Royal Enfield Classic 350 | The Struggle | Kirkstone Pass to Ambleside |

[@tomstockell9481]

Top ride out thanks Ian …beautiful country side over the struggle

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Tom, glad you enjoyed it.

[@copper6600]

A very nice video with good audio and video footage,thanks for taking me with you and ride safe.🍀🍀🍀

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thank you, so pleased you enjoyed the ride.

[@5dTraveller]

Thanks for taking us along there Ian, I've noticed that road a few times and wondered what it was like but I was usually on the K1600 and without knowing the road I wasn't going to risk it. Watch yourself with that cough, if it doesn't go away soon get some treatment if you haven't already. Cheers, Mick

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Mick. Here is a link to The Struggle, from the Ambleside direction, when I had my Interceptor . It gives a better idea why it got its name, though as you know, action camera’s flatten out inclines. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6jGe4Gpo5h4h7Msi=cNAG9bsnxe6HYqIi The cough has almost gone now, but woke up with a tickle at the back of my throat again, which will hopefully pass 🤞

[@5dTraveller]

Thanks Ian, I'll go and have a look 👍 Don't ignore the cough if it goes on for too long, it could be a bacterial infection so you might need antibiotics. I ignored a similar cough a few years ago and ended up in hospital with a collapsed lung.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@5dTraveller bugger, don't want that. Thanks

[@VimalRaju-m7u]

What a place to ride.....!!!......with love and envy from India....

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thank you, much appreciated 😁 I hope you have a look through my back catalogue, loads more vids in similar scenery.

[@neilwiddison6529]

Nice video, looking forward to getting out on my bike soon

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

I bet Neil, lot’s of lanes need exploring 😎😂

[@shottostravels]

Hi Ian, Nice little ride out. The Struggle doesn't look too much of a Struggle! But then again the Camera can deceive at times. I'm struggling to find a bit of pothole free road pretty much anywhere at the moment, but we live in hope.Summers coming.Ride Safe buddy👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thank you. In this direction, The Struggle is easy, it get’s it’s name going the opposite way, from Ambleside up to The Kirkstone. Here is a link from when I did it on my Interceptor kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6jGe4Gpo5h4h7Msi=pwLZeQaR4Yaan0tX hopefully you get a better idea 😉. I have never seen the roads as bad as they are now. Terrible, and dangerous 🤬 Cheers, you take care too.

[@MsDenver2]

That’s quite a steep but beautiful route, you always see so much more on motorcycles 👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Definitely, thanks Donna.

[@crumblymal8479]

Nice to see some sunshine Ian some lovely countryside and Ambleside looks like a good coffee/T stop and piece of cake of course probably not cheap but where is these days good watch cheers .👌👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Mal. Yes, some nice places in Ambleside. Been to one or too. Some ok prices if you look hard enough, but also some silly prices too 😂

[@chrisweeks6973]

Good to see you still out and about, Ian - the dreaded sniffles notwithstanding! In something of a contrast to your conditions, we have another 35C day today. 😉

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Ok, no need to brag 😂😂😂

[@michaelgilbert3311]

Enjoyed the ride out Ian. Still looking for those gravel free roads i see. Nice roads local to you i guess. Ride safe. Mike, Sunny Wales

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

These are about 30/40 miles from us depending on route taken. I think I will “Struggle” to find any gravel free roads 😂. Cheers

[@blearyview2254]

What a great riding day you had, my type of roads. The battery on the DJI is superb and just seem to go on and on. I have a loan of an DJI 4 right now and the battery does not seem to last as long as the 3, only used it once today so maybe that is not typical. The other thing I noticed is it does not limit file sizes to around 5Gb, it runs until something like 26 minutes that comes out around 11Gb.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Alex. Yes, it was a lovely day, had to make the most of it. I look forward to finding out your thoughts between the two, that would make a good (and popular) video 😉. I didn’t know how large the files were, but obviously knew they are in about 9 minute segment’s, recording at 2.7k 30fps. To be honest, I don’t really mind stitching them together, but being able to have longer segments would save a smidgen in editing. Cheers

[@esrider7765]

Very attractive area. Some of those lanes look very narrow. I am still struggling with sound whilst riding. Maybe have a solution but yet to test (this week all being well).

