Ok Springs arrived and the urge to get out on the bike becomes even stronger. Doesn't it ! So Sunday I decide to get out early on the bike. Now when I say early I do mean early, early as in 5am. It was a bit colder than I expected it to be so i had to put my heavier gloves on mid way through my route but boy was it worth getting up early. Down here in East Sussex we have so many great lanes / roads that two hours disappeared very quickly. As you would imagine the roads were traffic free and my only limitations was my ability and the realisation that I need at least another cylinder on the GS as several times it really felt like t was gasping for breathe. Which during " normal hours " I had never noticed because I am paranoid on keeping my licence and ride accordingly. It turned out that 5am was a good time to go out as 6am ish began to get behind car booter vehicles but that never presented a real problem to near the end of the ride. So do you get out early and if you dont, i am lucky being retired, try it because your have a great time.
A groupe of us used to get up early years ago for our breakfast run, as you say the roads are deserted and i still have great memories of those times
I've done this (not quite 5am) but pre 6am a few weeks ago. Bloody hell it was cold! Clear roads but nowhere to get a cuppa!
I used to like riding late at night. After dropping my girlfriend (now wife) off at her parents house I often did 50 miles or more before going home.
Yes I also like an early start, my run to Inverness last week started at 5.15am. That first hour or so without traffic is magic
Yes several times, also I look forward to the World Cup....bloody hate football but the roads are quiet when England play!! Teejay
I've done this a few times. When I was truck driving it was always a early start so the body clock didn't know it was a weekend so it gave me something to do. A few of us did an early morning tour of London once,did all the sight's and were at the Ace for an 8 o'clock brekkie.
Ive been out on my bike all hours of the day & night & I mean all hours, mostly work related & the only problem you have Ive found is other motorists jumping traffic lights cos they think no one is about. Always look twice when approaching lights when they are green in your favour early morning as some motorists are merciless at lights whatever colour they are
Yes that's good advice and something i'm aware of as there's more dozy half asleep drivers at that time too. My longest stint on a motorbike was back in 2005 on my Z750 when I left my hotel room in Germany and rode straight home. Over 800 miles in 21 hours (including Euro Tunnel) riding through the night..... that was also magic, a great adventure as the lights on the Kawasaki weren't brilliant so the speeds were quite low when it was dark. Not sure I would try anything like that nowadays but it was no big deal back then.
Aye can't beat an early start for getting up to Applecross from Edinburgh via McDonalds breakfast in Fort William with Reggie
Can remember going for a blast over the moors at first light when I was in my teens, then it was home to bed.
Me too, but not your girlfriend's place , well I hope not anyway she never mentioned you I loved riding at night.somthing about the lights on the clocks and street lights the miles flew. Oh, I hope you are both very happy together
I enjoy riding at night - especially now as I have a bike which actually has headlights. The Bonnie was rubbish and the Enfield appears to have a candle sat up front.
Done that a few times in the past. You can't beat it, nice sunny day, little or no cars or worse lycra- louts who think they own the road and getting in the way.