Great video, my late wife Jan and I spent our last break away back in 2016 before she passed and we stayed at that Hotel and ate in the same pub. Good memories.
The point re 2005 where you said to Mrs Flyer "I don't really remember that" was like every conversation I've ever had with my wife regarding the past.
I'll share this around Andy. We have a massively vibrant biking scene here on the island, with many larger groups of riders who have meet-ups most nights of the week. Our Vintage and Classic Motor Cycle Club section is one of the most active in the country. For an island of 140k population, we have a disproportionately high number of bikers. Ryde bike night (usually Monday if weather permits) has an attendance of 150-220 bikes. If I'd known you were coming i could have shown you more good bits and tiny roads. You missed Yarmouth town altogether where we have a few great eateries. Give me a shout next time, bring a smaller bike and I'll show you the rest of the island. Very good video.
I've been devouring your reviews on old sports tourers & wincing everytime you refer to 'big old lumps', so you can imagine my joy seeing you on the Goldwing! Thanks for all your interesting content and for reminding us that we still haven't been to the Isle of Wight.
I really enjoyed this mini tour, living in the very east of Dorset, the Isle of Wight is on our doorstep, yet i`ve only ever been there twice. The first was on a day return in a car one October, my wife and i, and two friends, and the second was a couple of months ago when me and two friends went across on the hovercraft from Southsea (D Day museum?) to Ryde. The Island is lovely, and being on foot, we bussed everywhere which was enjoyable. We went to Newport, and then to Cowes where Cowes Week was in full flow. One thing i will always remember from our first trip was when we stopped at a Teashop / mini museum, somewhere in the middle where we ordered 4 cream teas. The Scones were enormous, we had 2each, a large pot of tea each, and the jam and cream were in what was small desert bowls, i thought the first two trays were for all 4 of us, but then they said the other two were just behind. We brought some of the scones home with us. I want to go over again on my Speed Twin with my wife, and will go from Lymington to Yarmouth, and do the Military road, it looks amazing. Great vid Mr & Mrs F, thanks for posting it.
Used to go to the IoW for summer hols as a kid. Stayed in Lake. Also went for my first biking holiday on my Ariel Leader in 1964. Those were the days, 4 gallons of petrol and change from a quid 🤣
Nice! I'm glad you both had a great trip! The second best day of my life was buying my black TR7, the best one was when I finally managed to sell it again! It was a looker though, if you were 100yds away 😁It burned through countless headlight motors, I had to put a new floor in it, it resembled the flintstones mobile, I ended up with a new door and a door skin on the other one, sills were done twice and the boot lid ended up having to be tied shut. I loved the thing, but just couldn't stop it rusting. The Dolly sprint was a much better car though 🤣
Andy, your so right about British seaside resorts. I was born & raised in the Scottish Riviera 😂 or as it was commonly known "doon a water" Dunoon in Argyllshire, which is also in a state of disrepair....the one good thing from COVID is after lock down was people looked more at the old British holiday hot-spots. Dunoon is either 1hr from Glasgow if going by ferry or 2hr ride via Loch Lomond & a road called The rest & be thankful & onto Loch Fyne side....winding roads & scenery on a nice day makes for a good wee ride. So many fantastic places on oor wee islands nation to explore & especially on two wheels.
Hi Andy, great video. My Sister lives in Bembridge and we came over from New Zealand last year and sat almost at the same table at the Crab and Lobster, also did a tour of the island back in the eighties on my Katana (when I still lived here) and I really love the place. Thanks for bringing those memories back. Maybe the Isle of Man next?
Isle of Wight is one of my most favourite places to escape to and I've only been the once! Just picturesque, relaxing and stunning. So cool to see you both enjoying the island, thanks for sharing it with us!
What a fantastic bit of escapism on a grey, wet and windy Tuesday in NI! The IoW looks beautiful, especially in that glorious weather. Thanks for bringing us along and taking the time to show us some of the sights. The Wing looks the absolute tool for two up, long distance touring. Looking forwarding to seeing the Euro Tour videos when they get published!
Thanks Ian - Yes the Goldwing is the best two up tourer I've ever had the good fortune to ride, there are other great bikes out there (BMW RT and GS of course, Kawasaki S1000 and others) but the Goldwing is the king of them all as far as I'm concerned when it comes to long distance two up riding in supreme comfort and luxury....the more I ride mine the more I love it!
