Great vid pal , soon be our Norway trip and can’t wait 😊

Good video. Stick with the gs tho eh! 😂 x

The best thing I did was buy a slow but fun car. I've had performance cars and bikes in my 40 years of driving and riding and if I'm honest they just stressed me out. They're just too fast for UK roads. You open them up and within seconds you're braking for a bend. You just can't use the performance. It's like trying to play snooker in a 4ft by 4ft shed. For work purposes I bought a Peugeot 107 last year. I've never had a city car before and I was expecting frugal yet miserable motoring. I couldn't have been more wrong. It's an absolute hoot to drive. It feels like a dodgem, the engine and exhaust have a rooty tooty snort to them and it just feels like you're going much faster than you are. The handling is only average and this adds to the fun. You don't have to drive the thing on its door handles because it just feels fun driving at 50 or 60. You don't really want to do much more because there's no need. Despite being rather slow it's a full-on driver's car. Other cars leave me for dead on big open roads but that's great because I just have fun at my pace in my space and the cops just aren't interested in me. They're targeting the maniacs on R1s and young guys in ST Fords etc. Speed and fun are two completely different things. Sometimes they go together but sometimes they don't. I know something like a 107 won't suit everyone but I absolutely love it. Daft as it sounds I have more fun in this than I ever did on a performance bike. Maybe I just wasn't a true biker. Each to their own.

You ruined the video with the music. I wanted to hear the sound of the engine, the wind and the rain i.e. the sound of biking, not some bland, insipid 'muzak.' It's like holding a curtain up in front of a stripper.

The road isn't dangerous if you ride sensibly. The problem is too many fair weather crotch rocket riders use the road as their personal race track. I used to drive for a living and I went over Snake Pass most days. The things I saw made your toes curl and it was all avoidable. The biggest pain in the arse were crotch rocket riders riding in packs. Riding at ridiculous speeds, overtaking on solid white lines, harassing and bullying car drivers by lingering inches from their bumper, usually in their blind spot then making a stupid lunge of an overtake and having to brake hard in front of the car they just passed causing it to brake because traffic was coming the other way. I used to ride myself and those idiots pissed me off big time. It made driving stressful and dangerous. It's why I preferred it in winter because all the part-time crotch rocket riders were now in their cars. I suspect they probably drive Audis and BMWs and we all know why.

Another nice video, bud. Yes, I can hear the vibration in your voice that the bike is like riding an ironing board....😂😂

Hi, the first thing to say its called "the" Snake Pass, and you go on about speed camera's or lack of them, there is no need for them as if you exceed the speed limit you will poss kill yourself as it does not allow for high speeds , and I have ridden the Snake pass for many years, in fact you could say I "cut my teeth" on there I have been riding it for over 45 years and love the ride over, and as I live just at the start of the Pass in Glossop

Having ridden around the coast of Ireland and done the NC500 on my YB100, this is my next test ! Done this many times as a tour guide in the van. Scenically West to east is the most rewarding - the opposite to what you recommend. Fog cant have helped you either. Well done !

i did this ride myself last saturday as part of a day trip, and did it the opposite direction the week before, it's a great biking road, as is the one that runs parallel to it over bowland knotts. you can pick some great routes in the trough of bowland & lancs area, and even as a yorkshireman who's spiritual home is in the dales & NYM i don't mind saying that :) thanks for the vid.

Nice ride just to clear the mind to chill and relax

Another wet day out. Good day though

Hi 2ST. I rode this on a BMW K1600GT, which was a bit of challenge given its 340kg, my 5'8" (if I look up) and hobbitty short legs. Went from Wrynose to Hardknott, the weather was beautiful and the views breath taking. You cant stop on the apexes on some corners as the elevation is such that you (or at least I) could not touch the ground. Would recommend this ride but I reckon something like Honda Transalp would be a good option to do it on. I have a BMW GSA now albeit a Low Chassis & would take it over this pass without a doubt although maybe less keen to do that 2 up. Link to the run on a beautiful day here, had to stabilise the image due to a dodgy cam mount. You're right about the vid not showing the angle of ascent! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oZOKnaZ9yOC0ZXk.html

I'd like to think I'm a fairly confident, accomplished well travelled rider and that road is probably the only road I get nervous about riding but what a great challenge it is. Great work two up fully loaded.

