Swapping rugby for ruts: George North takes on Sweet Lamb with the Ducati DesertX

When recently retired rugby star George North stepped off the pitch and returned to the UK from France, he wasn’t planning on sitting still for long. A long-time motorcycle enthusiast, George has spent years eyeing up off-road riding experiences, but gruelling schedules and the logistics of professional rugby have previously kept those ambitions benched.

While his Baffle Haus co-founders Sam Damon and Andrew Salter had previously experienced the DRE Adventure Academy at Sweet Lamb, George had to miss out due to sporting commitments. But having hung up his boots, George was keen to make up for lost time and the opportunity finally aligned in September when motorcycle apparel brand Merlin extended an invitation for George to head up to the famous Welsh testing ground

"I’ve been desperate to go to Sweet Lamb for a long time as a keen biker," George explains. "I really wanted to learn about that adventure world and get experience riding big bikes off-road."

Located just an hour and twenty minutes from Baffle House’s Cedar site near Abergavenny, Sweet Lamb and its 6,600 acres of prime adventure bike territory provided the ideal testing arena. And despite some typical Welsh weather showing up for George’s visit, the conditions only added to the authenticity of the experience.

Mastering the Ducati DesertX

George is certainly no stranger to Ducati’s adventure motorcycle, having previously borrowed the first-generation DesertX from the Ducati press fleet. However, putting the latest-generation V2 motorcycle through its paces in a true off-road environment was a whole new proposition.

"I absolutely loved the new DesertX," George says. "As a taller, heavier guy, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Seeing how the chassis and tech coped with everything we threw at it was incredibly impressive. It’s an amazing machine, and it didn’t disappoint."

Under the guidance of the expert DRE Adventure Academy team at Sweet Lamb, led by Mark Molyneux and his son Tom, George spent the day building confidence on the trails, learning new skills and getting to fully appreciate the new DesertX’s handling, power, and electronics over dirt and loose terrain.

"The team up there were incredible. Even in a short period, I learned so much and was actually able to execute what had been taught out on the trails."

The Baffle Hause connection: Sharing the Ride

George’s passion for motorcycles extends far beyond his personal garage. As one of the founders behind Baffle House, community has always been at the heart of his relationship with two wheels.

"The headline behind Baffle Haus is simple: Share the Ride," George explains. "Anyone and everyone on anything are welcome to join and be part of the motorcycle journey."

What started as a group of friends riding together quickly revealed a gap in the local culture. "We realized the community needed a physical space to meet, sit down, and grow. We needed a place to have these conversations, get a good coffee, and enjoy some food. At the time, there was nowhere like that in South Wales, so we thought, we’ll just build it ourselves."

Now a thriving hub for the regional motorcycle community, Baffle House routinely hosts riders of all backgrounds - whether they ride classic café racers, modern road bikes, or off-road adventure machines like the DesertX.

With life post-rugby taking shape, George is looking forward to spending more time in the saddle, refining the skills learned at Sweet Lamb, and continuing to grow the Baffle culture across Wales and beyond.