Riding a classic bike in the Isle of Man - interesting fact.

Honest answer? I aint got a clue o_O I never look. I just fill up cos theyre all about the same price.

But I'll get back to you with price later ;)
 
How do you know where to go fast or slow on the IOM ? My friend knows Cameron Donald. Apparently the first time Cameron raced, it was on the IOM. I am fairly experienced and I don't think I could ride there, other than very slowly. Cameron comes from Warburton, which is up in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne. A lot of the riders up there seem to have suicidal tendencies.
 
I was told by Dave Degens that “all you gotta do is memorise the slow bits, then go flat out everywhere else” !

Of course, this was before 200bhp+ bikes were a thing.

I’ve no idea how people get these modern missiles around there like they do. I don’t even like watching it on telly… spend half the time with my eyes shut !!

I think it was McPint who, talking about the mountain section, said something like “all you can see is green and grey, aim for the grey…”

I was gonna race a classic there, even built the bike, but the year before (whilst shaking the bike down on short circuits), John Lodder died there (a famously intelligent and ‘measured’ rider with decades of Manx experience) and my mate ended up in hospital (joking that the ward was like a war zone), it effected me, and Degens said “if you’ve ANY doubts in your head about crashing, don‘t even go, cos you will”.

So I chickened out. Probably one of the better decisions I’ve made !
 
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Fast Eddie said:
I was told by Dave Degens that “all you gotta do is memorise the slow bits, then go flat out everywhere else” !

Of course, this was before 200bhp+ bikes were a thing.

I’ve hit no idea how people get these modern missiles around there like they do. I don’t even like watching it on telly… spend half the time with my eyes shut !!

I think it was McPint who, talking about the mountain section, said something like “all you can see is green and grey, aim for the grey…”

I was gonna race a classic at there, even built the bike, but the year before (whilst shaking the bike down on short circuits), John Lodder died there (a famously intelligent and ‘measured’ rider with decades of Manx experience) and my mate ended up in hospital (joking that the ward was like a war zone), it effected me, and Degens said “if you’ve ANY doubts in your head about crashing, don‘t even go, cos you will”.

So I chickened out. Probably one of the best decisions I’ve made !
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I struggle to watch it on the box
I've never quite got over the Joey Dunlop video from years ago
Let alone what they do now!!!
 
I have ridden round most of the island during my 40 days of hollidays there. Its a very pretty place with outstanding views when up on the mountain. The atmosphere is magical . There is little point going very fast unless the roads are closed off to the public. Last time there we were cruising along at around 50 per when overtaken on a bend by a modern bike doing 60+ . He finished up wedged between a van and a flint wall on the wrong side of the road . I saw 2 mature racers killed in front of me , didn't see the other 8 faitalls that happened that week. Its a great place ,but not for the foolish, or the unlucky.
 
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With the speeds capable on modern bikes, it's amazing that they haven't shut down racing on street circuits.

I couldn't handle top speeds on a 125cc bike...
 
All the above is true of course, however, Racing aside, my point was that, if you live in or visit the IoM and ride/drive a classic vehicle, there isn't any ethanol in the fuel you buy here. ;)
 
Fast Eddie said:
I’ve no idea how people get these modern missiles around there like they do. I don’t even like watching it on telly… spend half the time with my eyes shut !!
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Watching helmet cam videos at speed is enough make you know that they are a different species - certainly not human :)

How they can lean into a corner with their helmet near a stone wall at high speed is hard to understand as is coming over a hump in a curve holding an airborne "wheel stand", landing on their rear wheel while leaning and the bike wobbling - wow!
 
last time I went, in 2009, we watched from behind a stone wall as the riders accelerated up a long gentle incline before clipping the blind apex right hander... probably 175+ mph... interesting...!
 

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