A group of 11 riders – nine of them on 500cc single-cylinder Royal Enfield motorcycles – travelled 1288 miles in four days from Northants to the most western point of mainland Britain, and the trip has inspired an online paean to basic bikes [OK, a sales pitch, but a great piece of marketing that could open an interesting debate).
The trip started at Enfield dealer Cooperb Motorcycles in Easton Maudit, Northants, from where the group rode to Ardnamurchan peninsula in the western Highlands of Scotland, which is the most western point in main land Britain.
There were four Royal Enfield Continental GTs, two Bullets and a Woodsman. There was a new SWM 445 Café Racer and a Mash Roadstar. The nine single-cylinders where joined on the way up by a BMW R1200R and a Triumph Tiger.
Cooperb dealer principal Ian Cooper said on his company’s Facebook page: “Small single-cylinder bikes are known for delivering big fun in small doses – but can they cope with big distances?
“The trip to Ardnamurchan was great because riding those little bikes all that way made us all feel like kids again! Our average age worked out to be very late forties and between us there isn’t a continent we haven’t ridden on and barely a brand of big bike that hasn’t been owned by at least one of us yet it was this trip on these bikes that we all agreed we enjoyed the most. ‘The most fun I’ve ever had on two wheels’ is just one quote.
“The other thing we agreed was that it is only these back-to-basic bikes can deliver back-to-basic thrills. You’re riding with pals rather than associates and having banter rather than conversations – all delivered straight from the enthusiasm generated by such endearing machines.
“Already plans are in place to do it again on the same bikes next year. One thing I do know for sure is that this journey will be measured by memories, and you don’t need a rider modes or even a digital trip meter for that!”
What are your thoughts on back-to-basics versus super sophistication for touring machines?