Your most thrilling road / journey ever ?

[no_akira]

My most thrilling road to date is without parallel the D952 from Angers to Tours (France) which follows the north bank off the Loire Valley. The whole road is raised on a levee and its just bend after bend for about 40 miles!
Its totally flat so high speeds and very flimsy barriers with a 40 foot drop off either side just to add a sense of imminent danger. Its also only a 2 lane road, no dual carriageway, so add the possible danger of over cooking a corner and ploughing into an oncoming tractor. :silent: ( closest 'sphincter clutching' smiley I could find )

A most unusual road.:geek:

[-Ralph-]

Pena de Bernal, Queretaro, Mexico, to Jalpan, Sierra Gorda, Mexico (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Bernal,+Quer%C3%A9taro+de+Arteaga,+Mexico&daddr=Jalpan,+Qt,+Mexico&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=18.55471,-96.773522&sspn=8.201109,9.876709&ie=UTF8&ll=20.996702,-99.675522&spn=0.505148,0.878906&t=h&z=11)

Took these with my left hand whilst crawling along waiting for a mate who is very steady (slow!) rider to catch up.

http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Mexico%20Biking%20Videos/?action=view&current=CIMG3639.flv
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Mexico%20Biking%20Videos/?action=view&current=CIMG3640.flv
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Mexico%20Biking%20Videos/?action=view&current=CIMG3641.flv
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Mexico%20Biking%20Videos/?action=view&current=CIMG3592.flv
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Mexico%20Biking%20Videos/?action=view&current=CIMG3603.flv

[ThEGr33k]

Mine was with a set of mentalists from the Pennine massive. Along what is called the Helmsley TT and round on other similar twisty roads over the moors. Great roads ridden very briskly. Great fun and better company. :D

[Luckypants]

Riding down to the South of France,I had been in the saddle about 8 hours when I headed over the Col du Lautaret in massive storm. At 3 in the afternoon it went pitch black and rained like I've never seen before! Lightning was leaping from mountain top to mountain top. Driving over zebra crossings made the rear wheel spin up! (French white road paint is much slippier than ours). I was crawling along at about 15mph when I was passed by a group of local riders on BMWs who beckoned me to follow and put me in the middle of their group. I was so grateful for having company who knew the road. We parted company at the col, they turned up the Col du Galibier (madness!) I headed downhill into Briancon. A ride I'll never forget.

[Alpinestarhero]

I really enjoyed the roads used on the 2008 annual rideout - to this day, I can't claim to have ridden anything better, and I can't say I've ever been as focused on my riding as that day.

[SUPERSTARDJ01]

Now this is bendy

http://forums.sv650.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5797&d=1260347536 (http://forums.sv650.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5797&d=1260347536)

[_Stretchie_]

A gravel road in Cambodia

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Banc+de+Ka%C3%B4h+K%C5%8Fng&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.478806,39.331055&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FdXurAAdm9sgBg&split=0&hq=&hnear=Banc+de+Ka%C3%B4h+K%C5%8Fng&ll=11.617769,103.058281&spn=0.080709,0.153637&t=h&z=13

On a 125 moped with little to no brakes, me and two mates went on a ride out to a waterfall, had trouble riding the road and keeping upright as it was sooo bad and passing many people with big guns and machetes over their shoulders.

Had a good afternoon and on the way back got stopped by a makeshift toll barrier where a chain had been pulled across the road, some fella with a mechete was shouting at us (bloody foreigner, he could at least shout english ; ) ) then another fella turns up so we get the wallet out, wave a few notes, wave a few more, then wave a few more and they let us past and we Dougie Lampkin it all the way back as fast as we can over the crappy road and rocks.... That was a heart pumper

[CheGuevara]

