Kettlewell, Yorkshire Dales, Park Rash Motorbike Run on 1913 motorbike

Kettlewell is in Upper Wharfedale and in the 1920s motorcyclists (then on belt driven motorcycles) tried the impossible: to climb Park Rash (the 1 in 3 road that climbs the valley side to Coverdale). It has a switchback bend and very steep in parts, unfortunately for the event we weren't able to recreate the conditions of those days: it was metalled in the 1950s! So, imagine this as a green lane with loose stone, deep ruts and mud!

[@davidmoffat6791]

Excellent video showing just how capable our machines still are when properly ridden. Well done Noel and Ian.

[@edwardwest5035]

My word, I enjoyed that. Thank you for a super video.

[@austinswallow]

that looks a lot of fun, well done & thanks for sharing!

[@oneorangedog]

Well done Noel!

[@smudger4497]

very well done lads no LPA needed i came down Park Rash some years ago on a vintage run on my 1939 Norton model 18 500 cc no problem apart from i couldn’t stop it haha the brakes were biscuit tins

[@flycrashrepairrepeat6225]

Wonderful video, I really enjoyed watching those beautiful old Motorcycles tackle those hills.. The oldest motorcycle I've ever owned was a 1978 Suzuki RM100 dirtbike when I was a youngster. Thanks again for a great upload, I'm going to hopefully find some more videos of you gentlemen on those great bikes.

[@howardw3223]

Brilliant! Well done

[@iainhannay4530]

Love it Noel. Probably more scary going down hill!

[@vikingforties]

Probably had the valve lifter out all the way down. Also, Noel may have cunning hidden his reserve parachute in the leather holdall for deployment in a full emergency.

[@tonygriffiths134]

Wonderful stuff. I know just how hard these bikes are to ride today. On the roads of their time it would have been very much harder; narrow, high-pressure beaded-edge tyres with minimal grip and lots of loose surfaces, even on major roads. I find that the bigger problem is not going but stopping. The front stirrup rim brake might as well not be fitted and the block of friction material - that wedges into the belt rim - hardly more effective. When wet well, you can guess, they only act to reduce speed just slightly - though the engine braking is, of course, effective. Lovely to see the riders dress appropriately; nobody went out without a collar and tie in those days.