10/10 There is something special about doing distance just for the sake of it. I rode from Chester to Antibes for a pint with my brother, stayed overnight and road home. 2k miles, it’s not Everest but it something we can all access.
XT660R is not a motorway bike, but it got me down to Spain, did a 5 day off-road rally, and got back ok. Van and back up crew is the alternative….but is it as much fun?❓🤨
I did 381miles on a 125cc last weekend from Manchester to pontypool for breakfast at Baffle Haus via the longer scenic route through wales. Took me 12.5hrs to do the day return trip including two 15minute short breaks and over an hour breakfast stop at Baffle Haus.
Really nice video! In a moderate hurry, you could easily shave 2 hours off the bike’s time (I calculated roughly 2 1/2 hours worth of breaks alone)… Net result: I don’t want a train!
A great example that you can do long distance in comfort and style in all weathers with all your gear and a grin on your face on something other than an adventure bike. Love it!
My father-In-law was a despatch rider for ITN through the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s taking the camera crews films etc back to base etc. He would do this sort of journey almost every day. Watching this journey made me think how many miles he must have travelled.
@@richardwilson6392 you just need a comfortable reliable bike with impeccable manners and good torque spread. I noticed the seating position was a bit cramped for Simon, (6ft) his knees were at an acute angle, but he did not complain. I love the RT for long distance comfortable rides, great fuel economy and large tank. Although sometimes you want to stop for the sake of boredom and to chill out! Graeme, NZ
When I was in the army here in the US, I rode my SR500 Yamaha from Ft.Stewart, Georgia to Utica, Ohio. It was 700 miles, and took me 17 hours. This was when the national speed limit was 55 mph. 😎
Top job guys. 12 hours in the saddle is very impressive 💪🏻 I did Birmingham to Exeter and back yesterday on my Gen 3 Hayabusa. 375 miles, Ave 53.4mpg. 175 miles from full to reserve light coming on. BTW the Busa did Birmingham to Exeter on a single tank, 180 miles. Computer said 26 miles to empty. All in all I’m chuffed 💪🏻
@@shaunukhiking My gen1 struggles to even get near 30mpg. Riding it "normally" its 25mpg and giving it a bit its well under 20mpg. I could probably do better if I tried but its a Hayabusa. I didn't buy it for that.
I have had my GT for about 2 months now and really happy with it soaks up the miles and that motor just pulls and pulls. Lovely bike. Enjoyed the vid. 👍🏼
When I was 17, rode my Dad's 50cc Honda Cub from Glasgow to Lowestoft, no MotorWays back then, took almost 2 days. 400 odd miles & top speed 45 mph, sometimes
i must be doing my long trips wrong. this guy stopped for between 30 minutes to an hour every time! i do 2 minutes at the absolute maximum, it's fill up, sip of water, stretch, and then GO! it wouldn't have been even close if i was on that suzuki
Really cool video and reminds me of the old Top Gear challenges. Loved it and didn't doubt that the bike would win it 😁 The train ticket was £200 (£400 if you're posh). Bike cost was ... 52mpg over 700 miles is about 61 litres. Assuming price per litre on motorway services is about £1.70 per litre then the fuel cost of the bike was £103.70 for the trip. Even if you double the costs to account for wear and tear, it's still roughly the price of a train ticket. Amazing!
Thanks! But trust me, there wasn't much 'posh' about first class on the Cross Country train service. Anyway, Simon's broken the costs and added further analysis to the trip in this article too: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/features/bikes/motorbike-vs-longest-train-journey
This summer did Travemünde, North Germany to Neukirhen Austria in one go on a KTM Duke 890R, no Screen, 1011km in 10 hours & 12 minutes. Then enjoyed the Neukirhen Motorcycle festival for 3 days. Continued with the Cannonball Bike Run, riding a full week on fantastic roads, with like-minded lunatics and then rode back to Travemünde from Munchen. 😁 That's 6000km in 2 weeks. Easy and fun.
A most excellent and entertaining watch. I'm surprised i don't see more of those on the road. Fabulous bit of kit. Fashion or the image we have of ourselves? Either way, great bike rrom Suzuki. Thanks for the effort putting that one together. Safe, happy travels
On the last day of my 'Athens and back' tour through 19 countries, I rode from Frankfurt, Germany to my house in Durham which was 630miles. 5hours to calais, then eurotunnel, then 5.5hours to get to the north east. I was delayed several times because my bike would not start when the engine was hot to fuel stops were a nightmare!
