Bye bye W800, hello R9T! And a few Covid-limited activities.

 Due Covid things have been pretty quiet recently. I have run 'Lindow' and 'Penrhyn' at Urmston even though passenger carrying is suspended, and the rebuild by BP Locomotive Works of the 4MT 2-6-4 tank loco is proceeding, albeit not at a great rate lately - but there's no hurry as I cannot yet foresee when 'normal operations' at Urmston or indeed any other track will resume. 

The 4MT tank at BP Locomotive Works

Similarly, although driving at High Legh track would be possible as they have been running, it's probably not wise for someone in the vulnerable age group to participate, so I haven't.

Motorcycling locally, however, is relatively unaffected by covid and in August I decided it was time for a change from my Kawasaki W800 to something with more power and better brakes. So the W800 went onto eBay and found a new home in Abergavenny.

The W800

I settled on a BMW R Nine T, and actually ordered a new R9T Pure from BMW dealer Williams in Manchester, with ally tank, heated grips, head protectors, and rev counter. However, the factory refused the order as they have stopped 2020 Euro 4-compliant builds and started 2021 Euro 5 compliant builds for next year when they would again accept orders.

No doubt that would mean a price rise and a more inhibited bike, so I was not best pleased.

Then I realised I had had my test ride on a bike the dealer had for sale - a September 2019 (69 plate) R9T Pure Sport (as an extra, fitted with that lovely ally tank with the weld line I wanted, and the Sport pack gives heated grips, wire wheels, LED indicators, and chrome exhaust). So I went for that (about £2,500 off list price), and specified the engine protectors and rev counter (incorporating on-board computer) be fitted before delivery.

So it's the bike I originally wanted albeit nearly a year old, at a lower price with a couple of extra extras, including wire wheels which I really didn't want but can live with.

The previous owner was a BMW exec. As all car companies do, to keep new registrations looking healthy BMW execs get a new bike and a new car every year, and these then go to the dealers to be sold as used stock. Hence the low mileage.

Here's a picture of the bike as it was when I bought it. That hand-brushed aluminium tank doesn't look much in the photo, but in the flesh it's a work of art!

The lovely aluminium tank with centre weld - a work of art.

I had a few accessories planned to fit to the bike, and within a couple of weeks, that was done. Specifically, I fitted:

A Wunderlich centre stand so it stands upright in the garage and makes for much easier maintenance.

An Evotech tail tidy to get rid of that massive rear overhang.

A pair of Oberon bar-end mirrors in place of the standard ones for a much improved rear view and neater look to the bike.

A rear wheel 'hugger' to prevent muck being thrown at the rear shock and under-seat area, and a front wheel fender extender to prevent muck and stones being thrown at the engine front and oil radiator.

A BMW brushed aluminium tail hump to match the tank and to keep lock, tools etc in.

Here's the bike with those extras fitted:

Two silver machines!

It only remained to ride it! And I have been! Including a lovely ride out into the White Peak on a jewel of an autumn day. Warm if low sunshine, but a tad hazy so the views of this magnificent countryside were not at their best.

Nonetheless, it was a day to be treasured and made use of! Out through Macclesfield and over the Cat & Fiddle, past Ladmanlow, Harpur Hill, and Brierlow Bar to a brief photo stop at the Dragon's Back Hills at Glutton Bridge. On to Longnor where a left turn took me down into the Dove Valley, over the river, then up the steep hairpins at Crowdecote.

A right turn before Hurdlow took me onto what years ago was a gated road (not these days, but still a minor road) paralleling the High Peak Trail as far as Parsley Hay (the other side of a low ridge) before climbing to the edge of the plateau north of Hartington and then descending to enter that village by its back door.

On to Hulme End for a lunch stop at what was up until the 1930s the terminus of the narrow gauge Manifold Valley Light Railway. After lunch a minor lane took me to Ecton to join the former track of the aforementioned Light Railway which is now a cycle and walkway, though this stretch is a public road. Through Swainsley tunnel and on down the valley to Wetton Mill where an acute right turn took me up the valley side on a narrow and steep lane to the delightful village of Butterton, its church spire rising above the trees as I ascended out of the valley.

A quick blast south along the sweeping B5053 through Onecote almost as far as the Leek - Ashbourne road enabled me to join the Morridge Ridge way road. This ancient way, almost straight but with slight curves along the ridge top took me back north, with (despite the haze) extensive views to the west and north west of Cheshire, Bosley Cloud, Hen Cloud, Shuttlingsloe, and the Roaches, and to the east the rolling fields of the southern Peak District.

Dropping down off the ridge at the northern end of this dramatic road I crossed the Buxton - Leek road at the Winking Man, then back to the minor lanes around the back of the Roaches down to Gradbach, up along Burntcliff Top (no wallabies to be seen today!), to Allgreave to join the usually quite busy Congleton - Buxton A54. Today, however, the road is closed between here and Buxton so it is virtually traffic - free!

So what a great ride sweeping round the bends down to the River Dane, up past Cluelow Cross, the Wild Boar, and the old GPO tower on Crocker Hill, on down to the Cheshire Plain at Bosley and home through North Rode, Rode Heath, and onto the A34 at Marton.

Lovely day; superb bike; great day out! Here are some pictures:

The aptly-named Dragon's Back Hills (Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill) near Earl Sterndale.. Interesting hills to walk over!

Lunch stop at the former narrow gauge railway terminus at Hulme End. This is the original station building.

Hulme End running-in board

Just south of Swainsley Tunnel on the old railway track bed.

The ancient Morridge ridgeway road. The distinctive scarp of Bosley cloud can be seen above the cattle in the distance

Several local rides have been enjoyed as well. Here's the R9T at Nether Alderley Mill where I am a National Trust volunteer, but that's another activity covid has knocked on the head for this year - at least.

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