Hardknott/Wrynose Passes on 851

colin916

colin916

New member
Hi, I decided to take the BMW R1100s over there last week because I didn`t have confidence in the 851 having enough steering lock for the hairpins.

Blimey!

Good job I did!

If anyone`s done it on an 851/888 then please tell me about it, otherwise don`t even think about doing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just for the record I also had all the camping stuff on as well, so it was a bit awkward even on the BMdub.
 
I've done it on an XJ900F, two-up, many years ago. Exhilarating!
I'd have heart failure if I seriously thought of doing it on a Duc :)
 
Great link Geoff

But the trouble with 851`s is that they require a 5 point turn across our street!
There`s hardly any lock at all !

Enjoyed the vid..
 
I did it in the 70's on a Z650 which was quite easy and later on a 3c which was very scary, especially when a dickhead coming down didn't give way to me going up the hill. I had to keep my thumb on the horn to get across to him he had to get out of the way as I wasn't prepared to drop it.
 
My kind of road !. Did it last year on the Multistrada and a couple of years before on the Sport Classic GT1000. No problem unless you meet a car coming downhill at you and there's no passing place to avoid it. I did see a Harley flop over onto its side after trying to cut the corner on one of the steepest hairpins. I'm not sure about taking the Hailwood Replica over it, though, as I doubt the brakes would hold it...
 
borderduc said:
My kind of road !. Did it last year on the Multistrada and a couple of years before on the Sport Classic GT1000. No problem unless you meet a car coming downhill at you and there's no passing place to avoid it. I did see a Harley flop over onto its side after trying to cut the corner on one of the steepest hairpins. I'm not sure about taking the Hailwood Replica over it, though, as I doubt the brakes would hold it...
Click to expand...

Yip. I remember. David and I took the road around the pass and met you on the other side. Covered these passes several times but admittedly not on a ducati. Personally not that phased doing it on the monster or 1098 but the dry clutch especially on the 1098 does put me off a bit.

Geoff
 
It's fine on the 1098, 996 made it as well. My worst moment ever was on the Fireblade. I tried to get up in second reasoning that the motor was big enough to pull us up easily. Before I could change down I stalled it right on the steepest corner. My, what fun it was trying to get going again. The cars gave me no sympathy - @@@@@@@s!
 
I did it a few years ago on my 998. I thought I'd rely on my back brake to steady me through the sharper downhill bends. That was when I discovered that Ducati had infact fitted a pretend back brake to my bike. Oh how I laughed.
 
hardknott pass

i did hardknott last year for the first time in a while as its only 30 minutes from my house.
have to say that the road surface is very poor in places now, with the tarmac rippling up badly and huge pot holes right on the line you would take a bike.
Is nice to say youve done it but its so busy now (especially at the weekend) that I can think of better routes to do.
Yeah and most car drivers cant comprehend that you havent got a reverse gear and can go back up the hill!!!
 
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