Longest i ever did, bmw r1100s, mulhouse france , spain, italy france, monaco, rode the circuit had lunch, and rode back, 961 miles, got off the beemer and felt like " lets go again" long distance challenges are just epic. Felt sorry for you in the rain, sure i saw 80 on the speedo there at one stage, legal enough allowing for error
I'm a biker and a train fan too and this is a very interesting challenge for sure. However I would have chosen a different bike, one with a larger tank/better range and better weather protection. BUT, ultimately who arrived in the better physical form/shape after 700 miles, on the bike you need to keep your eyes and wits about you, but you can stop whenever and almost wherever you want to, unless you're on a Motorway. Where as on the train, someone else is doing the driving so you can stare out of the window at the scenery or whatever to your hearts content without any consequences? So it's really 'horses for courses', and you admitted that there's a route that'd got MM to Penzances almost 2 hours earlier, with changes/stops, so if it's about the ride then it's obviously the bike, but if it's more about the journey, then it's the train, sorry but that's the way it is for me, 'Bike 1 - Train 1'!
As a contrast, I took a less stresed and calmer journey from Fort William to Oxford over 3 days of repeatedly riding 1.5 hours then an hour to recharge me and my Zero DSR. I rested overnight in Edinburgh and Weatherby.
Loved the vid boys, best vid yet!! great to see a bit of rivalry , keep this sort of content, I will fully support this sort of content!! Ps I would have had G&T on the train !!!!!
Thanks a lot! Just one G&T for a 13hr journey? A lot of the food and drink (as poor as the menu was) was local to the areas we travelled through, so by the time it was beer o’clock, I think it was from the south west somewhere.
that was impressive - not sure if I would be able to stay seated in the train for 7 hrs straight without doubting my choices but riding the bike for 7 hrs straight is no small accomplishment ! thank you
Really enjoyed this and a great test of the Susuki. I had a go on one and that K5 engine is sublime. Couple of things.. You should consider doing an Ironbutt challenge (1000m in 24 hrs or less) Simon parks his bike really oddly at the petrol station, for a sports tourer it has a disappointing range and mpg, I need to look up some of your other long distance challenge videos 👏
Thank you! I'm not into the Ironbutt thing personally - no problem with folk who are, but I'm not a certificate-collecting kinda guy. So many comments about how I park at a pump! I've never thought it strange; never thought about it at all. I might only do it when I'm being filmed or photographed, or also because diagonally is the optimum angle when refuelling four bikes at the same pump on a group test - and, after 31 years, it's a habit... it also seems like the best angle to make enough room to step off the bike without the pump kerb getting in the way.
@@writestuffmedia haha no worries, the pump thing was only an observation. I've never thought about how I fill up the bike but will do next time I do. All the best and look forward to watching more videos from you and the gang.
I've done the Birmingham to west coast rail line and knew the bike would win once you were both at Brum, because of personal knowledge. The speed restrictions on that line make the travel time twice as long as the time getting from northern England, even though the mileage is almost equal. I do Carlisle to Plymouth each Dec/ Jan and now refuse to take the train ever again after only doing 1 trip on it, because you feel sea sick on it, you suffer from the carriages endlessly rocking from side to side as it moves along on poor tracks laid on soft subsiding ground, which then tires your neck out worse than any turbulence you'd ever get or expect from a bike while you do an endless impression of a Churchill dog, only you are not saying OH Yes, but Oh NO. So getting on my 28 year old RF900 regardless of weather is now my go to choice of travel, even if I have the low sun in my eyes while heading south in the limited hours of daylight in the cold, plus fuel is cheaper than even a pre booked off peak fare and once their I have transport to do whatever needs done and I've saved 2 pairs of taxi fares at either end. Bikes win, taking the train is a pain
I did a comfy ride on my Ninja 1000sx to Oban from Colchester. Ended up coming off motorways due to boredom. Ended up having loads of fun. At least you have freedom on the bike for sight seeing. Great test thanks.
Did a 900+ km trip recently, stopping shortly for rests and trying to reach my destination as quickly as possible while riding safely and legally. Just like Simon noted, the highways just wore me down after 700km I was ready to jump off the bike. I found the first highway exit and went on smaller roads preferring to reach my destination later than losing my mind on the highway. Lovely video, love the challenge. Having ridden the ICE between Munich and Frankfurt often, I was wondering the same question. Either you would get there 2 days before the train as it never left the station or 3 hours after the train vs the Autobahn roadworks.
Wait! You seem to have forgotten James May in a Jaguar XK120! lol Will have to pop round and say hi when I'm the U.K. next year. Perhaps we can all go for a ride and lunch is on me!
I love these kinds of trips. There’s something HUGELY satisfying about covering a huge amount of distance in a short space of time. Touring is great fun.
14:42 - Francis Bourgeois is the name you're after. Lovely chap - turns out he's an engineering graduate, loves huge powerful engines, really gets a kick out of turbos big enough to sound like a jet engine. Reckon there's an overlap between us bikers that love powerful bikes & his sort that go in for massive amounts of torque & a screaming engine.
