Let me get this right ... (offroad/greenlane)

[gettin2dizzy]

So now you can do sod all riding in England, and practically none in Scotland?

Wanting to tour the UK doing a fair bit of off roading would be a ridiculous plan right?

I remember the law when it came in, but I didn't realise quite how extreme it was. Just what are we protecting?

(and if I get caught, what's the penalty? ;) )

[Bluepete]

Dunno.

Don't get caught!

Not helping much am I!

Pete

[gettin2dizzy]

Dunno.

Don't get caught!

Not helping much am I!

Pete
Nope, but you stopped this being a thread with no replies :thumbsup: because that sucks ass!

[philbut]

Just what are we protecting?


A bunch of bobble hat wearing ramblers who don't like our nasty dangerous machines. It ruines their Sunday stroll in the country. Oh dear - get a F'in life. Just another example of rights being removed beacuse some busy bodies kick up a fuss. Grrrr makes me mad. horses cause just as much damage to tracks as bikes and they are public rights of way.

[the white rabbit]

The amount still available is highly variable since in many areas RUPPs are now resticted and on many byways TROs are in place. In Wales there is still a fair amount, Wiltshire, parts of Glos and the Peaks/Yorks not bad. Around my way for example there is very little.
But there is plenty to keep you amused if you know where to look for it. Go to Europe, AdvRider or TBM forum, UKGser or somewhere and ask.
Other thing is many trail riders are protective of routes they know, so can be trickier to break in unless you are TRF sometimes and in other cases because of a genuine fear that any more riders will bring about TROs. There's also a lot of idiots about like in all walks of life.

Around here I have ridden the odd RUPP, which is 'probably' illegal, but these tend to be ones with an obvious history of use and therefore often a claim for a lifting of a restriction on them. In Wales on the bigger ADVrider weekends we are 100% legal and can ride all weekend with minimal road work. In a small group in Wales and some other places you can also do a bit of sneaking about on OS white roads which are sometimes a bit dubious but depending on if you keep numbers down, don't have a stupid noisy bike or look like a motocrosser and have the right attitude to walkers and horses (stopping in good time and switching off engines which is what you have to do like it or not to not be the bad guy) it is ok in my experience.

Should you wish to ride illegally do beware that although in reality little will probably happen other than a threat of impounding or something (but do note there are more and more local plod on the lookout) it is likely your insurance won't be valid for when you frighten a horse or knock down a walker and what you will do is help to alienate trail riding and get lanes restricted or TRO'd (which can happen for the most dubious of reasons).

But depending on where you are, the situation isn't as gloomy as some like to make out IMO. In other areas it is gloomy.

Give me a shout when it warms up if you like. I keep planning to do Wales top to toe as much off-road as pos but it didnt come off last year and also the enduro wasn't the best for carrying a toothbrush and spare pants :lol:

[tinpants]

Plenty in the Forest of Dean and surrounding area. We do an annual Long Distance Trial around Easter that has 20 or so sections over about 90 miles. Of those 90 miles probably 40 or so are off road. The trails ans tracks are there. You just have to look for them.

[the white rabbit]

A bunch of bobble hat wearing ramblers who don't like our nasty dangerous machines. It ruines their Sunday stroll in the country. Oh dear - get a F'in life. Just another example of rights being removed beacuse some busy bodies kick up a fuss. Grrrr makes me mad. horses cause just as much damage to tracks as bikes and they are public rights of way.

Rise above it. One problem is that for every PIA rambler there is an idiot on a bike. Personally I get mildly-outraged by people on mountain bikes when I am out walking footpaths.

[gettin2dizzy]

Give me a shout when it warms up if you like.
Will do, good reply thanks :thumbsup:

Been wanting to buy a daytona 955, but I've been reading too much Ted Simon, and now want a 950 Adventure doh! :rolleyes:

[tinpants]

A bunch of bobble hat wearing ramblers who don't like our nasty dangerous machines. It ruines their Sunday stroll in the country. Oh dear - get a F'in life. Just another example of rights being removed beacuse some busy bodies kick up a fuss. Grrrr makes me mad. horses cause just as much damage to tracks as bikes and they are public rights of way.