A favorite of mine from back home. Over 1200km of peg-scratching and amazing scenery in 2 days of riding. From the Island (Victoria), along the coast, up into the mountains stopping near Whistler for breakfast. Then past all the glaciers and into canyons and valleys to Lillooet. From there it's into the hot (can be over 40C), dry interior riding along twisting river canyons with tumbleweeds and scrub pines. Spend the night in Merritt and then a variation on the route to double back home.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=victoria,+bc&daddr=Nanaimo,+BC+to:Horseshoe+Bay,+BC+to:Squamish ,+BC+to:Lillooet+to:Lytton+to:Ashcroft+to:Logan+La ke+to:Merritt,+BC+to:Spences+Bridge+to:Cache+Creek +to:Lillooet+to:Squamish+to:Horseshoe+Bay,+BC+to:N anaimo+to:Victoria,+BC&geocode=Fezx4gIdpZCl-ClxYbDdi3OPVDHtSLsedPPoOA%3BFVww7gIdb-Cc-ClbHKwgXqGIVDHQD3sqFTUBBQ%3BFRJP8QIdOfmm-CmT07wR9muGVDGjFw0ynJyTpA%3BFSRW9gIdUdOo-Cm5uPLKFfiGVDHavvz87UKl5Q%3BFR9rBQMdU2G7-Cl3SncfOIqAVDELco-CNIdFgA%3BFah6_gIdDNLA-Ck1xY1U3QSBVDFAWuO9jE90Bw%3BFbwDBgMd-nfF-Cm5VXvFqkCAVDHqAKxxrh325g%3BFc51AgMdaozM-Ck7aanXqc6BVDHXOojz6Wa_Xw%3BFT2l_AId8enM-ClHICUV6ZCBVDHgOX2ZDlfWmg%3BFRhoAQMd7GvE-CkVnEMytKyBVDESgdsQFzUBJg%3BFfdKBwMd5bTE-CmZiqIAcBWAVDGg4AEDi6UD_A%3B%3BFSRW9gIdUdOo-Cm5uPLKFfiGVDHavvz87UKl5Q%3BFRJP8QIdOfmm-CmT07wR9muGVDGjFw0ynJyTpA%3BFVww7gIdb-Cc-ClbHKwgXqGIVDHQD3sqFTUBBQ%3BFezx4gIdpZCl-ClxYbDdi3OPVDHtSLsedPPoOA&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=49.539469,-122.596436&sspn=3.229494,6.932373&safe=active&ie=UTF8&ll=49.788357,-121.607666&spn=3.213023,6.932373&t=p&z=7

[Mr Speirs]

My favourtie was NW5. I had really got to grips with the SV and had a real good play (with the bikes you understand :)) with Binky.

We were pretty much equal except I think Binky was marginally quicker but it was fun finding out.

Anyway none of our overtakes were illegal or dangerous I think people were just more shocked that we were able to overtake in these places. At one point I thought that maybe we were ****ing everyone off as I could hear Binky and myself being talked about and then someone I can't remember who just turned to us put his thumbs up and said '**** me...You boys can ride' :)

The other was coming back from the Peaks ride on the road from Melton Mowbrey to Market Harborough. Really fast technical road and after the 30's and 40's of the peaks was great to keep a good pace. So with G in front clutching his sleeping bag between his arms and Pete and Lissa TEC we absolutely nailed it. G was only meant to go as far as Nottingham anyway but kept saying Ill just come for this last bit...ended up at Midland Superbikes with us :)

Top of the Pops

[N8te rider]

I really enjoyed the roads used on the 2008 annual rideout - to this day, I can't claim to have ridden anything better, and I can't say I've ever been as focused on my riding as that day.

Alpinestarhero, what route/location was it? Haven't been riding long and If it was in the UK I'd love to find some good roads :D

[LK-SV]

I've not ridden it as yet, N8te ..... but one of my favourite drives (in my Lotus Elise) was from Guildford to Petworth, and on the Goodwood circuits ..... some amazing roads over the Guildford/Shere area too .....