The island is very close to where I live, but have only been across once, despite me loving it. Your lovely video makes me realise why I liked it so much, quieter, calmer and it's home to red squirrels.....which I didn't manage to see despite trying to !
Yes it's a wonderful step back to simpler times on the IOW - and yes, red squirrels a plenty - we've spotted them lots when walking the coastal paths there....
The Isle of Wight looks gorgeous! It has been said that time is the most valuable thing one can spend, but to that I would add that time spent making wonderful memories together is more than worth the "cost". As always, I very much enjoy your travels and commentary. Keep putting the great back in Great Britain and in all ways and for always, be well the both of you. SS in commiefornia, USA!
Great video. Just lovely. I too suffer from Honda Jazz drivers driving at 15mph and stopping for no apparent reason. You get a free tweed cap with every Jazz purchased! It’s not only Jazzes these days, loads of drivers seem to like to drive 10 to 20mph below the speed limit. I don’t know how they manage it!
Lovely to see the wing out … and I know you will really enjoy I O W ..enjoy and I’ll be watching this full vid after work… something to look forward to ⭐️
Great video brought back many memories of holidaying on the IOW, my inlaws lived there so we spent many summers on the island. Nice to see how the Gold Wing went on the island's roads, ill health has unfortunately stopped me from riding for a while but watching videos like yours is the next best thing.
Well well well. I used to stay in that hotel quite regularly in the mid 80’s when the Crab was a Whitbread owned pub and sold something special called Strong Country Ale. Beautiful island and some lovely roads if you don’t want to be anywhere in a rush. Try the Godshill Cider if it still exists. Lovely vid…brought back some memories. Cheers Andy.😊
I have lived here on the Island for the best part of 64 years, and I must say, you showed off some lovely parts of the place , so well done for that. I have ridden virtually every road on the Island over the years, and you found some of the better ones on your ride that's for sure. But we also have some really poor road surfaces , just like everywhere really, so it's not all smooth going, lol. Thank you for your positive review of our ""jewel of the south"", as a recent tv documentary series called it. The goldwing looks like the perfect tourer that it is, and sounded sweet as well too, made me change my mind about them a bit !! Carry on the great reviews on bikes etc., they are very much appreciated, cheers
Great video, my friend and I were there two weeks before you on our bikes. We went to the bike night at Poole then over to the Isle of Wight for a couple of nights camping
Brilliant video - it's spurred me on to visit friends who live on the Island. And Mrs Flyer - bl**dy hilarious - love your comments, you're an absolute natural!
Just catching up after a holiday, great Saturday morning watch TMF. I do like the Goldwing (and I’ve been a biker for over 40 years) love the sound of that engine which isn’t maybe everyone’s cup of tea. We’d like to have a few days on the Isle of Wight but probably over 900 mile round trip just to get to the ferry.
Well done to the both of you from an old biker watching you guys doing what me and my wife used to do was brilliant.Also the scenery was excellent and not to much traffic.Please keep your videos coming they are most appreciated and thank you.
A chine is a steep sided gorge, typically at the outlet of a small river in places with soft eroding cliffs. The Isle of Wight has been its own county for a long time now
Great vid Andy and Carole…..Had many happy childhood holidays on the Isle of Wight in the 70`s, with my mum and dad, Nan and grandad, we stayed at Whitecliff Bay caravan park, and could see the monument on the hill from the park ( which i saw in your vid and zoomed in!)…very happy days… Blackgang Chine too….went there loads…a trip down memory lane for sure, and great to see you and Mrs F having a great and loving time together on the the Wing, or any bike for that matter…Cheers, Andy B
I live in Hampshire and try and nip across every year with my wife for a few days on my Honda F6C. There are some cracking restaurants, serving some fabulous seafood, two of my favourites are ‘The Hut’ at Colwell Bay near Freshwater and ‘The Smoking Lobster’ on the Esplanades in Ventnor. Both are quite pricey, but you get what you pay for. Booking in advance is essential for both. The great thing is that it means we have to ride the fabulous Military Road a few times 👍 As you say, it is like stepping back in time………synchronise your watches to 1973 😀
I moved to the Isle of Wight 6 years ago from the Surrey edge of horrible SW London and live in Niton, near the start of the Military Road. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The island is made for bikers and open topped sports cars, with it's twisty country lanes, great road surfaces and stunning views and scenery. I own 2004 MG TF160 sports car, a Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 and a RE Classic 500 in battle green. The 500 is amazing to ride here. It's almost like it was built to be here and the attention it gets from people is quite overwhelming, pretty much all the time. I parked my bike next to a lovely new Ducati MultiStrada recently. No one gave that beautiful machine a second glance, they just swarmed around the 500 lol 🙂
Always enjoy your tour vlogs and watch them all, I never been to the IOW but having seen it from behind the bars of your " wing" I've added to the must visit list.