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thank you. Yes audio is a pain 😂

[@classicrider5274]

I don’t go to Cumbria that often now, as it’s so busy these days. For me, the main passes are usually not enjoyable enough to bother giving them a try. I would also go up very early in the morning and out of the main holiday seasons, there are still some great rides in out of the way places if I plan carefully.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

I agree, if I had done this ride the opposite way around, the traffic could well have been lighter on The Struggle and Kirkstone Pass, as it was, it wasn’t too bad. When I have been up to Wrynose and Hardknott, I have left home at 5.30-6.00am to have them to myself. As a rule, I steer clear of the hotspots during tourist season, like you, finding those roads less ridden/driven. Cheers

[@thebingleywheeler]

Great neck of the woods there Ian hope your cold is better 😊

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Dave. It is improving at long last, mainly just a cough in the morning now. Cheers for the comment 👍

[@borderlands6606]

It's not just potholes that'll throw your backside in the air, it's the tyre-swallowing groove on the biking line and gravel in green lane proportions. There'll come a time when all bikes that leave urban highways will be shod in off-road rubber. Rant over. Nice ride.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Totally agree, I sometimes worry that viewers will get fed up of me constantly moaning and whinging about the state of the roads, but I also feel that I need to explain why I am riding like a wuss. In all my years riding, I have never seen the roads in such a state. When Clementine’s rear tyre is worn out, I will be having a pair of semi off road tyres fitted. I had Heidenau Scouts on a CRF250L (the ones I recommended to Coastrider Scotland), so might go with them. Cheers

[@borderlands6606]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield Agree x2 I also increasingly ride like a wuss, and I'm not sure if it's, ahem, maturity and the fact I don't bounce off tarmac so easily, or we really are riding on a moonscape.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@borderlands6606 might be both, but more likely the fear of falling into that crater we are expecting around the next bend 🤬

[@martintraffordmoorlandbike7121]

We're spoilt for choice with views all the way down The Struggle Ian, but you pretty much chose the best. Another vote for DJI here btw. Mine's only the original Osmo Action, but yeah brilliant battery life.(that old GoPro's back in retirement!) Thanks for this one buddy. 😎

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Martin, it was definitely worth turning round for. Ok, you can’t see Windermere, but fabulous nonetheless the less. Stick to the DJI 😉

[@martintraffordmoorlandbike7121]

Did you ever hear about the prat who tried to get a full-sized coach down The Struggle a good few years ago? Did my proffesion no good at all. Ended up in someone's garden, on its side!

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@martintraffordmoorlandbike7121 😂 pillock 🙄

[@Ainsworth-Rider]

Morning Ian 😊 I love the Struggle and I loved the way you struggled turning left, and I recon the Struggle is the best riden this way 😊fabulous Ian, you just need a screen 😅😅

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Morning James. The Struggle isn’t really a Struggle in this direction, I kind of think I was cheating, so I should return from the other direction later in the year, to rectify that 😂. That left turn is rather tight, and steep at the same time 🙄. I don’t think a screen will be added anytime soon, I prefer my audio as it is (well almost, just need to try and fettle it to get a bit more exhaust) 😎 Thank you.

[@thesilverfoxtravels6653]

Nice views from the Struggle Ian though that pot hole looked very deep. Hope you’ve beaten that cough. 👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

On the mend now Nick, cheers.

[@TheNorfolkThunderbolt]

What an excellent riding road that is!

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Steven, yes, in both directions. You may not have seen The Struggle, going up hill, so here is a link to when I did it on my Interceptor 650 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6jGe4Gpo5h4h7Msi=9QW032xbhhRYwXyH

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

Wow fantastic pic of your bike and background great job Ian 😊😊 Love the views and ride great job 😊😊 Phil 😊😊

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Phil, glad you liked it. Appreciate the comment.

