Best motorcycle routes: The Lake District, England, UK

There are some spectacular places to ride motorbikes in the UK. That's why Motorcycle Sport and Leisure and MoreBikes have joined forces to create a series of guides to some of the best biking routes across the land.
In this episode, we take four adventure bikes of different shapes and sizes to the Lake District. We ride the small but perfectly formed KTM 390 Adventure, the offroad-ready Yamaha Tenere 700, the all-round impressive Triumph Tiger 900, and the big daddy of the lot, the Honda Africa Twin.
Our route covers the best bits of the Lake District, including the Hardknott Pass, Wrynose Pass, Honister Pass and Kirkstone Pass, as well of all the good bits in between them.
In addition to top motorbike routes and some spectacular scenery, we are putting Bridgestone AX41 tyres and Bikerheadz kit to test.
For complete route descriptions and more info about the bikes, kit, locations and more, we have a 32-page guide covering riding in the Lake District, free with September 2021 issue of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure magazine. To get your guide, visit www.classicmagazines.co.uk/is...
To access Google maps and .gpx files of the routes we ride in the video, visit www.mslmagazine.co.uk/best-bi...
For more in-depth tests, exclusive interviews and the latest news from the world of motorcycling, visit www.MoreBikes.co.uk

[@edwardfrench9925]

Thanks for this. Having watched this video I changed my tour plan and spent a day in the lakes. The route was fantastic, the ice cream was as good as you suggested and the scenery breathtaking. The weather for my visit was great. One can smell the punishment drivers are dishing out to their brakes and total focus is needed to climb the hardknott. My little 125 was lifting the front wheel at times. Thanks again, great recommendation.

[@MorebikesUk]

It's a lovely place for a ride, huh! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dexrose8578]

Worth a stop on Hardknott to admire the Roman fort. Great vid 👍

[@Cruising_the_Dash]

Thank God for someone who speaks to you and doesnt preach. Many of us have been riding for years nd in various locations however, we should always be open to listen and learn. Thanks guys. We're 2 x Kiwis who'll be hitting that area this coming summer. So looking forward to it including meeting other bikers. Cheers SteveandsuzzeRTW

[@simonhantler8062]

steve did you ride thru uk,all good?another kiwi coming to uk in sept

[@andymeakin4263]

Great video. That couple on the Triumph Sprint GT after the van at 11:20 ish was me and my partner! Great day out and an exciting route, especially 2up! 👏👏👏👏

[@MorebikesUk]

Thanks! Small world! Excellent riding there!

[@British-afghan-traveler]

What a view of scenic roads and natural beauty it's truly a motorcyclist heaven in England 🇬🇧

[@RichO1701e]

What a cracking video! Top marks for the videography and camera work. You really captured the scope and depth of gradients and steep, banked turns of Hardnott and Wrynose! I've never seen any vlogger capture it so perfectly. You always lose the reality of the steepness of the inclines, so well done. Absolutely superb.

[@MorebikesUk]

Thank you very much!

[@bigkev8949]

I live 30 miles from the lake district, stunning place when the weather is right.

[@MorebikesUk]

What fantastic location! Not jealous at all, no, not even a bit... Okay, we're green with envy! :-)

[@markwallace9436]

Stunning footage and brilliant map layouts to help everyone else; thank you

[@derniederrheiner4518]

Great Video! Last time I was in the Lake District was 40 years ago. Only problem with the passes, in Greatbritainen you do not know that "uphill" has right of way. . .

[@Banditmanuk]

What a great film you've made, a pity the weather wasn't with you. Wife and I have been lucky enough to ride many of these roads and film some in the sun.

[@MorebikesUk]

It's a great place to ride bikes - even when the weather is poor!

[@BlackThor15]

What an awesome video!! Well done you all, thanks for sharing!! 👍👍

[@MorebikesUk]

Thanks!

[@jenskluvner823]

Greetings from Germany. Thank you for this video. This will be my next tour after Corona. I promise......