I just test rode the Suzuki against a Ninja 1000SX and bought the Ninja which I found to be more comfortable. The Suzuki didnt really work for me, I have a 2008 SV650S with a top yoke conversion as a winter bike and the GSX S1000GT had exactly the same riding position. Which feels exactly like someone has done a top yoke conversion on a sportsbike. The footpegs are a bit too high and don't really feel they work with the bar position. The Ninja feels a more complete package and is more comfortable. The Suzuki engine and gearbox were great but I was happy to get off after an hour and couldn't imagine sitting on one for 12 hours.
Here's a challenge. Back to Scotland and see how long it takes Michael to get from John o' Groats to Lands End by the cheapest methods possible - cheap train or coach, etc. To balance that Si has to go on a 125. Preferably a Monkey or Grom or something.
Hey Michael Mann and Simon Hargreaves excellent and 💯 enjoyment I have derieved after watching your video.i like it because it's a Race between Train and a 500 cc motorcycle.Please do some more videos of similar🎉
Damn! That long on a bike! It's hard enough in a car! I did a similar journey in a van a few weeks ago and I was broken afterwards! Your hands and arms must be in so much pain!
Ooh tough call. The bike has to deal with traffic as well. Right now Google Maps is giving me an estimate of 12 hrs 42min, up 1h 12min from the estimate SiH started with. Bicycle, meanwhile, 69 hours
@@bennettsbikesocialYeah but maybe the bicycle lanes are really busy? 😂 Anyway loved it. Great video. I edited some commentary to the original post as encouragement 😊
Idle thoughts as I watched this, chief of which was how much quicker would the Suzuki have been if ridden the way most of us would, ie.80-90 when we were confident there were no cameras, and of course it was safe to do so. An hour? Thirty minutes because of the extra fuel stop(s)? Enjoyed that, thank you Si, Michael and Jason.
Thoroughly enjoyed this , I like Suzuki has made a modern old school sports tourer. If I ever manage to kill my old VFR I could see this being it’s successor 😁
I think its worth pointing out that there was at least another hour less in the bike if not for extended stops, the gopro thing and all the rest. There's also a lot longer in the trains' time because unless you live at the station and want to go to the other station, you're going ot have to get there. I think it would be fair to find the average distance people live from the station and begin there with a similar thing for the finish.
Last year I completed a return trip of 500mls, from Newton Stewart to Sudbury Suffolk, in 9hrs averaged 73mpg and felt I could do another 200mls no problem! The bike? A 2017 Triumph T100 fitted with my Touring specification add on’s. Triumph King and Queen seat, Powerbronz screen with clip on deflector and dropped the foot pegs by 15mm(I am 70!) the lot comes off in 30minutes for bimbling around Suffolk most of the year.
Well done lads.🏆 I always take my little mifi when I go far on the train, or away on the bike or in the van. P.S. That Dainese t shirt is cool Simon. 🍻
@@bennettsbikesocial Sorry Michael, I don't know where I got Simon from. 😂 Yes when I was in the process of selling my house I ditched the fibre etc and got a mifi, still pretty fast over 4g (I can game on it). I took it up to Oliver's Mount for the Hill Climb, perfect and it supports several users at once. Took it on the train to interview a racer (for a book), plugged it in, good to go. Ah you look like a pal of mine called Simon, either that or I've lost it. Cheers 🍻 Joel
Hey Gentlemen I liked both of you for your Sportative Nature and Enthusiasm and Energy levels to reach the destination on Suzuki motorcycle ahead of s Train.liked the Suzuki motorcycle reaching ahead of Train Journey.I am praying God every day to bless me such beautiful motorcycle to travel round the world and meeting with Motorcyclists doing tours
@@bennettsbikesocial What about something like a Ducati supersport or anything Italian back home and to one of the words best roads - The Stelvio Pass Public transport from london is probably close to the sane time it would take to ride and would make great content
@@bennettsbikesocial something cheap and cheerful bought secondhand for the price of a European return flight/train ticket bought at the last minute (although bike to be checked for road worthiness before setting off) much like 44Teeth’s Budget Bike Battles 👍
First fuel stop,home of Bing Hitler, one Mr Craig Ferguson, ex-US chat show host...Cumbernauld! Surprised by that stop,i was thinking it would be the S/S at the A701 on the A74...personally, I'd have filled at Tesco,Lesmahagow and Asda,Carlisle, to save a few quid! Good video, of all the years going to Aberdeen, i still do not know where the train station is :)
In real life, the worst part of taking a train (apart from having to share a crowded carriage with obnoxious people) is getting to the train station at the start and to your destination at the end of the journey. I would much prefer to take the bike (but for a journey that long I'd have an overnight stay).
