HARDKNOTT PASS! Is This One Of The Most Dangerous Roads In England?
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Motorcycle Touring through the toughest road in the Lake District, Two up and fully loaded on the BMW R1250 GS Adventure!
In this motorcycle Vlog we take on the famous Hardknott pass located in the Lake district England with 30% incline. Can we make it to the top without any difficulties? and what you need to know to drive this road.
Riding to the Hardknott pass - 00:14
30% inclines - 03:25
Accident on dangerous road - 04:17
How to ride hairpin roads - 08:27
Riding the Hardknott pass with a pillion - 12:22
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I'm a former documentary film director for a university in the United States and a regional PBS television film reviewer. The gimbaled cameras (the horizon stays level while the bike banks on turns), the steady images (like those produced by a SteadyCam) as you ride over rough roads, the varying camera perspectives, and the excellent sound quality (no wind noise) make for a superb production that I rarely see on UA-cam videos of this type. The commentary is relevant, informal, and personal. My only complaint is that you gave me absolutely nothing to complain about. Once again, superbly done.
Wow, thank you so much for your incredibly kind words! Coming from someone with your experience in documentary filmmaking and television, that really means a lot to us. We put a lot of effort into the production quality and storytelling, so it's incredibly rewarding to hear such positive feedback. We’re especially glad you noticed the gimbaled camera work and the sound quality-we’ve been working hard to perfect that balance on the bike. And your "complaint" made us laugh! We’re genuinely grateful for your thoughtful comments and support. 🥹
"I think I'll keep it in 1st"- best piece of advice for Hardknott. Great job. Nice Drone PoV.
Cheers! Yeah the boxer doesn’t mind to be revved and no point in fumbling between 1st and 2nd 😁
Thanks for watching 👍🏻
Certainly not easy well done 👍
I remember going up itinmy first car a little 1970s mini 1 litre, I didn't have a choice but to keep it in 1st lol,
Just got back from doing this, same direction, with a pillion on a Tiger Explorer 1200. Respect to you guys, you rode it with great skill and confidence.
Oh nice! hope it wasn't icy 😲 It sure is steep at times! Hope you had a great ride and thanks for watching.
Here's the full UK and Ireland playlist
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=m-4glDRHMiTXzGyA
I remember going through there, not knowing what it was like as I had never been there before and not knowing what was waiting for us. It was raining so heavy there were rivers of water flowing over the road surface. I had the car packed heavy full of suitcases, wife and 2 kids….I was crapping myself! It was such a relief to get through it.
Glad you made it to the other side! It's a crazy road -especially when you are not expecting it 😎👍
Much credit to anyone who rides it 2up, well done.👍 I have done it many times, but only once with a pillion. You made it look easy.
Cheers David, we are used to riding two up but certainly a challenging road with a bumpy surface 😆 we ended up riding it a couple of times to get the footage 😊
Often rode it 2 up and with a trailer behind the Goldwing.
I’ve ridden it two up on several different mbikes. The worst being a vfr 800. Trouble keeping the front wheel grounded. Easiest was my Rocket 3. Only had to stop once. Behind a front wheel drive transit mini bus that was just spinning its wheels
I've ridden it two up, with camping gear, a few times (on a Jota). It's fairly simple, go steady and plan the corners as you approach.
Well done Sean, great piece of riding, and well done Emily for being a seem-less passenger, no moaning, no "(unwanted, pointless)advice" just totally trusting Sean, that takes skill, definately Honda Grom territory. Brilliant team work.
Cheers David! Yeah Emily is a great passenger, Em always knows what to do without a word 😊 That would be fun on a grom for sure!!!
The 'fort' that you saw is a fabulous example of a Roman Fort and bath house. Well worth stopping to explore.
Looked great from afar -what a place to have a fort with a bath house! 😊
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=SKjrW7kRhQnY-ngL
I’ve ridden it four times now, 3 times east to west and just once in the opposite direction. I’ve always done it mid summer, June/July but always very early morning ( before all the tourists get on the road ). My latest ride was June this year on my 1200GS to celebrate my 74th birthday. If you meet traffic on the uphill hairpins that’s your highest chance of an almost stopped fall over. Great video, loved the drone view.
Hi, great to hear from you and big respect for still taking the 1200GS up there 😎💪🏻.
Good idea getting up early to ride it as we can imagine it’s a nightmare in the day -as you say would hate to have to stop mid corner.
Really glad you enjoyed the video and the drone footage 😎👍🏻
Here’s the playlist for the rest of the series of the UK tour:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=UVrJgg_z-xVFsGqO
The Hardknott pass is absolutely breathtaking. What a ride that was, it was definitely an outing for the pillion passenger. And the right choice of music during the drone shot.
Yeah it really is a great piece of road! And a good job we have a top box as those accents are very steep 😊 Glad you liked the music too -this took ages to find lol 😆
I did the Hardknott as backup driver for a cycling group who were doing the Coast to Coast ride, St Bees to Robin Hood Bay. I was glad that I'd volunteered to forsake two wheels for 4 x 4!
Excellent video production. Well done.
For sure take the 4x4 over the bicycle 😁 that’s one steep road to be cycling up!
Thanks very much and glad to hear you enjoyed it. Here’s the entire playlist of the UK Ireland tour: ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=SKjrW7kRhQnY-ngL
@SeanandEmily by the way, of the 6 riders only 1 managed to get to the top non stop. I was perched on an outcrop near the fort with a mug of tea and a sandwich whilst shouting encouragement.