Glad to see you were "roughing it" at the Crab & Lobster😀. Looks a great location! Not using indicators not only a UK problem. Happens here in Oz too. Gee that flat six engine is smooth.
Instantly have to press that Like button whenever you manage to bring out the big piece - The Goldwing. I just love the sound of that 6 cylinder engine, and I know that you won't be popping out around the corner to just get a loaf of bread. However, I would love to see it being used a lot more.
Really enjoyed that video, its been many years since I used to sail from Portsmouth to the IoW with my dad for the weekends. Almost makes me home-sick watching you enjoy the old British pubs.
First time I’ve watched one of your tour vids. Personally around the 40min mark is just right for me. Though deciding what content to add / leave out can’t be easy. Cracking M/bike, scenery & food - what’s not to like? A thumbs up from me!!
I had a week on the IOW two weeks before you guys. It was the first time I had been on the bike too. I've been before in the car, but that was over 45 years ago. 😲 I think the ferry guys are pretty flexible for bikes, if they can get you on they will (I arrived early for both my pre-booked crossings) (on the return trip I was 10 minutes before the ferry was due to depart) Agreed it's a bit 'expensive' even a good B&B will cost £100 a night in July. The ferry is cheaper if you can travel in the week and at 'unpopular' hours. Culver Down and Brading Down (near Bembridge) are both stunning viewpoints. (You could have gone through Ventnor and followed the coast road to the Military Road, although there are road closures because of the landslips you described in the video)
I’ve been over twice in my life, once for a holiday as a kid in about 1966 (In my Dad’s Vauxhall Cresta!), and once for a day on a corporate do in about 2002. The only change seemed to be decimal currency.
Great to see my usual roads being rode the other way .Tony the caulkhead from down Cowes . Moved back here 8 years ago from Kent and wouldn’t go back , arrived with vfr1200 and soon swapped for a smaller bike now a triumph 660 sport which is ideal for the island roads . As you said its is a bit expensive, and us caulkheads keep away from the holiday resort in the Summer because prices double . We do have a dual carriage way in Newport it’s about 1/4 mile long , but you can only do the limit for about 400 metres😂😂, if you come back try the middle road from freshwater to Newport or Brighstone to Newport very bendy , lots of crest and very picturesque. Ps Compton bay where stopped is my favourite beach lots of surfing on the weekends. Great video as always, ps when or if you come back can you bring the sun again 😊👍👍
That was a fabulous mini-tour, really cool. The Wing looked in its element gobbling up the miles on the island! Coincidentally, I was born in Southampton but have lived in Durban, Johannesburg and now the Cape Winelands, most of my life so it was interesting seeing the Solent and part of the city once again! Take care, Andy and Carol and ride safe! 🏍️🍺👍🇬🇧🇿🇦
I suspect this was a much deserved short break for you both, thanks for sharing it with us and you probably got the two days of summer we’ve had thus far. Look forward to Carol on tour on her own bike sometime in the future.
Another fantastic video, some really nice shots of the island and the big Wing looked in its element on the old military road!! We took a Triumph Trophy SE a couple of years back, and noted exactly what you did about steep gravel car parks + 316kg bike plus pillion being a bit of a handful at times.Will be going back for sure, but maybe on a lighter bike next time! Already looking forward to your next big tour uploads, ride safe 🏍️💨
Andy, thank you. We'd been to the IoW just the week before you did, and my children- who normally have the attention span of a 10-minute CBeebies show- were spellbound revisiting the ferry, towns and scenery from your riding footage. You've hopefully inspired some young 'uns today. 🙂 The military road is the best on the island but there are other fun routes inland too. As you've commented, the lack of potholes and great road surfaces are brilliant. Not as much fun in an estate with a roof rack 😂 but still lots of fun. I would recommend the Garlic Farm for great food, though parking the Goldwing on their muddy car park might be a challenge. Many hotels and self-catering letting agents will give you a discount on your ferry thrown in.
