Anyone ridden Kielder Forest Drive - thoughts?
Discussion
HI,
Am thinking of riding this next month with a friend but he is a bit nervous about going off road. I'm on a GS1200 with road tyres and he's on a Ducati Multi V2 so I'm pretty confident we'd be ok but as he's had knee replacements he's very nervous about falling off!! I wondered what it's like - is it sketchy and loose or ok for complete novices to ride along on heavy bikes? Thanks in advance
Am thinking of riding this next month with a friend but he is a bit nervous about going off road. I'm on a GS1200 with road tyres and he's on a Ducati Multi V2 so I'm pretty confident we'd be ok but as he's had knee replacements he's very nervous about falling off!! I wondered what it's like - is it sketchy and loose or ok for complete novices to ride along on heavy bikes? Thanks in advance
No actual first hand experience, but I think you'll be ok.
We considered doing in in my Merc C Class estate but on account of alreading having cracked an alloy on the drive up to Northumberland, thought better of it at the time.
Got chatting to a local who said it'd be fine in any normal car if you take it fairly slow and dont have silly low profile tyres (another mark against the Merc!) so I'm sure on the bike it'd be alright. I think it's fairly hard-packed but no doubt a bit lose and rocky in sections.
Maybe have a quick look at some recent youtube videos to get a feel for what it might be like - unless you'd rather it was a surprise/want to see it first-hand.
EDIT: I'd maybe sway the opposite way If it's wet, and give it a miss on a motorcycle on road tyres.
We considered doing in in my Merc C Class estate but on account of alreading having cracked an alloy on the drive up to Northumberland, thought better of it at the time.
Got chatting to a local who said it'd be fine in any normal car if you take it fairly slow and dont have silly low profile tyres (another mark against the Merc!) so I'm sure on the bike it'd be alright. I think it's fairly hard-packed but no doubt a bit lose and rocky in sections.
Maybe have a quick look at some recent youtube videos to get a feel for what it might be like - unless you'd rather it was a surprise/want to see it first-hand.
EDIT: I'd maybe sway the opposite way If it's wet, and give it a miss on a motorcycle on road tyres.
Edited by CallorFold on Thursday 28th July 15:15
Edited by CallorFold on Thursday 28th July 15:18
I haven't ridden it, so can't give you a personal view, but this is quite encouraging...
https://www.madornomad.com/the-best-motorcycle-tou...
...especially this line " The ride itself in the summer is easy to do and any motorcycle should be capable of negotiating the terrain."
https://www.madornomad.com/the-best-motorcycle-tou...
...especially this line " The ride itself in the summer is easy to do and any motorcycle should be capable of negotiating the terrain."
Absolutely fine on those bikes. It is 12 miles of cambered and potholed gravel road - what passes for a main trunk road in many parts of the world. It can be tough in snow but at any other time doable in/on just about anything. Quite scenic in places. If there is a lot of logging operations going on it can be muddy and rutted. Keep your eyes peeled for those logging trucks on the surrounding narrow roads. Well worth extending it with this loop.
I was along there last week in the MX-5, and I have had GSes for the past 20 years so I hope this helps!
Years ago, I remember it as being mostly well-compacted dolomite for most of its length - I've driven it umpteen times - and it wasn't bad. Now, however it starts off (at the Keilder end) with potholed tarmac which then degenerates into rutted dolomite with loads of loose 'marbles' on the surface. The car was sliding all over the place on the loose stuff.
Think of a road which has just been top-dressed with that grey gravel, but the pieces are larger...maximum speed I could do safely was about 15mph.
I honestly would think twice about even taking a lightweight trail-bike along there let alone a GS or Ducati unless you have some enduro experience.
Years ago, I remember it as being mostly well-compacted dolomite for most of its length - I've driven it umpteen times - and it wasn't bad. Now, however it starts off (at the Keilder end) with potholed tarmac which then degenerates into rutted dolomite with loads of loose 'marbles' on the surface. The car was sliding all over the place on the loose stuff.
Think of a road which has just been top-dressed with that grey gravel, but the pieces are larger...maximum speed I could do safely was about 15mph.
I honestly would think twice about even taking a lightweight trail-bike along there let alone a GS or Ducati unless you have some enduro experience.
littleredrooster said:
I honestly would think twice about even taking a lightweight trail-bike along there let alone a GS or Ducati unless you have some enduro experience.
Granted, your experience seems almost a year more recent than mine, but seriously? This is exactly what bikes like that were built for. They aren't crossing the Sahara, it's 12 miles of gravel.I did it on a 450 enduro bike, it was excellent, but that was flat out in 5th and 6th,huge high speed slides all the way, not unlike rally cars that have trad that way before!
A 450 enduro on fire roads like that is just utterly awesome, some of the best biking experiences out there. I think there is a speed limit of 30 officially, but ignore that and its proper fun.
A 450 enduro on fire roads like that is just utterly awesome, some of the best biking experiences out there. I think there is a speed limit of 30 officially, but ignore that and its proper fun.
littleredrooster said:
I honestly would think twice about even taking a lightweight trail-bike along there let alone a GS or Ducati unless you have some enduro experience.
Absolutely the wrong answer. Rode two months ago in the pouring rain, on my 1290SAR, on road tyres and it was no issue at all. If you would think twice about riding a lightweight trail bike on there I'd suggest never riding off-road, ever.
I did it 2 weeks ago, i was on a tiger 800 with 70/30 tyres and a mate on his brand spanking GS 1250 with road rubber on having never ridden off road before and having ridden sports bikes previously.
Neither of us had any issues at all, tbh it’s a bit boring on the bikes but we both really enjoyed it especially the roads up either side.
Honestly just do it (3rd gear rev limiter power slides optional)
Neither of us had any issues at all, tbh it’s a bit boring on the bikes but we both really enjoyed it especially the roads up either side.
Honestly just do it (3rd gear rev limiter power slides optional)
Golgarth said:
littleredrooster said:
I honestly would think twice about even taking a lightweight trail-bike along there let alone a GS or Ducati unless you have some enduro experience.
Absolutely the wrong answer. Rode two months ago in the pouring rain, on my 1290SAR, on road tyres and it was no issue at all. If you would think twice about riding a lightweight trail bike on there I'd suggest never riding off-road, ever.
mersontheperson said:
To be fair, this was probably the advice he received from the Hoxton Bike Shed, riding the trail was advised against as without any mudguards and an open face helmet, gravel will get stuck on your waxed moustache, and there are no vegan tofu and lentil harissa salads to enjoy. Besides, it’s a very long way to the north, and riding on the motorway is really dangerous
"waxed moustache" 
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