Haha can’t beat a bit of moral support! 😎🙌🏻
Last time i did Hardknott I took a friend on his R1. He wasn't best pleased 😂 Just want to say thank you for all the replies to my comments, I know it must be a lot of work but it makes all your viewers feel part of a great community.. I'm about to stat watching your norway trip again for some routes 🙂
Hi Craig, haha I can imagine 🤣 don’t think we would fancy tackling that road on a super sports bike!
You’re welcome, the amount of kind comments and encouraging words mean a lot to us! And it’s nice have this community that appreciates the channel.
Thanks again for your support and we hope you enjoy heading North again 😎👍🏻
I rode the hard knott pass on a gsx-s 750, that was hard work but rewarding. Great video guys. Brought back lots of memories
Nice one Rob, can imagine it was hard work on a super sports 😎🙌🏻 Glad you enjoyed the video and here’s the complete playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=mcmraDMi29zfbvK7
Well S n E what another wee - s Scottish word - adventure. A new perspective. I learned to ride pavilion when I was 15 yo by an uncle who had a James 125. It has to said that Emily is superb. Every pavilion rider has to have complete trust in the driver . She knows how to lean into the bends so as not to upset the balance of the bike. Leaving aside her filming as well she remains bubbly during the ride. . The three of you are a perfect match. Greetings from Glasgow.
Thanks very much for your kind words! -and the new Scottish word 😊 it really was an adventure and lots of fun!
Yeah so true that the pillion plays an important role and both rider and pillion need to trust each other.
If you look closing to the drive shots you will see Emily flying the drone whilst ascending the pass 😁.
Wow just googled the James 125 -that would be a lovely motorcycle to have today!
Thanks for watching 😎👍🏻
Superb bit of riding there! Watching it felt like being on a rollercoaster at times. My word it's a challenging route. I think your footage shows just how technically difficult it is, but you did it justice. Well done! Great drone footage, too 🙂
Thanks Gary! Yeah it was a bumpy ride 😁 certainly a challenging road but a lot of fun too. I think the most impressive is that Emily was piloting the drone whilst we were riding to the top 😁 (we did it twice -once with the drone and once with the onboard)
@@SeanandEmily Wow! Twice! That's even more impressive 👌👍
my husband and I rode this pass 10 years ago, got applause when we stopped at the top.😅 This is the hardest pass I've ever ridden, but I'm still proud that I did it.🥰
A well deserved round of applause 😎👍You should be proud it's a really challenging road to tick off 😊
Helemaal eens,de meeste passen in europa verbleken hierbij in moeilijkheidsgraad!
Well done folks and very well shot. Done this with my wife packed up with camping gear in July this year on the norden expedition almost by accident. Quite a shock! Bloody awesome 👌
Cheers Tom! Those Nordens look great -how are you finding it? Can imagine it was quite a shock if you weren't expecting it lol 😁
Here's the whole playlist of our UK and Ireland Tour:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=zj2rGD72oGcIYTcF
Just found your video by accident. I really enjoyed it. I spend most my time with the wife in Austria and we talk often of doing a UK trip. You two have inspired us.
Hi Gary, Austria is a beautiful country! And the people are lots of fun! 😊
We had a great time touring the UK and wondered why we hadn’t done it sooner 😊 here’s the full playlist of the tour in case you want to watch them in order. All routes can be found in the comment section:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=ofqkomSYZO2DoeY0
Good riding skills there, 2 up and little drama! I've seen a few vids of people going up the Hardknott and that's the most complete and best edited. 👍 Loving this series - thank you. ( edit - Credit to Emily for taking that with such good humour as well!)
Thanks very much! Yeah went really smooth really (other than the bumps lol). Appreciate your words, haven't really had time to see what else is out there about this pass but great to hear you liked it! 😎👍
This is easy on a motorbike.
A bunch of us toured the Lake District back in 1963 and did Hardknott followed by Wrynose Pass in the same day, on pedal bikes!
Memorable rides.
Yeah it’s not too difficult-especially with a clear run 😎👍🏻. Pedal bikes is some accomplishment-well done! 😎🙌🏻
Full playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=t5DkNwxsSujM5UtM
Pedal bikes! that was easy, we did it on roller skates and in the rain!!😅
It's a great road with plenty of challenges this video really shows the technical side of the pass, thanks.
Thanks, yeah we agree it’s certainly does have challenging sections. Glad you enjoyed the video 😎👍🏻
I did all the passes both on my old CB900 Custom and my ZZR1100. After bragging to my boss about 10 days later he replied that's great, your going up there to recover a landrover😂. Now that's no laughing matter! Great video, respect for the camera work and the 2 up effort👍🏻
Haha nice one! That’s a tricky section of road to recover a vehicle 👍🏻. Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the video 😊.
Here’s the full playlist of all the videos of the UK and Ireland:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=DCjNeQIOhFQ60Lgf
What a beautiful place that road had me on the edge of my seat 🙏🙏
Yeah truly spectacular the Lake District 😊. Had us on the edge of our seat to 😁 Thanks for watching
Having ridden the major alpine passes, I rate Hardknott as definitely the most challenging at 33% in places. Rode it in the 70’s with a Kawasaki Mach III H1, struggling to keep the front wheel down (power band like a light switch, on or off) then front drum brake fading on the way down, and in the 80’s on a BMW R100RS in the wet, at night. The fixed headlight in the fairing made the hairpins terrifying, turning into the darkness.
