Riding a Harley 48 from London to Hull: When the GPS Fails
- loserbanduk
- Apr 8, 2023
- 2 min read
There is a certain romance to long-distance motorcycle touring, but anyone who rides knows that things rarely go exactly to plan. Recently, I took my Harley Davidson Sportster 48 from London up to Hull to play a show at O'Riley's club. It was a rare, bright summer day in 2023, but the trip ended with a classic rider's headache: a dead GPS and a lost rider.
The Reality of Touring on a Harley 48
The Harley 48 is an incredible bike, but it’s not exactly built for cross-country touring. With a tiny 7-litre tank, I have to plan my routes carefully, stopping every 80 to 100 miles for fuel. On a run from London to Hull, that means several mandatory petrol stops to avoid pushing the bike. It changes the pace of the ride—you aren't just blasting up the motorway; you are actively navigating the countryside.
The Humber Bridge & The Sena 40C Glitch
The highlight of the arrival into Hull is crossing the massive Humber Suspension Bridge. However, right after my last fuel stop, I ran into a technical issue. I was filming the ride using my Sena 40C helmet cam. Like many riders, I turn the camera off during fuel stops to save battery. When I turned it back on, the active GPS tracking completely stopped working.
Getting Lost in Hull
Because I was relying on the Sena's GPS overlay to guide me once I hit the city limits, I suddenly found myself flying blind. As soon as I crossed the bridge into Hull, I had absolutely no idea where I was going. If you watch the video below, you can hear me starting to talk to myself as I try to navigate the city streets looking for O'Riley's club.
Watch the Full Helmet Cam Vlog
Short POV motorcycle clips are great for a quick hit of road therapy, but lately, I've noticed viewers want the full story. This longer 13-minute video shows the reality of UK motorcycle travel - the good views, the small tank limitations, and the navigational mishaps.
If you’ve ever ridden a Harley 48 long-distance or dealt with tech issues on the road, let me know in the comments below. Don't forget to subscribe to the YouTube channel for more UK motorcycle rides, and check out Loser.band for the music.
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