Haha, great vid, I drive one of these and I'm really considering buying the other as my next bike. keep up the good work fellas, and apologies aabout the WIFI and the grub en route
Do this every month for work can use Car or Van yet always use the bike from March to October every year 400 miles up and 400 miles down over 2 days or one night, next night back to home. 2 stops each way. You guys made it look like a big effort it’s simple just ride and enjoy the freedom. Do 9 trips each year
My brother lives near Forres, me in the Midlands near Stratford. His wife can drop him off at the station in Forres, about a 20 minute drive from their farmhouse (leave at 7am). If I leave at the same time and take some breaks (x3), on my Harley, I will be 'home' around 5pm. He will be picking up his rental car in Stratford from Enterprise and be at my house around 2 hours after me. I will be knackered. He will have done a full days work on his laptop with coffee and pleasant scenery, and he will still be awake. He uses the split my fare app and it costs him just over £100 for a standard seat, with a few changes. I will have spent much the same on fuel, oil, etc. I have done that once by road. Never again. It simply is no fun on the motorways. He has done the journey quite a few times by train. When I bought this, my latest bike, 2 years ago, I got it from Bridgewater. How did I get there? By train.
Apart from having to talk to other passengers, the train wins for me. Work, eat, nap, and arrive refreshed on the train, but the bike you'd need a hotel asap 😴😴😴
I did the Highlands to Essex a few weeks back and it was faster than flying from Edinburgh to Stansted ... although it was the day the air traffic control system went down 😂
Just throwing this out there. With those stop lengths and distances in-between (130 miles and a 40 min stop), you could have done this journey on the electric Energica Experia.
Enjoyed the video thanks but wondered if you deducted the chat times from the motorcycle journey as the train journey would not have been affected by that. I didn't fancy going through all the comments to see if there was an answer to that! Thanks again. 😃👍
Done the journey between Plymouth to inverurie (town a bit north of Aberdeen) plenty of times. Bit miserable that i recognise all the services there 😂 have to say that it would be a hell of a lot more convenient if Plymouth had an airport still then could get a flight and the journey would probably be 2 hours or less
10/10 There is something special about doing distance just for the sake of it. I rode from Chester to Antibes for a pint with my brother, stayed overnight and road home. 2k miles, it’s not Everest but it something we can all access.
Well said. I did something similar from Northern Ireland to St Tropez some years back. The best trip of my life.
On a bike ?
XT660R is not a motorway bike, but it got me down to Spain, did a 5 day off-road rally, and got back ok.
Van and back up crew is the alternative….but is it as much fun?❓🤨
jiri to everest and back is a 15 day walk. minimum. All you need is a trekking pass.
I did 381miles on a 125cc last weekend from Manchester to pontypool for breakfast at Baffle Haus via the longer scenic route through wales. Took me 12.5hrs to do the day return trip including two 15minute short breaks and over an hour breakfast stop at Baffle Haus.
Great effort!
This reminds me of how much I dislike public transport!
Rainy highways on a motorbike over sitting with other people any day!
Really nice video! In a moderate hurry, you could easily shave 2 hours off the bike’s time (I calculated roughly 2 1/2 hours worth of breaks alone)… Net result: I don’t want a train!
Much as I love the bike, I think I'd rather be on the train rather than all that motorway!
A great example that you can do long distance in comfort and style in all weathers with all your gear and a grin on your face on something other than an adventure bike. Love it!
People think they need a 1250 GSA for a short Sunday ride.
@@nicksokolis6343It’s all the sweets from the coffee shop, eventually they catch up with you.
My father-In-law was a despatch rider for ITN through the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s taking the camera crews films etc back to base etc. He would do this sort of journey almost every day. Watching this journey made me think how many miles he must have travelled.
Exactly and people think they need a big adventure bike to do it
@@richardwilson6392 you just need a comfortable reliable bike with impeccable manners and good torque spread. I noticed the seating position was a bit cramped for Simon, (6ft) his knees were at an acute angle, but he did not complain. I love the RT for long distance comfortable rides, great fuel economy and large tank. Although sometimes you want to stop for the sake of boredom and to chill out! Graeme, NZ
When I was in the army here in the US, I rode my SR500 Yamaha from Ft.Stewart, Georgia to Utica, Ohio. It was 700 miles, and took me 17 hours. This was when the national speed limit was 55 mph. 😎
I remember my SR500. After 700 miles you would definitely know what you had done.
Great effort guys. Appreciate all the hard work and planning that must have gone into that
Cheers, thanks a lot. Simon must take those plaudits.
Cheers, Michael
A hoot! I rode London to Inverness in similar time (2 years back in rain) so I appreciate the effort you put into this. Cheers guys.
Top job guys. 12 hours in the saddle is very impressive 💪🏻
I did Birmingham to Exeter and back yesterday on my Gen 3 Hayabusa. 375 miles, Ave 53.4mpg. 175 miles from full to reserve light coming on.
BTW the Busa did Birmingham to Exeter on a single tank, 180 miles. Computer said 26 miles to empty.
