Green Lanes by Morini

[Steve Brown]

I'm going to try to start a regular-ish habit of going green laning by Morini on a Wednesday. Why Wednesday? Because I now have to work at weekends and most of my chums are retired. This is not planned as an organised event, just a bunch of friends meeting up to explore the countryside by motorcycle. Just like the Ramblers then. There won't be any back-up so try to be self sufficient but if it does become necessary I do have a van to pick up anyone unfortunate enough to need it.

The first one will be next Wednesday the 9th October and will start somewhere near my house.(South Leicestershire-UK) I've invited a couple of friends to join in and one of them is bringing his Kanguro, so does this count as a 'Morini Event'? The others on board so far have Royal Enfield Himalayans and a Yamaha DTR125. Not expecting huge numbers though and would prefer not have any more than 8 bikes.

The plan is to meet up near here at 10am and then I will lead a pleasant little run around some of the nice Leicestershire lanes. I'd like to throw this invite out to club members with trail bikes (particularly Morini trail bikes) who would like to join in. So most weeks this should happen, if you want to join us please get in touch. A Private message is best.

The lanes will be beginner friendly and I don't want any endure bikes or any illegal bikes! The lanes I use are all legal to ride as well-I've spent hours researching them! As a TRF member I will also be abiding by the TRF code of conduct. So don't come along thinking we are out to scare horses or upset ramblers or tear up the bondhu.

[MickeyMoto]

I'm going to try to start a regular-ish habit of going green laning by Morini on a Wednesday. Just like the Ramblers then.

I hope not, one group of people I cannot stand.

...or upset ramblers...

That is a given, even stationery.

[Sheikh]

Steve,

I'd love to join you, and I definitely approve of mid-week trail riding, but I can't make it next Wednesday. Have fun, and I'll try and make it another time.

H

ps. Camel #2 is now running and even has an Mot, but we're still ironing out the gremlins.

[Vitesse]

Ah - didn't we meet at the E Mids TRF a couple of months ago? I'd love to join in but I'm away most of the time for the next month or so. November?

No Morini trail bike but a little Spanish thing - Pampera.

[Steve Brown]

Steve,

I'd love to join you, and I definitely approve of mid-week trail riding, but I can't make it next Wednesday. Have fun, and I'll try and make it another time.

H

ps. Camel #2 is now running and even has an Mot, but we're still ironing out the gremlins.

That's great Sheikh, I'm aiming for as many Wednesdays as I can manage so I'll let you know.

[Steve Brown]

Ah - didn't we meet at the E Mids TRF a couple of months ago? I'd love to join in but I'm away most of the time for the next month or so. November?

No Morini trail bike but a little Spanish thing - Pampera.

Yes that's right. I missed the meeting just gone. Keep an eye on this post and I'll let you know.

[Steve Brown]

Our ride out on Wednesday was an unqualified success! A 100% Morini turn out So that means both Morinis turned up! The weather was fine and we discovered a few lanes we hadn't seen before.
Mickymoto was worried we might run into nasty fundamentalist rambler types, well as luck would have it the only rambler group we came upon were in the main quite cheery and returned our smiles and greetings. Apart from one po faced stereotype, but there is always one isn't there? A few dog walkers who were also friendly and a farmer I met while he opened his gates for me! He'd just closed the lane to move his cattle from one field to another. All very positive then!
We plan to be out again next Wednesday too, why not join us?

[Haboola72]

Here in Spain, it's the reverse.
It's the walker who is stigmatised, not the trail rider, the cyclist or the quad biker etc.
Walking is for peregrinos (pilgrims), goat herds, footpads, bandits, the very poor or the insane.
I do a lot of walking here with the dog . I'm still not sure which category I fall into.
Off road wise the trails here are incredible. Quite technical , undulating and remote. In the 9 months I've been trailing I've yet to meet a rider coming the opposite way!
More than happy to show any of you around if you're down this way.
Wish I could join you there in Leicester, nice countryside , nice pubs, nice pies...

[Steve Brown]

Here in Spain, it's the reverse.
It's the walker who is stigmatised, not the trail rider, the cyclist or the quad biker etc.
Walking is for peregrinos (pilgrims), goat herds, footpads, bandits, the very poor or the insane.
I do a lot of walking here with the dog . I'm still not sure which category I fall into.
Off road wise the trails here are incredible. Quite technical , undulating and remote. In the 9 months I've been trailing I've yet to meet a rider coming the opposite way!
More than happy to show any of you around if you're down this way.
Wish I could join you there in Leicester, nice countryside , nice pubs, nice pies...

I keep reading about trail riding in Spain in TRF mags etc. Does sound idyllic! A certain other member of this forum has also been known to do the Austin Vince events and also on a Morini too! If the opportunity comes I'd gladly take up your offer as well. Leicestershire and the surrounding counties have some pleasant lanes but nothing lasts for long or goes far before the route gets downgraded into a bridle or footpath. OK we do have the pubs and the pies, this may be why many of us are a little portly? Or does it explain the ruts?

Interesting comment about the reversed stigma thing. I think we should get that idea's seed planted here.

[rossguzzi]

I wish it was not on the other side of the planet for me to join
How about some pictures ?

[Ming]

I bet you have plenty of red lanes, though, and not many ramblers?

[Steve Brown]

I wish it was not on the other side of the planet for me to join
How about some pictures ?

Well I wish we had the open spaces you have! I recently spent two weeks in the company of a bunch of Aussies and a few Kiwis while in Indian Himalayas. Listening to their tales of riding back home made me pretty green with envy. Plus you could see the level of competence in their riding. They were highly skilled and very confident. None of our lanes are very long, the island is still pretty small!
As for pictures I'm a crap photographer so hardly ever take any. Then I find them a pain to post on here so give up and put them on Faceache instead.

[Steve Brown]

Another 100% Morini turnout today-so that was just me then! The lanes are pretty boggy and the puddles bigger and deeper than normal after the rain we've had and are still having. Grip was a bit lacking as could be expected but after my first 'off' for many months I remembered why riding the lanes alone isn't too sensible. No lasting damage, the handguards did their job and the gear lever easily bent back. Still, while I was lying in the puddle I could see how worn the rear tyre is-I must have done too many road miles.
Anyone else fancy accompanying me? It is fun really...

[Haboola72]

I sympathise!
Wet and mud aren't the default over here in Catalunya, so when it's about I try to push myself to get out there, the thinking being sooner or later I'll be back in the UK
where it's the norm most of the year.
It's not a happy medium and I've been spat off a few times when it's wet, usually crossing muddy ruts with too much throttle..or breasting unfamiliar puddles with large rocks just under the surface but so far it's been too much fun to give up , any spills are usually low speed and as long as you can pick your bike up afterwards its a hilarious and absorbing learning curve, so different to riding on the road, I urge anyone to have a go. I left it till I was seventy and regret not having started sooner.
I've got a Heidenau Scout rear tyre on the camel which has 4000 k on it and its already worn flat in the middle, I was hoping to get more out of it.

[Steve Brown]

I sympathise!
I've been spat off a few times when it's wet, usually crossing muddy ruts with too much throttle..or breasting unfamiliar puddles with large rocks just under the surface

Hmm, that sounds like exactly what I did!

I've got a Heidenau Scout rear tyre on the camel which has 4000 k on it and its already worn flat in the middle, I was hoping to get more out of it.

I've fitted Pirelli MT43's. They are due for replacement soon, at least the rear one is. Mileage not exactly high but I have been doing more tarmac miles than I wanted between the green roads. According to a journo in I think RIDE magazine the new tyres from Michelin are worth a look and quite low priced too. Road legal etc but I forget the model name!