[fizzwheel]

Alpinestarhero, what route/location was it? Haven't been riding long and If it was in the UK I'd love to find some good roads :D

I google mapped it, theres links for each leg of AR08 in this thread

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=113450

[N8te rider]

I google mapped it, theres links for each leg of AR08 in this thread

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=113450

:thumbsup: AWESOME!!! Cheers fizzwheel. Can't wait for next year to ride some decent roads.

Think so far, the best roads I've seen were near and around lands end. I was in my girlfriends punto but she thought we were in a rally car :D the roads were so twisty all I could say every few seconds was "OMG, WHY DIDN'T I BRING MY BIKE??"

[fizzwheel]

I really like riding these two bikes of road. Not so much for the road itself but for the scenary and views.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fizzwheel/DSCN0025.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fizzwheel/DSCN0441.jpg

Then theres the "Zig Zag" which isnt far from me. Which I also enjoy and then theres the A30 and the last third of the AR08 route to.

[_Stretchie_]

Can you get that unsightly yellow thing out of the way

[Vindaloo]

I'm going with this trip through the Grimsel in Switzerland (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Interlaken,+Switzerland&daddr=46.582462,8.42926+to:Route+11+to:Interlaken, +Switzerland&hl=en&geocode=FStdyAIdHt93ACmdHt7EXKOPRzFs7_q9v6KlZg%3B% 3BFU5IyQIdGW6BAA%3BFStdyAIdHt93ACmdHt7EXKOPRzFs7_q 9v6KlZg&mra=dme&mrcr=0,1&mrsp=1&sz=11&sll=46.647079,8.436127&sspn=0.363429,0.43396&ie=UTF8&ll=46.645194,8.311844&spn=0.363442,0.43396&t=h&z=11) ...

Some absolutely awesome sections in there ... perfect views, perfect roads (except for the overbanding). I can see why Switzerland is the number 1 bike owning nation.

Or riding a 125 around Kathmandu and the Himalaya last year where apparently there's not a 'correct' side of the road to be on; or even anything that'd pass as a road to be on.

If we're talking about the UK, I've not seen any better than the roads in North Wales in and around Snowdon for a) The quality and b) The fact there's hardly any cars there.

Adrian

[Alpinestarhero]

the last third of the AR08 route to.

ah, the bit when it rained? :lol: i didnt enjoy that as much :lol:

[-Ralph-]

Had a good afternoon and on the way back got stopped by a makeshift toll barrier where a chain had been pulled across the road, some fella with a mechete was shouting at us (bloody foreigner, he could at least shout english ; ) ) then another fella turns up so we get the wallet out, wave a few notes, wave a few more, then wave a few more and they let us past and we Dougie Lampkin it all the way back as fast as we can over the crappy road and rocks.... That was a heart pumper

Similar kind of experience. Was riding the road from Comonfort to Queretaro (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=queretaro+mexico&sll=52.386847,-1.795516&sspn=0.01066,0.027874&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Quer%C3%A9taro,+Quer%C3%A9taro+de+Arteaga,+M exico&ll=20.695104,-100.605927&spn=0.522863,0.891953&t=h&z=11) having left San Miguel de Allende early afternoon to take the scenic route. It was marked on the map as a road as you can see on Google maps, so we assumed it would be a road, ie: tarmac. Half way between the two towns after getting narrower and narrower with more and more potholes it turned into this

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Mexico%20Biking%20Photos/7396834272a8222625864o.jpg

and we couldn't get more than about 40 mph. So as you can see in this photo, about 8pm, several hours behind schedule and almost having reached Obrajuelo, it went dark on us. We past 3 or 4 pairs of truckers who had been using the road, stopping for the night, setting up camp by their trucks and cooking on fires by the side of the road, shotguns by their side (though a shotgun is not an uncommon sight in Mexico, many petrol stations have an armed security guard with a pump action side loader).

