Touring on a Sports Bike – New Kawasaki Ninja 500 vs the NC500 – Inverness to John O’Groats

Day two and already 403 miles into our five day tour of Scotland’s North Coast 500. This leg of the journey took us up from Dingwall to John O’Groats and we finished the day at Caithness View Lodges with a total mileage of 542 for the trip so far. We decided to do the NC500, anticlockwise because so many people had told us how boring the East Coast is and that if you do the West first, that it’s hardly worth doing. Because of that, we set off with very low expectations and found it to be a really enjoyable days ride on some fantastic coast roads. The East coast of the NC500 has some long sweeping bends, with plenty of visibility of what lies ahead and a nice sea view to top it off.

We visited a few spots along the way, like Lybster Village and Whaligoe steps. Before then heading up through Wick, onto to John O’Groats, Dunnet Head and back down to our accommodation at Caithness View Lodges. Our accommodation for that night was in the perfect spot for cutting across that evening, back to Tesco’s in Wick for some cheap fuel and some supplies.

After Riding the Ninja through some terrible conditions on day one, as we went up the twisty roads, skirting the side of Lock Ness, I had started to get a real feel for the bike and began to trust it’s handling and grip. The Ninja 500 was really benefiting from the improved torque that the bigger engine gave it, over the old 400 ninja. The low seat made it really easy to maneuver at low speeds and it also meant that even with the added weight of the panier bags, if the surface that I stopped on was rough or slopped, that I was still sure footed. Now the roads were dry though and the bends were long fast sweepers, the Kawasaki took on a whole new lease of life, and its sports pedigree started to shine through. The anticipation of getting this bike onto the West Coast roads, was bubbling away in my mind and although I didn’t want to wish the trip away, I couldn’t wait for what was to come over the next few days.

#mymoto #kawasakininja500 #northcoast500

To find out more information about the New Kawasaki Ninja 500, click on the link below –
https://www.kawasaki.co.uk/en/products

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https://www.dstoremanchester.co.uk/

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00:00 Intro
00:37 Leaving Dingwall
01:42 Twisty Roads
03:15 North Coast 500 East (the boring bit???)
04:27 Lybster beach
05:50 Whaligoe steps
07:24 John O’Groats
09:17 Caithness View Lodges

last time on our North Coast 500 trip we did the 403 mile run from Manchester up to iness and the start point of the NC 500 [Music] slightly wey from the previous day’s ride got up bright and early to leave waver and head off on the first leg of the nc500 I’m leading the way it was going to be an easier day with us only having to cover 139 Mi before accommodation that evening but we were still slightly sore from all the miles we’d already [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] done the Ninja 500 had done well to keep with the Bigger Adventure bikes on the motorway leg up to Glasgow but it was these tighter twisty roads where we would really be at home the relaxed riding position had served me well it was nice and comfortable the soft suspension and that even the roughest of Roads was nice and smooth to ride on it coped well with all the luggage it was carrying and it had enough power to keep me moving at the same Pace as the other guys but now we were getting on to twistier roads and the tarmat was started to dry it gave me a chance to see what the Dunlop GPR 300 tires were going to be like like how grippy wor they and how sporty was this [Music] [Applause] bike as we headed out of dingwell we had to briefly stop to sort out some communication systems again this time it was add’s microphone that didn’t seem to be working [Applause] [Music] we had a brief stop at gby beach which was 41 mies into the day’s trip quick refresh Snack drink and back on the road [Music] [Music] we were told that the east coast of the nc500 was the boring bit and it wasn’t even worth doing but if you’re there for the roads rather than the SES and the scenery and it’s a fantastic little bit of Road some long fast sweeping bends plenty of open space so you can see if there’s any cars coming and you can really get a good flow on as you head up towards Jonah groos [Music] he [Music] [Music] there was plenty of things we did want to see on the roof but unfortunately Addy who had bought a special nc500 guide book left it at work which he was reminded about by the other three of us on most [Music] days luckily though we managed to find libster Beach we had a couple of photos then we headed up to the libster Village Cafe for our dinner we’ done 80 M of our day’s ride and there was only another 59 to go [Music] [Music] although Addy had forgot his guide book it was only a short ride further up the coast to find wh go steps where Davey who’s a local resident let us Park in the resident car park up at the top and told us all about the history of the steps [Music] wh go is one of Scotland’s most remarkable natural harvest the steps were first built by Captain David bro at the cost of £8 Fisher women would carry baskets full of Herring salmon and white fish up the 365 steps each day and then walk the eight miles up the road to wick for them to be sold the steps and the scenery around them are quite remarkable and well worth of visit if you’re ever doing the nc500 it like a goat after stopping at wayo we then headed a short distance further up to the famous Jonah Gro side [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] after getting a photo of the Ninja 500 under the jonro sign and leaving our my Moto sticker on the board we then went across to Dun it head which is the actual most norly point of the UK Mainland the cow wasaki had been faultless easy to ride great handling and had done everything I asked of it [Music] after a quick stop at dun it head it was only short ride across to Kess view lodges where we stayed T night and that wrapped up another great day on the bikes and look forward to the next leg on the nc500 which if what everyone said was to be believed would be the best part of the ride thank you for watching our video please click like And subscribe and leave us a comment we love the comments and we love the interaction with our followers and viewers if you would like to support my Moto we have three shops a shop in leads a shop in Clay Cross and a shop in Manchester and we also have an online website so all we ask is next time you’re looking for some motorcycle gear please come and check us out first until next time ride safe [Music]