Moto Pistons Picos Rally/ Airhead

Wrigsby1

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Aug 27, 2009
Messages
4,852
Reaction score
687
Location
AB51
So... Its been a quiet year for touring after a move from Shetland to the Mainland. Ironically I managed more tours round the UK while living on an island for 19 years than the 1st year off...😂

So after a recent article in Classic Bike I fancy the Moto Pistons Picos gathering and especially the 5000 curves... Toured there 20 odd years ago and still my biking heaven... There rule is pre 1980 so I'm down to heavy flywheel airheads and am watching a couple, especially a very well modded one that looks the biz but is a fair bit more than my mental budget...
I'm a sucker for RT's but they were only just out in 79 so it's a very limited market... My Airhead ownership has been Mono's or a Para R but this is outwith the rules...
So, am I buying up for the best I can get but one that will need a screen for distance or holding out, or just going there on a later one at another time...?
My plan is to ride it end to end and make a proper tour out of it so UK/France as well...
Any feedback from previous attendees would be greatly appreciated...😁👍
 

1978 BMW R 100RT

Motorcycle Specifications Overviews and Road Tests
www.motorcyclespecs.co.za www.motorcyclespecs.co.za
The old Cycle launch article made me laugh... Far less of the love in that modern articles have trying hard not to offend the manufacturer who lent them the review bike...😁
 
Mikeyboy on this forum is your man to supply a suitable bike for you.

I have a similar ambition to do the northern Spain rallies and bought this R60/6 for the job. I’m in the process of getting it re-registered in France and have been riding it locally for the last couple of months. Whilst it’s not a fast bike by any means, it is delightful to ride and very very smooth compared to my other ‘tuned’ airheads
IMG_2682.jpeg
 
Wrigsby1 said:
So... Its been a quiet year for touring after a move from Shetland to the Mainland. Ironically I managed more tours round the UK while living on an island for 19 years than the 1st year off...😂

So after a recent article in Classic Bike I fancy the Moto Pistons Picos gathering and especially the 5000 curves... Toured there 20 odd years ago and still my biking heaven... There rule is pre 1980 so I'm down to heavy flywheel airheads and am watching a couple, especially a very well modded one that looks the biz but is a fair bit more than my mental budget...
I'm a sucker for RT's but they were only just out in 79 so it's a very limited market... My Airhead ownership has been Mono's or a Para R but this is outwith the rules...
So, am I buying up for the best I can get but one that will need a screen for distance or holding out, or just going there on a later one at another time...?
My plan is to ride it end to end and make a proper tour out of it so UK/France as well...
Any feedback from previous attendees would be greatly appreciated...😁👍
Click to expand...
I stand to be corrected,but I don’t think they are overly strict on the age thing?
 
mikeyboy said:
I stand to be corrected,but I don’t think they are overly strict on the age thing?
Click to expand...
Be interesting to know cos there's more early 80's one about with the updates ..
 
If you chose to do it with Indianos Colombres their cut off date is 1986. Gives you a few more options.
 
Glynn said:
If you chose to do it with Indianos Colombres their cut off date is 1986. Gives you a few more options.
Click to expand...
I've done Picos Rally twice & enjoyed it both times on an R90S & then a Z900.
I wanted to do it on my Paris Dakar this year. On last rally I bought Frank, who is the organiser a pint & asked if I could bring it !
I got a No !!
Some pals of mine did it this year & there was a Spanish Paris Dakar participating. They don't seem as keen on the rules if your Spanish !!
So for the first time I did Colombres Rally this year, which I enjoyed.... see pic.
Of the two events, I think the Picos Rally works best, except for 2 nights based in Potes, everyone stays at the excellent modern Hotel Santemar in Santander, which has large car park underneath it.... Full of Bikes !!
On Colombres Rally, due to lack of a large central hotel, everyone scattered about the region in small hotels. Our hotel was nice, but no bar or restaurant, so we had to get a taxi every night, which was a pain.
Hope this Helps !!!IMG-20241019-WA0009.jpg
 
Grantiii said:
The application form has ....
PRE 1980
Boldly written across front of it !!!
Click to expand...
Edit: My point was that maybe they are a bit flexible about it? I think they were in the past.
 
