The Great Escape Tours- by Royal Enfield!

Having caught the Royal Enfield bug (amongst others) whilst completing the Enduro Himalaya trip in northern India in 2008, I have decided it is time for another foray into the world of relaxed motorcycle touring mixed with incredible scenery.

The Great Escape Tours are run by fun loving Scot, Kenny Finlayson who is based up in the Scottish Highlands along with his fleet of trusty Indian made Royal Enfield 500 Bullets. The four different trips on offer include The Classic, The Orkney, Your Way and the one I've just signed up to, The Western Isles.

Starting from Ullapool on the north west coast of Scotland, the tour aims to 'island-hop' its way towards the Outer Hebrides, with the Isle of Skye as first port of call. If you've never been to this part of the British Isles may I strongly recommend you do so. My last visit was on a hiking trip and it didn't take long before I was imagining what it must be like to tour such empty, scenery-rich roads on a bike.

The tours organized by Kenny are about taking your time, exploring the magic that this part of Scotland still emphatically displays whilst tasting the food, meeting the locals and having great fun along the way. All the more, whilst astride an Enfield, you have the perfectly relaxed mode of transport on which to soak it all in.

The cost of the tours include all meals, fuel and luggage transfer by support vehicle, allowing you to concentrate fully on the task in hand- enjoying yourself!

With a spare day planned in Ullapool at the end of the five day trip, I also intend to bring my new CCM Supermoto along for what I hope will be one memorable blat over the neighbouring highlands. Well you would, wouldn't you?

Check back soon for a full report and an image gallery you need to see to beleive!

ROAD TEST: 2001 CCM 604E DS

CCM (Clews Competition Machines) made a name for themselves producing purposeful twin shock motorcross bikes in the 1970s, more recently however the British company has moved towards developing hardy enduro and supermoto bikes.

The 98-02 604E Dual Sport model came with two sets of wheels when new, for both on and off road capability. An oil-in-frame contains a twin port, four valve, 600cc Rotax motor from Austria. Although not revolutionary in it's design, the Rotax engine is well known for its simplicity and ease of maintenance plus abundant levels of torque. Power is a conservative 52bhp and torque an impressive 36ftlbs.

Throwing a leg over the 604, the riding position is immediately recognisable from a modern motorcross bike. The wide, fat Renthal riser bars and firm, thin seat are designed to allow movement on the bike whilst allowing for excellent cornering control- this is definitely no long distance tourer! At 123kg the CCM is neither overweight nor particularly light in this segment, nevertheless, if you are used to more conventional road bikes, dropping it would not require the assistance of Geoff Capes.

Avoiding kicking the big single over, I opt for the electric start which rewards instantly with a deeply satisfying crackle from the Remus branded standard exhaust. A clever choke mechanism keeps the engine idling at a happy note and within a minute or two we are up to temperature with one another. Unable to ignore the level torque on offer, the CCM dispatches with first and second gears very quickly, surging up to it's top speed of 100mph within the first 100m or so. Then you reach your first corner..

A dab of the excellent 320mm Brembo brakes up front, combined with the composure of the sophisiticated USD Paioli forks makes the CCM feel planted entering a bend, "Is that all you can muster?" it seems to ask the rider. Press on harder and the bike simply takes all you can throw at it. Off camber, uphill, downhill, rough or smooth, the WP rear shock has it all covered, the wide 17in tyres hungry for ever more demanding lean angles.

Once I reach a half mile long striaght I finally find the characterful Supermoto's flaw- cruising. Up to 75mph the bike is bucket loads of fun, any more and you are not on a twisty enough road. As a trip to Scotland is looming, I intend to add a higher final gear and find a few more bhp- check back soon!!