All in all I’m chuffed 💪🏻
53 mpgs good for a bike that powerful. guess gen 1's were thirsty old beasts though.
@@shaunukhiking My gen1 struggles to even get near 30mpg. Riding it "normally" its 25mpg and giving it a bit its well under 20mpg.
I could probably do better if I tried but its a Hayabusa. I didn't buy it for that.
A very good challenge 👍 Have seen several gsx1000gt s on my travels, the owners seemed delighted with them, look nice too 🙂
No better way of travelling distance than by train... when they're running ok. Love the EuroStar to Paris and Amsterdam.
I have had my GT for about 2 months now and really happy with it soaks up the miles and that motor just pulls and pulls. Lovely bike. Enjoyed the vid. 👍🏼
When I was 17, rode my Dad's 50cc Honda Cub from Glasgow to Lowestoft, no MotorWays back then, took almost 2 days. 400 odd miles & top speed 45 mph, sometimes
i must be doing my long trips wrong. this guy stopped for between 30 minutes to an hour every time! i do 2 minutes at the absolute maximum, it's fill up, sip of water, stretch, and then GO! it wouldn't have been even close if i was on that suzuki
This channel just gets better and better. Great stuff!
Glad you enjoy it, thanks for taking the time to say so too. 🫶🏻
Cheers, Michael
Wow, unbelievable!!!! Loved this. Hats off to you, Suzuki Simon ✌🏻
Very enjoyable watch. Thanks both 👍🏻
Really cool video and reminds me of the old Top Gear challenges. Loved it and didn't doubt that the bike would win it 😁
The train ticket was £200 (£400 if you're posh).
Bike cost was ... 52mpg over 700 miles is about 61 litres. Assuming price per litre on motorway services is about £1.70 per litre then the fuel cost of the bike was £103.70 for the trip. Even if you double the costs to account for wear and tear, it's still roughly the price of a train ticket. Amazing!
Thanks! But trust me, there wasn't much 'posh' about first class on the Cross Country train service. Anyway, Simon's broken the costs and added further analysis to the trip in this article too: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/features/bikes/motorbike-vs-longest-train-journey
So if you include maintenance and depreciation on the bike, as well as the petrol, what's the total cost?
Gotta buy the bike though...
This is like one of these retro Top Gear challenges. Great video!!
Nice one, thanks for that.
Cheers, Michael
This summer did Travemünde, North Germany to Neukirhen Austria in one go on a KTM Duke 890R, no Screen, 1011km in 10 hours & 12 minutes.
Then enjoyed the Neukirhen Motorcycle festival for 3 days.
Continued with the Cannonball Bike Run, riding a full week on fantastic roads, with like-minded lunatics and then rode back to Travemünde from Munchen.
😁
That's 6000km in 2 weeks.
Easy and fun.
A most excellent and entertaining watch. I'm surprised i don't see more of those on the road. Fabulous bit of kit. Fashion or the image we have of ourselves?
Either way, great bike rrom Suzuki.
Thanks for the effort putting that one together.
Safe, happy travels
Simon's smile says it all! Who in their right mind would use the train? Great vid and thank you!
On the last day of my 'Athens and back' tour through 19 countries, I rode from Frankfurt, Germany to my house in Durham which was 630miles.
5hours to calais, then eurotunnel, then 5.5hours to get to the north east.
I was delayed several times because my bike would not start when the engine was hot to fuel stops were a nightmare!
Great video guys Michael's face at the start said it all. He wanted to be on the bike like we all would..🏍️👍
More of these please! Great video guys.
Loved it. Good work, boys. More please.
Very enjoyable to watch, great stuff and thumbs up from me!
Great video!! Thank you Suzuki Simon and Michael Mann on a Train.
You guys are putting out some good videos. You’ve just gained another subscriber!
Thanks very much to both parts of your comment. Glad to have you on board.
Cheers, Michael
Longest i ever did, bmw r1100s, mulhouse france , spain, italy france, monaco, rode the circuit had lunch, and rode back, 961 miles, got off the beemer and felt like " lets go again" long distance challenges are just epic. Felt sorry for you in the rain, sure i saw 80 on the speedo there at one stage, legal enough allowing for error
I'm a biker and a train fan too and this is a very interesting challenge for sure.
However I would have chosen a different bike, one with a larger tank/better range and better weather protection.
BUT, ultimately who arrived in the better physical form/shape after 700 miles, on the bike you need to keep your eyes and wits about you, but you can stop whenever and almost wherever you want to, unless you're on a Motorway. Where as on the train, someone else is doing the driving so you can stare out of the window at the scenery or whatever to your hearts content without any consequences?
