Finally got out on the green lanes with my very good friend Matt. He has a Yamaha WR250R on a 60 plate and has gone on quite a few TRF runs over the last year, and took me out to show me a good mix of routes.
First up was meeting at Keighley Gate. This is part of my daily commute so I was quite happy blasting along here.
Thats me. I wear armoured biking trousers with a waterproof inner and an armoured biking jacket with thin a wind/water proof jacket over the top. We both had camelbaks with tools and what not in.
Through Ilkley and up some country lanes, then past the obligatory "dead end" sign and up my first proper lane!
Matt likes to think he has a flair for the dramatic...
Then a little valley with a slippy grass and rock descent, a stream crossing and an equally slippy grass climb out the other side.
I took a couple of dabs going through the stream, but didn't sink!
Then we had a bit of a road section, which was nice country twisties, to a steep rocky track down to a reservoir.
It hairpinned down, getting quite technical in places
We stopped halfway to take some pics
I enjoyed it so much I got a perma-grin! It reminded me of the trials riding I did when I was younger. The bike isn't quite as nimble over the rocks, but then again you wouldn't want to ride a trials bike more than about a mile
Coming back up
I love the next picture, front wheel lifted slightly, powering on up
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Pete Brown
Keighley, West Yorkshire
'94 Yamaha TTR 250 Raid (with Open Enduro headlight, grrr...)
The first lane back down to Ilkley, slippy and rutted
Showing the trusty steeds some TLC
Showing the riders some TLC
Hope you liked the pics, hopefully I'll get out on plenty more rides. I think the best mod I did to the bike to prepare it was the wrap around hand guards. I came off a couple of times, not at speed, more on the slippery ascents, and when I laid the bike down on its side if I had the original handguards I think they'd have come off.
I am going to change the sprockets soon, I'll be interested to see what difference it makes.
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Pete Brown
Keighley, West Yorkshire
'94 Yamaha TTR 250 Raid (with Open Enduro headlight, grrr...)
