THE GOLDEN MOMENT
Bedford to Oundle – B660 & B662
Attempting to experience the full excitement of the Super Duke GT and H2 SX SE★ on bustling roads can be like trying to use a powerboat on a pond. Snappy 173bhp V-twins and dimension-shifting 197bhp supercharged fours don’t mix with 40mph limits, chock-full towns and lost DPD vans.
As the MCN250 slides into its latter sections the route takes on a fresh form. Away from the main arteries and urban hustle, the roads become drastically quieter and the landscape flattens out, giving curve-of-theearth visibility. Open sweeps of the B660 and quiet lanes back to Oundle are an opportunity to dip a toe into the bewildering performance pool without upsetting residents, scaring car drivers or too much risk of arranging an appointment with the local magistrate.
Both bikes are happier here. Able to stretch their legs they deliver brisk, flowing performance, soaring across the landscape with effortless pace and total control, semiactive suspension giving ride quality with composure. Both machines demonstrate clearly that comfort and performance can go hand-in-hand. They’re calm and unflustered for teasing silently through the dotted villages, too.