So it's really 'horses for courses', and you admitted that there's a route that'd got MM to Penzances almost 2 hours earlier, with changes/stops, so if it's about the ride then it's obviously the bike, but if it's more about the journey, then it's the train, sorry but that's the way it is for me, 'Bike 1 - Train 1'!
Well done - great to watch, thank you.
Great video guys, really enjoyed it. Top gear ish but with a more positive bike vibe! Good choice of music too.
We aim to please! But what challenge should we look at next?
As a contrast, I took a less stresed and calmer journey from Fort William to Oxford over 3 days of repeatedly riding 1.5 hours then an hour to recharge me and my Zero DSR. I rested overnight in Edinburgh and Weatherby.
Loved the vid boys, best vid yet!! great to see a bit of rivalry , keep this sort of content, I will fully support this sort of content!! Ps I would have had G&T on the train !!!!!
Thanks a lot! Just one G&T for a 13hr journey? A lot of the food and drink (as poor as the menu was) was local to the areas we travelled through, so by the time it was beer o’clock, I think it was from the south west somewhere.
Awesome lads! Love a challenge video!
Great video guys. Really enjoyed it 👏🏻👏🏻
Excellent really enjoyed. And if the train had won I’d still rather do it on a bike. 👍👍
that was impressive - not sure if I would be able to stay seated in the train for 7 hrs straight without doubting my choices but riding the bike for 7 hrs straight is no small accomplishment ! thank you
Really enjoyed this and a great test of the Susuki. I had a go on one and that K5 engine is sublime. Couple of things.. You should consider doing an Ironbutt challenge (1000m in 24 hrs or less) Simon parks his bike really oddly at the petrol station, for a sports tourer it has a disappointing range and mpg, I need to look up some of your other long distance challenge videos 👏
Thank you! I'm not into the Ironbutt thing personally - no problem with folk who are, but I'm not a certificate-collecting kinda guy.
So many comments about how I park at a pump! I've never thought it strange; never thought about it at all. I might only do it when I'm being filmed or photographed, or also because diagonally is the optimum angle when refuelling four bikes at the same pump on a group test - and, after 31 years, it's a habit... it also seems like the best angle to make enough room to step off the bike without the pump kerb getting in the way.
@@writestuffmedia haha no worries, the pump thing was only an observation. I've never thought about how I fill up the bike but will do next time I do. All the best and look forward to watching more videos from you and the gang.
I've done the Birmingham to west coast rail line and knew the bike would win once you were both at Brum, because of personal knowledge. The speed restrictions on that line make the travel time twice as long as the time getting from northern England, even though the mileage is almost equal. I do Carlisle to Plymouth each Dec/ Jan and now refuse to take the train ever again after only doing 1 trip on it, because you feel sea sick on it, you suffer from the carriages endlessly rocking from side to side as it moves along on poor tracks laid on soft subsiding ground, which then tires your neck out worse than any turbulence you'd ever get or expect from a bike while you do an endless impression of a Churchill dog, only you are not saying OH Yes, but Oh NO. So getting on my 28 year old RF900 regardless of weather is now my go to choice of travel, even if I have the low sun in my eyes while heading south in the limited hours of daylight in the cold, plus fuel is cheaper than even a pre booked off peak fare and once their I have transport to do whatever needs done and I've saved 2 pairs of taxi fares at either end. Bikes win, taking the train is a pain
I did a comfy ride on my Ninja 1000sx to Oban from Colchester. Ended up coming off motorways due to boredom. Ended up having loads of fun. At least you have freedom on the bike for sight seeing. Great test thanks.
What a great video, love this type of challenge. Yay for the bike!!
Thanks a lot! What sort of challenge do you think we should do next?
Cheers, Michael
Love it. Defo need more of these. Perhaps race the Eurostar next?
Nice! But which bike? And what’s the destination?
@@bennettsbikesocial A green, supercharged one, in a race to Paris!
EuroStar direct London to Marseille. Simon on the Monkey bike.
Did a 900+ km trip recently, stopping shortly for rests and trying to reach my destination as quickly as possible while riding safely and legally. Just like Simon noted, the highways just wore me down after 700km I was ready to jump off the bike. I found the first highway exit and went on smaller roads preferring to reach my destination later than losing my mind on the highway.
Lovely video, love the challenge. Having ridden the ICE between Munich and Frankfurt often, I was wondering the same question. Either you would get there 2 days before the train as it never left the station or 3 hours after the train vs the Autobahn roadworks.
That was brilliant really enjoyed that! 👍
Thanks!
The maximum I can muster up is about 50 miles on any of my bikes so hats off to you sit for a grandiose effort!
Wait! You seem to have forgotten James May in a Jaguar XK120! lol Will have to pop round and say hi when I'm the U.K. next year. Perhaps we can all go for a ride and lunch is on me!
Thanks for this episode I plan on getting this bike and I also am 6ft good to know its great at the long haul.
