Over the last twenty-odd [Oh God, it's 24] years of riding motorcycles, ranging from Honda 70s, (commuting from Camberley to Kingston), to howling across Europe on huge Jap fours, it's been my distinct privilege to encounter some crackerjack roads. The absolutely top examples follow, with a brief explanation of what made them so. This may seem ridiculously self-indulgent, but there is method in my madness - if you have a favourite UK or European road, please E-Mail me with the details and I'll stick it on this Web site. If nothing else, it'll give me/us something to do during the long winter evenings!
Before we begin, can I draw your attention to the sterling job done by the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) and their slightly-more-dayglo subgroup, MAG Sport? These people, together with the BMF and the FEM, were instrumental in defeating the proposed European Commission 100 bhp limit - which was never voted for by any elected official. They need your support and more details can be found at The MAG Home Page.
This is, without any doubt whatsoever, the Grand Favourite. It runs from Larne, in Co Antrim, all the way along the northern coast of Northern Ireland, to Portrush. With its (fairly) grippy surface, dramatic bends, low traffic densities (not in summer) and incredible scenery, this is the road with everything for the biker. The RUC are exceptionally civilised when it comes to less-than-fully legal, but safe behaviour and, providing you screw the nut and don't get too ridiculous through the occasional built-up areas, they'll be sensible.
The views, on the one side the cliffs and the Glens of Antrim and on the other the sea, are spectacular and the road itself acts as a jumping-off point for some of Northern Ireland's other classic routes - for example, up the glen from Cushendall or Waterfoot and over the top to Ballymena - you climb up the twisty road from the sea, through the forests and then across a hugely dramatic plateau before howling down into Ballymena. The ride is even better in the other direction, especially when you hit the head of the glen and see the sweep down to the coast laid out in front of you, with a couple of cheeky little hairpins just to keep you awake.
UPDATE
After this year's NW200, another absolute pearl runs from Portrush south to Ballymoney. Wide, sweeping and, above all, empty.
A close second: the A74/A75 from Dumfries, around the coast and up to Ayr. A cracking ride, well-surfaced, twisty, scenic and fast. The run from Stranraer to Dumfries (to the famous Little Chef on the Dumfries bypass) is especially challenging, although, BE WARNED, the feds have absolutely no sense of humour and use the full Monte - radar, helicopters, lasers and, for all I know, informers and death rays to catch speeders. They tend to cluster around the dual-carriageway sections, so WATCH OUT.
The A38 from Plymouth to Liskeard. A classic, although the surface can be dodgy, there are a lot of slow tourists in summer and there is a fairly high level of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary activity. Care and attention required in the middle stretch, where frustration can lead to very ill-judged overtaking. The double white lines on this road mean it. Worth it for the occasions when you get a clear run at it (after 8 p.m. in summer is good) AND a long left/right left combination downhill heading for Liskeard that's to die for - braver men than I get their knees down on each flick….
A current favourite - the A435 from Cirencester to Cheltenham. Very twisty, very fast, almost no fed activity. Be advised - poor road surfaces (partially sun damage, partially frost damage, partially subsidence) and a surprise traffic-light controlled single-lane section North of Colesbourne. At least two good knee-down sweepers heading North, although, with a lot of the road being shaded in summer, tyre temperatures can be naughty, as you go from boiling-hot tarmac to icy cold immediately. A nice road and one that repays study, particularly the southern stretch, from Cirencester Golf Club to Colesbourne. Technically demanding.
UPDATE
The traffic lights have now been cleared away and the road repaired North of Colesbourne: however, the surface is still rough, so giving it the berries is not advisable unless you really enjoy a tankslapper past the trout farm!
Also: be careful by the Golf Club in Cirencester: the new bypass traffic has covered the roads in greasy mud and it's a bit naughty if you're not expecting it.