Fun facts: the Eskdale Green garage owner told me that (in the early 80’s) the record was 22 clutch burn outs in one Bank holiday weekend. An articulated lorry had to be recovered after the driver abandoned it, part way up and two old ladies went off near the top in a Citroen 2CV, finishing in the valley below, car still upright, surviving with minor cuts and bruises.
Yeah it can be a really challenging section of road. That does sound like nightmare in the dark 😁
22 in day! Can imagine that stretch of road would finish off a lot of clutches if they had to stop half way up.
If only there would have been dashcams in that Citroen! 😆 -glad to hear they were okay!
charming, old school couple and great camera work :)
Re the Porsche..... Yep, did that! Le Mans Motorsport inspired limited edition, wide, ultra low, ultra firm, turbocharged.... - Dont recall any grounding (picking the lines all the way) however with some traffic I often found I had to stop on some 1:3 hairpins going up to allow someone easy passage on the way down. With a tall first gear and low power below 3000 rpm and off boost, plus LSD and huge tyres not wanting to break traction, the clutch took a bit of a beating! - It was hard work.
Another time I did it in a Touring Car engined 306 GTi-6 when the pass was deserted, playing my favourite Rock and Rock Ballads at high volume and it was an utter sensation all the way. Even with the LSD the tyres span freely on the steep hairpins so it never bogged or challenged the clutch....just the brakes :)
Mountain biked from Ambleside into Wrynose Pass, pushing too far as always and found myself running out of daylight (with no lights) -found a couple of dry wallers doing some repairs, and indesperation asked if what looked a trail next to them went over the fell in direction of Ambleside, by way of a short cut. They nodded, and in desperation took them at their word....hmmmm. As the, what was by now a sheep track approached the summit (I had been pushing the bike most of the way up as so sleep and loose) and I looked forward to the well earned coast down the other side...the track turned into a boulder trail, scree and 1:2 sections. I was tired and it was getting dark, so hopped back on whenever I dare. Each time, with any marginal braking, the backwheel tried to go over the top!
It was a verrrry long tiring ride out and back via the pass and mountain trail from / to Ambleside where my car awaited.
Those were the days ...mmmmmmmmmm .. now arthritic hips and painful weak muscles leaves me struggling on the flat, walking.
Wow that’s some history you have with that pass!! Always sketchy when running out of daylight in the mountains 🙈. Never driven a sports car so wondered what it would be like -good to hear there’s no scratching underneath but I guess you knew what line to take. 😎🙌🏻
Great ride ,thanks again for taking us along . As a non biker I really don't think I'd enjoy taking my car that way so it's great to see it with you 👍
Hi Steve, it’s really encouraging to hear that yourself as a none biker enjoy the videos as we hope they are useful to everyone 😊.
We were thinking so many times we would hate to bring the car over these passes as it’s so narrow and looks like it would scrape the underneath…..the car hanging off the edge was the last convincing we needed lol 🤣
The wife and I have been doing this route for over 50 years, the first time we were just teenage sweethearts. There again in a few days for two weeks. We have met every kind of driver during our visits from the young and inexperienced to the old and over comfident. One woman got so scared she got her husband to get out and check how close she was to the edge then locked the doors and refused to move. We were there for nearly an hour with cars queing in both directions. we did eventually manage to get past her and the cars behind. The roman fort on the down side couldnt be seen until some years ago when the council cut the bracken back. Now the kids are all grown up we go at the end of the year to avoid the crowds. It is a trip worth doing the scenery is stunning from both Wrynose and Hardknot just remember to stay calm, always give way to vehicles coming up the pass and give motorcycles right of way in either direction so they dont have to stop.
Hi It’s incredible to think that you and your wife have been making this journey for over 50 years-what amazing memories you must have together from your first trip as teenagers to now. Sounds like you’ve seen all kinds of situations on those roads! That experience with the lady refusing to move must have been quite the scene. I couldn’t agree more about staying calm and giving way -it makes all the difference for everyone on those tight bends. Hope you both have another wonderful trip coming up and that the scenery is as breath-taking as ever! Thanks for watching, here's the full playlist of our UK tour, we are sure you are familiar with most of these roads 😎👍
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=9EYakFtvJfnSUefi
Excellent video. Brings back memories of the time when we fell off "backwards" 2 up on a 250 Honda after negotiating one of those "tricky bends." No damage done apart from bruised ego! The memory of my girlfriend at the time not being best pleased still lives with me; still, she married me soon after, so it couldn't have been all bad!😂😂😂
Thanks! Fell backwards!!! 😮 -we actually said that to each other that at times it felt so steep that a heavy throttle might flip us over lol. Bad at the time but funny memories to look back on -a good early on relationship test 😉. We had a similar thing on one of our first dates when the rear tire of the SV1000s blew out on the motorway -that ended well (but no idea how lol)
I've ridden it once, solo, on an F650GS Dakar - kudos for doing it 2Up on a heavy bike!
I rode it with a neighbour who was on a 660 CCM Supermoto bike, never seen anyone ride a bike like it - he had time to stop and smoke a cigarette at the top before I caught him!
Cheers Jimbo, sound like he’s a pro! On a good run can get some good momentum….but if there’s traffic coming down that’s where the problems start 🙈.
