Off Roading....

[Alzo]

Anyone any wisdom on the subject???

[David W]

I'd imagine you're in a good part of the World for it?
It's great fun, bloody exhausting and a lot harder than it looks.
Sadly my part of the country either has a fence around it or someone building houses on it!

[Alzo]

Did a course a few years back...was fantastic...had hoped to keep returning to achieve higher levels...but unfortunately the business went in to demise for unknown reasons...I was booked up for Portugal to do a 2 day off road course with an ex Dakar rider Ruben Faria at the end of October...but Covid-19 put that on hold.
I'm now thinking an Off Road bike to sit beside the S1000R...🤷‍♂️

[Jarse]

Finding somewhere to use it is the problem. Would you be looking road legal or pure off road?

I'd love one.

[David W]

Finding somewhere to use it is the problem. Would you be looking road legal or pure off road?

I'd love one.

Is Scotland not dirtbike friendly?

[Jarse]

Finding somewhere to use it is the problem. Would you be looking road legal or pure off road?

I'd love one.

Is Scotland not dirtbike friendly?

Not any more I'm afraid. Plenty rural areas but nobody wants motorcycles on their land and forestry commission have locked down too.

[Alzo]

Finding somewhere to use it is the problem. Would you be looking road legal or pure off road?

I'd love one.

That's a good question...I had thought completely Off Road...🤔

[Jarse]

On road would be more practical but less knarly.

[Alzo]

The Honda CRF 250 is the only bike that comes to mind...and I only know of that due to following the Missendflyer on You Tube.

[Jarse]

KTM do road legal as do SWM (I think), the Portuguese manufacturer Clive used.

Dare I say it, the electric options, purely off road, seem to make sense. Loads of torque and you don't piss off the dog walkers/horse rides/ramblers etc so much.

[Dom1]

Get on the TRF but I think you will be disappointed.

Scotland does not have the same access to byways and unclassified roads that England and Wales has.

Basically I believe it is private land only if you want to be legal.

Such a shame with so much amazing country to explore.

[MOzZereLLa]

In theory, it's pretty good fun. Free landing in reality, is a PITA and no where near the glossy brochure pictures.

[Dom1]

It is certainly a branch of motorcycling that has to continually fight its corner to keep access open.

Occasionally you do get people who think they know better wanting to take pics of your plate or telling you that can't be where you are. On the whole most everyone I have spoken to has been fine and happy to share the lanes.

That said, I have also seen people out on motocross bikes making no pretence at staying within the legal requirements and plenty of evidence of bikes and 4x4's abusing land around the lanes which is not fenced off.

It is great fun though and really rewarding when you have a good day out.

[David W]

I got rid of my off-road bikes because it was impossible to find somewhere to ride within 50 miles of here unless you wanted to ride around in circles on a motocross practice track.
Must admit I didn't realise Scotland was so restrictive. I'd had it down as a bit of an open wilderness to explore.

[terry950sm]

Hurt and pain, when it goes wrong.