This letter as sent to all the major biking magazines in the UK and even printed by a few.
I have just returned from what must rate as one of the best motor cycling holidays currently available on today’s market. Three biking buddies, my brother and myself, all of whom have several years biking experience in Europe and Asia under our belts, recently spent two weeks in the company of Terry Mills and Brian Wade, the owners of Borneo Biking Adventures.
Our base was Kota Kinabalu in the Northern province of Sabah, in the shadow of the highest mountain in South East Asia, Mount Kinabalu (14,500 feet). Each day a different route would be planned, depending on the mood and requirements of the riders. From base to 6000 feet up the mountain, no fewer than 220 corners had to be negotiated, giving everyone a chance to see how the new Aprilia Pegaso trailies handled the twisties. Their off-road capabilities were tested picking our way through roads that had just been reopened due to recent landslides and it made for interesting riding on different surfaces – tarmac, clay, gravel and mud. On other rides we would travel for miles on completely deserted roads, water buffalo and monitor lizards being the only sign of life, not a speed camera in sight. Some days we took to the gravel and rode through the rural countryside skirting the rain forests and seeing how the locals truly lived, on other occasions we would take in river crossings or logging trails. One outing took to an overnight stay at the Tip of Borneo. We always had back up, and on the longer runs were shadowed by a 4×4 truck and trailer should it be required, or if a pillion passenger simply wanted a change of mode of transport. The beauty with Borneo Biking Adventures is that they are so flexible; routes can be planned or altered on a moments notice, there is something for everyone, and nothing too extreme.
The highlight had to be a two-day visit to Brunei. Every facet of Borneo is to be found on this 200 mile each way trip. Terry and Brian did us proud putting us up in the Sultan of Brunei’s six star hotel, The Empire, where we sampled world-class comfort and cuisine. Terry’s wife Rose, and staff looked after us magnificently each night when we returned to our base in Kota Kinabalu, wonderful food, wine and lots of biking talk being the order of the day; nothing was too much trouble for them.
Borneo has got to be a must on any motor cyclist’s “things to do” list and it is the only place in the world where I have overtaken a police car on a bend only to be greeted with smiles and waves from it’s occupants!
Neil Johnston
South Queensferry
