Motorbiking

"Biker" for me usually means motorbiking, though I also have a couple of mountain-bikes... see Trail Bike

My current motorbikes are a Honda CBR600RR ABS 2017 and a Kawasaki Ninja Z250SL.

Previously I have owned: Kawasaki ZX4-RR (Ninja anniversary edition), Honda CRF300 Rally, Honda CBR600RR 2005, Honda CBR600FW, Honda VF750F, Yamaha FJ600, Suzuki GSX750EX, Yamaha FJ750, Yamaha XJ900, Kawasaki Z750 and I passed my riding test on my Kawasaki KH250.

See also my Motorbiking web links

Ninja Z240SL on the road in Cumbria

Annual vehicle inspection passed again. My little Ninja Z250SL keeps its place in my garage alongside my new Ninja ZX-4RR because the smaller bike works so well on the little roads around Cumbria.

ZX-4RR at sunset

“Ride till the sun goes down”
“Ride like the devil on fire”
“Ride off in to the sunset”

Photographic note
This is one set of photos from the same location with HDR layering work to control the contrast.

ZX-4RR, Ninja  Anniversary Edition

ZX-4RR, Ninja  Anniversary Edition

At last, riding my own ZX-4RR. It’s been a while but worth the wait to get the Ninja 40th anniversary edition colours and custom leathers. First ride was out to roads I know well in the North Pennines, big country with sweeping curves under a wide sky.
It’s good. It’s bright green. It’s light and nippy. Noisy and rides like a track bike, almost no engine braking. Not pushed the revs yet while running in, the red line is 16k revs so some way to go: I’m looking forward to screaming it like a teenager!

More photos: My new ZX-4RR: 400cc, 4 cylinder sportsbike

Route des Crêtes of Cap Canaille

Cassis

Good day’s riding with the Provence group of the French bike club, AMA. Coffee meet at the port of Cassis (Bouches-du-Rhône), run over the Route des Crêtes of Cap Canaille, then on up through the pine forest to pass the motorsport track at le Castellet. Down the valley of the River Gapeau to Solliès-Pont (Var) for lunch outside under the hundred year old plantane trees and the church with a Madonna (blessed by Pope Jean-Paul II) dedicated to motorbikers.

More photos: AMA Provence ride-out: Solliès-Pont

Col du Lautaret
Col du Lautaret (2057 m.)

Col du Lautaret
Snowball juggling

Sunny ride up the whole length of the valley of the Durance to Briançon (1326 m.). Checked in at a historic hotel in the fortified old town, then on up the road to the Col du Lautaret (2057 m.). Rocks white with snow and ice but tarmac black and dry. Special views around as approaching the snow line and the glaciers. Snowballs at the col, 2057 m. The side road on up to the Col du Galibier (2642 m.) was snowbound.

Read more: White ride - Col du Lautaret (2057 m.)

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En route from Marseille to the Alps

I'm riding light for a week on the mountain roads of the Alps. No laptop, although I do have my SLR camera but photos will have to wait till I'm back in Marseille..

I left Marseille for a long ride north via the Col de la Croix Haute (1179 m.) to Saint-Gervais under Mont Blanc. A bit of rain towards the end of the day which cleaned the Provence dust off my white leathers and boots but didn't soak me through.