The world's best motorbike route : North Coast Scotland NC500 - Ep. 2 Motorcycle Adventure

Join me on day two of my trip to explore one of the world's best motorbike roads, I'm riding the north coast 500/ NC500. Experience the high and lows of my motorbike adventure.
World's best motorbike roads, that's right I think the NC500 is one of the world's best driving roads. Scotland's NC500 has been voted in the top 10 best roads on the world! We start off riding from Manchester to Scotland (Fort William) next to highest mountain in the united kingdom, Ben Nevis.
Watch as we ride through all sorts of weather and environment's, on day two we visit the Loch Ness, Inverness, Rogie Falls and Garve were I stay at the fabulous Aultguish Inn. Adventure bike travelling starts to take it's toll on my body.
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Hotel link Aultguish Inn, Garve maps.app.goo.g...
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[@fireblade6756]

lol "u got 2 have some faith in humanity" I don`t after 30yrs in the police!!! I never ever left my helmet on my bike not at £340! thanks for the tour!

[@MarkN67]

I’ve just found your channel and enjoying your vlogs. On your comments of marketing the NC500 I think it’s a very fine line between not doing enough and over doing it. I live on the south coast of Dorset and during the summer from Friday lunch time to Sunday evening you cannot move for traffic between the edge of the New Forest (Ringwood) and Dorchester, but without these holiday makers a lot of businesses would struggle to survive, but for those of us who just want to move between places, it makes life so hard. The reason people go to the NC500 is for the amazing scenery and the remote feeling etc, if the tourist board did more the infrastructure would need to grow and it would lose its charm. Without tourists doing the NC500 a lot of the hospitality places would struggle and they’re making money from it and giving work to local people, £100-£200 / night. I regularly stay in London for work and only pay £50-75 a night at “chain” hotels etc. I wonder how much they’d charge or wouldn’t be there if the NC500 wasn’t a thing?

[@stefanomonte-t9z]

Did the end to end back in the 90s, so a lot of the roads you used looked very familiar, back then me and the mrs was on an aging 1970s gs 550 with 8 stone of camping gear/luggage, There was no mobile phones or sat nav back then, it pissed it down for most of the trip, I too had disc surgery btw, anyway just wanted to say what a great video you put together 👍

[@douglaswilson9276]

Do ten nc 500 twice a year as I stay in Glasgow always add a bit different rout 66 over advertised and is shit. Nc500 under advertised and amazing .. be careful what you wish for we will end up with 30mph speed limits .. I admire your faith in humanity my mantra never lock anything .. enjoying the content keep it up x

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

The first time I did what is now referred to as the NC500 was 47 years ago. I go to Scotland most years, and often more than once. In all those years I have never bored of the roads or the scenery.

[@sebrichardson2340]

Was really hoping to see ep. 3 uploaded tonight, would have been the perfect finish to the weekend. Great videos, really enjoying them, keep at it!

[@freedom-machines]

Sorry, I’ve had a few delays getting episode 3 out, it’s just gone live 🙌

[@andrewiansummers]

Hi Joe, just watched the videos back to back. Fabulous! Love the delivery style, scenery and camera shots amazing. Great content. Glencoe was stunning. Stay safe and looking forward to Episode 3 👍

[@freedom-machines]

Thanks Andy :) , glad you think so. We will definitely need to get you on an episode with the RE.

[@katiejo5874]

My fave episode yet! 🖤

[@Jungleland33]

Heading to the inner and outer Hebridies in 2 weeks on my little CRF 300 Rally. Hope the weather picks up. Really looking forward to chilling out for a couple of weeks on the bike and in the tent. 😊

[@freedom-machines]

Sounds ideal ! Have a great trip mate

[@adamormesher9964]

Keep it up Joe, great episode

[@freedom-machines]

Thanks mate 🙌

[@darrenholding1341]

Stick to the west coast Joe and you won't go wrong everything you need amazing its definitely worth a trip onto Skye if you've got the energy 😂 Take your time and enjoy 😉

[@freedom-machines]

Thanks for the tip Darren 👍🏻

[@CRedfearn1983]

Thanks Joe, great episode again

[@freedom-machines]

Thanks mate

[@ThomasMacDonald-eu9eo]

On the subject of marketing, the popularity of the route is the downfall of it. You ask the locals what they feel about thousands of campervans clogging up roads. Skye are taking action by adding a tourist tax on motorhomes. The unspoilt nature of the highlands is unfortunately becoming spoilt. On the other side of this, you dont need to market a product if it speaks for itself.

[@gfinnie1]

Completely agree.

[@freedom-machines]

Absolutely, it was busy enough without more people on the narrow roads in huge caravans.

[@roadwarrior8560]

I was there in early May and already the campervans were causing havoc. Bloody things should have to pay massive tax.

[@scottishsuzuki8132]

100% bikers have always went to applecross on and it’s always been busy. It’s just complete carnage now, no wonder Applecross are wanting took off the route.

[@stevemilne750]

Agreed i was about to make a similar comment

[@chem599]

Enjoying watching your videos of the trip, just come across your channel, subscribed 👍

[@freedom-machines]

Welcome aboard! Appreciate the support

[@TheHdleif]

Great videos Joe, Keep up the great work!

