James Horne, Jim to everyone who knows him, is a true Cannonball legend. We've shared a lot of miles over the years, and he's been kind enough to share some of the roads from his home country of Scotland with me. Here's the man himself, in his own words.
Q&A with Jim Horne
1. Where it all began
Alan: Last year you posted your “life on two wheels”, and it was a lovely nostalgic look back. What got you started on two wheels?
Jim: As soon as I got a ride on my mate's Yamaha DT100 at the age of 13 I was hooked on two wheels. This soon followed with the purchase of my first bike, which was a Suzuki A100 when I was 15. Totally illegal, but great carefree times, and I've had bikes in my life ever since.
2. Falling for touring
Alan: When did you fall in love with touring? I believe in the early days it was a lot of campsites, like it was for all of us back then.
Jim: My love of touring started in the late '70s, early '80s after a two-up Euro trip with my brother Brian (who funded it 😂) on my Honda CB900F. Cheap ferry crossings, dodgy campsites and soggy maps! Great memories.
3. The early bikes
Alan: What were your favourite bikes from those early years?
Jim: Probably the Suzuki GSX1100E, and the Kawasaki Z1300 A3 for its smooth six-cylinder engine.
Jim on the six-cylinder Kawasaki Z1300
Early days: Jim and a classic Suzuki, laying down some smoke
4. Your touring bike today
Alan: If you had to pick just one bike for touring today, what would it be and why?
Jim: The Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak, purely for its all-rounder capability, comfort and great handling. Saying that, I'm hopefully touring on a BMW GS 1300 next year.
Our Cannonball bikes side by side at the Hungarian MotoGP this year: Jim's Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak and my KTM 1390 Super Adventure S Evo
5. The worst one
Alan: What’s the worst bike you’ve ever owned, whether for comfort, reliability or both?
Jim: From the early days, without a doubt the Yamaha XS1100. It was a pig of a bike, with terrible handling and reliability issues! I also couldn't gel with the Triumph Daytona 900 due to the overstretched riding position. Great engine though.
6. Riding solo
Alan: I’ve noticed you’ve been riding alone a lot lately, and it seems to give you real peace when it all goes to plan. What do you get from riding solo?
Jim: I guess it's more circumstances that I ride solo most of the time, as my riding mates are still working. But I totally enjoy the freedom it gives me, being able to change my riding style or change route willy-nilly.
Jim out on the road
7. Your Scotland
Alan: Where’s your favourite place in Scotland to ride, and maybe stop to ponder the world for a while?
Jim: Definitely Glenshee, where I often stop at 'the wee bridge' which crosses to the old military road.
'The wee bridge' at Glenshee, Jim's favourite place to stop
Jim on his Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak at the wee bridge, Glenshee, on a chilly day
8. Europe
Alan: What’s your favourite touring area, or favourite tour, in Europe?
Jim: That's a tough question, as every year I seem to find a new favourite touring route. But I've always been drawn to the mountainous Alpine regions and the sunny French Riviera. This year I fell in love riding up the west side of Italy's Lake Garda and through the Dolomites.
9. Further afield
Alan: If you could go touring tomorrow anywhere outside Europe, where would you go and why?
Jim: The USA west coast and inland, taking in a few of the national parks before riding up to Canada's Yukon area. New Zealand also appeals.
10. The Peterhead Whisky Loop
Alan: Tell us about the Peterhead Whisky Loop. What makes it special, and is there a distillery, café or viewpoint riders shouldn’t miss?
Jim: I tend to enjoy a 200-mile-plus weekly bike fix, and this route is pretty much perfect as it's quite local to where I live. It has a great selection of fast flowing roads and slower twisty sections. I'm fortunate I can ride any time, so I tend to go on weekdays when the roads are generally quieter. There isn't really a best time of year in Scotland, but I ride these roads between March and November when there's no snow on the ground. This time of year (autumn), although cooler, is pretty good as the tourist season is tailing off. There are nice whisky shops to visit in Dufftown and Tomintoul, and an abundance of distilleries, which you can generally 'smell' as you ride past. Depending on what stage of production you catch, you get either a yeasty or sweet aroma. Most of the distilleries offer tours, but they're not ideal for tasting unless you're riding pillion! There are a few good stops and viewpoints as you ride over the Lecht and Glenshee roads. I tend to have a coffee break at the Old Fire Station in Tomintoul and lunch at Tea @ The Shee.
Bonus: The hotel car park
Alan: We've ridden a lot of miles together, so why do you always get lost just getting out of the hotel car park?
Jim: That's a good question 😂 The start and finish of any road trip, following route books or GPS, is obviously my weakness. The middle bit is no big deal, as you can get lost as much as you want 😉
Ride it yourself: the Peterhead Whisky Loop, with free GPX files.
Jim's Routes
Two more of Jim's Scottish routes are coming soon.
More from Jim's Circle
Jim with a young Brad Binder at the 2014 Argentine MotoGP
Racing runs in the family. Jim's son Steven now races in the KTM RC 990 R Cup, with "Cannonball" on his #85 bike.
Alan with Steven Horne in the pits at the Red Bull Ring. Photo courtesy of Steven Horne
More riders in the Real Riders, Real Routes series.