Horses actually cause MORE damage to tracks and green-lanes than bikes. Last years Annual LDT ( The Wyegate Long Distance Trial) had over 120 competitors. There was more damage done to the lanes by 2 horseriders the day after the trial than there was on the day of the actual event. Go figure!!?

[the white rabbit]

Yes they can do on the muddy softer lanes but they are really just churning it up are they not? I know some real unsurfaced roads (ie wide and stony) over the border's way where there are massive bog holes or deep double ruts dug by 4x4s and most likely farm vehicles. No doubt these will end up TROd through overuse with a lack of maintenance. In years gone by folks would have maintained the green lanes, much less so now.

But whatever, the horses have the historical precedent so its a hard one to get over.

[gettin2dizzy]

Horses actually cause MORE damage to tracks and green-lanes than bikes. Last years Annual LDT ( The Wyegate Long Distance Trial) had over 120 competitors. There was more damage done to the lanes by 2 horseriders the day after the trial than there was on the day of the actual event. Go figure!!?
Never mind the damage lorries and buses do to roads! ;)
it's just a shame they have a blanket ban. If noise was an issue, make stricter noise regulations. If it's speed, apply limits. If it's damage; conduct a decent study to find out what causes it.

Just busybodies at work, as per usual.

(just noticed your location too :lol: )

[gettin2dizzy]

But whatever, the horses have the historical precedent so its a hard one to get over.
I need to find a loophole, whereas I can register my bike as a horse.

This is going to need some thought ;)

[the white rabbit]

I just noticed your location, I am unable to help you in France :lol:

Bellerophon, do you still have your offroader? I understand there are some nice but tricky trails Redbrook/Monmouth way but haven't tried them as yet.

[gettin2dizzy]

I just noticed your location, I am unable to help you in France :lol:
I'll be back in England by February...







... miss the weather :rolleyes:

[Ceri JC]

It's staggering that the cretins (both those who campaigned for this and those who allowed it to go through) don't see the correlation between this and the increase in this:
http://www.south-wales.police.uk/fe_news/news_details.asp?newsid=2918
sort of thing.

If you're going to get busted for riding on greenlanes, why bother sticking to them? You may as well ride wherever the hell you like.

[the white rabbit]

That would happen I am certain even if you could pretty much ride where you like. The chances are many of those bikes being ridden there are not even road legal.

[Ceri JC]

That would happen I am certain even if you could pretty much ride where you like. The chances are many of those bikes being ridden there are not even road legal.

I agree that you'll always get kids on scramblers riding across commons/parklands, but I think the reduction in access to legitimate trails/greenlanes has certainly made otherwise law abiding offroaders think "***k-it" and ride in places where they wouldn't have previously.

Why go to the hassle of making your bike road legal/getting a van to transport it to the nearest trails if you're going to be prosecuted for riding there anyway? Far more tempting to just ride it over any offroad area near you if there's comparatively little chance of being caught. I know some lads who have adopted this attitude who would previously have taken bikes to trails in a van and have even chanced riding non-road legal bikes the 2-3 miles to nearby fields.

[tinpants]

I just noticed your location, I am unable to help you in France :lol:

Bellerophon, do you still have your offroader? I understand there are some nice but tricky trails Redbrook/Monmouth way but haven't tried them as yet.

Certainly have mate!! I've got an XR250r. Nice and tractable and very manageable on the wet stuff. As for the lanes around Redbrook, well, they're right on my doorstep. On the English side they are pretty tame but once you get over the river it get a bit, um, interesting in places!!! If you fancy coming up this way then let me know and I'll see if I can join you for a blat. Have a gander at my pic album in my profile for pics of my bike.

