New for 2015

For those that like riding their bikes and walking too we are now offering 'Ride and Walk'.  You can either be escorted or take yourself with one of our maps and explore some of those places you can only see if you put in the effort!  For more information click on the link above.

Priority to the Right

If you are travelling to France or Europe and are not aware of this law that exists, take a look at the blog on our website Pyrenees Motorcycle Tours.  We have recently redesigned our site and now have a blog included there.

Priority to the Right

Mr PMT out of control on the TTR ......

Under clear blue skies, a great day in the woods with Keith and Christophe (GasGas 300's).  Local boy Christophe lead the way and I loved the way we ignored all signs saying 'no entry' '4x4's and moto's interdit'.  First part of the ride took us by a river where the banks had been partly washed away so you can imagine the path running along side was interesting!  Crashed a few times and ended up being towed out of the woods by Keith due to the clutch breaking up.  When I stripped it I found one of the original drive plates in aluminium had failed.  Steel replacements on order :)

Youtube clip of Phil out of control again .....

GasGas 300 - Keith and Christophe

Time for a breather

TT600R clutch strip

The offending partYoutube clip of Phil out of control again .....

More off road training on the TT600R

With a forecast for a dry day, off to the woods near Benejacq south of Pau with Keith and Graham.  Keith riding a GasGas300 and Graham on a TTR250, the woods proved to be very challenging as the going was wet, muddy and very slippery.  Keith has been doing this style of riding for many years and Graham and me are beginners, so looking for some good advice on how to get thought the day without falling off too many times.

TTR250  pilot Graham

Keith on his GasGas

Graham powering through the mud

'That was hard work!'

Keith waiting for us to catch up

Graham can't take any more

'What you should have done is take a run up'

Mr PMT made it this far

We dont know how much more we can take .....

Renault 4 on route to Morocco

On my way down from Rennes to Bordeaux I kept passing little groups of Renault 4 TL's.  Some were basic and scruffy and others looked like they had a lot of money spent on them.  When I got in conversation at a garage with one of the drivers she told me they were on their way to Morocco and over 1300 cars had entered this rally. The rally is the 4L Trophy which is a humanitarian rally that only students can join and only Renault 4 cars, the purpose is to drive from Paris then across to Morocco and provide children with school supplies.  This is the 17th event of the rally and if you are interested here is a link to Wikipedia giving more details.

Renault 4's refueled on the 4L Trophy rally

Renault 4 on the 4L Trophy rally

Honda 400 Four in Biarritz

This classic Honda 400 Four was hiding up an alleyway near to the seafront in Biarritz.  A sweet looking modified bike with Marzocchi forks, alloy rims, trick clocks and an exhaust system of unknown parentage as it's wrapped up in bandages!  Apparently it only had a production run of two years.

Honda 400 Four

Honda 400 Four

Post Morocco repairs and back into action

Three problems on returning from Morocco, no rear damping, leaking front fork and a crack in the rear sub frame.  The lack of rear damping was due to a hole worn in the hose that goes to the gas cylinder, it had worn where the bottom touches the oil tank.  Quite difficult to reposition due to lack of space to do anything.  Unable to find a hose on the internet or through the main dealer, I was recommended to take the whole assembly to Cueillens Racing who are suspension specialists, they renewed the hose, resealed and re-gassed it, all at a reasonable price. 

Yamaha TT600R on the operating table

Yamaha TT600R route of hose

Ohlins rear shock ready for action again

The left hand front fork had leaked ever since I bought the bike and the third time I re-sealed it I bought a seal kit and bushes for a Honda XR650R, as I found it uses the same forks and the replacement bushes were only available at a big cost through the dealer.  The seal kit was so easy to fit and was dismayed to find the fork leaking again on the eve of my departure to Morocco.  On stripping the fork down I found the cause to be my fault, I had fitted the double lip seal in up side down!

Yamaha TT600R front forks

Last on the list, the rear subframe, this was actually cracked when I bought the bike, where the airfilter box is suspended so nothing structural but now was a good time to sort it with the help of my friend Will Spray.

Yamaha TT600R subframe welded and ready

Back together again and ready for some factory testing :)

Yamaha TT600R about to come off the operating table

First and only fall of the day 

Obviously the camera lies as this slope is near vertical! LOL

Wasn't far from the top, only thing stopping the bike was the rider!