Just thought I had better pop in here and say hi properly. Been in the America section and introduced myself there but thought I should do it proper, seeing as their is a section for it. Proper mid-life crisis into biking 5 years ago, started on a Honda VT125 and loved it. Didn't want a cruiser, but this was the only 125 bike that didn't look like a kiddie scooter under me. Moved onto a SV650 and rode that for a few years, great first big bike, loved the V-Twin engine. Had a scratch to itch so then moved onto a GSXR 750 K7, what an awesome piece of kit! I toured, tracked days and everything in-between. Loved that bike until I got bored going fast and realised I was heading for a lengthy ban if I was ever caught doing the silly speeds. So a massive step was taken last week and an America purchased. A 13 plate, 1200 miles with panniers, rack and sissy bar. (Picture in America section, blue and white one). Actually persuaded the missus to get on the back of a bike for the first time ever, and she loved it. She's looking at the weather now and hoping its dry at the weekend to get out again. She's even planning to get away for a wee tour for us, up to Ullapool in Easter on the bike !!! New chapter in biking and roll on next year to enjoy it.
Apart from the A75, and to a lesser extent the A76, there is a lot of great riding to be had in the Dumfries and Galloway area of south west Scotland. We had the (free!) use of a static caravan in Dalbeattie up to a couple of years ago, and consequently discovered quiet, beautiful, unspoilt and largely tourist free area of Scotland. Magic!! Motorcycling Nirvana! Not too bad if you have to go by car, either!
Live close to Dalbeattie and work there ! Great wee hidden corner of the UK, Shhhhh, don't tell anybody ;-) Other than the A75 (too many HGV and unmarked cars), roads are fantastic around here. Look up Elvanfoot to Newton Stewart, passing through Thornhill, Moniave and New Galloway on google maps, awesome road. There's not a lot, but everyione is a belter.
Used to live up Rhu way near Helensburgh, there's some beautiful roads up around there, will get back there on a bike one day!
Welcome to the club. I had an America for 18 months and managed to put 14k miles on it. It's a very underestimated bike. Shiny side up
Elvanfoot to Thornhill ... Dalveen Pass? Beautiful! I actually did that run in a 38tonne tipper wagon many years ago and made up my mind to do it on a bike one day. Mission accomplished - several times! Also, the road from Mennock to Wanlockhead and Leadhills (B797) is worth a visit. Dalbeattie to Dumfries road itself is worthy of a mention, but not here 'cos we don't want the bloody Riff Raff visiting and spoiling it for the rest of us! Let 'em all rush through on their way to/from Cairnryan and leave us to the best bits! Used to be a quad bike sales/repair workshop in Dalbeattie which would often have a classic Brit bike in the window. Found myself inadvertently lusting after a 650cc AJS a few years ago!
Bike shop still in Dalbeatie, do more quads, one of the biggest in Scotland for quads!!! Bought my first bike, a VT125 from there. My credit card payment got refused because it was such a large payment, but he let me take the bike and told me to come back tomorrow to pay !!!!!! Dalbeattie up to A75 through the Haugh of Urr, has been my track of choice for many years !!!! Thats why the gixxer had to go.
Ah yes, I forgot about that one ... and no doubt several others! Too many to choose from! I guess any sports bike in that area can be just a little too tempting!!! The Trident was bad enough!! Here's one for you ... there is/was a cattle warning sign, possibly on the H of U road as my gut feeling is that it is/was northbound from Dalbeattie, with a vertical white band through the body of the cow making it look like a Galloway Beltie. Have you seen it and is it still there (bearing in mind that it was probably 2012 when I was last up that way). It always brought a smile to our faces when we passed it. I know - little things please little minds!! I blame SWMBO, but only when she's not around!!
On the road from Kirkcudbright to the A75, and yes still there! I could give you a list of 10 roads that are empty and could go like a bat outta hell. That's why the gixxer had to go, only really made sense when giving it the beans. Great bike, but speed way too easy. If any you guys coming north, jump off the m74 at the border and get on the b7076, runs parallel to m74 through d&g, brilliant bit of road. This is another road that made the gixxer fun.
Good luck with the America Mr Orange. Good move getting the misses on side, makes life much easier , enjoy your ride.
Welcome to the forum Although I've been riding for a few more years I had the same with my blade fantastic bike but speed was all too easy made my mind up last year it had to go brought my first triumph and haven't looked back Still trying to get my wife on the back maybe next summer