Here’s the full playlist : ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=SKjrW7kRhQnY-ngL
I came upon your vid, purely by chance. I know the road well and remember driving up the Hardknot in the 70’s in a 40bhp Triumph Herald car. First gear all the way, do not hesitate, or slow down and hope you don’t meet anyone coming the other way!! I have also driven up it in a modern MK8 Golf GTD with automatic box and sadly, to the car, it was just another hill. At least I had time to concentrate on the road, rather than the labouring engine.!!
I very much enjoyed your vid.
Best Wishes Roy W Cheshire.
Hi Roy, so glad to hear you enjoyed the video and thanks for dropping a comment. Sounds like you just had to go for it in the Herald! Glad you had a more relaxed experience in the Golf -or maybe too resided 😁.
If you enjoyed this video then perhaps you will also enjoy the entire UK and Ireland playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=A0RfhrV7VB5fW4HV
with all the problem in the uk watching your video make me well up its our country... the gov cant alter that lovely part of the world .great vid and music.
Ahh thank you so much! We really wanted to showcase the UK and Ireland to show the world the beautiful locations to be discovered. Here’s the full playlist which we hope you enjoy just as much 😊
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=SKjrW7kRhQnY-ngL
I drove this 3 up in a Mini Clubman in 1984. No problem though a lot of gear changing! We also did Hardknott pass in our Scout Transit vans and they had no trouble either. Admittedly 40 years ago the tarmac was probably much better condition.
Yeah I think the only issue is if you meet oncoming traffic -apparently a local mechanic used to be constantly changing clutches 😁
Accidentally dud the hardknott 15 years ago in a jag xkr. It was ‘interesting’ , particularly the hairpins where the bonnet meant you didn’t know which way the road went. Bike looks a much better option! Great video, nice ride 👍🏻.
Nightmare!! 🤣 Actually didn't think about the bonnet blocking what you could see -adds another level of difficulty, hopefully it ended well 😊. Yeah lots of visibility on the bike but need a steady footing if you stop . Thanks for watching and nice to hear you enjoyed it.
Nice ride you two, brave pillion, smiling husband, great scenery, humour, well presented all-round, cheers. 👍
Thanks Paul! Glad you enjoyed the video. Yeah a lot of trust and bravery to do this one as a pillion 😊 We had such a good day riding through the Lake District! 😎👍🏻
I mean, what a place eh!! I've never ridden over Hardknott Pass but when I'm feeling brave I'd love to! The drone shots of the pass were spectacular too! ❤
Hi, yeah it's an awesome piece of road road and it's funny to think that roads like this will probably never be built again - fortunately it's not going anywhere 😊
In my mad younger days, I rode the Wrynose and Hardknott passes on a Kawasaki Z200 starting from Preston.
Well done Sean , respect for your riding abilities with Emily on the rear .Did it solo last time on a 660 tiger . Met lots of traffic so glad I didn't take my gsxr !
Thanks John, we ride everywhere two up so both are well practiced 😎👍🏻
That 660 tiger must be a nice bike to ride 👍🏻 -yeah the GSXR might not be the most suitable lol 😆
having cycled this, I had to drive it after. it's an exhilarating journey
That’s a tough one to cycle! -well done 😎🙌🏻
Well done great riding especially 2 up, I've only been over the pass once on my DRZ400 and that was hard enough👍🏍️
Hi Derek. Thanks very much -this was a fun road to ride 😊
I could see by your face you were loving every second of it, it’s just Awesome I haven’t come across a pass in the uk that even come close to how technical it is
Haha yeah it was fun indeed! Might have been laughing at how mad this road was 😆 it really has a lot going on -narrow, bumpy and oh so steep!
The pass in roman times was actually a main route for them with under floor heating fantastic visit the sea town was nice to
Fascinating! We had ridden past this on the past and not even noticed it! 👍🏻
Here’s the full playlist : ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=SKjrW7kRhQnY-ngL
Great video lovely countryside, you can breathe more easily now you got to the top ,🏴
Thanks very much Martin! Yeah the countryside in this area was spectacular and felt very much home. Haha actually we did this pass twice in order to get the Drone footage and the onboard shots 😁
Fairplay doing it 2 up. Good riding sean 👍 enjoying this whole series
Thanks Andrew! Great to hear you have enjoyed the whole series 😎👍
Hats off to you both, that bend at 4:20 was a nightmare in a car last time I did it, let alone with two of you on a bike 🙂
Thanks Marcus, good job getting the car over there too! I would prefer taking the bike . Looks like the clutch wouldn’t like that hill start in a car. Thanks for watching. 👍🏻
This is where I came off my bike last year - nightmare corner with significant camber
Great riding guy's. You had good luck on your side with the lack of vehicle's coming up in the opposite direction . 😀👍👍👍
Cheers Bobby, yeah we did it wasn’t so busy -ended up riding it twice to get the drone and onboard footage 😁
I rode it once - scared the living s~~t out of me. Had I known what it was like, I would never have attempted it. The fact you rode it two-up, I take my hat off to you!
Yeah it can be intimidating at times 🙈. Thanks Bryan.
Here’s the full playlist of the UK and Ireland tour: ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=RmDWQa4jZ7fwB-TS
Hardknott sure is a challenge - surface looked pretty awful and some really steep hairpins on the way up and down. You navigated it with ease. Well done.
Hi Brian, yeah it was really bumpy and distorted which doesn’t help when riding slow -speed was defiantly a help 😁. Thanks very much and thanks for watching 👍🏻
Well done especially 2 up👍. 1st gear is the only way up those tight hairpins. Great vid guys.
