***STORM UPDATE***
We will be closed on Thursday 2nd November to protect our customers and staff.
Stay safe everyone and see from Friday onwards.
BEST Providers All-Inclusive Tours
Well what a year we’ve had in 2023. We delivered three tours, two to the Normandy Landing beaches and one on the Brittany coast. Whilst we have several different routes that we use, our tour locations are led by customer demand so if we have a lot of customers wanting a certain location, then we will run a couple of tours for that area which is what happened this year with the Landing Beaches.
Our first trip was at the end of April and we headed off to the Brittany coast. We travelled over to France on the Friday evening boat and stayed just outside St Malo for the first night. The next day we headed around the coast to Pleneuf Val Andre, Saint Quay Portrieux, Paimpol and Perros Guirec before arriving at Morlaix for our overnight stop. The Brittany coast has some stunning views although the visability was restricted at time due to fog.
The next day we headed to Saint Pol de Leon where we started our journey south on a ‘Bikers Best Roads’ red route, travelling through Chateauneuf du Faou and Pont Aven before following the coast from Port Louis to Auray for the next nights stop.
Our last day was heading back to St Malo via Pontivy, Combourg, Fourgeres and to St James military cemetary for a short visit before heading to Dinan and then back to St Malo.
As always on our tours, we travelled on every type of road from small twisty lanes, along awesome sweeping ‘A’ roads with a few short sections of motorway so that everyone gets to experience all types of roads and riding abroad. We were blessed with the weather and whilst we had the odd scatter of showers, we didn’t get hit by the heavy rain that was forecast.
We always look to cover all eventualities that may happen. We provide two advanced riders as the tour team and not only do we ride as a group with a guide at front and safety officer at the back, but we try to carry everything that may be needed should an incident arise.
On this trip a mirror had some first aid, as did a belt. Fortunately, none of the riders needed any.
Our clients all bonded really well and the banter was flowing, the feedback that we have received has been superb.
Our second tour was to the Normandy Landing Beaches in June. Travelling to France on the Thursday night, we stayed in our trusty hotel on the outskirts of St Malo. The next morning we headed along the coast from St Benoit des Ondes to Huisnes Sur Mer German Cemetary for our first stop. From there we headed via Avranches to St Laurant Sur Mer to the Overlord Museum and then onto Arromanches to take in the incredible sights of the Mulberry harbour before heading to Caen for our overnight stop.
The next day we headed back to the coast to visit Le Grand Bunker, Hermanville British Cemetary before a stop at Pegasus Bridge. We stopped for lunch in Houlgate with the intention of then heading along the coast to the beautiful fishing port of Hornfleur but sadly that wasn’t to be.
After lunch one of the clients bike wouldn’t start and after an hour of various attempts and different ways of trying to start (even the trusty reliable jump pack we carry didn’t stand a chance) it was time to envoke the breakdown cover policy. With an hour to wait for their arrvival we made good use of an ice cream parlour!
Later that afternoon we were back on the road but sadly one client was without their stead and was now pillion on our safety bike. With spirits still high, we headed back to Caen for the overnight stop.
The next day we haded back to St Malo, riding via Flers and Domfront through some stunning forest roads, stopping at St James Military Cemetary before riding onto Combourg and then St Malo. Again we were blessed with the weather with only short periods of very light rain.
The group bonded well and what a laugh we had. We even learnt a new version of the phonetic alphabet!!!
For the third tour we headed back to the Normandy landing beaches in September and we picked the hottest weekend of the year! A week before we left the forecast was showing heavy rain but we managed to miss it again with a downpour on one of the days whilst we had lunch and very hot the rest of the time.
As on the last tour to Normandy, we headed along the coast from St Benoit des Ondes to Huisnes Sur Mer German Cemetary for our first stop. From there we headed via Avranches to St Laurant Sur Mer to the Big Red Museum and then onto Arromanches to take in the incredible sights of the Mulberry Harbour before heading to Caen for our overnight stop.
The next day we headed to Honfleur for lunch and took in the Pont Du Normandie Bridge on the way, before heading back along the coast to Pegasus Bridge, Hermanville British Cemetary and then to Juno Beach Centre before heading back to the hotel at Caen.
On the last day, we headed back to St Malo, riding via Flers and Domfront through some stunning forest roads, stopping at St James Military Cemetary before riding onto Combourg and then St Malo. Again we were blessed with the weather with only short periods of very light rain.
Well not long after the last tour of 2023 was over, I had a couple of requests from clients for the dates for next year so they could book to come back. Having not planned to put the dates out this early, I put together dates for three tours and shared them with my previous clients to give them first option to book as a loyalty gesture.
Well you can imagine my surprise and excitement when all of my clients from 2023 booked to return in 2024 which is the best praise and advertisement I could wish for. We must be doing something right if they all want to come back and some on more than one tour!
However, this meant that we didn’t have any spaces to advertise for new clients so we have set a date for an extra tour. Within days we receieved more bookings from recommendations and we still haven’t gone out to advertisement. We are now delivering four tours in 2024 with dates and a few details listed below. We have very limited spaces available so if you are interested, I suggest getting in touch very soon as it is a first come first served approach.
