It’s race week and tomorrow sees the first practise session from 0915 – 1500 hours!
Here’s to safe and enjoyable, incident free #nw200 for all participants, officials, spectators, visitors… Everyone!
motorbike
New Year – New Gear (Part I) : Boots – Magnum SideWinders
The new biking season has just kicked off properly in the UK, although as I sit here typing this out tonight I look outside and boy does it look cold! I can further evidence this by the fact that it is 0 degrees celcius outside!
So there you have it, it is officially freezing!
Follow Me on Instagram : @hondaafricatiwncrf1000l
As you should now I have a few instagram account, my own main ‘random’ one being @TomBoyNI, I have also just started up another few, the first I will mention is :
It is dedicated to the new Honda CRF1000L – Africa Twin and some epic photographs from all over the world. It has easily sailed past its first 1000 followers so get over there and check it out and click the nice little ‘Follow’ button! Thanks!
Official Statement from Guy Martin…
Official statement from #GuyMartin:
Plenty of folk have been asking what I’m up to this year.
I fancy a change of scenery. I’ve been racing the TT for 11 years. All I’ve really done since I was 18, except the trucks, is race motorbikes and my brain needs something else.
Every year’s the same: testing, racing, then start again. It brought it home to me when I was lying in hospital after the Ulster Grand Prix crash.
I’ve been on about the Tour Divide, the toughest pushbike race in the world, for three years and I thought I’ll blink and next thing I’ll be 45, so I’m going to do it this year. I like breaking myself mentally and the Tour Divide will be tough, but it’s same time at TT, so that’s forced me to make a choice.
I’m not done with motorbikes. I’m attempting the Wall of Death record in the spring and having a go at the land speed record in the summer and if I do race on the roads it will be with TAS.
After the Tour Divide I might never want to see a pushbike again – or never want to go road racing again, I don’t know. But I do know Bruce Anstey and John McGuinness are still racing the TT, and they’ve got a few years on me, so maybe I’ll come back next year. Or maybe I’ll find something else interesting to do.
I’ve got more interests than just motorbikes and I just think let’s bloody have ‘em.
Thanks very much as ever for the support.
Guy.
Unfortunately to me that reads as a ‘farewell.’ Hopefully it is more of a ‘see you later’ than a ‘good bye.’
Honda Announce Pricing for Africa Twin CRF1000L Travel Edition :
Honda announces the prices for the Travel Edition of their all-new, highly anticipated CRF1000L Africa Twin, a bike that comes in standard and DCT trims, and which is equipped with travel-focused accessories.
The CRF1000L Africa Twin Travel Edition package consists of a pair of side cases, a top case, crash bars, heated grips, central stand, LED fog lights, and a 12V socket. Bought separately, these add to the sum of €3,152, the equivalent of £2,320. The package is €2,750 ($2,024), and you don’t have to do any self fitting.
Honda are offering four models that can be equipped with the Travel Edition, and this doesn’t include the basic version. ABS and DCT models are the only ones than can be had in Travel trim, for the following prices:
– 15,650 euro(ABS flat color), equivalent to £11,519 / $17,000
– 15,950 euro (ABS Tricolor), equivalent to £11,740 / $17,327
– 16,800 euro (DCT flat color), equivalent to £12,365 / $18,250
– 17,100 euro (DCT Tricolor), equivalent to £12,585 / $18,576.
Of course these prices have not yet been confirmed in the UK, and with the fact that Rip-Off Britain will no doubt be a factor take these GBP prices as a best case scenario, remembering they are likely to be much more!
It does look great though…
Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L – Release Imminent
With the imminent (UK) release of the new Honda Africa Twin (CRF1000L) I thought it only fitting to throw together a little gallery to wet your appitite towards what is one of the most highly anticipated adventure style / dual sport motorcycles to be released in a decade.
As an owner of a 2002 RD07a Africa Twin I am excited, but will it be enough to draw me away from my excellent BMW F800 GSA Travel Edition? Who knows!
In the meantime and on the run up to release here is a little teaser…
Dakar 2016 : Teaser Released…
The greatest race in the world starts its 2016 event on 3rd January (running until 16th January 2016).
The teaser trailer has just been released and I am excited!
Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way : The World’s Longest Dedicated Coastal Route – In 1 Week : #WAWIn1Week
Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way :
Here are the links to the complete ride report on my #WAWIn1Week Trip, there is plenty of other interesting stuff on the site, I hope, so feel free to have a look about, but if you have come here for the Wild Atlantic Way reports, here is everything you need. Thanks for stopping by and having a look and hopefully you enjoy the photos and reports!
