Can you ride a lap of Wales in a weekend during the depths of winter, with torrential rain forecast… and enjoy yourself?
That was the challenge we set ourselves in a bid to prove you can have an epic motorcycle adventure in the UK, with only 48 hours to spare.
But severe weather warnings, flooded roads, and a lack of daylight all conspired to make it one of the toughest UK bike tours James and Billy have ever ridden.
Did they rise to the challenge? Watch to find out…
Background
Jumping aboard two BMW R 1300 GS adventures bikes, James and Billy set out in a bid to lap the entire country in 48 hours, starting and finishing at Bigsweir Bridge over the River Wye, which marks the border with England and Wales.
There was only one rule: once they rode their motorcycles into Wales, their route had to stay within the country. The UK motorcycle tour began with the boys heading west past the likes of Cardiff and Swansea, before exploring the Gower Peninsula.
They then made a stop at the UK’s smallest city, St Davids, before heading north up the glorious west coast of Wales, stopping at the likes of Fishguard and Cardigan before overnighting in Aberystwyth.
The following morning, the boys rode further north, crossing Barmouth Bridge, before riding deep into Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park up the likes of Pen-y-Pass. The journey then took them along the north coast of Wales, stopping in Anglesey to visit a village with the longest place name in the UK, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
Spectacular roads at the Great Orme, the Horseshoe Pass, and the Gospel Pass followed before their lap of Wales was completed back at Bigsweir Bridge and the River Wye. But did they manage to complete their adventure in 48 hours?
The SatNav
James and Bill used the Beeline Moto II to find our way around Wales and what a superb device it turned out to be. Find out more at https://beeline.co/pages/beeline-moto
The Tyres
The bikes were fitted brand new Michelin Anakee Adventure 2 tyres. In fact we were the first people in the UK to test them and, boy, were we glad of their wet weather performance: https://www.michelin.co.uk/motorbike/tyres/michelin-anakee-adventure-2
The Gear
Severe weather warnings required reliable gear able to battle the torrential rain. Here’s what the boy’s wore, all of it supplied by the good folks at Bikerheadz. Find out more here: https://bikerheadz.co.uk/
James:
Schuberth E2 adventure flip-front helmet
Rukka Kingsley Jacket and Trousers
Rukka Thermog+ Gloves
Daytona Road Star Pro GTX boots
Billy
Scorpion ADF 9000 Carbon
The Bikes
BMW R 1300 GS Trophy
BMW R1300 GS Triple Black
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32 Comments
not a lap of Cymru missed loads of roads
The A493 Machynlleth-Aberdyfi-Tywyn is an epic road. It’s actually my daily commute!!!!
The coast road from Tywyn towards Dolgellau & Barmouth is equally as good. I love doing the loop from Dolgellau back to Tywyn via the A487 Mach Loop, as you guys have seen it’s unreal when the jets are flying!!!!
I was going to say it shouldn’t be a race but I guess you’re turning a common time constraint into a challenge, fair play
Nice one. Would be stellar if you can share the Beeline GPX route 😉 so fellow Beeline users can do the lap
Wales is great for a moto-camping escape.
Winter is for taking the car to Wales on a quiet Sunday morning. Summer is for taking the bike when you can do 10 hours easy.
Well done guys. Shows what can be done on a motorbike if you really want to. I am fortunate enough to live in Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) and enjoy them all year round.
Great vid guys a wonderful lap of my beautiful Wales.
I only live like 15 min from the place with the long name on Anglesey 🤗
And the ponderosa cafe on the horseshoe pass sadly closed after Covid .
So sad to see it close, waiting new buyers I reckon
Great job lads. Myself and mates have rode those roads many times.
St Davids and the Pembrokeshire coast is is an absolute must visit in the summer..went twice last year
I'll do it when it's warmer and more light. Thx for taking us around.
What a pointless trip. Do it in the spring. More light, great views and warmer. Luckily I've done 90% of this route. Some of it several times
Planning to do this myself but on a Honda Monkey. Any chance you can post your route. I,ll see if I can beat your time
When I saw the route you had planned at the start of the video I thought you guys are going to need three days to do that in winter. Good on you for showing us that you can still have fun on a winter bike adventure in the UK.
Good vid, could you share GPX file?
Haha are trying to to the wales trip version of Ryan around the globe 😂😂😂 good starting point 👍
Couldn’t get a pasta each rather than sharing 😂
Like the videos is good to watch it's giving our gas.There are things to do in the future.Aaron robinson thanks gar
Hi guys, fantastic vid. I live in east Kent however this is a must do ride. Is there any chance of getting a GPX file to help me plan my ride? Thanks
Would like the gpx file too if possible
If your camera was mounted higher it would have been better.
Where has the super Suzuki 800 gone??
What an Epic adventure. Loved that bit a cross the Barmouth Bridge.
Could you share the entrance location coordinates. ?
The beeline is useless! Mine didn't stay a month before I sold it on
some day
Guess it’s to much trafikk during summer? (all this f***k motorhomes) What about May or September? It’s a lot of people on a tiny Island:-)
You do know Anglesey is wales so it’s a fail chaps
Unfortunately, the ponderosa cafe is permanently closed
Spot on, guys! 👏 Best decision ever to bin the 48-hour challenge and actually enjoy the adventure. Quality over quantity every time (though those Tesco snacks looked a bit dodgy!). Hope to bring my son along those Welsh trails someday soon. Top tier content! All the best from a fellow rider on a Yamaha Tracer 9GT. 🏍️💨❤
Well done guys loved it but chin mounted cameras are no good for those gs screens in that weather as seen from 15mins. Kept wanting to put my head around the side 😆
Is there a gpx to download please
Any chance you could share the GPX file? Looks like an amazing route!