Virgin Tourer

[Shimster]

Hi Everyone.

I've had my 650 twin for nearly a year now, and she has never left Manx tarmac. I've never done any sort of bike touring before, but I really like the idea, maybe I've been watching too many TV programmes or something, but it just seems like really good fun.

Can anyone offer any suggestions how someone like me gets to experience bike touring? I reckon somewhere around the other mainland (thats the UK mainland to all you non Manxies) would be a good place to start. I don't want to get in too deep and scare myself off the idea.

I've only got a lickle 650 so I'm not sure how she'd be on tour.... I know that if I like it, I'll be trading up to the 800 pretty soon after getting back

Thanks

Jason

 

[Aidan1150]

Can anyone offer any suggestions how someone like me gets to experience bike touring?

I would say start small Jason, see how you get on, then take on longer runs.

Your 650 will be well up to the job, lot's of guys use them for round the world rides without any bother at all. The limits are yours, not the bikes.

A run to one of the many UKGSer weekends in the UK or Ireland would be a good start I'd say. You would be in the company of lot's of other Tossers, have plenty of craic and get to see some great scenery. There is no feeling quite like loading the bike and heading away for a weekend run, or a week's touring. It's feckin great.

Alternatively, a ferry to Heysham for a long weekend in the Lake District camping or staying in B&B's would be a good start. Each time you go away you could go to different areas, heading further each time and staying away for longer.

There's plenty of nice places to see and great roads to ride in the UK or Ireland. Scotland is great to ride in and is stunningly beautiful. Quite often Tossers in the area you are heading to will meet up to ride a bit or have the craic with you. At the very least they will offer advice on here as to the best roads to ride, "must see" places or accommodation. All you have to do is ask.

As your confidence and experience rises then you may wish to head for the continent, or further.

I know it's a bit of a cliche, but just do it.

 

[everywherevirtually]

I know it's a bit of a cliche, but just do it.

before I read your post those were my exact thoughts.

I started riding a year ago today. Bought a 125 and did mini tours of about 180 miles round trip. Got the beemer in June and in July did a bigger trip down to Touratech in Wales, onwards to Devon and then back to Manchester.

That was a good fact finding trip and gave me an opportunity to tweak the gear ready for a 3000 mile Euro Tour in August.

be warned though. It's very addictive :cool

 

[Tarka]

Aidan posted pretty much the gist of it.

If you`re not too confident or happy in your own company then start by doing things like the UKGSer events over here.....Llangollen would be a nice and easy one and would also get you into the stunnning North Wales scenery.

Or just get a ferry ticket sorted and come over by yourself.

Nowhere is right or wrong.....it`s your choice....go with your 'vibe'.
You may like historical sites...military museums...lakes and mountains...you may even like city tours.
Whatever your interests are,if you include them into a bike trip there`s nothing better.

The essence of it is that your inner self should be wanting to go wherever or do whatever...that`s the 'wanderlust'.

If your still not really sure where you want to go...but just have a desire to get further afield then I`d still recommend North Wales or The Lake District as good starting points 'over here'.
I can also highly recommend an Ireland tour .

If you want an initial long weekend 'taster' trip around North Wales like my Emerald Isle mini tour of Northern Island with Aidan then PM me (oops...just spotted you can`t as you`re not a Site Sponsor) as I have sets of six days off every seven weeks and would be happy accommodate you and show you about for a few days.

 

[John Armstrong]

To help build you self confidence, doing a couple of guided trips can be usefull. Takes the planning out of it, to which many enjoy, may run around in a giant snake, which some enjoy. I used the planned ones when I went to Spain, probably wont use them in mainland Europe again, but would for Morocco etc.

But they do let you see that you can get on a bike, do xxx miles in a day, and see that there's nice hotels and people out there. Personally I think the 650 twin is a very underrated bike, look and see what Tim Cullis does.

 

[Shimster]

Fantastic advice from you all, many thanks.

I'm a big fan of the Lake District anyway, and quite often go camping over there, so I think my first trip away will have to be the Lakes.

I've seen a few of the organised tours up around Scotland which seem to be aimed at the beginners such as myself, does anyone have any experience of these trips? One thing that did concern me was the short distance that the little 650 gets to a tank of fuel, I'm only getting about 150miles to a tank here on the Island and I wouldn't want to be a hinderance to the rest of the group if we keep having to stop so I can put motion lotion in my bike.

Cheers

Jason

 

[Spear Ruler]

We went to the Highlands in Scotland from Ireland last year. One of the group leaders on same bike as you and she had no difficulties re fuel etc. Most importantly best road surfaces between the 2 islands and quite empty roads. Great welcome for the bike group,,,,,,,, in fact we are hoping to go again in May this year and I am a new rider on a single 650 GS
Geraldine

 

[everywherevirtually]

With the 800's dodgy fuel guage I usually fill up at 150 miles anyway just to be sure.