A great vid, thanks for great content
What a great film gents, superb work 🙌🏾
I love these kinds of trips. There’s something HUGELY satisfying about covering a huge amount of distance in a short space of time.
Touring is great fun.
14:42 - Francis Bourgeois is the name you're after. Lovely chap - turns out he's an engineering graduate, loves huge powerful engines, really gets a kick out of turbos big enough to sound like a jet engine. Reckon there's an overlap between us bikers that love powerful bikes & his sort that go in for massive amounts of torque & a screaming engine.
Great content from BBS :D Hope to see another challenge!
Thanks! Any ideas you'd like to pitch?
I just test rode the Suzuki against a Ninja 1000SX and bought the Ninja which I found to be more comfortable. The Suzuki didnt really work for me, I have a 2008 SV650S with a top yoke conversion as a winter bike and the GSX S1000GT had exactly the same riding position. Which feels exactly like someone has done a top yoke conversion on a sportsbike. The footpegs are a bit too high and don't really feel they work with the bar position. The Ninja feels a more complete package and is more comfortable. The Suzuki engine and gearbox were great but I was happy to get off after an hour and couldn't imagine sitting on one for 12 hours.
Every review I've watched comparing the two say the Z1000SX is the much better bike.
Tiger 1050 2007 SE for me
Brilliant video. Love that GSXS1000GT, Seems a really honest bike 👍
Here's a challenge. Back to Scotland and see how long it takes Michael to get from John o' Groats to Lands End by the cheapest methods possible - cheap train or coach, etc.
To balance that Si has to go on a 125. Preferably a Monkey or Grom or something.
Hey Michael Mann and Simon Hargreaves excellent and 💯 enjoyment I have derieved after watching your video.i like it because it's a Race between Train and a 500 cc motorcycle.Please do some more videos of similar🎉
Really enjoyed that well done fella’s 👍
Damn! That long on a bike! It's hard enough in a car! I did a similar journey in a van a few weeks ago and I was broken afterwards! Your hands and arms must be in so much pain!
It's like a top gear race from when top gear was good.
Nice: I’ll take that as a very positive compliment.
Cheers, Michael
@@bennettsbikesocial It's like when top gear did the steam train race with the black shadow.
Ooh tough call. The bike has to deal with traffic as well. Right now Google Maps is giving me an estimate of 12 hrs 42min, up 1h 12min from the estimate SiH started with. Bicycle, meanwhile, 69 hours
Surely a bicycle should be faster than that, I mean it's downhill, isn't it?!
@@bennettsbikesocialYeah but maybe the bicycle lanes are really busy? 😂
Anyway loved it. Great video. I edited some commentary to the original post as encouragement 😊
Great effort from the old guy on the bike, go Simon..
Idle thoughts as I watched this, chief of which was how much quicker would the Suzuki have been if ridden the way most of us would, ie.80-90 when we were confident there were no cameras, and of course it was safe to do so. An hour? Thirty minutes because of the extra fuel stop(s)?
Enjoyed that, thank you Si, Michael and Jason.
Thoroughly enjoyed this , I like Suzuki has made a modern old school sports tourer. If I ever manage to kill my old VFR I could see this being it’s successor 😁
The most impressive thing is that the train arrived early, not an hour late. Well done lads.
Tebay is nice. And that's my only comment. Anything over 10 miles is long distance to me.
Superb effort all around.
Well done you, what interesting video. Just what motorcycling needs today, again well done especially for the motorcycle.
I regularly did Liverpool to south Devon in the 1980's on my Honda CD 175, fully loaded so can appreciate the effort you put into this mega marathon.
Great vid Lads, here's a thought... repeat the same exact journey but this time put Super Unleaded in the tank and go for 3 fuel stops! 😉😜
I think its worth pointing out that there was at least another hour less in the bike if not for extended stops, the gopro thing and all the rest.
There's also a lot longer in the trains' time because unless you live at the station and want to go to the other station, you're going ot have to get there. I think it would be fair to find the average distance people live from the station and begin there with a similar thing for the finish.
Last year I completed a return trip of 500mls, from Newton Stewart to Sudbury Suffolk, in 9hrs averaged 73mpg and felt I could do another 200mls no problem! The bike? A 2017 Triumph T100 fitted with my Touring specification add on’s. Triumph King and Queen seat, Powerbronz screen with clip on deflector and dropped the foot pegs by 15mm(I am 70!) the lot comes off in 30minutes for bimbling around Suffolk most of the year.
This was awesome! 😃
Straight through a STOP line Simon. Oh yeah! Rebel
For a single journey that's impressive. 1000km would get me to Monaco...which has me thinking.
That was a lot of fun, well done gents! How hyper was Simon at the end?? 😂
Well done lads.🏆
I always take my little mifi when I go far on the train, or away on the bike or in the van.
