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Thread: The Highlands by motorbike

  1. #11
    Join Date: Feb 2011

    Location: Liverpool, Merseyside.

    Posts: 1,328
    I'm Ben.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    That old bike cleaned up well. Looks like you even had good weather on some days.
    cheers Macca, it took a lot of doing, he rebuilt much of it, respoked the wheels, repainted the frame, tank and side panels, sorted out the electrics and replaced all manor of stuff on it. Its a bike that's not worth much in pounds but has a lot of memories tied into it for him and us.

    The first 2 days we had superb weather but the back end of the trip not so much. Lots of rain varying from spits and spats to full on downpours. Managed to stay mostly dry apart from hands and feet due to mainly wearing summer riding kit.
    Technics SL1210 with
    SME IV Arm & AT OC9XML,
    Firebottle modded Tron Convergence Phono Stage,
    Bluesound Node 2i, Technics SL DZ 1200 CD
    Denon PMA1700ne amp
    Yamaha NS1000M Speakers.

  2. #12
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,786
    I'm Martin.

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    I was there last year for a week on a boat and we only had 1 good day of weather.

    Still worth it though, one thing I noticed above all else was how clean the air is up there. Frightening really.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  3. #13
    Join Date: Feb 2011

    Location: Liverpool, Merseyside.

    Posts: 1,328
    I'm Ben.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    I was there last year for a week on a boat and we only had 1 good day of weather.

    Still worth it though, one thing I noticed above all else was how clean the air is up there. Frightening really.
    I was surprised at how friendly we found everyone, how quiet a lot of the roads were, how well maintained they were as well.

    I thought the west coast was stunning but the east not quite so. I didn't notice the air so much but maybe that was cos of all the midges lol
    Technics SL1210 with
    SME IV Arm & AT OC9XML,
    Firebottle modded Tron Convergence Phono Stage,
    Bluesound Node 2i, Technics SL DZ 1200 CD
    Denon PMA1700ne amp
    Yamaha NS1000M Speakers.

  4. #14
    Join Date: Jun 2014

    Location: Chorley Lancs

    Posts: 14,601
    I'm Steve.

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    Thanks for sharing, Ben. Very interesting, great pictures and your dad is something of an inspiration to you, no doubt!

    It makes me want to get up there on my bike, ridden up to Ullapool several times, but not since 1988. Some of your pics do look familiar, but then I stayed at various places in that neck of the woods, including Kyle of Lochalsh, Gairloch and Plockton. The road going up to Ullapool, passing the Aultguish Inn and Corrieshalloch Gorge is one of the best biking routes I've ever ridden. Did the routes originally on my GS 750, and my GSX 750. If I use my FireBlade, I'll have to try to keep my speed down so the scenery doesn't flit by too quickly!

    Don't see much of a family resemblance I thought I was seeing double!

    I misread your original post, I thought you was going to the NW 200, that mental Irish road race
    I just dropped in, to see what condition my condition was in

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  5. #15
    Join Date: Feb 2011

    Location: Liverpool, Merseyside.

    Posts: 1,328
    I'm Ben.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony View Post
    Thanks for sharing, Ben. Very interesting, great pictures and your dad is something of an inspiration to you, no doubt!

    It makes me want to get up there on my bike, ridden up to Ullapool several times, but not since 1988. Some of your pics do look familiar, but then I stayed at various places in that neck of the woods, including Kyle of Lochalsh, Gairloch and Plockton. The road going up to Ullapool, passing the Aultguish Inn and Corrieshalloch Gorge is one of the best biking routes I've ever ridden. Did the routes originally on my GS 750, and my GSX 750. If I use my FireBlade, I'll have to try to keep my speed down so the scenery doesn't flit by too quickly!

    Don't see much of a family resemblance I thought I was seeing double!

    I misread your original post, I thought you was going to the NW 200, that mental Irish road race
    Hi Steve,

    Yes the old man is a big source of inspiration to me, that he's still up and down the country at his age is on the MZ is amazing. I road it briefly for about 20 minutes but it scared the life out of me. Practically non existent brakes, minimal power and shocking handling lol.

