Four capes, one set of tyres – Part 2: North Cape
Can you reach all four geographical extremes of mainland Europe on a single set of tyres?
We’re taking on the challenge with the Bridgestone Battlax T33s, mounted on a Kawasaki Versys 1100. Prepped for over 13,000 km.
In the previous episode of this exciting four-part series, we told the story of our ride to Finland’s easternmost point. After that, the journey continued—shivering—to the north. This is part two.
From the Eastern Cape to the Iconic North Cape
A true motorcycling adventure through Lapland, past endless lakes, frozen fjords, and winding roads. Add to that ice, snow, and the occasional wandering reindeer. Ho-ho-holy crap. Time to put the versatility of the T33s, the Versys 1100 and Our Man to the test.
Lapland: Ice and Silence
From Ilomantsi we headed north, straight into Lapland. The roads twisted and turned through a landscape dotted with lakes and ponds. At a deserted parking area, we found a moment of absolute silence. Heated toilets in the middle of the Finnish wilderness—quintessentially Scandinavian and a blessing for our frozen butts.
We dared to step out onto the lake ice. It felt solid, even though just 10 meters away the water was wide open. Another reminder that caution—and trust in your gear—are essential. On the road, too, vigilance was key. Still, the Bridgestones delivered impressive grip in the freezing conditions. And when they didn’t, the Kawasaki’s electronics had our back. The combination of tyre and bike proved to be golden in these demanding circumstances.
From Finland to Norway: Cold and Mountains
But everything has its limits—not just countries, but riding conditions and grip as well. The route to Karasjok, near the Norwegian border, led us deep into the snow. Not just centimeters, but meters of it. Thankfully, most of it was piled up next to the road. The asphalt itself stayed dry and surprisingly rideable, thanks to meticulous maintenance and a rough surface texture.
Scandinavian roads are much coarser than those back home—almost like sandpaper. That gives excellent grip, but it’s hell on tyre life. Not ideal for the mileage still ahead of the T33s, but it definitely boosted our confidence in these brutal conditions. Feeling good, we decided on a whim to push through to Oldefjord, the starting point of the E69 to the North Cape.
Unfortunately, a sign warned that the road was closed. A bus driver confirmed it: “The sign is always right.” But with a wink, he added: “See how far you get.” Just the kind of challenge we needed. With our frozen noses pointed north, we twisted the throttle on the Versys 1100 and went for it.
Attempt One: Stuck in the Snow
At first, the E69 was a dream—twisting beautifully along fjords. We even started to doubt the road closure sign. But about 6 km from the Cape, we hit a snow-covered incline and got stuck. The T33’s still offered surprising grip, but snow beat bravery. Turning back and overnighting in the last village was the only option. We needed the night to think things through. After all, riding 4,500 km only to fall 6 km short? Not an option.
Attempt Two: Determination Gets Us to the Top
Next morning, we rose early. This time, we parked the bike before the tricky section and scouted ahead with the motorhome driven by our photographer. Smart call. We passed the point where we got stuck and saw a snowplow clearing the final stretch. Finally, the North Cape was within reach. A bit of patience, and we were allowed through—but we’d still have to walk the last bit.
North Cape: We did it!
Slipping around on the Versys, trudging through snow on foot—getting to the North Cape was worth it. The place was almost deserted. A biting wind powdered everything white. The Versys and the T33s had brought us here safely, an impressive feat given the conditions.
Inside the visitor center, we thawed out with coffee and wandered through the museum. Moments later, five tour buses showed up—time to go. Before a tourist-induced allergy could flare up, we were back in the saddle, heading toward Alta.
E6 and Lofoten: Motorcycle dreams
The next day, the E6 awaited—a twisty ribbon along fjords, fishing villages, and red wooden houses. Pure motorcycling bliss. Initially, we rode farther than planned, but halfway up a climb the weather turned—suddenly and dramatically. A full-on snowstorm dropped on us like a ton of frozen bricks. Visibility: under 10 meters.
Staying cool wasn’t hard—it was cold enough to freeze the bolts off a bridge. Still, we kept calm. Reaching Bjerkvik felt like a small victory.
Lofoten: Four Seasons in One Day
By morning, 10 cm of snow blanketed the bike, but the roads were bone dry. The T33’s got to show off their all-round chops on the E10 through Lofoten. Breathtaking views, tunnels, sunshine, snow, rain, mist—it all happened in a single day.
We overnighted at the Moskenes ferry terminal. Not the prettiest place, but strategically ideal. We were ahead of schedule, so we allowed ourselves a bonus detour. The next day, we looped via Ramberg Beach, where three surfers were braving the icy waves. We stuck to hot coffee and set off toward Bodø.
Sweden and Denmark
From Bodø, we made fast progress into Sweden. Through Jonkerdal, we rode between snow walls up to 3 meters high. The temperature dropped to -5°C again, and while the cold bit hard, the T33s kept doing their job.
Heading toward Gävle, the ride started smooth—perfect asphalt—until suddenly we hit 25 km of gravel. A real test, but the T33s passed with flying colors. The Versys 1100 surprised us too. The throttle response, the balance… somehow, it handled the off-road stuff far better than expected—especially considering its weight and wheels aren’t made for it. We’d seen the 1000cc version pull off similar feats during last year’s Dakar run—turns out the 1100 is just as capable.
Via Malmö, where we caught a magical sunset over Copenhagen, we crossed the toll bridge into Denmark and cruised toward Esbjerg.
Heading South!
A quick city stop in Hamburg wrapped up the northern leg of this adventure. From there, we made our way back to Belgium. By the time we arrived, we had nearly 9,000 km on the odometer.
The Bridgestone Battlax T33’s showed signs of wear, but we were confident they’d handle the additional 4,000+ km needed to reach the southern and western extremes of Europe.
In part 3, we put that to the test. Warmer weather lay ahead as we set our sights on Tarifa, under favorable stars—though under dark clouds too. Spoiler alert: we didn’t stay dry in France.
More on that soon!
