From Brussels to Paris by night
Nightrider
There is something about the night … When everything goes quiet and civilization calls it a day, good times start for bikers. No phone calls, emails, tricky questions or commitments: that’s standard procedure when you ride a motorcycle. But at night the rest of the world is asleep, and the traffic hardly exists. That comes in handy if you choose to ride from one big city to another at night. We started our trip at the dozing capital of Europe. The goal was to arrive at the the legendary city of lights at dawn. All just in time for the Olympic flame to arrive!
Perfect companion
What bike is better suited for this nightly trip than the 2024 Yamaha MT-09? A bike that represents ‘The Dark Side of Japan’, as well as having a livery called Midnight Cyan – this begs for a night ride, right? We were lucky to get a brand-new bike equipped with some nice extra’s. But above all, the new Yamaha MT-09 is fitted with standard Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23’s!
8.52 PM: Ready for departure
We kick off our nighttime quest at dusk, in the dim light of a local food joint. After all, whoever thinks Brussels also thinks fries. A hearty pack of fries with mayonnaise to strengthen the inner soul, before saddle up for the dark trip. This is the perfect dinner for a true nightrider! While our photographer takes his first snapshots, we check the tyre pressure. 2.5 bar at the front and 2.9 bar at the back will get us to Paris and back without any problems.
21.47 PM: The first deluge
Barely have we clicked the Yam into first gear, when we find ourselves experiencing Belgium at its best: after all, even in the summer months the Belgians can’t avoid their meteorological fate. Before we leave Brussels, the first downpour hits us. The little windshield on the MT-09 does its utmost but can’t prevent the first deluge from squeezing through every opening in our motorcycle gear. The tyres get their first chance to prove themselves: during a long period of drought, rubber, oil and dirt accumulate in the pores of the road surface. Consequently, the first, ensuing rain shower creates a smear layer that can make the road surface notoriously slippery. But the Bridgestone S23’s do not allow themselves to be thrown off guard and invariably maintain grip. A dose of confidence at a time when you can use it most – great. We choose the southernmost traffic artery out of the beating heart of the Belgian capital and set course for the suburbs of Drogenbos. The LED-wrapped cooling tower of the local power plant waves brightly as we disappear into the night.
11 PM: Night falls
Just before we have rounded the first 75 kilometers, night literally drops down on us. At the stroke of 11 PM, the streetlights are turned off on Belgian highways, and our trip suddenly becomes much lonelier. The light beam that the MT-09 projects on the road, is our only guide. In the distance, a colossus emerges: we ride past the inclined plane of Ronquières, where the huge boat lift raises boats up to 68 meters. A mastodon of a structure that is completely self-sufficient in terms of energy as well as starring in the movie ‘Brussels by Night’. It doesn’t get much more appropriate. But anyway, let’s hurry up!
0.17 AM: A dash of illumination
Just after midnight, we cross the French border at Quiévrain. When the very first railway line between Brussels and Paris opened – in 1842 – Quiévrain was the place where railway border controls took place. What once was a thriving town around the international railway line now appears to be a border village in decline. A rare dash of illumination along the way, albeit due to the casinos that are still on Belgian territory… We fuel up and bulge into France.
2.34 AM: No time
We hardly have time for a city trip, so we rush around the former fortified town of Valenciennes, meander along the Scheldt River past the citadel of Cambrai, and pass through Péronne, fiercely fought over during the Battle of the Somme. Our next break is scheduled just past Roye. No time to waste, just ride! A little bridge over the A1, on the D133 is perfect for a quick nibble and an energy drink. Initial fatigue is creeping in, and to be honest, the weather isn’t helping either.
3.41 AM: Paris seems far away
“Night is always darker before the dawn and life is the same, the hard times will pass, everything will get better, and sun will shine brighter than ever.” Hemmingway’s words, could not be more apt at this moment. The rain has been clattering down for hours now and the water clearly didn’t need help from Waze to find its way to the inside of our jacket. The wind pounds away against the helmet, courage trickles along towards those motorcycle boots and Paris suddenly seems far away. Just then we spot the signpost to Compiègne – the town where, in a wagon deep in the forest of the same name, the Armistice in World War I was signed on November 11th, 1918. I don’t know the map by heart, but I do know Compiègne isn’t that far away from Paris. After all, the S23’s show no sign of decay, the MT-09 is in the mood and in a few hours the sun will rise. So, let’s gather up some courage and go!
4.57 AM: Flight of the Concorde
More than 70 kilometers down the road, our prayers are heard: the rain showers abate, the strong wind subsides. Perfect to dry our wet clothes before entering the City of Lights. A kind of euphoria suddenly emerges, and we decide to make a small diversion. No, according to the route planner, the itinerary shouldn’t take us near Roissy-en-France. But that is where the Aéroport Charles De Gaulle is located, which is virtually deserted at night, thus giving us plenty of time to admire the phenomenal Concorde up close. The illustrious, supersonic passenger plane hasn’t flown since 2003, but is neatly boxed up along one of the access roads to the airport. A push through the wall of sound, that’s all we need to pop into Paris. We leave the Départementales – the French B-roads – for a while and grind along the motorway for the last few kilometers. The change of pace seems right up the alley of the well-warmed S23’s.
5.29 AM: PARIS!
We leave the surprisingly deserted Périférique – the traffic aorta that clogs up around the French capital in daylight – via the Avenue de la Grande Armée and see the Arc de Triomphe looming in the distance. A triumph, a victory! That is the feeling that remains as we circle the structure. What a great sensation. We keep on circling until we get seasick and then set course for a more quiet part of the city. From the cobblestones on the Avenue de Camoens, we catch a great view of the partially illuminated Eiffel Tower. It is currently being renovated and dipped in a golden shade on occasion of the Olympics – so unfortunately, we won’t get much closer than this, today. But the view of the most famous Parisian symbol, makes up for a lot.
6.06 AM: Croissant and coffee
OK, we’re in the French capital in time for a dazzling sunrise… but quite a bit too early for the delicious croissant and steaming pot of coffee we’ve dreaming about for hours now. Parisian coffee bars are known for their early opening hours, but well… they are closed. Seven o’clock is seven o’clock, and not a minute earlier. So, let’s have a quick supermarket croissant and a coffee from a vending machine. We still have the view of the Eifel tower!
Tyres That Conquered the Night
As the morning sun gradually lights up the city, there’s no denying that the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 tyres have been the unsung heroes of this journey. From slippery Belgian roads to rain-soaked stretches in Northern France, they delivered unwavering grip and stability. Their performance under less-than-ideal conditions provided confidence, making this night ride through varied terrain more enjoyable than it had any right to be. It’s clear that the Bridgestones were more than just tyres—they were the perfect partner for this nocturnal adventure.