A lovely gentle tour, well captured. I particularly like the end still pics. acting as a little summation. Thanks for all the info. should I get down that way. Excellent recommendations.
me and my late partner used to go to the Isle of Wight twice a year the a lovely friendly bike rally hosted by a well established mcc a nice b&b stay the second trip loved it for years loved it john
Lovely to see the isle of white, it’s been many years since I’ve been there. Is that where there’s a village called Cotten village which was very lovely little village. Good to see you both out on the Goldwing , beautiful views, you used to be able to catch a small hover craft years ago. I don’t know why some motorcyclists don’t like Goldwings , I think your bike is fab and if I was younger and had the money I would have one.😊
Great vid Andy, I live on the island and drive round it every day delivering bird food for my job, You had great weather for your ride and showed the island off nicely :)
Living on another and even smaller island, I love all the "oldywoldy" and step back in time comments. Along with the islanders are different 😂😂😂 Couldn't agree more, but that's the fun of island life. Come to Jersey 🇯🇪 next, there's a shandy waiting for you. 👍🏼
I would love to see Mrs. Flyer riding the Gold Wing, just see what she thinks now that she has her licence. As usual, brilliant video, have fun and ride safe.
I’m currently on a week trip from Alberta, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and back to Alberta. 4000km in 7 days on my new to me Indian Chieftain cruiser. To be honest I wish I’d brought the Triumph Trophy SE. you definitely made the right move with the goldwing… I decided to go with a cruiser and maybe second guessing my decision. Steering feels like wood, very noisy and vibrates like let’s not go there 🫤🫤🫤. We will see if it stays in the garage or maybe traded for a wing 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ decisions decisions 😁😁😁
Lovely video, like you I have many memories of the IOW from family holidays, although I have to admit the last time we visited a lot places seemed very run down which is a real shame, thanks again.
Like most of the British Seaside as I said, although I’ve seen much worse places in the Isle of Wight, which still has a certain charming quality about it.
@@TheMissendenFlyerOch, lived five years in the central belt of Scotland. The weather was what it was but what shocked me as a Swede was that people didn’t have clothes and boots, let alone gloves and hats for the weather. Once up a mountain in the rain I was happy as I could be, warm and toasty while my mate in his cotton socks and adidas trainers was miserable. Very strange.
Hi Andy, loved the video. I've watched the videos you have made when riding your Goldwing, in particular the problems you're having connecting to Android Auto. I recently bought a Honda NT1100 and initially had the same issues you have had. I have resolved the problem using a Hotpeak wireless adapter, cost £29 off Amazon works perfectly. Hope this helps keep producing the vids they are brilliant.
Such a great channel, a group of us rode from Devon to the Isle of Wight ferry from Lymington in May it bloody poured with rain all the way down certainly tested the Rukka clothing glad to say it works well, if you ever go back we went for meals in the pub you walked past call the Village inn really great place.
I also ride a 1800 Goldwing and I live on the Isle of Wight. It would had been nice to meet and say hello. If you ever come again, will you please let me know. Ian
We Love the Isle of Wight I first went with Mum and Dad back in the late 60s aged about 8 Took the bike over a few years ago with the BMW Club southern section and a member who lives on the Island showed us around Carisbrooke Castle and Osbourne house being 2 of the places we visited Just had the Email about Bahnstormer closing the Maidenhead BMW Motorrad Branch soon after LIND closing their Norwich BMW and Harley dealerships I currently in Croatia on my BMW R1300GS Thanks for another great video John
Yes I had that mail too - how's the weather in Croatia? I'm heading into Europe soon and might come that way...?? Whatever, enjoy the rest of your trip!
@TheMissendenFlyer Hi the weather is changeable some rain quite warm and storms I'm on the Istrian Peninsula well worth a visit Lake Bled and Lake Garda over the next few days then Austria and back to France for the ferry on the 17th Enjoy your Euro trip J
Looks a great place for a short trip. Though have to be part of a longer trip if you live further north than 'Watford gap' lol. Agree with the 'state of British seaside towns' but when it works out cheaper to go to Spain, for example with almost guaranteed weather......£1 per scoop of ice cream says it all haha. Look on Mrs Flyer's face with the 'pack less' warning was priceless haha.
