Four Capes, One Bike, One Set of Tyres
We’re not afraid of a challenge. And luckily, Kawasaki and Bridgestone are often happy to lend us a hand. In 2023, we rode through 15 countries in a single day. Last year, we took the Versys 1000 on A41 road tyres all the way from Brussels to Dakar. And this year? The goal was to conquer the four capes of mainland Europe—on one motorcycle, with one set of Bridgestone T33 tyres. Thirteen thousand kilometers.
After reaching the southern tip in Tarifa, it was time for the grand finale: riding to the westernmost point of the continent, Cabo da Roca in Portugal.
From Circuit to Chaos
Highways were off the menu. After more than 12,000 kilometers, the tyres deserved to be treated with respect. That meant secondary roads, with all the surprises they bring.
The first stop was Jerez de la Frontera, where I couldn’t resist a pause at the legendary Circuito Jerez Ángel Nieto. No race sounds today, but even in silence the asphalt radiates speed.
Seville was next—at exactly the wrong time. Scorching heat combined with city traffic cost me nearly an hour. Still, the city left an impression. This is a place that deserves a proper city trip on another day.
Algarve at a Crawl
From Seville I crossed into Portugal and picked up the N125 along the Algarve. On paper, it’s a dream road tracing the ocean. In reality, it’s a slow procession: village after village, endless 50 km/h limits, barely moving traffic. Still, the occasional glimpse of the vast Atlantic made up for the monotony.
At Portimão, I left the coast behind for the inland hills. Suddenly the ride came alive again: twisting asphalt, rolling climbs… and brutally poor road surfaces. The stretch between Monchique, Odemira, and Santiago do Cacém was a mix of highs and lows. Yet the Bridgestone T33s kept impressing—grip, feedback, and comfort, even after so many kilometers.
The landscapes were breathtaking, rewarding me with sweeping vistas at every summit. The roads themselves? Less inspiring. At times it felt like the bike itself was asking: “Do we really have to?” Still, if last year’s Versys 1000 could handle the sands of Dakar, this year’s 1100 could certainly manage Portugal’s potholes.
The Right Moment
By 5 p.m., I checked into Sintra. The clock was ticking: my goal was to reach Cabo da Roca for sunset.
The road there wound through a national park—short, beautiful, and busy. But then the temperature plunged. Barely 15 kilometers from the cape, I hit a wall of cold, wet fog. Every vent on my riding jacket had to snap shut. I was shivering, and the dream of a golden sunset seemed to dissolve into gray mist.
And then—three kilometers from the finish line—I broke through the clouds. Suddenly the Atlantic blazed ahead of me, shimmering like molten gold under the sun. A perfect moment.
The Show
The cape itself was calm, almost serene. I parked with a view of the lighthouse and cliffs. Just a handful of people were around, most of them locals waiting patiently in their cars. Then, right on cue, the sun sank gloriously into the Atlantic, painting the cliffs in warm colors.
The circle was complete. The tyres, however, were getting close to the limit. Scandinavia had taken its toll—its rough, grippy surfaces eat rubber alive. More than half the trip’s kilometers had been in the north, and though the roads there keep you safe in foul weather, they punish tyres mercilessly. With smoother asphalt in Norway and Finland, I might have nursed this set all the way back to Brussels. Even so: 13,000 kilometers on a single set is nothing short of remarkable.
The Versys also needed no extra maintenance—aside from a thorough wash and a chain lube halfway in Belgium.
Tyres, Roads, and Random Encounters
Saturday morning began with a tyres change in downtown Lisbon. I expected chaos, but the city was surprisingly calm. Too early, in fact—but that left time to meet some fascinating people.
One of them was Nuno, who organizes adventure rides and is soon leading a group to the North Cape. In our chat, we discovered we’d once used the same fixer to cross into Mauritania on earlier trip to Dakar. Small world.
With fresh T33 rubber, I headed north again. The famed N2—Portugal’s Route 66—was tempting, but it led the wrong way. Another trip, perhaps. Instead, I followed the Tagus toward Spain. The roads shifted constantly: smooth and fast one moment, tight and twisting the next. What never changed was the scenery—raw, desolate, and beautiful.
The Last Stretch
From there it was on through Valladolid and León to the spectacular Picos de Europa. Corner after corner, view after view—motorcycling in its purest form. The new T33s made the Versys handle even better, adding a touch of comfort and precision. Fresh tyres always make a difference.
But all good things must end. Through San Sebastian I crossed into France, where traffic jams and searing heat struck hard. The plan was to stop overnight in Poitiers, but when I rolled in at 9 p.m., I felt like I had more in the tank. The sun dipped to my left, traffic was light, the air was pleasant. So I kept going.
Through Paris, fueled by coffee. Past Lille before dawn. At 8:30 a.m., I rolled into my garage—tired, dusty, and deeply satisfied.
Four Capes, One Ride
Four capes. Over 13,000 kilometers on one set of T33’s. And a very enjoyable ride home on a new set of tyres. From snow walls to dusty deserts, empty mountain passes to bustling cities. The Kawasaki Versys 1100, shod with Bridgestone T33s, carried me everywhere—and, most importantly, they brought me safely home again.
What an adventure.