Tour 1 –
Departing afternoon 3rd May and returning afternoon 6th May.
(Monday being a bank holiday so great for a long weekend)
Heading to Limoges to visit Oradour Sur Glane with a stop at the Tank Museum in Saumur on the way.
Tour 2 –
Departing afternoon 16th May and returning afternoon 19th May.
Heading to Lorient to visit the submarine pens.
Tour 3 –
Departing afternoon 16th June and returning afternoon 19th June.
Heading to Limoges to visit Oradour Sur Glane with a stop at the Tank Museum in Saumur on the way.
Tour 4 –
Departing afternoon 12th September and returning afternoon 15th September.
Tour of Brittany and the Coast.
General Tour details.
Our Tours are All-Inclusive from the minute we arrive in France until the minute you leave. Our guided tours are £690 per person (Sole Occupancy or £620 per person if sharing) which includes 3 nights accomodation, all meals, drinks and refreshment breaks during each morning and afternoon.
The tour team consists of a qualified advanced motorcycle trainer who will lead the group on these stunning roads together with a qualified safety officer at the back, bringing up the rear of the group, making sure everyone is safe and together. We offer support and advice to those looking to develop their riding style or new to riding abroad.
We ride as a group throughout and meals and refreshments breaks are had as a group so it’s a great opportunity to meet new people.
We do everything for you so that you can get away and enjoy the freedom with the peace of mind that everything is covered. We provide all the bits we hope you never need (but have just in case) like puncture repair kit, jump start kit, fire extinguisher and first aid kit. All you need is a change of clothes, wash kit and some fuel money then turn up at the boat, relax and enjoy the open french roads with no responsibility.
If you are interested and want more information, then email us at admin@bestproviders.co.uk or PM us via our BEST Providers Facebook page.
Suzuki GSX-8s Review
by Andy Bisson.
Well, this month moved away from the adventure bike with Pete rolling out the Suzuki GSX-8s. This was the first naked street bike I’ve reviewed since the Honda Hornet 750 in May and I was impressed in what that had to offer but I’ve also been very impressed with the Suzuki styling and handling on a few other models of late so I was looking forward to giving this a blast.
At first glance I love it. As I’ve said so many times before, my heart has always been with Honda and Yamaha but the more Suzuki’s that I take out, the more I’m shifting in my views. This bike is stunning from every angle. It has beautifully contoured sharp lines and I particularly like the underslung exhaust and stacked LED headlights.
I can’t lie, if was purely down to looks, I would pick this over the Hornet or the MT range. It has a mature but aggressive style that looks classy and the black paintwork compliments it beautifully.
I test rode the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE last month and they share the same 776cc parallel twin engine. I was impressed with the V-Strom so was I to be disappointed or excited with its naked sibling.
As soon as I sat on the seat, it felt right. The seat is comfortable and a little lower than the V-Strom with the bars and mirrors well positioned. As I headed into town, the first thing I noticed, other than how light and nimble it was to filter through traffic, was how light the clutch was.
Heading out of town and onto my circuit it soon demonstrated what it had to offer low to mid-range with loads of torque complimented by the quick shifter. The harder you pushed it, the more it seemed to want and the aggressive styling was soon matched with its personality. It was extremely smooth with no noticeable vibration through either the bars or the pegs which is unusual for a mid-weight bike. All round this is a really comfortable bike to ride.
The 5” TFT display was really clear with no glare and it was well laid out. It comes with 3 rider modes (A, B & C) with A being quite aggressive with fun thumping out at every opportunity. It also has 4 traction control modes (Off, 1, 2, & 3) and it held beautifully through the damp leafy roads of the valley on 3 with the majority of my ride being on 2. It was also easy to switch between modes whilst on the move which was great.
Accessories include practical bits like luggage, USB socket, GPS mount, mirror extenders and heated grips as well as a few styling bits like Carbon fuel cap and anodised levers.
This is more than just a great bike, this is a superb bike. It looks stunning, feels awesome and the build quality seems top notch. I found it hard not to fall in love with this bike. I’m going to nail my flag to the mast and say that if I was looking for a naked bike, this would be it. I always recommend taking the opportunity to demo a bike but this really should be on your ‘Must ride’ list.
Monthly Loyalty Members Draw Oct 2023
Last month, Steven Willis was the lucky winner of an Oxford Protex stretch cover. This month, Inmotion have kindly donated a luxury bike mat which you can choose from the stock available. Perfect accessory for any man cave or garage.
Only members who have collected their membership cards from Inmotion are entered in the ‘Loyalty Monthly Draw’. All you have to do to be in it, is to be a loyalty Member and have collected your Loyalty Card from the showroom. Each month a member will be drawn at random and will be the lucky winner of a surprise gift.
You also need your card to claim member deals, including the generous 10% off all parts, clothing and merchandise in stock.
