Percy is resting for a little while but I’m not. To be honest I’ve missed the other mechanical passion of mine - motorbikes. The weather was fair on Thursday and I wanted so see my mum in the care home she now sadly lives in. She didn’t do bad, got to 88 living independently. I rode over to spend some time with her, nice memories.
After dinner I went over to a local bike shop and managed to test ride two bikes. Seeing what might be my next purchase. Strange times as they were built in India and China … a Himalayan 452 which is supposed to be the successor to my humble Himalayan 411 ( numbers are the cc’s of the engine) As much as I want to like the 452 it’s no successor to my bike, just over developed and over priced ! The Chinese CF Moto 450 is a peach of a bike, certainly a worthy replacement for my current Royal Enfield as and when it wears out ! I’d have never thought I’d be considering a Chinese made bike and still not sure I’d give that country my pounds ….nice to have options as and when needed. I still have my Honda as reliable as my Honda genny.
The Himalayan 452
The Chinese CF Moto 450 - a very nice bike to ride
My current and much travelled Himalayan 411 next to the usurper ?
I finished the ride at Matlock Bath a Mecca for motorcycles. Just tea and a ponder rather than fish and chips!
Today ( late Friday as I’m typing) I went over to my son who we visited from Buxworth a couple of Sundays ago, the boat taking about 11 days, the bike just under an hour ! I’m privileged to live in the Staffordshire Moorlands that melt into the Staffordshire Peak District. The ride over is special as it takes me up over the A53 to Buxton. The route to the Winking Man pub to join the A53 gives great views towards Cheshire with Jodrell Bank radio telescope visible and Manchester on a clear day. As I type I’m thinking those views at some point cross the canals we travelled. I will look it up on an OS map…
Anyhow another lovely late afternoon ride. I paid for it as I came back later than planned so a cold 30 mile return in the dark across the moors …. Quite atmospheric and a little adventure as breaking down in the Moorlands would be an issue especially at night !
Hen Cloud in the fore ground and the Roaches leading away. Click on the photos and you’ll find the radio telescope dish
For a couple of days on the boat the Comms mast was ever present especially around Bosley
The weather was coming in !!
Lucky to be able to go into this landscape …by boat bike or hopefully soon by foot
3 comments:
Hi Nev,
Interesting comments regarding the CF Moto 450 vs the Himalayan 452.
I was watching an Australian review of the two bikes on You Tube last night and the reviewer decided the CF Moto was nice on the road but the Himalayan was more fun as an Adventure Bike. I assume there is more serious off road adventure riding here where the distances are vast, remote and rugged.
Regards
Tom
Hi Tom, Yes for sure Australia has the vastness for great adventures on a bike (apart from the snakes and the spiders !!) A good Uk reviewer with more off road focus on the two bikes is Nathan Millward - I've rode with him on his adventure days in Devon. For a Aussie perspective no better than Joe Ryan on Youtube who's taken his Old Himalayan all over Australia and was loaned a Scram for a New Zealand tour. I think he's in India in his latest series on the new Himalayan. You taken the plunge yet? I'm sure we saw your boat while out and about recently i think I put a picture in one of the trip blogs ?
Nev, We have lived on Australia for 20+ years and I've only ever seen one snake. Spiders are mostly harmless :-) I've watched a few of Joe Ryan's videos. Mostly I watch Mongrel Dog Productions for bicycle and Adventure Bike content. Part of my wants a Himalayan 452 and part says you can't justify it as you already have a 4WD and off road trailer. The difference between the two options is the cost of fuel and I already have the 4WD & trailer. Moreover I'm now 74 and my balance isn't what it was :-(
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