    We actually staid at the Aultguish Inn for 2 nights so I know the road well. We road it into Ullapool and back about 4 times over the weekend and yes its very good both ways.

    As we get older me and Sam are starting top blend into one almost lol
    Technics SL1210 with
    SME IV Arm & AT OC9XML,
    Firebottle modded Tron Convergence Phono Stage,
    Bluesound Node 2i, Technics SL DZ 1200 CD
    Denon PMA1700ne amp
    Yamaha NS1000M Speakers.

  6. #16
    Join Date: Oct 2015

    Location: Woodmancote, West Sussex

    Posts: 1,629
    I'm Ian.

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    Absolutely brilliant Ben, so good to see you all really enjoying proper time together. there's something about bikes that bond us, once they are in your blood they're there for ever and we share that. Those old ETZ's are tough and although MZ were never the last word in styling there is something very appealing about them. It's great to see it in brilliant condition, I love the less mainstream classics. Top work Ben, lovely photos and a great read.
    Turntable
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  7. #17
    Join Date: Feb 2011

    Location: Liverpool, Merseyside.

    Posts: 1,328
    I'm Ben.

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    Cheers for the comments guys.

    The 3 of us rode together most of Saturday, as the MZ was so much slower we picked minor B roads for the majority of it. Pootling along at 50 mph taking in the sights and sounds was a lovely change, just the wind in your hair and the smell of 2 stroke whafting around you and what seemd like loch after loch passing on either side of you.

    Back at the B&B that night we had a superb meal and a few drinks and then said our goodbyes Sunday morning, Dad was heading back south towards Loch Lomond and Sam & I wanted to crack on and do the scenic Costal route out westwards towards Gairloch before heading back towards Glasgow where we had a room booked for the night.

    The morning was mainly dry but got wetter as the afternoon arrived and after several hours of fairly damp to seriously wet conditions we eventually got the sat nav out and picked the shortest route to our B&B destination. An hour or so later I was leading the pair or us an as we came over the crest of a hill I could see the speck of a bike a few miles ahead of us.......and who should it be but Dad again still trundling along. We stopped at the next lay buy and waited for him to catch us up, He was more than thankful to see us as the MZ had messed about a bit and he'd had to change the plug to get it going again. His back was also giving him some gyp and he could hardly get off the bike lol.

    After a cup of coffee and a mars bar we all set off together and escorted him to his hotel before we headed off to ours. That was Sunday and on Monday at 6pm he arrived at my place in Liverpool for another evening stop off. Sam and I had left Glasgow very early Monday morning and Id managed to hit Liverpool by about 10 am, I said goodbye to Sam at Junction 22 on the M6 and he continued south home to Croydon. He texted me later saying he'd ridden for almost 8 hours and 500 miles. I know I couldn't do that, but well for Sam that's about par for the course!

    I spoke to Dad last night and he was safely back home near Gatwick after another 240 odd mile day. The trips over but I'm already thinking about doing something together again next year.
    Last edited by Zoidburg; 18-07-2018 at 14:02.
    Technics SL1210 with
    SME IV Arm & AT OC9XML,
    Firebottle modded Tron Convergence Phono Stage,
    Bluesound Node 2i, Technics SL DZ 1200 CD
    Denon PMA1700ne amp
    Yamaha NS1000M Speakers.

  8. #18
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

    Posts: 99,005
    I'm Grant.

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    great pics Ben/ used to go my hols up to Gairloch(the northerly one) and that area when young. towing a caravan, it was a long slow trip.... even as a kid it was drearily slow...lol great place tho
    Regards,
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  9. #19
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Much Wenlock

    Posts: 1,522
    I'm Gary.

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    Great read and story, thanks for sharing.

  10. #20
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

    Posts: 51,624
    I'm Geoff.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Stryder5 View Post
    Great read and story, thanks for sharing.
    Yes. Definitely! Great summer fun.

    I like the old MZ's, I had a Saxon Tour 301 for a while. Good bike. I'd still like a Supa 5.

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