By Andrew English
Photography by Oli Tennant
I’ve long wanted to learn how to ride off road – on long forest trails, byways and green lanes – but access for motor vehicles to Britain’s green lanes is controversial and restricted.
The Dave Thorpe Honda Off Road Centre taster day is a way to get around these restrictions in an ethical manner. At £195, including the machine, fuel, protective clothing and lunch, it’s also something of a bargain. You don’t even need a motorcycle licence to take part.
Enduro riding
An early night might be a good idea however, to prepare for riding 12 miles of forestry track (trail or enduro riding), around the dirt-track circuit (motocross) and along a motorcycle obstacle course (trials riding).
David Thorpe is a three-time 500cc Motocross World Champion, which could be intimidating, but actually isn’t. This affable man and his team – chief instructor Stephen Sword and instructor Richard Dye – couldn’t be more welcoming or helpful.
There’s no talking down to pupils and lessons give you enough confidence to at least trundle along an unmade lane. Basically, you stand up, bend your elbows and prepare to absorb the bumps, although the long-travel suspension does most of the work. The Honda CRF250L helps you all the way – light and user-friendly it’s actually a road-going bike. But while it may be perfect for the daily commute it’s equally at home in the rough.
Path unknown
‘The taster course is for people who might have a fast road bike, but want to find out what off-road riding is all about,’ says Dave. Experienced riders are welcome and while Thorpe has a truckload of Honda machines, including CRF250L and X models (similar to the bike Bond rode around Istanbul in Skyfall), you can bring your own.
‘We’re trying to encourage people to ride the right way,’ he says. He works closely with the Legal Forest Riders, a group dedicated to responsible riding on forest tracks in Wales that does escorted riding days. ‘We’ll not have more than 15 people on a taster day, and we’re aiming to put 1000 bums on saddles this year.’