So we arrived into Obrajuelo an hour later and looked where it was on the map, and realised for the first time we'd been on the wrong road all the time, we should have taken the one to Tiacote el Bajo, but the villages have no place names and the roads no signs. So my friend who lives in Queretaro and speaks perfect Spanish asks for directions:

Conversation with an old Mexican man
Daniel: How do we get to Queretaro?
Old Mexican man: It's 9 o'clock
Daniel: Yes, I know, but how do we get to Queretaro?
Old Mexican man: It's 9 o'clock!!
Daniel: We are trying to get to Queretaro?
Old Mexican man (now angry): It's 9 o'clock!! You are not going to Queretaro tonight.
Daniel to me: He keeps telling me what time it it's lets ask somebody else

Conversation with a second old Mexican man
Daniel: How do we get to Queretaro?
Second old mexican man: It's 9 o'clock
Daniel: Yes, I know, but how do we get to Queretaro?
Second old mexican man: <Gives directions for a road that is not on our map>, but you don't want to go over there in the dark! Stay here tonight.
Daniel to me: <translates for me>, but he's exaggerating, lets ask somebody else

Conversation with an young Mexican man
Daniel: We are going to Queretaro, is it safe?
Young mexican man: <shakes head>, I wouldn't if I were you
Daniel: So can we stay here or do we have to go back?
Young mexican man: You just came over the road from Comonfort?
Daniel: Yes
Young mexican man: In the dark?!?
Daniel: Yes
Young mexican man: <shakes head again, looks at floor>
Daniel: Is it dangerous?
Young mexican man: Listen my friend, no offence, but you look like a pair of gringos and you're on expensive motorbikes, with expensive helmets and protective jackets. If you go over these roads in the dark, the bandits will shoot you and take your motorbikes, your wallets and all your clothes.
Daniel: <translates in English for me>
Me: ****!

So the guy sent us on the road South, told us to ride fast and don't stop, and when we see the motorway, take that back to Queretaro. So we ended up doing that, found the motorway, rode up the embankment, then down the motorway on the grass verge, until we found a break the Armco and jumped on the motorway.

We got home to Queretaro, about 11:30, having left our wifes and children in San Miguel de Allende at about 2pm, with them home by 4pm having taken the motorway all the way in Daniels big American 4x4, expecting us home a couple of hours behind them having taken the scenic route. They were both having kittens :D

[N8te rider]

:thumbsup: Experiences you'll never forget

[N8te rider]

Can you get that unsightly yellow thing out of the way

Look! it's a Dandy Lion :D

[Richie]

Picton to Christchurch (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Waikawa+Rd&daddr=-43.534612,172.548523&geocode=Ff4ziv0dlH9fCg%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&sll=-43.092961,173.122559&sspn=1.293682,2.458191&ie=UTF8&ll=-42.463993,173.605957&spn=5.22753,9.832764&z=7), Backpacking in New Zealand in 1990 on my old Suzuki GS550es, The road followed the coast, the mountains , the sea and the Whales blowing out of their blow holes... Utterly Fantastic. I'll never forget that road. twisty fun, until my chain snapped in Cheviot.

[N8te rider]

Wow, I'll be in NZ in March, might be tempted to do that :-)

[carty]

In England, somewhere in the Peaks, anywhere round there will do :D

In France earlier this year, everywhere was fantastic but the best bits of riding that stick in my mind were a section riding away from Alpe-d'Huez towards the Route Napoleon, the Route Napoleon itself, and a most epic round trip from the Verdon Gorge, out through the southern end of the Route Napoleon to Monaco, back inland via an unplanned venture in to Italy and up to Barcelonnette (that's a long way!)

Good riding in France :thumbsup: By far the best 10 days of riding I've had (muchos thanks to DMC, Binky and Yogi Bear)

[Stu]

Alpinestarhero, what route/location was it? Haven't been riding long and If it was in the UK I'd love to find some good roads :D
I think it's down to situation (weather/traffic/mood)/company at the time rather than the actual road.

[MattCollins]

Don't know about thrilling...
My favourites are the Great Ocean Road in Victoria for the scenery and just about any of the regular scratching roads through the Adelaide Hills.
My all time favourites are desert tracks which may not be of much interest here, but I cannot get enough of them.