[@freedom-machines]

Glad you like them! 🙌

[@vosenesvideos]

Not sure how your back is now mate but I had the same symptoms for years, tightened up when I stopped. One stretch sorted it for good in no time. Look up the “chair pose” (yoga position) I do yoga now and my back is better than 20 years ago. Hoping to do the NC 500 at the end of the month, thanks for the videos 😊

[@freedom-machines]

Really appreciate that pal, I’ve been told I need to do yoga I think I need to take the plunge 🙌

[@williamcoulter5462]

It is better when you go " off piste " there are brilliant roads criss crossing the highlands without using too much of the NC500 apart from the must do's like Applecross pass and John O Groats just make sure you know the fuel stops along your chosen routes. Last year on a Rebel 1100 I did 920 miles in four days in June so camped for 3 nights at proper sites with facilities, do not forget to include the old military road through the Cairngorms for excellent views and tarmac.

[@stuartjames6300]

Hi Joe, Great vid. Which helmet mount do you use for the GoPro?

[@freedom-machines]

Hey it’s from chin mount, it’s pretty good 👍🏻

[@cmcc3721]

Roads are fine until you enter the towns and cities. Then you've got to be 100% on the ball. My commute to work alone has a few that would have me off if i wasn't familiar and knew to avoid them.

[@buntyfrobisher]

Great series, well done Joe. Do you use any kind of chain/lock on the bike when you leave it overnight at a hotel?

[@freedom-machines]

Thanks, yes I put a D lock on overnight just in case.

[@tartanblackcountrytourist]

hi Joe , liked and subd :) glad you found Lidl .. their go fittle is a god save on long journeys.. be aware of their boxed custard in the dessert section, i dub it high calorie enduro food. .. So happy the rain gods are being kind. 🤓💯❤‍🩹🤳📽🎬

[@freedom-machines]

Haha thanks mate, appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@Caledonia747]

Enjoy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@freedom-machines]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@Caledonia747]

Try the road to Mallaig and Morar it's epic beaches will blow your mind and also the East coast of Scotland St Andrews, Crail, Pitenweem, St Monas. If you are still in the North of Scotland stop at the Corrishaloch gorge, have a blast mate. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@cliff1551]

3:49 is there a lot of rogues falling over there.

[@colinfairburn9314]

Great stuff! What's that seat pad you've got please?

[@freedom-machines]

Hey, just an Amazon purchase, nothing special but takes the edge off long trips

[@Bannister99]

After coming back from there yesterday. Many of the roads are single track with passing places and were already very busy. Even Motorhomes stuck in ditches where they’ve struggled to pass.

[@freedom-machines]

Yeah I could see that, it was interesting seeing some of the vehicles attempting those roads 👀

[@Bannister99]

@@freedom-machines I was very glad I was on my motorcycle 😃

[@smoky2stroke]

What is that seat pad you have on there?

[@freedom-machines]

Just one from Amazon, it works well for me 🙌

[@ianfutcher1518]

The midges put me off Scotland. When is the midge season?

[@freedom-machines]

Around now till the end of summer, they didn't bother me really but I could see it becoming a real issue in warmer months.

[@ianfutcher1518]

@@freedom-machines I have been to Glen Coe in August and the blighters were ferocious and relentless. I was covered in small very itchy bites on any exposed skin.

[@freedom-machines]

Really! That’s not good. Spring it is.

[@simonwardlesw]

What made you choose the clockwise route over the anti clockwise route?

[@freedom-machines]

I thought I'd rather not rush the beginning of the trip before fatigue sets in. I heard the west was the best so I wanted to be fresh for that.

[@DouglasThomson-pl6sl]

Your comments about marketing are understandable, and there is an ongoing debate on the issue with a damned if they do or don't. Better promotion bringing more tourists putting pressure on the area's infrastructure, and do people like yourself want to be stuck in nose to tail traffic particularly motor homes? As I suggest it's a bit of a conundrum. Well done on these videos.

[@freedom-machines]

Thank you and completely agree with you

[@Rust_valley_adventures]

My diet not working 😂😂

[@freedom-machines]

😂😂😩

[@r2drone227]

I enjoyed the travelling parts of your journey. But the inside of hotels and an explanation of all your gear which took forever bored me to tears. Another video all on its own I think. Keep riding. That’s far more interesting.

[@freedom-machines]

Haha sorry you found that bit boring. I try my best to make something for everyone.

[@r2drone227]

@@freedom-machines I can see that. But I would think 99% of people went to that vlog as it was supposed to be about the NC500. Only a small portion of it was as advertised.

[@fasttourer]

Yes to us Seasoned Bikers it was a bit boring but remember there,s a lot of guys who have never done solo travelling so to them it would be a help.So many Blokes would love to do this trip,Time money and wives hold them back.All i can say to them if you get the chance do it no second chances in this life.

[@r2drone227]

@@fasttourer I understand that. But a separate video would be great for that. I watched because it was supposed to be about the NC500. Most of the video was not on the road. Ur point about inexperienced riders no knowing what to take is a good one, but maybe not to the expense of those wonderful roads and views.

[@daveo9844]

Fast forward. I found your whinging become very boring 🍻

[@malcolmashby9484]

It's not the best motorcycle route, the roads from Leh to Hanle in India take that crown

[@ianbrown5924]

The nc500 is the worst thing to happen to the highlands in my lifetime.