Thanks Chris, yeah 1st gear is nice and long so no worries there 😊. Glad you liked the video 😎👍🏻
Well ridden Sean, the big GS two up and loaded with luggage is a real test of riding skill on these tiny roads, you rode it like an old pro, lol. It's on roads like this the mighty torque of the GS really proves its worth, I bet Shadow was giggling inside, lol. The mistake I've seen others make is to touch the front brake on the way down on the really sharp bends, a recipe for disaster. I had to stop once because a guy coming the other way came off mid bend luckily I was going up and was able to turn the engine off put in on the side stand and ensure the bike was in first gear so it didn't roll back down. Had to be very careful with the throttle when pulling away once we got the other guy going, it would have been easy to flip over backwards with too much gas, lol. Listening to the wife is often a wise choice in my experience, lol.
Haha thanks!!! -although it would certainly get more views if we had come off 🤣
The big GS definitely makes these tight roads a bit more manageable, and you're spot on about the torque-it's a real lifesaver in those tricky situations.
That’s a nightmare having to stop and park up midway so well done helping out without falling yourself!
Haha yeah it does feel like that’s it so steep.
And yes, listening to the wife is definitely the best advice, haha!
Thanks again for watching and sharing your experiences 😎👍🏻
Nice video guys...great scenery and a fab but tricky road, especially 2 up! Nice filming 🎥. Cheers Steve
Thanks Stephen, it's a really beautiful part of the UK for sure and lots of fun 😎 Thanks for watching
Once met a cavalcade of 4*4s with horseboxes on this pass. Bloody nightmare. The Burgman 400 never missed a beat.
Now that is a Hardknott Nightmare! Glad to hear you made it 😎👍
I love that pass your film brings me back there 😌
It’s a good one for sure 😎 here’s the full playlist : ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=ofqkomSYZO2DoeY0
oh wow that is crazy road but WOW something else
Yeah it's a special one indeed 😊👍
I did it the first week I passed my rest on a Harley springer and a pillion and camping kit
Yeah it’s not that difficult really, just a few crazy drivers can make it dodgy at times.
@ great video thanks for cheering me up
You’re welcome here’s the full playlist 😎🙌🏻
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=DBUkrOZvRtdN7mmE
Great video guys. Beautiful area to drive through ❤
Thanks very much, yeah a spectacular landscape and a joy to ride 😊
Another hard ride but well done ,when you see the cracking drone view the road could have been as straight as an arrow ,no doubt back in the day it would have been cut out on the easier route.
Amazing scenery again keep safe 👍
Thanks very much! The Drone really gives a good impression of the area. Yeah good point - guess it was easier back them to go around stuff that blow it up or carve through it. Thanks for watching 😊👍
Thanks again Sean and Emily for a wonderful video of your journey over the hills and especially the amazing drone shots.That crowd of people waving at you, it was as if they knew you were coming haha....thanks again guys, stay safe. 🙏👍👍. like 77.
Cheers Davie! This area was spectacular and such a fun ride. Haha that’s exactly how it felt 😁 -like we had hired a group of extras to cheer us on 🤣
Thanks for watching!
Hardknott and Wrynose goes hand in hand. But you are 100% spot on for the Lakes. When I was a bairn yey high I've spent many days in a leaky caravan* there hiding from the rain. (If it didn't rain it wouldn't be called the lakes now would it.) But I've since gained a love for the place and visited many times on the bike. Unfortunately, I currently live down near Stonehenge so getting up there is more difficult for me these days.
Glad you enjoyed the lakes, though (Assuming you enjoy Kendal and your route down to Yorkshire). Still is my favourite part of the UK.
As for Yorkshire, I spent a few years around that neck of woods for Uni, and playing aggressive camping with my job. Lovely place. Look forward to seeing what you think of it.
*Edited to say leaky caravan, not a campervan.
It’s great to hear you have such fond memories with the Lakes -reminds me of childhood holidays in the caravan too 😊 The rain definitely keeps the area green and good to top up the lakes!
I can totally see how getting up there from down near Stonehenge would be a bit of a trek as we started our tour in that area, but we hope you still get the chance to visit whenever you can! The route down to Yorkshire was amazing, and we’re really looking forward to sharing that part of the journey.
Thanks again for watching, and we appreciate your thoughts!
😎👍🏻
Nice video and good quality stuff. Done the Hardnott a few times over the years on assorted bikes both solo and 2 up with the missus. Trickiest one was opposite direction to the video 2 up with luggage on a ZX636B1H ..... it was like carrying the wife like a little blonde rucksack with both our weight through the wrists onto the clip ons. Very little steering lock didnt help or the car on 3 wheels wheelspinning on one of the hairpins trying to get up the hill as we were descending
Thanks very much! We appreciate your encouraging feedback 😎👍 Can imagine on a super sports it's not much fun! Downhill everything will be on the wrists. I bet that road has taken many a mile of peoples clutches lol 😆
Been over the Pass four times, all while driving my Jaguar sports car fitted with hand controls. Once was as part of the Jaguar XK club, where we had thirty members doing a weekend of Lakeland driving and navigation, Also took a group of disabled drivers over there too, all loved the experience of challenging themselves and their driving abilities. Challenging? Yes. Dangerous? It’s no worse than any other road, apply caution when needed.
Hey Steve, sounds like a fantastic experience and always fun driving with a group of friends. The Jaguar XK is a lovely car indeed and that's great you can convert them to hand controls 😎👍.