P.S. That Dainese t shirt is cool Simon. 🍻
Cheers, but it was me (Michael) wearing Dainese in the conclusion!
Great idea on the mifi.
@@bennettsbikesocial Sorry Michael, I don't know where I got Simon from. 😂
Yes when I was in the process of selling my house I ditched the fibre etc and got a mifi, still pretty fast over 4g (I can game on it). I took it up to Oliver's Mount for the Hill Climb, perfect and it supports several users at once. Took it on the train to interview a racer (for a book), plugged it in, good to go.
Ah you look like a pal of mine called Simon, either that or I've lost it.
Cheers 🍻
Joel
Si certainly likes a long distance challenge. Seems like only yesterday that he did the McDonald's one.
Great challenge great video, thanks gents.
Hey Gentlemen I liked both of you for your Sportative Nature and Enthusiasm and Energy levels to reach the destination on Suzuki motorcycle ahead of s Train.liked the Suzuki motorcycle reaching ahead of Train Journey.I am praying God every day to bless me such beautiful motorcycle to travel round the world and meeting with Motorcyclists doing tours
Epic!
For that journey though, the king of Touring bikes would have been my choice - the Goldwing.
Sadly I don't get those sort of choices!
A diesel hatchback would have been the sensible choice.
Great watch
Good fun episode, bike vs public transport from uk to somewhere in Europe, sounds fun
Mega plan - but which bike and what’s the destination?
@@bennettsbikesocial What about something like a Ducati supersport or anything Italian back home and to one of the words best roads - The Stelvio Pass
Public transport from london is probably close to the sane time it would take to ride and would make great content
@@bennettsbikesocial something cheap and cheerful bought secondhand for the price of a European return flight/train ticket bought at the last minute (although bike to be checked for road worthiness before setting off) much like 44Teeth’s Budget Bike Battles 👍
I know from experience that it's the mental drain that does you in, focusing on everything around you for so long, it's nuts
First fuel stop,home of Bing Hitler, one Mr Craig Ferguson, ex-US chat show host...Cumbernauld! Surprised by that stop,i was thinking it would be the S/S at the A701 on the A74...personally, I'd have filled at Tesco,Lesmahagow and Asda,Carlisle, to save a few quid! Good video, of all the years going to Aberdeen, i still do not know where the train station is :)
In real life, the worst part of taking a train (apart from having to share a crowded carriage with obnoxious people) is getting to the train station at the start and to your destination at the end of the journey. I would much prefer to take the bike (but for a journey that long I'd have an overnight stay).
Haha, great vid, I drive one of these and I'm really considering buying the other as my next bike. keep up the good work fellas, and apologies aabout the WIFI and the grub en route
Do this every month for work can use Car or Van yet always use the bike from March to October every year 400 miles up and 400 miles down over 2 days or one night, next night back to home. 2 stops each way. You guys made it look like a big effort it’s simple just ride and enjoy the freedom. Do 9 trips each year
My brother lives near Forres, me in the Midlands near Stratford. His wife can drop him off at the station in Forres, about a 20 minute drive from their farmhouse (leave at 7am). If I leave at the same time and take some breaks (x3), on my Harley, I will be 'home' around 5pm. He will be picking up his rental car in Stratford from Enterprise and be at my house around 2 hours after me. I will be knackered. He will have done a full days work on his laptop with coffee and pleasant scenery, and he will still be awake. He uses the split my fare app and it costs him just over £100 for a standard seat, with a few changes. I will have spent much the same on fuel, oil, etc. I have done that once by road. Never again. It simply is no fun on the motorways. He has done the journey quite a few times by train. When I bought this, my latest bike, 2 years ago, I got it from Bridgewater. How did I get there? By train.
Totally brilliant production Guys but after that reasonable trial drive, did Simon end up buying the bike? Let us know in a future episode?
Apart from having to talk to other passengers, the train wins for me.
Work, eat, nap, and arrive refreshed on the train, but the bike you'd need a hotel asap 😴😴😴
really great music soundtrack..did no one else notice...
🙉
I did the Highlands to Essex a few weeks back and it was faster than flying from Edinburgh to Stansted ... although it was the day the air traffic control system went down 😂
Just throwing this out there. With those stop lengths and distances in-between (130 miles and a 40 min stop), you could have done this journey on the electric Energica Experia.
Enjoyed the video thanks but wondered if you deducted the chat times from the motorcycle journey as the train journey would not have been affected by that.
I didn't fancy going through all the comments to see if there was an answer to that!
Thanks again. 😃👍
Done the journey between Plymouth to inverurie (town a bit north of Aberdeen) plenty of times. Bit miserable that i recognise all the services there 😂 have to say that it would be a hell of a lot more convenient if Plymouth had an airport still then could get a flight and the journey would probably be 2 hours or less
Great vid, gents.
Great vid