[the white rabbit]

:smt023 The welsh side sounds like a job for the Beta and not the X-C then.

Will give you a shout when it warms up a bit, I'm compleetly fair weather :lol:

[tinpants]

What Beta have you got? Rev3 or Alp?

Mate, seriously, if I can get up most trails on my XR, I doubt if anyone else will have any difficulty at all !!!

[gettin2dizzy]

What Beta have you got? Rev3 or Alp?

Mate, seriously, if I can get up most trails on my XR, I doubt if anyone else will have any difficulty at all !!!
and on a 950 adventure? ;)

[the white rabbit]

What Beta have you got? Rev3 or Alp?

Mate, seriously, if I can get up most trails on my XR, I doubt if anyone else will have any difficulty at all !!!

A 400RR as shown sleeping on the avatar. I am a rather s*** rider however :lol:

[the white rabbit]

and on a 950 adventure? ;)

Probably not out Monmouth way :lol:

I'll take you to mid-Wales if you get one of those.

[gettin2dizzy]

Probably not out Monmouth way :lol:

I'll take you to mid-Wales if you get one of those.
Hehe. Anyway, I think I'm going to get an 'extra' off road bike, rather than sell the SV for a 950 adventure. I'd imagine they're not the best bikes to begin offroading on ;) Perhaps a DRZ. They seem the best bike for the money.

[tinpants]

Hehe. Anyway, I think I'm going to get an 'extra' off road bike, rather than sell the SV for a 950 adventure. I'd imagine they're not the best bikes to begin offroading on ;) Perhaps a DRZ. They seem the best bike for the money.
DRZ's aren't the easiest of bikes to ride as a beginner (to off roading). The enduro spec ones are heavy and very pokey and can be an absolute f&cking bitch to start if they've been upside down in a stream - which you WILL do at sometime or another. If you are a complete novice off roader / trail rider then I would recommend going for something a bit more sedate like a CRF230 / 250. They've got enough grunt to sort themselves out when it gets wet and snotty, and they come with a start button. They are also light enough to pick up WHEN, not if, you drop it.

I'm not trying to put down your riding ability Dizz, just being realistic. Having said that, no-one can possibly be as bad as me!!!

[gettin2dizzy]

DRZ's aren't the easiest of bikes to ride as a beginner (to off roading). The enduro spec ones are heavy and very pokey and can be an absolute f&cking bitch to start if they've been upside down in a stream - which you WILL do at sometime or another. If you are a complete novice off roader / trail rider then I would recommend going for something a bit more sedate like a CRF230 / 250. They've got enough grunt to sort themselves out when it gets wet and snotty, and they come with a start button. They are also light enough to pick up WHEN, not if, you drop it.

I'm not trying to put down your riding ability Dizz, just being realistic. Having said that, no-one can possibly be as bad as me!!!
Good advice thanks :thumbsup: Off to autotrader with a beer now... :cheers:

And yes, I WILL be picking it up. Always been a little too 'keen' for my own good ;)

[the white rabbit]

Having said that, no-one can possibly be as bad as me!!!

You have thrown down the gaunlet. Bad off road riding challenge NOW! :lol:

I dont see why not start offroading on a 950 on the bigger proper tracks if you only have one bike but it will be a handful on anything gnarly or tricky to start with. Tis better as B'phon says to build up, but I know thats not always practicable. Right bike for the job though, and the UK doesnt have as many bike bike trails as places you can take a little one (the tradeoff being how to get it there etc etc......it never ends.....). Tell you one thing, once I got the 400 I never rode the GS for a year until I sold it. The 400 is great fun on the trails.

[the white rabbit]

Beware, buying an offroad bike can be a bit of a nightmare with many pitfalls, esp KTMs so seems. I know someone with a Husky TE510 for sale but that although small is a handful. Dont forget the frequent oil changes etc with some of the little bikes. Thats one thing the heavier DRZs etc do have going for them. Luckypants had one he was thinking of getting rid of a while back.