Clearly this is not like any other road (there is literally a car hanging off the edge of the road lol) and as you say yourself your group went there to challenge themselves and their driving abilities hence it's not like any other road and anyone that rides or drives this stretch of road can feel proud of themselves.
Glad you had a great time exploring the lake District and we wish you many more great drives 😎👍
Love it, pure magic. Thank you.
Thanks very much! We had a great time riding through the Lakes 😎
Here's the full playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=hehDelbjKBz77Cas
I think the GS telelever deifinitely helps on the way down, especially on that horrible hairpin. Good riding that well done 👍
Yeah it handles well that bike -we trust it 😊👍Thanks!
great ride on hardknott ,2 up not easy,
Thanks Colin, was a fun ride for us both 😊
Credit to Emily for some fantastic Drone footage, another fantastic route
Hi takes your breath away in places
Great drone work
Travel safe guys
Yeah it really does!! Have to remember to focus on the riding at times 🤣
Wow, great ride and perfect drone shots. This one is not for everyone. I guess I would enjoy riding our sidecar on this track. Will be a hard working ride.😎👍
Hi Ruud, this was a fun ride and spectacular scenery . Yeah think you would enjoy this one and it’s one where you earn your dinner 😊.
Out of interest (as we have no experience with sidecars) is it possible for a sidecar to tip over with the camber of steep roads 🤔
@@SeanandEmily Hi, no I don't think so. As my sidecar is rather low and wide and also stans on car tyres, which makes it very stable. I have done the Stelvio and Timmelsjoch easily. But the Hardknott Pass is very narrow, so that will be a greater challenge.
That’s great! I think I got the idea that they did because of the sidecar racers -those guys are crazy!!
The Stelvio is a great test so must have been a great ride, thanks 😎👍🏻
Got my heart rate rising just watching this! I've driven this road many times but only dared take me bikes over it on a few occasions and there is one corner which scares me every time (09:18) always worried I'm gonna drop it lol. Nice vid, good memories 👍
Hi, yeah that first accent is pretty steep and that's a nasty corner for sure 😆. Thanks for your comment and glad to hear you enjoyed it. Here's the full playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=S1B_-fw3BIgU_9DE
Wow 🤩 What a crazy road, but so wonderful 🙌
Yeah it’s more crazy than we expected! Also we had to do it twice to get the both the drone and onboard footage 😁
First time on the Hardknott some 14 years ago, myself, a friend and our wives went away for a weekend in the Lakes and rode from our homes in Nottinghamshire. I planned the route and completely miscalculated the amount of time it would take. I had a BMW K1300S and my pal, a Ducati Monster 1100. Long story short, I had a dark visor and forgot to pack a clear one and we arrived at the start of Hardknott at around 10 in the evening. Honestly struggled to see a bloody thing and had no real idea for what was lying ahead. We're approaching the top, it's pitch black, windy and drizzling, so the roads were soaking. I had to ride with my visor open and with the lights on the BMW set to high beam. This still didn't offer much time to react to some of the corners and we could faintly see some sheer drops to the side. It was cold, but I was sweating with the amount of concentration needed to keep the bike upright. Fortunately, my wife had total faith in me negotiating the road, so she was calm and very oddly, quite enjoying it. We made it to the other side and I stopped to make sure everyone was ok, but found my pals wife in genuine floods of tears. She really believed this would be her last moments on earth and hated every minute. Can't say I enjoyed it too much, but did find the challenge an interesting one. It was planned to take Hardknott on the route home at the end of the weekend, however my pals wife had other plans and said she would never do anything like it again. Times a healer though and we did all get over and into the Picos mountains a year later. The big BM's, two up and loaded with luggage aren't ideal for such a road, but it's satisfying to know that we'd completed it under those conditions and on those bikes. Cheers
What an incredible story! The Hardknott Pass is challenging enough in daylight and dry conditions, so tackling it at night, in the rain, and with a dark visor is a whole new level of adventure . I can only imagine the tension of navigating those hairpins with sheer drops in pitch black-kudos to you for keeping it together.
@@SeanandEmily Yes, great fun actually and a day that is deeply routed in whatever we've got left of our memory banks. Incidentally, I'm currently sitting in a leg frame with a broken leg following a motorcycle vs pot hole incident on a roundabout in the UK. So, my wife says that if Emily wants a break and Sean needs a pillion, you only need to say!
So sorry to hear about your leg! and we wish you a speedy recovery over winter 😎💪 -those pot holes are ridiculous now, especially on roundabouts. Haha thanks will keep that in mind 😁.
If you need another series to pass the time here's one of our favorite trips:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0wBDli8y7IjlY2Q4MBPnA0u.html&si=G1tiwXtnDh_F5o2A
Rode this on. Kawasaki KH250 back in the summer of 1976, following my Mum & Dad in their Hillman Avenger.
I really don’t know what all the fuss is about and how you’ve managed to hand a UA-cam video on a single road in the north of England (damn nearly Scotland…)
I guess I’ll have to go back to watching cat videos….
Thank you for taking the time to share your story and we are glad it brought back nice memories of you mum and dad (just googled that car and it looks awesome!) but sure if you can’t appreciate the video and the time and effort that goes into making them please do go back to the cat videos.
I wonder if anyone has done that pass on a goldwing don’t think I’d fancy taking mine up there, good riding 🏴👍
Not sure …you could be the first 😉
Would be a tragedy to drop a goldwing on that road! although the power you must have it would fly up those inclines 😎👍🏻
Thanks 😊
Ah. I remember studying the Battle of Nobbly Ridge at school!
