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USERNAMEKATE’S 5 FAVOURITE

EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE ROAD TRIPS

From our very own Isle of Man TT circuit to the stunning Stelvio Pass in Italy, motorcycle blogger and Bikesure ambassador UsernameKate, AKA Kate Ralph, has revealed five of her favourite European road trips.

1 The mountain passes of Switzerland

I based myself in Andermatt, a quaint town in the Swiss mountains, before tackling the country’s famous passes, the Gotthard, the Grimsel, the Furka and the Susten Pass.

The Susten pass was my favourite. The sound of my single cylinder KTM Duke 690 reverberating through the mountains and fast, meandering roads was intoxicating. The Susten Pass is something all bikers need to experience.

2 The Isle of Man TT circuit

The atmosphere, the mountains, the excitement and the right to legally pass the police at 100mph, make the TT circuit a must on every biker’s bucket list. I love the racing and the camaraderie of being with crowds of like minded people, but just as much I love riding the infamous mountain road. This is a road with no speed limit and it’s absolutely intoxicating riding flat out, as fast as you can handle. However, it’s wise to get up early and ride it when it’s less busy.

3 The breathtaking NC500 in Soctland

It’s easy to understand why thousands of bikers, hikers, campers and car clubs flock to Scotland for the NC500 each year. The views along this route tracking the 516 miles of the north coast, beginning and ending at Inverness Castle, are absolutely breathtaking. My favourite stop-off en route was Ullapool, a small fishing town on the west side of the country. It has plenty of good eateries and you can switch down a gear by taking a sea cruise and taking in a little dolphin watching.

4 Nordschleife and the Nurburgring

Another bucket list riding experience for a lot of bikers is the Nurburgring. There’s something extremely exhilarating about a Mitsubishi Evo flying past, just the width of cigarette paper away from you. There are a few things to remember when riding the Nurburgring: • Use your mirrors a lot. You will be sharing the circuit with some super fast bikes and cars and they will fly up behind you in the bat of an eyelid. Constant use of the mirrors will give you the time to move over and get out of their way. • Use your right indicator and keep right as you get overtaken.

Make your lines predictable and stay out of the way.

5 The scenic Stelvio Pass in Italy

When you think of iconic motorcycle passes, the Stelvio Pass is foremost in your mind. Stelvio Pass rises to an elevation of 2,757m above sea level and boasts no less than 48 hairpins en route to the top. Once you get there, there’s even a nice cafe where you can relax and soak in the experience. A tip when climbing the Stelvio Pass is, before you take on the switchbacks, look up to check that your path is clear, as the turns are so tight you may well end up on the wrong side of the road. The beauty of getting to the top is you get to come down the other side.

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