border and a great excursion for a San Francisco motorcycle route. I rode a Yamaha Super Ténéré XT1200ZE picked up from Eagle Rider, San Francisco motorcycle rental, a great dual sport bike for this adventure.

The route took in some breathtaking scenery alongside this beautiful lake. I also review the Yamaha Super Ten after three days of riding and give you my verdict.

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I actually filmed this Lake Tahoe motorcycle ride back in late 2019 just before the pandemic, I just haven’t had the chance to finish editing it until now. Sadly, much of the area was hit badly by forest fires since I was there, and there is a worrying trend of fires getting worse with each season.

More details about the trip, my plan and the route can be found here.

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News

10 Years of Riding!

How time flies when you’re having fun!

Passed DAS - Big Grin!
Motorcycle test passed 30th Aug 2012

I can’t believe it was 10 years ago when I embarked on my motorcycling adventure. Back then, I was fed up commuting into London on the tube, so I took my wife’s advice (yep, she’s always right!) and learnt to ride a motorbike.

Life has changed dramatically since then, I well and truly converted, now a die-hard biker. For many years I commuted into central London, toured in far-flung locations, went on track days, and did a spot of off-road riding, and throughout I was always looking to better my riding skills with further training. I’ve also made so many great friends within the biking community, it really is just one big family.

Mary picking up her Triumph Street Twin

Mary got herself back on two wheels after a few years’ break allowing us to share our biking interest and enjoy some fun times together. The kids grew up fast, also joined us on the bikes and are now contemplating their first motorbikes. Guess that’s what happens when you start ‘um young!

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Videos

Family Motorcycle Tour Scotland, Part 1

A family tour on bikes to Scotland, what could possibly go wrong?! With the British weather not on our side, it certainly was going to be a trip to remember. Check out this part 1 video of our journey North from London to Scotland via the Peak District, Yorkshire and the Pennines.

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Been sitting on this footage for a while, but with so much other stuff going on recently, I’ve now finally got this first part edited. Hope you enjoy it.

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Riding Videos

Big Changes Ahead – Highlights from a Summer of Riding

There’s some big change ahead here at Beginner Biker Adventures as our plan to relocate to Scotland is rolling full speed ahead. All the moving stress and preparations may have reduced the amount of content we’ve been able to deliver, but we’ve still been out riding as much as we can. Here’s my latest YouTube video with highlights of our best riding moments from the summer – enjoy!

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What were your summer biking highlights? Have you undertaken a big relocation recently (or planning one)? I’d love to hear from you!

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Videos

Motovlog: Best Roads Wales Tour 2020

Best roads Wales
Dinnas Mallwyd, Wales

Back in August, since other touring plans were scuppered due to the pandemic, we undertook a Wales motorcycle tour. A staycation, crashing with family in Welshpool for a couple of weeks with a plan to explore the best roads Wales outlined in Simon Wier’s Bikers Britain book. Check out this video of the key highlights from the trip – enjoy!

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If you want to get more details of the routes, you can grab yourself a copy of the Biker’s Britain book from Amazon here.

 

Categories
Riding

Mid Wales Motorcycle Ride Out – The Abergwesyn Pass

Wales Motorcycle Ride, Powys
Welcome to Wales, Powys

This is a route I rode in May 2019, back then I could not have imagined what is happening now one year on. I find myself now looking back at the freedom we had to ride where ever we liked. Enjoy my reminiscing and stick this route on your to-do list for when lockdown restrictions are eased.

This route offers a short loop taking in some of the best roads Wales can offer, beginning and finishing in Newtown (because I was staying with family in Welshpool, the next town north, and using this as my base). All in its about 130 miles and about 3.5 – 4 hours of riding time, factor in a couple of coffee and food stops and you have a chilled out day on the bike.

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Videos

Highlights Roundup Video 2019

It was a busy year for me in 2019 with numerous biking trips and adventures around the globe.  Below is a short video of the key highlights from the past year, do enjoy!

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Have you had similar interesting adventures in the past? Do you have any exciting plans for the coming year? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

Categories
Riding

Scotland West Coast Motorcycle Road Trip with Mapped/FA

Scotland motorcycle tour with Blake, Mapped/FA
Blake, Mapped/FA

I think I’m almost as passionate about Scotland as I am about motorcycles, scotch and good coffee (which means it’s significant). My first Scotland motorcycle tour was back in 2017 for our NC500 Adventure. I fell in love with the scenery, the roads and the people. I knew I would be heading back.

In August 2019 I set off on tour to explore the West Coast of Scotland by motorcycle and, more importantly, the Isle of Mull and the Isle of Skye. I decided to call this adventure the “Western Isles Tour”. Now, I must put my hand up and admit that I have made a mistake. I have been advised by several followers that the Isle of Mull and Skye are not part of the Western Isles. Please accept my apologies for this error! (But to me, Mull and Skye were the Western Isles, for this adventure at least!)

The tour itself took place over five days and was designed to take in key parts of the Scottish Highlands, the West coast as well as the Isles of Mull and Skye. In total, the adventure covered over 1,300 miles, starting and ending in Manchester. AKA Team Mapped Base Camp. Although, the true start point is Loch Lomond.

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Featured Riding

Solo Motorcycle Tour Tips

It’s well-documented that riding a motorbike can bring a huge sense of freedom and when you tour solo for longer distances over many days this feeling is even greater. For a beginner, that first big solo motorcycle trip can be quite daunting, raising many what-if questions – what if I break down? what if I get lost? Some people are just more naturally confident, whilst others are less so, worry more and find the idea of riding out into the unknown uneasy.

If you’ve not travelled long distances by bike solo before and are somewhat nervous about the proposition, but do what to overcome this fear and explore, then read on. This article will hopefully give you some solo motorcycle tour tips to beat those fears and plan for a trouble-free motorcycle adventure.

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