[Alpinestarhero]

I think it's down to situation (weather/traffic/mood)/company at the time rather than the actual road.

This is very true. I didnt have a great time riding on this years annual rideout, partly beacause i had only just had my bike sorted and was worried it might play up again, partly because the handling was off and partly because when i'd done some of the route a couple of weeks before, i had made some silly but very bad mistakes.

One of my favorite rides ever was riding up to london from brighton after the day of big snow earlier this year, it felt so surreal, riding on wet roads with snow either side, sometimes riding in just the wheel tracks of the toher cars to avoid the snow in the road. I loved it, it was brilliant

[CheGuevara]

Don't know about thrilling...
My favourites are the Great Ocean Road in Victoria for the scenery and just about any of the regular scratching roads through the Adelaide Hills.
My all time favourites are desert tracks which may not be of much interest here, but I cannot get enough of them.

I've driven the G.O. Road a few times and always dreamed of riding it. I have gone passenger on an MX sidecar through the Adelaide Gorge though -which was fricken awesome! :D

[MattCollins]

... I have gone passenger on an MX sidecar through the Adelaide Gorge though -which was fricken awesome! :D

I have mixed feelings about the Gorge Road (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=athelstone&daddr=gumeracha+to:birdwood&geocode=Fdrt6_0dBHBECCn_TuS6R7WwajFOS3rGFXYkog%3BF bCZ7P0dwy1HCCnvgJUZakW3ajEoT9ezM2Q6bg%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=-34.875792,138.843842&sspn=0.352076,0.566483&ie=UTF8&ll=-34.957995,138.682137&spn=0.087931,0.141621&t=h&z=13) these days. It is/was probably one of the great scratching roads, but it is unforgiving and nearly always ugly if a rider goes down. I have lost a couple of friends on that road.

There are other excellent roads in the area. The Lobethal Road (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=magill+south&daddr=-34.911484,138.711233+to:Ashton+South+Australia,+Au stralia+to:lobethal&geocode=FaxE6_0digJECClRIAbMq8uwajE_z2YrqrOVtA%3B% 3BFavc6v0d7vZECCl9nJdfHjW3ajHWFXCpqBN-Rg%3BFdlm6_0d_A5HCCnB6uuhoUi3ajE6YSsvsewtbg&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1&sll=-34.930556,138.709688&sspn=0.04398,0.07081&ie=UTF8&ll=-34.950961,138.747368&spn=0.175877,0.283241&t=h&z=12) is a favourite on the return leg as is the Greenhill Road (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=burnside&daddr=uraidla+to:balhannah&geocode=FVDp6v0dwMhDCClJCo3EiMuwajF8TGzR-Ml5Rw%3BFcic6v0dSxJFCCkBd0-j7DS3ajFJBZ33vrkvKA%3BFQgY6v0diVhGCClFTjvk5za3ajFj L8X879FAFQ&hl=en&mra=mr&sll=-34.967843,138.739643&sspn=0.08792,0.141621&ie=UTF8&ll=-35.02592,138.611755&spn=0.087858,0.141621&t=h&z=13) alternative. In fact all of the roads in there are worth a blast.

[CheGuevara]

I have mixed feelings about the Gorge Road (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=athelstone&daddr=gumeracha+to:birdwood&geocode=Fdrt6_0dBHBECCn_TuS6R7WwajFOS3rGFXYkog%3BF bCZ7P0dwy1HCCnvgJUZakW3ajEoT9ezM2Q6bg%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=-34.875792,138.843842&sspn=0.352076,0.566483&ie=UTF8&ll=-34.957995,138.682137&spn=0.087931,0.141621&t=h&z=13) these days. It is/was probably one of the great scratching roads, but it is unforgiving and nearly always ugly if a rider goes down. I have lost a couple of friends on that road.

