Hmm, discovered http://www.bywaymap.com and got my eye on another couple of local lanes to try!

Looks like there aren't many in the immediate vicinity of where I live...

Will they laugh at me if I join the TRF with an adventure bike and no mechanical knowledge/skill?

Nope there are loads on the bigger bikes.

Also sign up for the Taffy Dakar next year.

Not sure where you are but try http://explorer.geowessex.com/

Select the layers tab on the right, click Countryside, click other counties rights of way and you can cover Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset, Dorset & Devon.

Quote from: tucola on September 15, 2015, 09:46:37 AM
Hmm, discovered http://www.bywaymap.com and got my eye on another couple of local lanes to try!

Looks like there aren't many in the immediate vicinity of where I live...

Will they laugh at me if I join the TRF with an adventure bike and no mechanical knowledge/skill?

I went to a TRF meeting.
Once.
Convinced me the WR400F had to be sold...

Ha! I think that reflects the fear I was trying to articulate having seen some of their materials.

Essentially, I just want to piss about a bit and be pointed in the direction of some good places to do so.

I don't want briefings, kit inspections, military hierarchy or masonic initiations.

Not been to any meetings.

Signed up for the route advice and to chip in to fighting the good fight against the rambling lot.

I've just signed up, for those same reasons!

Quote from: tucola on September 01, 2015, 10:15:35 AM
Although the weather was horrible, I tested a couple of bikes at the weekend:

Kawasaki 650 Versys
Triumph Tiger 800 XRt
Triumph Tiger 800 XCx

I think I like the XC the best.

Triumph's PCP interest rate is crap though.

What made the XC the better bike? 

Lack of ground clearance made the XR a non-starter. Pegs touched down on practically the first roundabout on the test ride.

Quite liked the Versys 650, actually. It would have fitted the purpose of commuting to work pretty well, although I think I would have been pretty bored with the power of the 650 twin before too long.

And in the end, if I was going to be spending a bit of money anyway, I quite liked the idea of something that was at least a bit of a toy as well as being purely practical and in that regard I liked the idea of something that I could do a few gentle lanes on as well as using for the commute.

So the XC it was.

My wife was also very impressed that it has heated seats for both rider and passenger and encouraged me to go for that one on that basis alone!

Managed another local byway on the way home - certainly adds a bit of interest to the commute.



Trouble is, none of them are more than 1 - 1.5 miles long...

I've had a look on the map and devised a little round trip route for the weekend that takes in the three I've done so far plus one other, linked by (mostly very minor) roads.

They look better with a bit of mud on 'em anyways

I've just perusing the bay for a DRZ400, all the decent ones seem miles away though!

Tree Fiddy is the better bike anyway.

QuoteI've just perusing the bay for a DRZ400, all the decent ones seem miles away though!

Eh? Thought you already had an trail bike?

Quote from: Dom1 on September 15, 2015, 10:07:53 PM
Tree Fiddy is the better bike anyway.

four fiddies are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY betterererr!!

As you so competently demonstrated last time we went out.

Gentle application of thro..... *sideways* *hedgerow* *arse*