🤪
Haha did we go to the same school? 🤣
Came off my kwak 1000sx last year on here. I would like to try it again but on a much lighter bike. Thanks for sharing
Hi, sorry to hear that! It’s a nasty bit of road at times 🫣 -sure it will go better next time 💪🏻
Thanks for watching this episode and the Playlist for the UK/Ireland is nearly complete 😎👍🏻
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=1AGQHm-reg6raOKj
I taught my partner to ride a motorcycle a few years ago she was 57 at the time we toured the lake district and Scotland for three weeks she rode with her L plates up hardknott with me following
Nice one
Ey up
Rode those Passes last week (25 September 2024) plus some others as I mentioned in your previous video. A friend of mine who’s from that part of the Lake District informs me the un-named road or area between Eskdale and Ulpha is called Birkerthwaite Fell
Loving the videos
Hey, great rides aren’t they? 😎👍🏻
Ahhh really! Thanks for the info …..just as well we didn’t know as there’s no way we would have pronounced that right and would have been bombarded with ‘you didn’t pronounce that right’ comments 🤣🤣
Great to hear you’re loving the Videos-here’s the entire playlist so far:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=vCs6dYNgvgy9_lHL
Rode it two up an an early Honda VFR750 many years ago.
Nice! Heard only good things about those VFR’s 😎👍🏻
Here’s other videos you might have ridden:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0xN6hpboQjhpn9x4nhoGLkx.html&si=AcPbWE_M7kHoBDZK
First video I have seen and really enjoyed watching. I have always fancied riding I bike ,but unfortunately due to ill health am unable. Thanks
Hi Gareth, welcome to the channel and glad you hear you enjoyed the video. Sorry to hear about your ill health and hope to take you along for many more rides. Here’s the full UK and Ireland Playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=5V-84pKmiI-I41lE
You made that look easy, I did it as a newish rider and I've never been back😂
Thanks Gary! It’s a tough one indeed and probably a baptism of fire for a new rider 😆. We actually had to go back and do it twice to get the drone shots lol
It’s a Hardknott Life, great ride non stop, I was getting range anxiety
Haha the range anxiety kicked in after the mad steep road anxiety left 🤣🤣
Went over it on my KR1s at about 2 in the morning, great road.
That’s one way to guarantee no traffic 😉.
Wooo hoo here we go 😅
Hold on tight 😉
I recently drove over Hardknot at 4am, so pitch black, no other vehicles and somewhat surprising hundreds of sheep resting on the tarmac itself. I never knew they did that at night. Also saw a pair of badgers nearer Wastwater that night.
The sheep lie on the tarmac because its warm and they are reluctant to move for anything. I live near the pass and travel over Birker fell each day for work,,,,love it!
That’s just what you need a load of sheep on the road 🙈 I wonder why they do that. That’s great you saw the badgers they are quite elusive creatures.
Full series: ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=GMuX4wwsNhgrMV8c
Yes it was a fort, a Roman fort. It's not a great biking road but got to be done, your very brave two up with luggage and that way is more difficult. Last time I met a motorhome on the hairpin, scary...especially in the Summer holidays.
PS. Get a Triboseat cover, makes all the difference for a pillion.
Thanks Ian, the Romans were sure busy up north. Yeah it’s one to tick off for sure but the ride through the valley is nice, feels really remote. Yeah that’s not fun! Especially when you’ve picked your line and you get blocked 😳.
Thanks for the tip, will have to check them out 😎👍🏻
Great footage and drone filming. Any motorcyclist should be about to ride this pass solo or 2 up. I sure it was smother some 45 years ago when I first did it on a 500 two up with camping gear.
Thanks very much! Yeah no problems riding this road although could be a bit daunting for the inexperienced. It's super rough -especially on the steep bits - speed is for sure a friend when riding up this one. 😎👍
Drove across it this year. Was a bit nuts but fun
Hi Neil, that sums it up well! 😁👍
Great video, filming just doesn’t give it justice and you don’t get how steep it is. Yeah good advice not doing it in the summer too, I never understand how camper vans think it’s a good idea to try single track roads like that….keep them for bikes😉🤣
Thanks very much! We actually had to ride it twice to get both the onboard shots and the drone footage 😆. Can imagine it's a nightmare in the peak times and yeah those camper vans sure make life difficult for themselves at times - although i wonder how many that do these roads are rentals. Haha yeah for sure 🤣
Rode up it on my mountain bike. No problem for the fit and active.
Well done Aiden 👏🏻👏🏻
Great video again guys, although I'm sure Shaun that you were riding the Hardknott solo as I doubt Emily's weight would contibute to making it harder in comparison to your luggage. The jury is still out on who tho' had it harder, Emily 'working' on the back or you Shaun 'hearing' about it 🙈🙊🙉😉🤣. Ride safe 🤗
Emily is a great pillion for sure 😊 Hahah hopefully a verdict will be decided soon 🤣
Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for your comment
mate well done 👍 we dont have roads that extreme in AUS fortunatly /Unfortunatly riding in british weather on those roads with a 1250 GS and a pillion , awesome lol , what was the comments from EM of camera though lol hehehe
Cheers mate! Looking forwards to riding Australia (maybe next year 😉) haha think everything was said on camera lol although the concentration on the second run was even more impressive as Em was flying the drone from the pillion seat! 😆
Drove a lowered MX5 over there....have covered that road hundreds of times on 2 wheels and 4.