[@MorebikesUk]

It's a great destination! I hope you enjoy it!

[@ednaplate]

A fantastic video and I don’t even own a bike

[@MorebikesUk]

Sounds like a good time to get one! :-)

[@fictiveaudio]

I received the printed add-on with Motorcycle Sport & Leisure this month, great to see they made a video as well. Stunning! Thanks for producing this

[@MorebikesUk]

Glad you liked it!

[@CVODean]

Thanks for the GPX files. Saved me hours of route planning

[@joesigley1]

Looks stunning thank you for your video, loved it, me and some friends will be following your trip in the summer thank you, what a great trip!

[@MorebikesUk]

Thanks! Have a great ride!

[@alanbarrow3969]

great vid boys, in my diary for summer 2022. camping weekend. Alan Bury Bikers Barrow. see you there.

[@MorebikesUk]

Great plan!

[@UncleLongbeard]

very nice video

[@MorebikesUk]

Thanks! :-)

[@lluisar]

Nice video!

[@davew9360]

Great roads ,great views I live here , but you drove right past the Roman fort on hard knot pass , a superb historical site.

[@MorebikesUk]

What a place to live in! And thanks for the tip - That's a good reason to ride there again!

[@Lacehairwigs]

Man that looks like fun. I'll ride my bike there one day.

[@FreedomBaba]

Thanks. I enjoyed that. I've never really ridden in my own country. Only abroad. I hope to use some of your routes in September. Shame about the weather. Tally ho.

[@daaniyalmasum6842]

Dream ride

[@volt8684]

Hi lovely cinematography is there anywhere I can view/read about the bikes

[@justride1185]

Hi Great Video, im off there soon, dont suppose you have a GPX file you could forward?? Also, how long did it take to do the full circuit? Thanks

[@spencerlucas5835]

I have done the hardknott pass on the first iteration Suzuki Burgman 400 and that was 2 up.

[@davidireland6952]

I live in the Lake District 13 miles from Keswick and 3 miles from Cockermouth and have ridden bikes around here for 32 yrs...having ridden the Hardknott pass a few times..the camera doesnt give the true steepness of those scary tight hair pins plus even going down hill with the arse nipping hairpins! 😁 I Know a lot of back roads that peeps dont use, ESSENTIAL when the lakes are full of tourist cars blocking up the roads that they have in their satnavs 🤣 brill vid m8 😁 edit: oh you didnt ride the coach road 😢

[@ExeterCenturion]

Love this video! Looks like an amazing ride! Got a proper map for it?

[@MorebikesUk]

Maps for the whole route plus smaller ones are all here: www.mslmagazine.co.uk/best-biking-roads-in-the-lake-district-video-maps-and-gpx-files/

[@user-tx6qc2vl7t]

Does anyone have the GPX file for the route ?… looks fantastic! Thank you

[@bbstriker]

What time of year was this trip?

[@this_is_a_tiny_town]

I try to get across from N.Ireland at least once per year, and I've been trying to find somewhere to tempt me away from my usual Scottish Highlands routes but so far that hasn't happened. I've watched this and the Yorkshire Dales video and they just cannot compare with north of the border. Are there any areas in England/Wales that could give Scotland a run for its money, that you could spend a few days in without getting bored and preferably don't have to ride hundreds of miles of motorway or tedious A roads to get there?

[@nickfifield1]

When did you go? what time of year? I'm planning same trip in July...

[@jefffield2252]

I would love to ride these passes. is it possible to do two up on a fazer 600

[@thepeakybiker]

Have you got GPX files for this route ?? if so would you sell them

[@kevintelfer4008]

Just bought one for my GS1250 but the U bolt supplied is not long enough to to secure to handle bar as handle bar circumference is to big !! Found a company who supply an adaptor which fits to the back of the unit and plugs into the sat nav excessary holder on your BMW AAGB3D are the company who supply this adaptor ,about £60 (80 euro)

[@danyoung444]

Im doing them all on my 125

[@PaulUrmston]

Any chance you can share the gpx files? I'm going to be moving back to the UK after 25 years outside... and this sounds like a perfect getaway for me.