#WAWIN1WEEK – WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK – THE GEAR… : https://tbni.blog/2015/08/10/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-the-gear/
#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 0 – TRAVEL DAY : https://tbni.blog/2015/08/18/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-0-travel-day/
#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 1 – KINSALE TO KENMARE : https://tbni.blog/2015/09/02/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-1-kinsale-to-kenmare/
#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 2 – KENMARE TO BALLYBUNION : https://tbni.blog/2015/09/13/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-2-kenmare-to-ballybunion/
#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 3 – BALLYBUNION TO CLIFDEN : https://tbni.blog/2015/09/20/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-3-ballybunion-to-clifden/
#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 4 – CLIFDEN TO SLIGO : https://tbni.blog/2015/10/11/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-4-clifden-to-sligo/
#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 5 – SLIGO TO LETTERKENNY : https://tbni.blog/2015/11/06/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-5-sligo-to-letterkenny/
#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 6 – LETTERKENNY TO MUFF (DONEGAL) : https://tbni.blog/2015/11/17/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-6-letterkenny-to-muff-donegal-2/
Please feel free to tag your images with the WAWIn1Week hashtag!
INSTAGRAM #WAWIn1Week : https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/wawin1week/
TWITTER #WAWIn1Week : https://twitter.com/search?q=WAWIn1Week&src=typd
Wild Atlantic Way In 1 Week : DAY 6 – Letterkenny To Muff (Donegal) : #WAWIn1Week
WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 6 – Letterkenny To Muff (Donegal)
Update : The YouTube video of Day 6 is now available for your viewing pleasure…Enjoy!
It is now Saturday 1st August 2015, the last day of my Wild Atlantic Way Trip. From start of the trail to this point has been five full, long days, today being the sixth. My target – The Wild Atlantic Way in 1 Week. I have only one more leg to do and it will be achieved, with a full day to spare. Result, almost.
Today’s leg looks a short one, Letterkenny to Muff in Donegal. Muff as you can already expect must be one of the most photographed town signs on the whole island. It is called Muff after all! I estimated today leg about 200 miles, for once this estimate was reasonably accurate!
Yesterday’s horrendous weather is a distant memory, but there are still a few very dark and ominous clouds floating about. Fingers crossed!
One Signature Point on the Route today : (The most Westerly point on the above map is Fanned Head which was covered on 31/07/2015).
- Malin Head :
Rugged yet inviting, Donegal’s Malin Head is steeped in history and offers activities such as walking, fishing, swimming and bird watching. Here, north of Trawbreaga Bay, you can view Five Finger Strand, home to some of Europe’s largest sand dunes. At low tide, you can even spot the wreckage of the ‘Twilight’, which sank in 1889 while sailing to Derry. For more history, follow the coast road. You’ll pass the old radio station, built in 1910, and The Tower, a derelict signal station located on Banba’s Crown, the most northerly point in Ireland. It’s the perfect place to relax with a picnic, as the stunning panorama includes Inistrahull and Tory islands, as well as the Scottish hills on a clear day. Plus, you can work off any extra indulgences with a walk along the cliffs to Hell’s Hole, a chasm where the tide rushes in with impressive force. If treasure hunting is more your speed, head east to Ballyhillion beach, which dates back to the ice age and is known for its many semi-precious stones.
Wild Atlantic Way In 1 Week : Day 5 – Sligo to Letterkenny : #WAWIn1Week
Wild Atlantic Way In 1 Week : Day 5 – Sligo to Letterkenny
Update : The YouTube video of Day 5 is now available for your viewing pleasure…Enjoy!
Friday 31st July 2015 takes me onto the penultimate day of my Wild Atlantic Way adventure. I mentioned previously that by Day 4 I was really enjoying myself and after a long day yesterday, and a night in a great hotel I am thinking I need to get back here and do this whole thing a whole lot more slowly. I remember the few things that were annoying me over the first couple of days and now realise they weren’t really that annoying, just a fact of travelling on a tourist route growing in popularity.
I take a look over the map, the route taking me from Sligo to Letterkenny, and it looks like it is another long day, but then I look at the weather. Oh dear. This does not look too promising, there is a yellow warning for rain! I’m going to get wet! Also my initial and completely inaccurate distance calculations have me travelling 186 miles today. So I’m definitely more than that!
Leaving the hotel and things are dry, however the sky is very dark, grey and ominous and it doesn’t take too long for the skies to open and boy they open! I got wet on my journey down to the start of the WAW, and that only took me 4 hours, today I’m sure I have 10 -12 hours of it it looks like the only question will be how will the gear hold out?
Three more Signature Points to visit today (Downpatrick Head is the most Southerly Signature Point on the map, however it was visited yesterday). Today’s points are :
- Mullaghmore Head.
- Sliabh Liag.
- Fannad Head.
(The other point on the map above between Sliabh Liag and Fannad Head is Donegal Airport – a small airport with services Dublin with two daily flights.)