Nice one Scott 👏🏻
Here’s the full playlist : ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=SKjrW7kRhQnY-ngL
My first trip over there was on our 1250gsa, we were behind a campervan that kept stopping in the bends so we kept losing momentum. We’d just come back from a camping trip so both panniers and the top box were full, we also had the tent and all the camping gear loaded up ontop of the panniers ( basically bike was massively overloaded lol). It was extremely sketchy!!
The plan was to ride it and then back over again, once we’d got over the first time my wife said, absolutely no way, find another way around
That sounds rough!! There’s nothing worse than people stopping just at the wrong point 🤪. Glad to hear you made it up 😎👍🏻. Haha fair enough, it must feel a bit sketchy for the pillion on this one -we ended up doing it a couple of times to get the drone footage 😁
@@SeanandEmily hahaha you’re braver than we were, a sudden stop half way up a steep hairpin had me thinking we were going down the hill lol.
Another good video, glad to see it’s going so well for you
Thanks, it’s been a fantastic tour of the UK and Ireland 😊
Absolutely awesome
Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it 😎👍
Out of 60+ bikes over the years the noden is best so far 👌
Wow that's made a great impression on you - quite a testimony as you've had so many bikes!!
I cycled up that earlier this year, that was easy compared to the descent, first time I’ve had brakes smoke and fade on a bicycle, proper scary! All weights on the front wheel
That must have been a hard slog to the top! Well done! We did it a few times to record it with the drone and can see why it was hard on the brakes going downhill (i recently took my cycle for a quick spin and forgot the difference of braking power lol)
@@SeanandEmily can’t remember the stats off Strava but it’s one of the most challenging rides out there, 80% of cyclists fail, I took my time at dawn, the scary thing was when I looked at my times on Strava I was way off! Pro cyclists will do that for breakfast!
I’m a motorcyclist as well, not sure if I’d attempt it two up and I’m not normally cautious!
You should be proud of that 😎👍🏻 those pro athletes are incredible-almost superhuman 😁
I think wide bars make it alot easier, I did it on a vfr with clip ons lol, wasnt awful but my rear abs was kicking in constantly on the way down and that was in the dry
Yeah, I borrowed a S1000RR and had forgotten what i's like not to have wide handlebars 😆
This summer we felt the lure and went as a group of six to take on the challenge of hardknot pass , we were a mixed group of bike and ages from 600 to 1200 ccs
We was all disappointed !
It’s not particularly easy but it’s not what it’s made out to be !
And apparently until she died once a week a woman who lived locally used to ride the pass once a week on a moped !
The actual steep section is very short but overall the whole ride through the valley is really nice. Could be tricky in parts but overall no problems. As with anything if you do something often enough you no longer have to think about it 😎👍
I only live about 75 minutes away so I've done it in most cars I've owned and most bikes I've owned. Latest was earlier this year going west to east which is definitely the harder way. Most difficult one was in a fully laden Hyundai i10 with a roofbox on. It struggled a bit did that one.
Nice one guys. Definitely keep it in 1st gear and, when I do Wrynose and Hardnot on my bmw r1250rs I stick it in rain mode as well. I'm of the opinion that if you can ride Hardnot both ways then you can ride any tarmac road in Europe. By the way, I've recently bought a Royal Enfield meteor 350 and, done both Wrynose and Hardnot both ways, the Enfield absolutely nailed them both 👍😊.
Hi Keith, yeah 1st gear is for sure a friend on this road 👍🏻. Friend of ours has the RS and loves it! -you don’t see so many of them on the road. Interesting you find Rain mode best, personally I like the sharp response of the throttle in Dynamic mode but great that that works for you.
Totally agree with you there, I don’t think we have encountered anything more technical in Europe -they tend to be a lot wider.
Congratulations on the new bike! Heard good thinks about the Meteor and the Hardknott is a great test for it 😎🙌🏻
I use the rain mode as it increases the traction control and gives a softer throttle response, a few years ago I had the 1200rs and, with everything on dynamic throttle response, I nearly shit myself as it just wanted to go! With the result that I stopped after the 1st hairpin and changed the settings 😆.
🤣🤣 that’s an experience that doesn’t need to be repeated lol -they sure do go!
I had a reminder of that on the GS off road training when I forgot one time to keep a couple of fingers on the clutch …had the same reaction 🤣
Loved it. Subbed 💜
Thanks for subbing!
I rode the hardknott pass in August on my Vespa
I couldn’t believe how steep it was in places, definitely wouldn’t want to take a car or van on there.
Yeah two wheels is the better option for sure! I wonder how many cars have scrapped the underbelly and or burnt out clutches if they had to stop half way 😝
Great video thank you!
You’re welcome! 😎🙌🏻
Here’s the full Playlist : ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=BuHs62CqOD7825Uw
Just did this the other week on my Tiger was alot of fun and the bumps on them tight corners do get tricky
Nice one! Nice bikes those tigers 😎👍 Yeah those bumps do take you by surprise lol 😊
In the late 60 s I worked for Cumberland county council we use to repair this road and we use to take Lorries up and over this road
Wow! Some skill required to drive lorries on such a small twisty road 😎👍🏻
Full uk and Ireland tour playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLl_mRzVHVQ0zUtFe7yIi6rO-2-k465D31.html&si=DCjNeQIOhFQ60Lgf