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Iron Butt Association : Circuit of Ireland

October 21, 2017September 22, 2017 by TomBoyNI

According to Wikipedia : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Butt_Association

The Iron Butt Association (IBA) is a US-based organization dedicated to endurance motorcycle riding with a claim of over 60,000 members worldwide who tout themselves as the “World’s Toughest Riders.” One of its more popular slogans is “The World Is Our Playground.”
The IBA does have membership in a traditional sense. There are monthly newsletters sent to subscribed members. There are no mandatory yearly dues, although members can voluntarily pay an annual fee to become a premiere member. Premiere members receive occasional news and information from the IBA staff, early notice of some events, additional chances to enter some events, discounted entry fees for some events, and access to special areas of the web-based discussion board.
The IBA is a loose-knit organization with only one way to earn membership: ride one of the several rides the IBA certifies.

All that sounds pretty accurate. You can check out the official IBA Websites here :

Iron Butt Association Web Page : http://www.ironbutt.com

Iron Butt Association UK Web Page : https://www.ironbutt.co.uk/w3/index.php

Iron Butt Association Ireland Web Page : http://www.ibaireland.org

It was this bit that got me : ‘with only one way to earn membership : ride one of the several rides the IBA Certifies.’

2017 Manx GP : Saturday 26th August 2017 Practice & Qualifying Results and Average Speeds :

June 12, 2018August 27, 2017 by TomBoyNI

Results per class from today’s (Saturday 26th August 2017) Manx GP practice and qualifying session :

Check out our post on identifying a motorcycle and rider’s class on their number and back plate : https://tbni.blog/2017/08/26/manx-gp-and-classic-tt-number-plates-colour-schemes/

2017 Classic TT : Friday 25th August 2017 Evening Practice Results and Average Speeds :

June 12, 2018August 26, 2017 by TomBoyNI

Results per class from tonight’s (and the final practice session of 2017) (Friday 25th August 2017) Classic TT practice session :

Isle of Man TT 2017 : In Memory

October 21, 2017June 9, 2017 by TomBoyNI

Rest in Peace lads, and ride free…

Isle of Man TT 2016 : Day 4

January 26, 2017 by TomBoyNI

So this is it for this trip, the final day. The boat is about 7pm so unfortunately that means no viewing of the practice session tonight. That’s one of the bad points on coming over for Practice Week from Northern Ireland – the sailings aren’t perfect, but I suppose there is no way round it unless the Steam Packet put on an 11:00pm sailing – Hint Hint…

On getting packed up the hotel kindly offered to look after my gear and panniers so I could go and enjoy the mountain again – just another reason why I absolutely will go back to this hotel without any qualm.

After a meet up with the guys in Douglas, some breakkie and a quick walk around the town and a catching of the sights it was time to head out back out towards the track.

The Legendary Isle of Man Horse Drawn Tram

It was on this walk around the town that I called into the RoadSkin pop up store and purchased myself a nice Roodskin motorcycle hoodie (which I have been wearing regularly ever since) and a pair of jeans (which I have yet to pull on) – the pop up store saving me well over £100 on these two items alone, oh and I picked up a couple of neck warmers too.

(Long Term Review to follow on the RoadsSkin Gear)

Isle of Man TT 2016 : Day 3

January 9, 2017 by TomBoyNI

Another well rested and early start this morning and I meet up with the guys at a local pub for a bit of a breakfast fry up…

It’s hard to recommend places on your first visit, simply because you have been to so few but that won’t change the fact that if a place is good – it’s good, and this places was. A nice breakfast down the hatch and it was time to make a move.

The guys I was with were keen to hit the Mountain Road again and get some fast miles under their belt, I however decided to go off the path less travelled and explore the Island a little more.

(There is a path much less travelled element to the ISle of MAn, with hundreds of miles of green lanes all over, and you will see lots of guys on scramblers and enduros coming off the countryside. The path I travelled wasn’t their path although to be fair they looked like they were having an absolutely outstanding adventure!)

Scotland’s North Coast 500 GPX Route File – NC500 GPX

September 3, 2019September 27, 2016 by TomBoyNI

UPDATE : I have completed this route again in 2019 and have uploaded some videos recorded on the Hyperlapse (time-lapse) setting of the GoPro Hero 7 Black Edition.

These videos will hopefully give you a little taste of what to expect or something to wet your appetite with so you can start planning your NC500 adventure…

Day 1 : Inverness to Ullapool :

Day 2 : Ullapool to John O’Groats :

Day 3 : John O’Groats to Inverness :

I have now uploaded my galleries and Ride Report of my 2016 trip around the Scotland’s North Coast 500 (NC500). You can find them all here :

https://tbni.blog/2017/12/09/scotlands-north-coast-500-nc500-ride-report/

One thing I did notice (for example in comparison to the Irish Wild Atlantic Way) was the lack of signage. Unless you knew you were actually on the NC500 you probably wouldn’t know you were on it.

The GPX file is available from the official North Coast 500 site, along with a printable map however my Sat Nav (a Tom Tom Rider V) found it far too complex, there are thousands of way points on it, and the sat nav just just refused to load it. The printable map is nice, but let’s be honest an A4 map covering 500 miles isn’t an ideal solution either.

Thankfully there is a good solution. I found this GPX, I have no idea where, or who made it but is sat nav friendly and guides you perfectly around the route.

Enjoy

https://www.tbni.blog/downloads/North-Coast-500.gpx

(If you have any trouble downloading the file just Contact Me and I will email it to you.

Honda Announce Pricing for Africa Twin CRF1000L Travel Edition :

December 22, 2015 by TomBoyNI

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

December 22, 2015 by TomBoyNI

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…

Instagram : HondaAfricaTwinCRF1000L – Follow this Account on Instagram from more photos of and dedicated to the New Honda Africa Twin :

STICKY POST : The Wild Atlantic Way : The World’s Longest Dedicated Coastal Route – In 1 Week : #WAWIn1Week

October 21, 2017November 17, 2015 by TomBoyNI

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/

Wild Atlantic Way - The Route — Wild Atlantic Way – The Route

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

According to Wikipedia : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Butt_Association

Davey Lambert (48yrs) : 06/06/2017 :

Jochem van den Hoek (28yrs) : 07/06/2017 :

Alan Bonner (33yrs) : 07/06/2017 :

Day 1 : Inverness to Ullapool :

Day 2 : Ullapool to John O’Groats :

Day 3 : John O’Groats to Inverness :