Ride Report-Short Saturday ride round the peaks ON ROAD
Got a phone call from Pipster on Friday, “ Going to Leisure Trail near Nottingham tomorrow to pick up some bits for the KTM . Weather looks great , fancy a ride round the Peaks? “

Well my GS hadn’t turned a wheel for a few weeks now, no tank on it , few other bits of trim missing , waiting for me to fit a new wiring harness from PIAA. But I quickly put her back together on Friday night, checked her over and fired her up. All OK.
We met up 40 miles from my place at a petrol station on the A50 near Uttoxeter and then headed over to here;
Only a Mandarin GS outside when we arrived, no other KTMers?
Phil was after a few bits including something called a sprocket, at least I think that what he called it??

I had a sit on this
Very nice, slim , lightweight compared to the GS, seemed comfy with the gel seat on it . First time I have sat on one without it being bolted to the floor at a bike show. I was tempted. If only they did ‘em in GLOSS black
Apparently this is a KTM GS , who’d have thought it?
As we left the guy who owned the mandarin GS turned up on the dealers 990ADV demo bike and said he really liked the KTM and was considering getting one – “Lighter, more punch but just as stable and you get used to the dive. Nice “ – He gave it a big thumbs up!

We dropped into Pidcocks BMW, I’ve never been before, nice dealership, plenty of staff and very busy inside. Looked like Spring time buying fever was upon them. I resisted the urge to buy something from the clothing department although I liked the look of the Motorrad retro tracksuit top.
Couple of nice 08 GSs outside. I liked the black cylinders but why not go the whole hog and have a full black engine and gearbox option. Come on BMW??
We then headed over to Derby , rode down the Amber Valley and ended up at Matlock Bath. Loads of bikes, mucho traffic. We stopped long enough to enyoy a nice cuppa with Chicken and Mushroon Pie , Chips , Peas and gravy at “Charles’” opposite the Lighthouse Chippy. Another big thumps up.

Phil tucks into his pie
The traffic was really bad when we left, too many cars and all the rice rockets and Harleys were out . Some nice bikes. Loads of quads too , “Whats the point of them. None , 4 wheel bikes, Daft we agreed !!?” We left and then basically for the next few hours just got lost down all the lanes and B roads between Matlock and the Buxton area, unlike the main roads they were empty.
Harley in the hills
Some great scenery

Phil trying to convince me (and himself) that we are not lost
Great weather . Completely empty roads. Stopped for a few gratuitous bike photos;
My favourite shot of the day. What do ya reckon?
OK so its a KTM but I liked it
The sheep were sunbathing
Phil trying to convince me of the KTMs off-road pedigree

We looped round to Speedwell Cavern etc and then into Buxton itself. Where Phil and his KTM were back in their natural habitat for the second time that day.
Nope, NOT off-road ,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
in the PETROL STATION

;
Big GS about to ride straight over the little upstart KTM
Over towards the the Cat and Fiddle and then down to Congleton heading home;
Gotta get back before the sun sets
Artsy fartsy shot
Very pleasant day. Its nice not being in a rush to get anywhere. Covered just short of 200 miles by the time I got home around 5pm. Thanks for the invite Phil
Bye for now;
Ian
Got a phone call from Pipster on Friday, “ Going to Leisure Trail near Nottingham tomorrow to pick up some bits for the KTM . Weather looks great , fancy a ride round the Peaks? “


Well my GS hadn’t turned a wheel for a few weeks now, no tank on it , few other bits of trim missing , waiting for me to fit a new wiring harness from PIAA. But I quickly put her back together on Friday night, checked her over and fired her up. All OK.
We met up 40 miles from my place at a petrol station on the A50 near Uttoxeter and then headed over to here;
Only a Mandarin GS outside when we arrived, no other KTMers?
Phil was after a few bits including something called a sprocket, at least I think that what he called it??


I had a sit on this
Very nice, slim , lightweight compared to the GS, seemed comfy with the gel seat on it . First time I have sat on one without it being bolted to the floor at a bike show. I was tempted. If only they did ‘em in GLOSS black
Apparently this is a KTM GS , who’d have thought it?
As we left the guy who owned the mandarin GS turned up on the dealers 990ADV demo bike and said he really liked the KTM and was considering getting one – “Lighter, more punch but just as stable and you get used to the dive. Nice “ – He gave it a big thumbs up!
We dropped into Pidcocks BMW, I’ve never been before, nice dealership, plenty of staff and very busy inside. Looked like Spring time buying fever was upon them. I resisted the urge to buy something from the clothing department although I liked the look of the Motorrad retro tracksuit top.
Couple of nice 08 GSs outside. I liked the black cylinders but why not go the whole hog and have a full black engine and gearbox option. Come on BMW??
We then headed over to Derby , rode down the Amber Valley and ended up at Matlock Bath. Loads of bikes, mucho traffic. We stopped long enough to enyoy a nice cuppa with Chicken and Mushroon Pie , Chips , Peas and gravy at “Charles’” opposite the Lighthouse Chippy. Another big thumps up.
Phil tucks into his pie

The traffic was really bad when we left, too many cars and all the rice rockets and Harleys were out . Some nice bikes. Loads of quads too , “Whats the point of them. None , 4 wheel bikes, Daft we agreed !!?” We left and then basically for the next few hours just got lost down all the lanes and B roads between Matlock and the Buxton area, unlike the main roads they were empty.
Harley in the hills
Some great scenery


Phil trying to convince me (and himself) that we are not lost
Great weather . Completely empty roads. Stopped for a few gratuitous bike photos;
My favourite shot of the day. What do ya reckon?
OK so its a KTM but I liked it
The sheep were sunbathing
Phil trying to convince me of the KTMs off-road pedigree
We looped round to Speedwell Cavern etc and then into Buxton itself. Where Phil and his KTM were back in their natural habitat for the second time that day.
Nope, NOT off-road ,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
in the PETROL STATION


;
Big GS about to ride straight over the little upstart KTM
Over towards the the Cat and Fiddle and then down to Congleton heading home;
Gotta get back before the sun sets
Artsy fartsy shot
Very pleasant day. Its nice not being in a rush to get anywhere. Covered just short of 200 miles by the time I got home around 5pm. Thanks for the invite Phil
Bye for now;
Ian