We found ourselves at the brand new Yamaha Off Road Experience Welcome Centre in the heart of Wales. Found on a current working farm in Llanidloes, Powys, this off-road heaven has been many years in the making. The centre itself is completely family run, along with providing additional jobs from the local community. The all new welcome centre is a true staple, Also very sustainable being powered by solar and biomass energy, with some of the main building materials even being sourced on the farm itself.
Words by Kyle Lane – FourZeroMedia
We started the day with the centre being officially opened by the current British superbike Champion Tarran Mackenzie & Former nine-time British enduro champion Geriant Jones. Shortly followed by a grand opening presentation from Geriant Jones along with his sons Dylan and Rowan. They shared with us the history behind setting up the experience centre and really showed their passion for off-road motorcycles. The hard work & dedication within the Jones family along with the full backing from Yamaha has seen them become a premier destination for all things Enduro & Off-Road.
Shortly after the days riding began; riding the all-new Tenere 700 World Raid in the morning along fire roads, single tracks and tested up some trickier sections the Hafren forest has to offer. Considering the weight of the big adventure bike it is really is playful and such good fun to ride, These bikes are designed to be versatile, meaning you can switch up from riding along the road to dipping onto a green lane.
After stopping for lunch and sampling the in-house family catering service, we then set out to tear up the typical Welsh terrain; slatey hills, Rooty corners, boggy marshland, freshly-felled single track and some classic old school enduro tests. Having not ridden a WR250F in the past I was shocked how capable the bike was from the factory, it really is a great all round enduro bike with a strong engine package and its renown handling characteristics its great fun to ride in and around the forest.
The all new Yamaha Off Road Experience Welcome Centre is very modern and has been finished to a high standard, with essential facilities such as modern changing rooms with warm showers, also an area to store all your personal belongings. The main room in the centre showcases the all new Tenere 700 & the 2022 WR250F along with a selection of aftermarket parts\spares & a huge range of all new official 2022 Yamaha clothing.
I would recommend an experience day to absolutely anyone with a love for two wheels. Backed with Yamahas support they have been able to take this service to the next level. They cater for all abilities, with a highly experienced tour guide offering tips and advice along the way to make sure you return with a smile.
A huge thanks to everyone at the Yamaha Off Road Experience Welcome Centre and everyone at Yamaha UK.