Last edited:
Ha, just laughing at an email I've just received from a very nice man who has decided to keep the main bike I had an eye on... Probably very sensible on his part...!
So... Back to RTs...😂
 
The Moto Piston rally based out of Santander and Potes is pre 1980. MC Indianos organise the Colombres and North of Spain rallies and are pre 1988.
I've done the North of Spain Rally a couple of times and they're definitely not as strict on age as long as it's in period. A friend did it on his 1990 R80GS paralever when he had an issue with his other bike and no one was bothered in the slightest.
Personally, having stayed in Santander when the Piston rally was on, it was very big, but well organised. But, I when I wanted to go back on a classic, I much preferred the smaller, but equally well organised NoS rally. Plus, Asturias is lovely and much overlooked.
Plenty of reasonably priced RT monos around at sensible money as well.
 
I've done the MC Pistons rally a few times.
Last time was on a 1981 R100RS ( was on Irish plates though), and no one questioned me, including Frank.
Attended the Colombres rally this year (October) on a 1995 N Reg. R100RT, again, no rally staff asked me anything about the bike. Also completed their 5000 curves equivalent (330 miles) and no questions asked.
As a previous poster said, I was going to say my pre 1980/88 broke down and I had to use this one.
End of the day, the organisers want the money and classic bikes on the rallies.
I haven't been on the North of Spain rally before and cannot comment on that.
As long as your not taking the Mickey, I'm sure it's no big deal.
Not many younger bikers attend these rallies, so wonder how long they can keep going.
Hope this helps.
 
You don't need a big BMW either as anything will do really.
I did it a few years ago on a Honda CB250RS.
Rode it there as well, albeit the ferry took us over the Portsmouth - Santander part.
 
Thanks for the replies guys... I originally started looking as I always wanted an RT Classic from 95... Even when I sold BMs' I always had an itch for an Airhead and a few came and went... I've had a 94 R80RT, a late 80's 100RT, nicely scruffy and over the 100k miles and an R100R... I'll have a think and might end up with an 80's RT either twin shock or early Mono... As with everything bike wise, the more you look, the more you think hmmm i might stretch to that... :) Typically as its the main market, there's a far wider spread of EU Airheads of all ilks on the market...

Good to know of the different rallies too as that gives a few to pick from...(y)
 
Wrigsby1 said:
So... Its been a quiet year for touring after a move from Shetland to the Mainland. Ironically I managed more tours round the UK while living on an island for 19 years than the 1st year off...😂

So after a recent article in Classic Bike I fancy the Moto Pistons Picos gathering and especially the 5000 curves... Toured there 20 odd years ago and still my biking heaven... There rule is pre 1980 so I'm down to heavy flywheel airheads and am watching a couple, especially a very well modded one that looks the biz but is a fair bit more than my mental budget...
I'm a sucker for RT's but they were only just out in 79 so it's a very limited market... My Airhead ownership has been Mono's or a Para R but this is outwith the rules...
So, am I buying up for the best I can get but one that will need a screen for distance or holding out, or just going there on a later one at another time...?
My plan is to ride it end to end and make a proper tour out of it so UK/France as well...
Any feedback from previous attendees would be greatly appreciated...😁👍
Click to expand...
Yes hopefully 3 or 4 of us doing it next September. I will be taking my r100/7.and a friend is thinking about doing it on a very early honda gl1000
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Anyone recently tried the Moto Pistone rally ?
Replies
0
Views
644
harley-metisse
patzx12
Zaragoza, MotoGP + Santander Moto pistons.
2
Replies
33
Views
9,358
de crowe
Devon
Moto Pistons
Replies
3
Views
2,510
patzx12
patzx12
Devon
Moto Pistons 2014
Replies
5
Views
2,234
bandit
Belper phil
AIRHEADS to the Moto Piston!
Replies
1
Views
1,203
Voyager
Voyager


Back
Top Bottom