Ride it/don't ride it...nobody cares

did Hardnott pass as a learner on my C72 240 Honda i dont recall it being a problem whats all the fuss about

I’ve ridden the Hardknott Pass numerous times, on my ST1100, FJR1300, and BMW R1200GS, all fully laden and two up on the Yamaha and Beemer. I’ve also done it solo. In all weathers. Yes, it’s challenging - and would recommend people work their way up to it - as you’ve commented, approaching from the Wrynose Pass is probable the best option. I have a video taken by my pillion on my account on one of our rides. A mate from Norfolk - not hilly at all - will be joining me on a ride that goes over Hardknott, Wrynose and onto Great Langdale past Blea Tarn on his R1250GS. He’s a more than capable rider - I can’t wait for his perspective.

What is all the fuss? In around 1975? my friend and I went from Coventry for a tour of the lake District. On my Honda GL1000 Goldwing. One of the first in Britain. It was a great day and we passed over the Hardknott and Wrynose passes with no problem at all! I had gone over them earlier on my Triumph 750cc Triple with my friend, who was riding his Honda C90 ,and he breezed over these passes with no problem while I struggled with my bike. One which Percy Tait later told me he had test-ridden for the maker and set it up for a sporty feel (read racing!) Now years later, Percy told me that he had also been one of the factory test riders of the Yamaha XS1100 that I had and agreed that while that bike was good on sweeping bends (‘A’ roads etc) it took a many-point turn to get around in a normal road! Later, in 2007, I finally worked out why my very fast touring bicycle in the 1960s had similar problems. It was the trail of the steering geometry, as while the beautiful frame had caught my eye and I had built a touring bike around it, stubbornly ignoring the signs, that frame was really made to be used on a velodrome and had very little lead in the geometry. That bike could not be ridden ‘hand free’! Likewise, my Triumph had been made for track days but never advertised as such. Great for long sweeping bends but rubbish around town etc. The Gold Wing was set up for touring also but was very chuckable and fun to ride. I suspect that the Blackbird and (some) other modern bikes have fallen foul of the same problem. Set up for motorways they are not so good on the twisty stuff. Does anybody else concur?

Positioning your camera on the far left of your bike made me queasy about you going off the edge. 😮

Great video, its def a road that requires respect. One time a group of us were going up that steep right hand hairpin and the lad in front of me on an R6 foolishly took his hand off the handlebar to administer a W ⚓sign at an impatiently descending motorist coming towards us. Needless to say who had the last laugh 🤣🤣🤣🛻 I best enjoy going up there at 7:00am on a sunny sunday morning

Nice video and love the music. As far as the road goes, I think I'll "pass" on that one.

It’s a fun technical road to ride up that way round, I fortunately like yourself found nothing coming down the hill. The camera doesn’t do the steepness justice.

Your a biker, yes maybe over the years you kind of rode your bike day in day out, maybe you ride cos its just such a thrill. There is no guarantee if your out there all year that one day wet leaves on a shady bend , an artic, cab in front of you trailer on his side and dry stone walls to make it interesting. Yep been there, enjoyed hospital food. Repaired the bike , just loved the next ride I always knew that one day I might just have a chat with some of the lads that never had to repair the bike. Should you ride? well Adrenalin is one hell of a drug. I always rode with one aim I might die for my love of freedom but did my best (and never did) play games that could hurt others, even though some of them did not reciprocate. You get to know how to not trust motorists, etc, if you worry about ridding --- simple ,drive, bus.Stay at home but you,d miss so much, Happy Riding.

