Hardknott Pass is one of the steepest and most dangerous roads in the UK — and I decided to ride it on a 47hp Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. What could possibly go wrong?
In this video, I take you on a POV ride over the legendary Hardknott Pass in the Lake District, tackling brutal gradients of up to 33%, hairpin bends that eat clutches for breakfast, and road conditions that have defeated everything from adventure bikes to family SUVs. It’s a climb so notorious, even cyclists and seasoned drivers often give up and it doesn’t end there. What goes up, must come down…
Along the way, I also witnessed a crash, proving just how punishing this road can be. But with some tips, determination, and the right mindset (and bike!), it’s absolutely worth the ride.
#hardknottpass #royalenfieldinterceptor #motorcycleadventure #britainssteepestroad
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37 Comments
What time did you do that 0500 am ?
Rosedale Chimney Bank in North Yorkshire is steeper at 1 in 2 1/2 on the inside of one hairpin going up, but it's a better road surface. Amazingly Sutton Bank still catches people out in modern cars. When I drove it in the 70s it was a challenge in dodgy minis and Morris Marinas. I never got the chance to try either on my BSA Bantam.
I enjoyed this video, a lovely area of Countryside !
Enjoyed that and good advice , I rode it on my 350 Hunter both ways back in May very enjoyable 🤘
About 6 years ago I headed up the passes from Ambleside on my triumph 1200 explorer with my wife on the back at the bottom of Hardnott pass there was a guy with a yellow tabard on just thought I wonder what he is doing, a little further on a couple of cyclists going quickly passed us coming down the pass, as we started to seriously climb on the narrowest bit more cyclists appeared by now there was no way to stop to turn around also many spectators were in every vantage point.
I turned out this was a cycle race over a number of passes we had to continue the whole route dodging cyclists of varying talent. My main concern was there was no signage warning of this race on our route to the passes this apparently happens every year on a Saturday be warned.
Its a doddle if you can actually drive. Try it in a series land rover.
I was working in Cumbria about 40 years ago. I rode over this pass lots of times on my 750 Bonneville. Absolutely no problems at all , and I was 2 up most of the time. That being said I chose days with favourable weather and there were less cars about then. I've also taken a Morris Minor over several times. Just take your time!
I was hoping you would pick a Busa.
fell off bike 42 years ago never going back
i done it on a honda gold wing 1100
Great video and a beautiful bike!I'm almost certain that a Royal Enfield 350 can do this too.
I rode a BMW GS up this with my wife on the back when we were visiting the UK after the Isle of Man TT. It was a beautiful ride and a bit interesting when a sheep would run across the road at any time. Definitely memorable.
Great content. However since i am from hilly place. We ride such roads everyday. And trust me, steep for us is going up in gear 1 and coming down in gear 1 too. And lucky guys, you dont have potholes. Bt its fun to ride in such roads. We see many accidents too bcoz people from plains dont have ideas how to ride in hilly places.
Looking at some of the comments is misleading in the dry with a clear run its relatively easy a busy day pissing down with rain is a completely different experience!!!.
You went up the easy way lol!!
i own the same bike.. great looking and styling . but suspension n breaking are nightmare…
Recommend to do the past absolutely brilliant what an achievement won't you have done it I did it on my Indian scout and I did it in both directions like you should do and it was fantastic now I am going back on my Royal Enfield Interceptor nice o n e enjoyed the video good one
First world challenges…
As I am watching, all I can think is that I would love to do this on my Himalayan
Lovely sounding Royal Enfield 650 twin ❤ It must have a 270-deg crank in there…
My gosh….at 10:14 you have King Charles and Camilla impersonators walking past your classis bike 😅
You got very lucky that day Jack. Did you do it at the crack of dawn?. The road itself is not too difficult. The problems stack up when you have to share the road with dozens, and dozens of other road users. The trick is to keep rolling, however if traffic coming down , with drivers who don't understand about momentum, cause you to have to stop, because they are blocking your progress, the adverse camber, plus the severity of the inclines will almost certainly lead to that fateful word TIMBER😢. You can so easily come unstuck, because of other drivers ineptitude. So yes, it is an experience, but only do it at the quietest time of day, and NEVER when it is really busy with other bikes, push bikes , ( yes the do push them most of the way up ), and car drivers who have no conception what is needed to keep themselves safe , and also ensure that motorcyclists have some land under their boots when required to stop. Geoff.
Great sounding bike!
Bloody ell you're a good rider and the RE Interceptor is very good too. I'd love an RE but leaning towards the RE Shotgun but it's firm suspension may well of been found out on this nightmare up and down? Maybe not, but I suspect so, thinking the Intie is more supple. That 650 (648cc 270 dgeree twin) seems to be a gem of a motor though. I hope Royal Enfield do well in this high tech modern world because they deserve to imho. RE fan.
i did this on an old cz175 was easy nothing that interesting apart from the views.
Try Porlock Hill Somerset. 😊
Keep away from the sides
Enjoyed the video and loved the drama you put on it 😂👌🏻 I’ve been over on my 800xcx fully loaded and as long as you look ahead at what’s coming, and you have good control and ability on your bike it’s really not a bad road to ride. Get up and down there on any bike without an issue 👍🏻
The only time I dropped my motorcycle was on a steep incline. I didn’t keep my revs up in low gear and tipped over. I was upset and felt defeated. Never again will I let that happen. I went up again and kicked that roads ass. Bike gods had my back, not a scratch on my Triumph.
I'm in my late 60's I've completed this road many times since the 70's on a Honda CG 125, Yamaha TDR 125 a Kawasaki er6F and soon I'll be doing it on my Honda GB350s. I've never had any accidents or miss haps, slow but steady is the way to enjoy the scenery and appreciate where you are. Riding it early is a great tip, in 2006 I wild camped on this pass on my er6F on my UK tour which lasted 12 full months, I took a year out to do the best of the UK coastal roads and included the lake District great times.
Great road, what a shame for the fella dropping the bike, nice steady slow control should be practiced and anyone should be able to enjoy riding roads like this with confidence.
My EFI classic 500 would handle that no problems with its unbelievable low down grunt.
You want steep, try the Mount Archer road in Rockhampton Queensland Australia.
Great roads….
How cool would a green/orange/brown 'Hardknott Pass edition' Interceptor be? Also, that looks like one of the best road surfaces in the country, almost carpet-like compared to most places! 😂 Great video, well done!
Absolutely stunning! I wanna do this. Why arent there any trees? A damp cool climate-should be good for loads of trees
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THe Interceptor is perfect ,it is Adventure bikes that are a problem as they are just too tall for the reverse camber hairpins. If you cannot comfortably get your foot down if you have to stop or slow then you are going over.
As others have said it is the other traffic ,including many wobbling bicycles that will give you the problem…. when it occurs you need to have a bike you can deal with… seen multiple GS`s topple as rider frantically try to stay upright at a forced stop.