December 2009
Way too cold, but Geordie can't resist a ride to the coast for chips at Amble. At least he's managed to get out, I am looking at a bike with a flat battery so there no chance until it's charged (must buy a charger first), and Marky's new Bonni America is locked away until he's got a dry day to test it out. Roll on Spring......

November 2009
From an average UK summer, we’ve jumped head-first into winter, it’s a whole 9 degrees out there and every weekend has been wet ‘n’ windy. Arse. The Motoeuro gang are chomping at the bit to gerrout but Mother Nature isn’t playing. For those of you who point and shout ‘fair weather biker’, my reply is that wet road riding is like alcohol free lager - what’s the point ? Of course, we have a new bike to welcome so thet'll mean all of us getting out in unity. That'll be in June then.....[DH]

You've gotta laugh.....
With Harley Davidson dealers getting rid of Buell stock, the plan was simple; head down to Just Harleys in Newcastle and grab a couple of Buell 1125's to blast on our favourite roads to see if these things are any good. Simple eh ? Nope. Geordie's bike wont start, I forgot commitments from 1pm and after nipping down to the dealership, there's no Mark and the store is shut. Arse. Geordie's stuck with a grumpy Tuono, so I'm off for a couple of hours to keep the Daytona moving. 80 miles later, I'm bloody cold, October for you, mind, heated grips are soooo good :)

Last Blast..... ?

Dave 'n' Geordie ride off to Aberdeen on the finest roads the east has to offer, 600 miles of big grins. Read the 'last blast' here.
As Autumn has arrived in Tyneside, I can't see any more overnighers in 2009, the odd trip into Scotland and the coast will be needed to give us a biking fix, but 2010 promises to be the year of multi-trips, stay tuned......

Meanwhile, Motoeuro Steve makes a trip up North, lad.
I usually treasure trips to Newcastle on the beemer. The freedom of being out on the open road to see friends & family. The knowledge of sitting on one of the most reliable bikes ever built. Sounds great, eh? It wasn't.

I was cold and started to yawn before 2 hours were up. The traffic was silly and with my panniers on I couldn't get past anything without taking major risks. My bum was sore after 100 miles and I was bored! I did 650 miles up and down the M25/M1 and all I could think of was "Why didn't I take the car?" Time to look for a different seat me thinks.....[SH]

Must stay off the drink.......must stay off the drink.......must stay off the drink.......

Promised a scorching summer of ride outs, been given a wet and windy August yet again. Just wait till I see Michael Fish and his bunch of gipsy mates, their crystal ball is going where the sun don't shine.

Although we've been riding the odd 100-miler, we've not been out for the whole day for what seems like bloody years. Recoiling from another Saturday night of assertive drinking, I make the 8am alarm and meet up with Geordie for a whole day on the bikes. We're chasing the sun as we ride Kielder, Newcastleton, Cannonbie, Lockerbike, Carlise to the Lakes and back through Hartside and Alston. Somewhere near 280 miles gone today, cracking day oot. Oh, and GP is on, where's my beer, pet ?

Change is-a-happening....

Even though Motoeuro 2009 to Spain has taken up all our time ( and cash ) we've managed a few rides around the doors, when it's not bloody pouring down, that is. Oh, and if you want your rear tyre scrubbed in and chicken strips removed in about 20 minutes, give your bike to Geordie on a Saturday afternoon. B'Jesus.

Bank Holiday Monday 24th May
So far so good on the Daytona, but as we've got 400-ish miles to the ferry in 3 weeks for Motoeuro 09, I take the Trumpet away from it's natural habitat and on to a straight road to test it's manners. Less than 5 minutes on the A19 I'm board. Playing with the new grip I fitted and the various trips on the LCD clocks keep me entertained for another 5 minutes. I wonder how I change the speedo from MPH to KPH, oh well.

The Triumph's power makes for passing 5,6,10 cars at once simple; no playing with the box just off she goes with a twist - point and squirt never seemed so easy. Mind you, slow or town riding is a freaking nightmare with this thing. When I eventually get the crossroads that lead into Whitby left and Scarborough right, the queues of tin boxes put me off. Right it is then.

Thanks to my laziness, the site hasn't been up-dated for ages, but we've been out and about a few times so far in '09 including the last ever Easter Egg run organised by Northumberland Bikers.

The turn out in 2009 was nothing short of spectacular, with what must have been well over 1,000 bikes. From sports beasts to trikes, from scooters to choppers, if you had a bike, you where there. Oddly, met up with the guy selling the Daytona, too.

We've been around the Northumbrian coast, Scottish Borders and the roads around Kielder Forest as well as our favourite roads locally. With the warm weather it's been happy days here at Motopeuro HQ.

Whenever I mention my bike trips to people on-route, it's usually met with a sharp intake of breath and a shaking head. Filling up at Knowsgate; "oohhhh, that's a long way, it's too cold and wet to be on your bike today". Cheers.

Rain met me in Ponteland, by Otterburn I was thinking I should have taken the car to Dundee this weekend, but MOT'd and serviced, it seemed a good idea at the time. By Carter Bar there's big chunks of snow everywhere and I even get hail in Newton St.Boswell's. Goodie. I am fecking freezing. Most of the A696 and A68 are pretty muddy, north of Lauder the mud is running like a river down the road from the hillside, I am covered. I am freezing. I am thinking I should have taken the car.

If it wasn't for Motoeuro 2008 through the Alps and French Riviera, my humble VFR would have reached a poxy 2,000-ish in the whole year. In my defence, 2008 was a terrible summer and early 2009 hasn't exactly been sun-drenched. But with Spring around the corner, lets aim high for 09 and get away for more overnighters and more ride outs to make the most of our bikes. We've got a good base from which to explore the finest roads in Northumberland, Scottish Borders, the Lakes and more. Having said that, I must get my MOT sorted.....oh, pap......

Sit back, relax and let your mouse do the work as you meander through the past few years of Motoeuro Ride Outs. There will be plenty you've forgotten - your chance to reminisce in this velvety blanket that is Motoeuro.