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield I love quality photos and scenery 👌👌

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

That’s good then Phil, I like taking quality photos of Clementine and gorgeous scenery 😂

[@GapBahnDirk]

All good. Another nice ride. 👍👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Gap

[@malcolmtaylor3231]

Hi Ian, enjoyed the ride to Ambleside, just going to watch the North Yorkshire Moors one 👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Malcolm. A big one being released first thing tomorrow, and it’s up to date 😂

[@malcolmtaylor3231]

Look forward to it, I'm on lates tomorrow, so I'll watch it before I go to work 👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@malcolmtaylor3231 it’s not very often that I actually like the vids I do, but I like tomorrow’s 😂

[@malcolmtaylor3231]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield oh you've got me entreaged now 😁

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@malcolmtaylor3231 that’s what I like to hear 🤪😂

[@peterwillis4239]

To add. When my wife heard your signature tune, she shouted" it's Clementine!!" 😀

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

😂, I am sure Clementine will be humbled about this. Hearing the tune and thinking Clementine is touching, so please thank your wife for us. 😍

[@melfzs]

Nice little run Ian , cheers 🍻

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Mel.

[@Ainsworth-Rider]

Certainly the best way to ride the Struggle 😊7 minutes in and the views are spectacular 😂 a d isn't it so pretty riding into Ambleside 😊 I sound like Saddlebags now 😂😂😂

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Yes, those narrow streets are lovely. I wouldn’t know about Saddlebags, don’t watch his content.

[@mikehatswell3961]

Another cracking ride Ian, fingers crossed that you can get rid off the cough and cold, it seems like everyone has had this one this year, at least Clementine is sounding good 🤧😉😂 all the best buddy 👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Mike. At long last it is subsiding, I can sleep right through now, and just have a few coughs throughout the day, not constantly as it was a few weeks ago.

[@Swedenbonnie]

Gosh how I love this landscape and scenery🥰 Absolutely beautiful despite the pottholes🤣 Worser than the swedish roads, but some roads in my area are terrible as well

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Lilian. I never tire of the scenery around here. 😎

[@Swedenbonnie]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield Can imagine that mate💖 Stunning views!

[@Thruxtonrider21]

Great video! Man, I just love the sound of that 350 thumping ❤.. BYW, how’s the new jacket fairing? Great looking piece of kit!

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Morning, thank you, Clementine does sound well, especially under load. The jacket is brilliant. I do wear my Keis heated jacket underneath, and can’t feel any wind coming through. There will be a video coming out on Monday, where I rode in horrible misty drizzle (conditions I usually don’t venture out in), and I was completely warm and dry. I am away next week doing a demo ride, so won’t be able to use the Keis gear. I will be wearing a fleece under the Speedwear jacket, so it will be interesting to see how it fairs then. I still highly recommend the Speedwear wax jacket. Cheers

[@Thruxtonrider21]

Excellent.. Have a great trip and safe riding !

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@Thruxtonrider21 cheers

[@ReRiderChi]

when I saw the words "the struggle," I immediately assumed you were trying to go over 65 miles an hour on your Classic. I hit 66 the other day, going down the hill and celebrated at the bottom

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

😂, a worthy celebration 🎉 Cheers

[@ReRiderChi]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield In fairness, it was a big hill

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

😂

[@peterwillis4239]

First to comment, yahoo!!! Great vid, thanks Ian. 👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Brilliant, nice to be like Mr TAYM, and have people competing to be first 😎😂

[@SOLOMOTOUK]

Good evening Ian nice scenery this time of the year that car you let go by with the roof down I bet is heater was on full with the heated seats as well I’ll have to get back up there this year and do the passes hopefully without getting sepsis trust I’ll get anything going free

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Think positive 😉. Give me a shout when you come up, will ride with you for a bit (as long as it’s not peeing down 😉). That Merc did sound well though.

[@SOLOMOTOUK]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield thank you I’ll definitely give you a call Ian 👍🏍️. Yes that merc powerful by the sound of it

[@welshmotorcyclerides350]

Fantastic road... would be better without the gravel though...Great views.. The Enfields are great on this kind of road though.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thank you. We are, unfortunately, getting quite used to expecting gravel and potholes. It is a bonus to find a section which hasn’t, though it is a rarity 😂 100% agree about these bikes being perfect, for bimbles on these lanes.

