State of the roads....

[Stevie GooGs]

Adventure motorcycles sales are soaring for on road use.

This is part of the NC500 route, coming down from Bealach Na Ba
https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/240888685_10157825983511710_4557179429088528919_n.jpg
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[ThunderGuts]

Blimey! That's fallen apart fast. I've noticed a rapid deterioration in roads generally over the last few years. Seems to have accelerated.

Unfortunately, road surfaces are vulnerable to three things; water, freezing temperatures and heavy use. Usually the summer doesn't see much water, but we've had some seriously "winter style" periods which will accelerate things.

A bigger underlying issue is to do with historic funding; approx 30 years ago there was a large capital injection (in England at least, probably in Scotland, Wales and NI too) into the infrastructure, meaning lots and lots of roads got surfaced at the same time. This was also around the same time a lot of trunk roads were "detrunked" and fell into local authority ownership, so they got tarted up as part of the process. The materials used at the time (which were actually better than what is available now) typically had a design life of around 20-25 years before needing substantial maintenance (resurfacing etc..) but with surface dressing could last another 5-10 years on top of that. The problem is, we now have a massive proportion of the road infrastructure reaching a point where it needs significant investment for resurfacing, but we're in a time where that investment just isn't available. Ideally the infrastructure would be more spread out in terms of when maintenance is needed, but what was seen as "great" back then, has caused a massive problem now. As a result and combined with surges in 3rd party liability claims (tyres/wheels etc..), local authorities have become preoccupied with protecting their own interests with ineffectual short term repairs (cold-set blacktop, patching etc..) which is uneconomic further exacerbating the problem.

It's a mess, both literally and metaphorically. The solution; big capital investment. Likely to happen? Probably not.
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TG.

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[Prawny]

Looks like the inside wheel spinning on on front wheel drive vehicles coming up the hill. Ban cars going over there I reckon. Especially caravanners and motor homes.
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Yamaha Vity 125 (gone) Kawasaki ER6N(dead) 2022 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (nicked) 2003 DL1000 V Strom

[c_dug]

[stinkwheel]

[Prawny]

Yeah but they definitely still do, god knows why I hate driving on narrow roads, I’ve suggested bike touring in the highlands with my Mrs but she hates bikes and told me no in no uncertain terms.

We went up to Loch Ness a couple of years ago and it was horrible driving off the main routes, would have much preferred to be on something with 2 wheels and a tall seat, even if it had pedals.
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Yamaha Vity 125 (gone) Kawasaki ER6N(dead) 2022 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (nicked) 2003 DL1000 V Strom

[doggone]

[BigTim]

[ThunderGuts]

The sign doesn't prohibit any vehicles technically, but it certainly doesn't advise against motorhomes either though does it (or at least, not typical UK ones, as opposed to US stylee). Caravans, yes, "very large vehicles" - yes, but I wouldn't call a motorhome a "very large vehicle". I'd think a 7.5T horsebox or bigger is a very large vehicle.

I drove a 3.5T 22ft motorhome over there about 5 years ago; it was no drama. The road was big enough with all corners made easily, I passed vehicles coming the other way and didn't cause any problems. However, I can imagine someone who is nervous about such roads (especially if driving a hired vehicle they are unfamiliar with) finding it intimidating and therefore prone to make mistakes, but that's more about the driver than the vehicle.
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TG.

[doggone]

It's stupid how it has got to be such a big thing. There are two relatively easy hairpin bends the rest of it is single track stretches with ample passing places
The view back down is decent but not strikingly better than many passes in Scotland or the Lakes/Pennines for that matter

[ThunderGuts]

[thx1138]

[Stevie GooGs]

[Adame]

Thing that always puzzles me...

London... alpha city... capital of the world...
Marylebone... Mayfair... Ferraris... 5million flats

But have you seen the state of the roads??!
It’s like a surface of a moon, riding through craters, in most expensive areas in the UK mindblow

[MCN]