RiDE March 2021

RiDE helps you get more from your motorcycle. Put together by a team of enthusiastic experts, with help from thousands of committed readers, every issue of RiDE is full of recommendations on bikes, kit, routes, destinations and technique. We speak directly to our readers about their biking lives & use our expertise to steer them towards the good-value option in bikes, trips and kits. We’re famed for our regular Product Tests and eery month provide a comprehensive used-bike buying guide, helping potential owners find the right bike at the right price. Finally... every issue features touring guides and riding advice to help readers explore the world on their bike.

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In This Issue

Welcome...

‘Thinking about buying a bike is escapism — and we need It...’ It’s been a very strange 12 months and for many of us, bikes have been one of our few real pleasures in a pretty dismal year. There was no greater evidence for this than when, as soon as that first lockdown lifted last summer, bikers lucky enough to still be employed flocked to dealers, desperate to get a new bike (I was one of them) and buy some escapism. But despite the clamour, there are still some great deals to be had — and this issue of RiDE is dedicated to getting the best. We’ve outlined 15 of what we (and you) think are the best-value used bikes currently on the market and also highlighted the best new bikes for…

1 min.

FRONT END

STAR PICTURE

Drumbeg, Scotland One upside of this summer’s travel restrictions on going abroad has been the chance to explore more of our own beautiful country, on my Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT Tour. The west coast of Scotland is stunning, with a fantastic mix of amazing scenery and even better roads. The best parts, however, are when you get off the beaten track and venture down some of the smaller roads, which adventure bikes such as my Suzuki are made for exploring. This is near Drumbeg, a remote crofting village on the north-west coast. I’ve ended up going three times this year and can’t wait to go back again. David Baker Get your bike in RIDE & win a BikeTrac system Each month the Star Picture will win a BikeTrac security tracker with a year’s BikeTrac…

1 min.

FRONT END

YOUR RIDES

Murlough Bay, County Antrim My friend Gibby on his FJ1200 and me on my FZ6 Fazer had a great trip up the North Antrim coast recently, to blast away the Covid blues. We rode along the coastal road and across the Glens of Antrim to Murlough Bay, where we stopped for a piping-hot coffee and ham sandwich looking out across to Rathlin Island before swapping bikes. From single-track forest park runs through to sweeping roads of the Glens, the ride had it all. A perfect antidote to blow away the cobwebs. Felim Blaney Megget Reservoir, Borders With my adventures to Spain and Portugal put on hold for a year, I explored Scotland instead and boy, did it deliver! The West Coast is stunning but after almost 2000 miles and two trips, Dumfries and…

3 min.

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HERE’S TO THE WIHTER WARRIORS

‘Just picked up my new BMW S1000RR, after trading in my gen-three. It’s my third RR and I am hoping to go on-track in Europe in 2021.’ Wayne Marrison ‘Instead of the main roads, I explored back roads around my home on my daughter’s bike. It was dirty already and mine were all clean!’ Martin Potts “Green laning in the North York Moors with a friend. “It doesn’t look too deep’ I say… The trusty Honda started straight away.’ Adrian Cowper ‘Getting to grips with my new Benell! TRK 502, which I’ll use to keep miles off my BMW R1200RT as well as for my RoSPA and IAM work.’ Chris Hood ‘My first ride out after lockdown 2 took me between Northumberland and County Durham. What a place to enjoy a Chocolate Orange!’ Euan…

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Our best reader routes from 2020

‘It makes you want to ride all day’ALEX AND SUE MINORS 1 KENDAL TO ALSTON DISTANCE 45 miles ROADS A6, A686 NOMINATED BY Alex and Sue Minors FEATURED IN Feb 2020 NO NEED FOR sat nav or route notes here — A6 to Penrith, A686 to Alston, and that’s it. It’s a simple route, and that’s how Alex likes it: “I design routes for ride-outs for our group, and we don’t want to lose people or make it complicated, so I like routes where I can just wave people past, and they can go at their own pace, knowing that they just have to follow the road.” Sue laughs: “Just as well; the rest of us can’t find our way out of a paper bag!” The A6 from Kendal to Penrith is fast, sweeping, and Alex’s…

5 min.

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ALSO TRY THESE

Newark to Grantham ROADS A607, B6403, B1176, A151, B1177, B1394, A153, A607 DISTANCE 72 miles NOMINATED BY David Ayres FEATURED IN October 2020 BEST BIT The B1177 to the A15 just north of Bourne: it’s frenetic and fun David’s route is flexible, depending on how much time you have. It’s a leaisurly blast through the Lincolnshire hills and passes Chris Walker’s Kawasaki dealership. Just mind farmers’ muck on the roads… Crossgates to Crossgates ROADS A483, B4355, A488, A44 DISTANCE 51_miles NOMINATED BY Matt Taylor FEATURED IN May 2020 BEST BIT The whole of the A483. Sweeping, grippy and not normally laden with traffic This loop runs over smaller rural roads and climbs up out of Dolfor to run alongside the England/Wales border. There is plenty to get the heart racing but watch out for kamikaze sheep and muddy roads.…

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