[@welshmotorcyclerides350]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield Quite a few of the roads I want on last year had some interesting gravel features... keeps you on your toes.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Oh yes 😂

[@MrMomo182]

I've just started filming with GoPro, and shocked how terrible the batteries are. Lucky to last 35 minutes, whereas I could shoot 2 hours in UHD on my S23 Ultra, and still be 60%. I think they're a bad battery company with a good camera, as you have to buy extra batteries.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Oh no, that’s not good 🤬. I have never been a fan of go-pro (never owned or used one), too many horror stories of overheating, and lost footage. As vloggers, the last thing we need is lost footage. Having to go and retrace our ride, trying to think what we talked about again, but it never comes out the same as the “first take”. I had to do that a few times with my previous camera (SJcam SJ6 Legend), but I hadn’t paid a lot for it, so couldn’t complain too much. Good luck with it. Clock watching will take the enjoyment out of the experience too 😢

[@MrMomo182]

​@@ianhughesroyalenfieldyes, it does get very hot. All I really needed was a way to securely and legally mount my S23 Ultra, as I was shooting good footage all over the place with that, and it's all in one device. But people want landscape footage, and I can't mount it sideways. Best to stay as basic as possible when already operating a complex machine under stress, don't need more distractions. I'll just keep on at it.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@MrMomo182 I feel your pain. I have been at this KZbin malarkey for about 5 years. The DJI’s are the best as far as I am concerned, but it is not as easy or quick, as using and editing with the phone. It takes me about 4-5 hours in editing for a video of about 30 minutes, on my PC. Btw, as DJI have now released the Osmo Action 4, they have reduced the price of the OA 3.

[@damon1957ful]

Why is it called the struggle, it looks steep and narrow with potholes stc but gun to ride

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

I was riding it in the wrong direction for you to get a real idea as to why it is called “The Struggle”. The name goes back to ancient times, before vehicles were invented, and it has just stuck. If going from Ambleside, up to the Kirkstone pass, it is very very steep in places. A lot of cyclists use it to test their stamina, you might notice some writing on the roads, that has something to do with cyclists. I hope this explains it. Here is a link to the video I did when I had my Interceptor 650, going up The Struggle. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6jGe4Gpo5h4h7Msi=x7WqcxWnvYkaUVEB

[@lukewiltshire4700]

Hi there, just wondering what gear you were in at the 60kph mark please.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

60kph = 37mph (ish), so probably 4th, but sometimes 5th depending on how I feel. That said, if we are riding with a bit of gusto, it could be 3rd. I don’t tend to thrash, but rather just go up the gears when it feels right. Don’t know if this answers your question.

[@Lee-70ish]

2 years now with my Classic and its never going to be quick but its a joy to ride every time I fire her up. Which is more than I can say about any bike I've owned in the last 20 years. 60s and 70s had some wonderful bikes but modern moderbikes leave me cold. Bland looks too much plastic and over complicated with zero soul.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Morning Lee, that is exactly why I sold a Yamaha Tracer 900. Stonking engine, fast as …. , great handling, but so bloody boring ! (Oh and the screen was crap too 🤦‍♂️). Cheers

[@andrewmckay-ox7ys]

Hearing your classic I’m going back to my std exhaust and ditching the loud duf duf after market one I fitted much more smoothing 😊

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Andrew. Clementine just has the decat pipe from Hitchcock’s, with the original silencer. The sound is just nice 😊

[@andrewmckay-ox7ys]

Will have a look fancy that route 👋

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Here is a video I did ages ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m52nqalrl52spZosi=SLrQJGgCS2q1yJV5

[@phillipmoore8114]

Nice one 😂

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thank you.

[@bobbod8069]

As requested, here's a comment.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Than you for taking the time to leave this comment, much appreciated 😉😂

[@bobbod8069]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield No problem. Another good video. In the past, I've tended to avoid the Lakes as they seem to get a bit too busy for me. But maybe I should pop up on my bike.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@bobbod8069 thanks Bob. Honestly, just steer clear of peak tourist season, and try and go as early in the morning as you can. When I have done Wrynose and Hardknott in the past, I have left home about 5.30 - 6.00am, just so that I have the road to myself (almost). It’s definitely worth the effort 😎

[@BlakesPipes]

I enjoyed you running out of batteries. Ensures you are still human like me. Amateurs! 😂

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

I think “Numpty” is the best name for me. I had put the batteries next to my key, then forgot them 🤦‍♂️ Cheers

[@JacquelineNelson-c4n]

I loved the show reminded me of highway 1. In bortherian calif. lemay

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thank you.