I've done the other steepest road a few times now with pillion (Rosedale chimney pass). Some lovely views and it's only an hour from me. I ride a k1300s so also a big heavy bike, but no problems so far. A very nice area. I would advise going up before down, so start from Rosedale abbey side. Also not for from the to the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge too for a nice food and drink stop 😁👍

Have rode it on a Harley Roadglide , 2 up and fully loaded. All good

Great ride that is

Its a good ride but not an easy ride. It's that notorious right hander, particulalry when two-up. Lovely countryside but. Useful video. Cheers.

Nice video. Bloody awful weather though! Video always flattens it out so you don't really get the right impression of the awkwardness of some of those bends! The other problem with that right hander is that if you do it in the summer you are bound to meet a car coming the other way and that when riders get into trouble! If anyone is thinking of doing it in summer, do it very early in the morning before everyone is out and about? If anyone wants a big challenge you'd have to try the Stelvio pass in the Italian eastern alps: 2757 metres and over 60 hairpins?

Honestly after hearing people talk about it I found it fairly disappointing. I mean it's alright but it's hardly world class motorcycling. Maybe I've been spoiled by the alps.

I reckon I'd pick a better day for that particular pass 🙂

Yes! Yes you should. It'll be hardnot to. See what I did there? 😂😂😂

I’d only been riding about 2 years when I rode it on a tour and must be honest shit me self 🤣

Biggest problem on that road is usually the cyclists

I really enjoy riding these passes. Last year it was on my 125 twist and go - this year I'll be taking my Honda CRf250L or Triumph Scrambler 400X.

Done it many times. One of my favourite most stupid fun roads in the lake district. Best done on a sunny day though. Ps, i first did it on a SR 500 but the last few times on a gen 1 V Max. Never with a passenger though.

Give me a break ...... done it loads of times in a fiat panda.... what's the problem??? 9:08

In those conditions it looks nightmarish. Reminds me of the Kirkstone Pass in the Lake District.

Trip down memory lane, been over these passes 3 times going back too many years. Nice to see it again and yes you are right its far more severe in real life then on video. You mentioned it was a old Roman road, just for interest at the top of Hardnott is the remains of the old Roman fort. Worth a visit in better weather conditions if you ever go back.

Great ride buddy, its a lot steeper and technical in real life Its a good ride one you've ridden it a few times

Up it on a cycle? No, just a bloke on a motorbike, try the A1 next? Or B5023, I have done it in a Sprinter need to make a video on that or crossing the road to the shop

Looks like the surface has been repaired in places. Not been up for a couple of years but there was a large vertical sided pothole.on the bend before the one you stopped on and a lot of longitudinal grooving lower down. It's not a dangerous road - I've been over many times and it's very much talked up by the internet. I suspect the main problem is that people will insist on riding huge barges which are hard to control at low speeds. Btw, you should have stopped a bit lower down and gone for a mooch around the Roman fort. Not one of the empires sought after postings!!

Done this many time on a bike and motor car . From the first time in the 70 ' s That is the easy way up . Have a few videos on here. One reason for a smaller bike for riding around the lakes. The reason the road is bumpy now is because of the heat wave after covid. And no one travelling.

LOL! Yes! 2 up, in the wet, with full luggage, on a sportsbike, tail marking with half a dozen solo riders in front all both feet down😂. We survived.

Well done. You're lucky you didn't meet any traffic, that would have made it a whole lot worse. I've driven it a few times in a small campervan and that's about my limit. Guranteed, I would fall over on some of these bends.

Not that dangerous except for problems riding heavy lumps like the gsa

That road surface looks to be in much better condition than most of the roads in Devon.

I did this two up on a Harley Road king

This road is an adventure but you are on adventure bikes.... Where is the problem.

I ride over these passes regularly on my 1979 Suzuki gs850.... 2 up. I find them great fun. I would not ride them on L plates. The roads are very technical but all you need is a bit of common sense. If you think these roads are dangerous you have always a choice.

What a heroic tale of derring-do, imagine over 1,300 feet above sea level, and wet a wet paved surface, thank God you were on a GS.

I can remember as a teenager flogging the tits off me BSA Bantam in the summer time going across to the lakes most weekends happy days