There are other excellent roads in the area. The Lobethal Road (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=magill+south&daddr=-34.911484,138.711233+to:Ashton+South+Australia,+Au stralia+to:lobethal&geocode=FaxE6_0digJECClRIAbMq8uwajE_z2YrqrOVtA%3B% 3BFavc6v0d7vZECCl9nJdfHjW3ajHWFXCpqBN-Rg%3BFdlm6_0d_A5HCCnB6uuhoUi3ajE6YSsvsewtbg&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1&sll=-34.930556,138.709688&sspn=0.04398,0.07081&ie=UTF8&ll=-34.950961,138.747368&spn=0.175877,0.283241&t=h&z=12)is a favourite on the return leg as is the Greenhill Road (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=burnside&daddr=uraidla+to:balhannah&geocode=FVDp6v0dwMhDCClJCo3EiMuwajF8TGzR-Ml5Rw%3BFcic6v0dSxJFCCkBd0-j7DS3ajFJBZ33vrkvKA%3BFQgY6v0diVhGCClFTjvk5za3ajFj L8X879FAFQ&hl=en&mra=mr&sll=-34.967843,138.739643&sspn=0.08792,0.141621&ie=UTF8&ll=-35.02592,138.611755&spn=0.087858,0.141621&t=h&z=13)alternative. In fact all of the roads in there are worth a blast.

Yeah, no shortage of accident/fatality markers along it from what I remember. I love the Adelaide area though -if I could pick any place in the world to live - that'd be it. Do you know anyone from the Atujara Motorcycle Club?

[carty]

Don't know about thrilling...
My favourites are the Great Ocean Road in Victoria for the scenery and just about any of the regular scratching roads through the Adelaide Hills.
My all time favourites are desert tracks which may not be of much interest here, but I cannot get enough of them.

I rode the Great Ocean Road (as far as Port Campbell) last November on an old Yamaha Fazer with the Mrs on the back. It was awesome :cool:

[STRAMASHER]

Whatever one I am on! Whatever one is next!...Whenever its DRY:)

But...The Stewarton road , down the road to the N260 in the Pyrenees. Love them and all the ones inbetween.

Even m/ways. The Shap (got the points to prove it) or the A8 in Northern Spain.

[MattCollins]

Yeah, no shortage of accident/fatality markers along it from what I remember. I love the Adelaide area though -if I could pick any place in the world to live - that'd be it. Do you know anyone from the Atujara Motorcycle Club?

No... Never even heard of it, but I haven't lived there (Mt. Pleasant) since about 1990. Adelaide while being probably the nicest cities in the country is just a little too crowded for me now.

[CheGuevara]

No... Never even heard of it, but I haven't lived there (Mt. Pleasant) since about 1990. Adelaide while being probably the nicest cities in the country is just a little too crowded for me now.

Ahh it's been around since 1930. I signed up last time I was there (2003?) for a few months. I have a good mate (genius with classic bikes) who lives in Tea Tree Gully and that's where I've stayed when visiting -not far from Mt Pleasant I think.

[MattCollins]

Ahh it's been around since 1930. I signed up last time I was there (2003?) for a few months. I have a good mate (genius with classic bikes) who lives in Tea Tree Gully and that's where I've stayed when visiting -not far from Mt Pleasant I think.

Hmmm... okay. Still never heard of it, not that I can recall anyway, but probably have met a few of its members along the way. I've never been much into clubs. It was just a few mates and I that spent Sunday mornings scratching in the Adelaide Hills and doing the rounds of the coffee shops. No affiliations. There were a couple of other groups of riders that were doing exactly the same thing so paths always crossed.
Tea Tree Gully is the bottom of the Gorge Road, Mt Pleasant is at the top end, but yeah, not far and a lot of fun either way.

[MattCollins]

I rode the Great Ocean Road (as far as Port Campbell) last November on an old Yamaha Fazer with the Mrs on the back. It was awesome :cool:

So a gentle tour or did Mrs Carty leave claw marks all across your chest? :) That is one of those roads where I happily take it easy and enjoy it no less.