This month’s lucky winner is Marcus Irwin. All you need to do now Marcus, is pop to Inmotion before the 6th November 2023 with your loyalty card and claim your prize. Congratulations.
Loyalty Member Deals Oct 2023
Inmotion are offering 25 % off all Battery Tender Plus chargers in stock. The perfect accessory to have at home over the cold and winter months.
They are also giving 20% off all rucksacks in stock.
Yamaha Demo Day 2023
Yamaha Demo Day
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of the Yamaha Demo day at Inmotion.
Saturday 21st October 2023 – 09:00 to 16:00
Join us at Inmotion for a Yamaha only demo day.
You can prebook your demo rides before the day ensuring that you get the time slot and bike that you want on a first come first served basis so don’t delay and get in first.
Demos are for 45 minutes per bike with 15 minute gaps between to chat, have a coffee and talk through the experience with like minded people.
Demo bikes available are:
– Yamaha Tricity 125
– Yamaha Tracer 7GT
– Yamaha Tenere 700
– Yamaha Tracer 9GT+
– Yamaha MT 07
– Yamaha R7
– Yamaha XSR900
PRE BOOK HERE
Bookings are on a first come first served basis
Loyalty members draw Sept 2023
Last month, Benjamin Richards was the lucky winner of an Alpinestars cap. This month, Inmotion have kindly donated an Oxford Protex stretch cover priced at £59.99. Perfect for keeping the dust and dirt off your bike.
Only members who have collected their membership cards from Inmotion are entered in the ‘Loyalty Monthly Draw’. All you have to do to be in it, is to be a loyalty Member and have collected your Loyalty Card from the showroom. Each month a member will be drawn at random and will be the lucky winner of a surprise gift.
You also need your card to claim member deals, including the generous 10% off all parts, clothing and merchandise in stock.
This month’s lucky winner is Steven Willis. All you need to do now Steven, is pop to Inmotion before the 9th October 2023 with your loyalty card and claim your prize. Congratulations.
Members Loyalty deals Sept 2023
Inmotion are offering 25% off all clothing in stock to loyalty members until the end of October. This includes helmets, jackets, trousers, gloves and boots.
Perfect time to get ahead of the rush and buy an early Christmas present for a loved one, or treat yourself to that well deserved gift.
Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE Review
by Andy Bisson.
Continuing in the same style as the last couple of months, Pete sent me out on an adventure bike. So having reviewed the Yamaha Tracer 7GT and the Honda Transalp, it was the turn of the new Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE. I’ve also recently reviewed the V-Strom 1050 DE so this would be interesting to compare to others in the mid-range adventure group as well as its big brother.
Visually it has sharp lines making it clear that it’s had a face lift and I personally like the beaked front with stacked LED headlights. The ‘Glass sparkle black’ colour scheme, highlighted in blue was stunning and its general style was nicely finished.
It comes with a new 776cc Parallel twin engine, adjustable suspension and a larger 20 litre tank. It has a very clear 5” TFT colour dash, 3 rider modes, 5 traction control modes (including off), with 3 ABS including an off mode.
It has a USB socket near to where a sat nav could be fitted which is handy. I found the screen was small and although adjustable, I would want to upgrade it for touring.
It felt high getting on and the seat is set at 855mm which is fairly high but its adjustable. There is also the option for a lower seat if that was needed. It didn’t feel high when you were on it and the seat was very comfortable. As soon as I headed off, I liked the riding position. The pegs were well positioned and the bars were wide providing a nice upright relaxed posture.
It was a very easy and forgiving ride and it has a light clutch and comes fitted with a quick-shifter which is great. It presented more torque lower in the rev range and it was very responsive with the ride by wire throttle.
At no time did the power faulter and the brakes were responsive. It’s so smooth and I didn’t really feel anything through the pegs or bars. Suzuki claim that their focus for the V-Strom 800 DE was off road but that wasn’t something I tested out but if it matches its on-road capabilities, you will not be disappointed.
A friend of mine is moving up from a 125 and was keen to get my opinion on it for commuting and taking it away on tours. The demo ride left me in no doubt that this bike is perfect for Jersey but I needed more time in the saddle to see whether it was comfortable for long periods. With that in mind, I kept it for the weekend and set out the next morning and after 70 miles under my belt it was as comfortable as when I first started.
So, to answer my own question on where it sits against the others left me a little surprised. I’ve also labelled the Tracer 7 as the mid-range bike to beat as a perfect all-rounder that does it all and I think this could be its match. I’d have to ride them back-to-back to really determine my favorite but that shows how close it is.
This really is a great bike. It looks good, feels good and the build quality seems top notch. I’m a Yamaha guy in general but I’m slowly getting the lean towards Suzuki and this bike has pushed me even further that way. Great bike, great value, a must for a demo and in answer to a friend’s question, yes without doubt this bike is perfect for commuting and trips abroad.
Road Closure
Advance Customer Notice
Due to works starting on Halkett place (18/09/2023 to 07/10/2023), there will be a road closure limiting access to Grove Street. Although accessible on foot, you will need to follow the traffic diversions to get here on your bike (or car).
Thank you.