[@MorebikesUk]

Yes, the files are here: www.mslmagazine.co.uk/best-biking-roads-in-the-lake-district-video-maps-and-gpx-files/

[@ratwhittleym3465]

What hotel did you stay in please?? 6 of us thinking of the lakes in July . Thanks 👍

[@MorebikesUk]

The Black Bull in Coniston. Nice place!

[@vagrant81]

👍👍

[@CurvedSlightly]

Where's the gravel road?

[@adamplumtree64]

Can you put the route up please for the satnav

[@MorebikesUk]

They're available here: www.mslmagazine.co.uk/best-biking-roads-in-the-lake-district-video-maps-and-gpx-files/

[@davidwaddington9414]

Hardknott Pass, 1st gear all the way.

[@maxlane9210]

Question from a newby looking to do his bike test soon. Would a sports bike be suitable for this type of riding in the lake district? Or would an adventure bike be more appropriate?

[@yoorukhunt947]

You can do it on any bike you want. Just depends o m how comfortable you want to be

[@Skubbes]

@@yoorukhunt947 appreciate you advising, what do you think is a good mix between comfort for long distance and commuting through town to work? My bike will be the only way of transport

[@yoorukhunt947]

@@Skubbes I have a GS but go two up a lot. If I didn’t do 2 up I’d go and buy a T7 today. They’re awesome.

[@kevinpotts-to5nm]

13:30 there`s no need to stand up there, unless he`s got piles ?

[@richardcook621]

Could you ride this route on a Harley D and do you have a map of your route please

[@MorebikesUk]

Yeah, you can ride this on any bike, it's all proper roads although the Hardnott and Wrynose Passes are quite technical. The route maps are here: www.mslmagazine.co.uk/best-biking-roads-in-the-lake-district-video-maps-and-gpx-files/

[@LK-zt9vf]

Whats the music in this? at 3:45?

[@MorebikesUk]

Not sure... It's something that our video editor came up with...

[@medievalladybird394]

@@MorebikesUk pity. I was wondering about the music as well. At 7:45 on it sounds like Philip Glass. What a great ride, with or without clag.

[@andymeakin4263]

There's some footage in here of you guys on this trip when we passed eachother on the Hardknott 👍. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3iqnpd-Z9qkhKc

[@MorebikesUk]

Great video. Lovely riding there!

[@AmikSingh14]

Recently shifted to Manchester from India . Looking for bikeride collaborations. Did all india ride on my RoyalEnfield already.

[@MorebikesUk]

Royal Enfields work nicely in the UK too! Check out the owner forums on Facebook. :-)

[@giuseppinavolpe2873]

An english cant miss the green

[@moslimislam5714]

That weather completely ruined it if you ask me. I'd head back home, count the losses and prevent losing more.

[@MorebikesUk]

It was ok in the end - even a little sunshine right at the end! But yeah, there were times we just wanted to go home... :-)

[@lewisarmstrong5044]

4.5k year old stones lol ??? Think they may be a bit older than that pal..

[@medievalladybird394]

Maybe You're kidding, but they meant Castle Rigg stone circle was built around 4.5 thousand years ago, making it older than Stone Henge. Have a great day

[@p.istaker8862]

Why all the standing on the pegs and putting a foot down from the front rider ?

[@spikeccx]

Yep but you missed a lot

[@MorebikesUk]

That's the trouble, it would take days and weeks to cover everywhere... :-)

[@christopherdooley9324]

1 minute 40 in, incorrect use of mini roundabout. You should be more responsible my friend.

[@thomasglover3834]

Looserrr

[@tuscanrider8985]

Doesn't appear to be much footage from the bikes sadly. Another wannabe TopGear video production, not interested in the "presenters" nor how you put on a pair of gloves 😂

[@yoorukhunt947]

🥱

[@thomasglover3834]

Looosseerrrr