How Many of Us Are or Were Motorcyle Enthusiasts and Why?

[David Davis]

I ride a 955 Triumph.

Jeff2Wings has an FJ Yamaha and his wife has a Harley.

Big Bandit is so called because he used to own a 1200cc Suzuki.

How many more of us are or were bikers and why are so many aeromodellers into motorcycles as well?

[Tony Bennett]

i used to ride until a big accident put me off.

Still got my 1958 ariel square four in the garage.

[JayTee]

I have had a Honda CBX 1000Z since October '78(one of the real early ones) and I think that I should move on a tad,before i get too old.Won't be selling the "old girl" anytime soon tho'.

[Rusty C]

I ride a 2008 Kawasaki Z1000 in bright orange, lovely bike to ride.

Rusty

[Tony Bennett]

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

I own(ed) a '68 Bonneville which was stolen from me - the bike I'd always wanted and intended to keep for ever. After a long time (and an even longer story) I was re-united with the frame, back wheel, mudguard and seat...

To compensate a little for its loss, I had started a long term restoration of my little Triumph Terrier which I'd owned since I was16. I finished this around the time I got back into aeromodelling. My Series 1 Land Rover awaits similar treatment when I can retire as its restoration came to a grinding halt when aeromodelling really bit again.

There's a bit more about the Terrier here if anyone's interested - apologies for the odd bit of missing text and Americanised spelling - it's not my website and some bits have disappeared!

Edited By Martin Harris on 15/04/2012 21:59:10

[TheFlyingCrust]

Honda. 'Twas only a 175 but went well. I went everywhere on it, not just local journeys. It was converted to TC with a head off a Benley 160.

All went well til I tried to fit it in the front passenger seat of a Triumph Herald! At 40 mph impact speed! 8 fractures later I never owned another bike. But loved the freedom.

The only type of bike I'd own now would be an old 500 single of some sort. My dream would be a Seeley Condor - how many of you know what one of those is!

Ian

[David Perkins 1]

In the mid 60's, I used to take my control line models to Mitcham common and my FFGlider up to Epson Downs in the panniers of my BMW R50............., became more interested in Trials and Enduros and the planes faded away - came back two years ago, just after my Yamaha XT500 was sold!

[i12fly]

Used to be. Fancied a restoration project I could do in the spare bedroom. I got a a Kawasaki 400 triple that was 9 years old only done 3k miles but pistons were gummed solid.

I finished it OK but it was hairy getting it down stairs with it fully built. Come to think it was a bit hairy riding it.

Wish I'd never sold it

[Aaron Stevens]

first bike was honda mbx 125 from 1985 the year i was born cbt run out years ago but will redo a full test soon, really want a bonnie and my brother rides a daytona 650i and before that he had a ducati monster rebuilt with 750 parts by the team machanic of moto rapido and for a 600 it was uber fast i got to ride it around the block once and was so scared to get out of 3rd haha and have had many mx bikes one being 250 2 stroke rm that i nearly died on over a jump great fun!

[richard cohen]

Yamaha 175 trail bike for mudplugging up the Ridgeway, RD350YPVS for thrashing on 'B' roads and a kawasaki 550 ZX for drag racing in the national drag racing association competitions but getting a house, mortgage, married, a child etc, meant stopping racing, then the road bike went and finally the dirt bike but this left lots of room to refill it with models

I reckon its the tinkering factor.....most bikers know how to work on their bikes and modellers are mostly the same.

[Lindsay Todd]

Had a bike since I was 16 and couldn't wait, first rode a honda XL500 when I was about 8 that my Brother had and was hooked. Big racing fan so had various race bikes including Yamaha FZR600, Kawasaki ZXR750J2 which I absolutely loved to bits, Honda Fireblade, then did a quick move to a Kawasaki Versys thinking I would like a change before buying my ZX10R 8 months later. Sadly does not get used anywhere near as much as it should. Did a track day some years ago, loved it but clearly demonstrated how slow I really am!

Edited By Lindsay Todd on 15/04/2012 23:24:26

[Tony Bennett]

my list would be a bit long.

i stoped riding at 23 due to a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig accident involving a brand new ford capri. (shows how long ago it was)

[David Davis]

Nice Squariel Tony.

Didn't know that they were available in blue.

[Tony Bennett]

they wern't.

my dad bought it new and had it stove enameled kingfisher blue in the late 60's.

then it sat in the loft for another 30 years till i got it down and re built it.

in an upstairs bedroom by the way.

just sits in the garage now as i dont ride any more.

[Eric Powell]

I`ve got a Mk 1 1970 BSA Rocket 3 which I purchased in 1978 (it was the one BSA I always promiised myself from when I worked there )

various other bikes came & went;

honda cb 750,kawasaki kh 400,suzuki rg 500 etc which culminated in me racing F2 sidecars until a massive accident at the Southern 100 in the Isle of Man ..

off work for 10 months and the wife threatening divorce if I went racing again so I put the Rocket back on the road again

[Bob Cotsford]

i did have this until last year:

Now I've go this:

[Steve W-O]

I used to own a Katana, until I decided I had been too lucky for too long. I used to think if you came off at 70, you'd be dead, so you may as well do 120 aand enjoy the ride.

I used to work on Hondas, and we had a 400 4S off road bike (absolute dog to start after you fell off) and a 750 road bike as company bikes. Used to ride off road quite a bit, but always got left miles behind as my younger brother and his friends used to ride moto x

Absolutely bo desire to own a bike in the UK though.

[Rob]

I've had a few starting with a CG125 which I rode to death followed by a Yamaha Diversion and a Kawasaki Zephyr and then got my hands on a Suzuki Bandit 600 (old model with carbs) that I partially rebuilt and upgraded that went like stink!!! I then took it out and gave it a spin and scared myself to death and stupidly sold it , not had one since but fancy getting an old jap bike to do up.

I agree with Steve W-O about not riding on the roads in the UK due to the severe lack of driving ability of a lot of other drivers who share our road system.

[Del Wheatley]

i grew up with bikes,went through the usual sports bike list- RGV's,Gxsr's,Rc30,zxr's etc

then gave up on the road when i realized that my zx10r was just too much bike for our roads and took up motocross.

That turned out to be a bad move,got involved in a first jump pile up in a race and have been out of action since last june.Waiting for an op now to try to restore feelling to my righ leg.

As soon as i'm mobile there'll be a new zx10r in the garage.

Edited By Del Wheatley on 16/04/2012 10:25:02

Edited By Del Wheatley on 16/04/2012 10:25:30

[Mowerman]

My first bike was a Triumph Tiger Cub.

Next was a Vincent Comet, ocasionaly fitted with side car.

I bought a Vincent Rapide as a non- runner ans due to marrage and birth of daughter (in 1964) it had to go.

The mate who had it was still riding it last time I met him a few years back.

the RAF then sent me to Germany so the Comet was sold to a 'mate' for £50, I am still waiting for the money

[Cyclicscooby]

Soz to be the black sheep here, but I don't 'do' bikes, cuz I know i'd kill myself on one..

I'm a petrol head to the core, but it's 4 wheels for me...

I don't think bikes are un-safe per-se, just un-safe when mixed with cars..!!

I'd love to nail one down a strip tho, to feel 'proper' accelleration.. Then get off, let someone turn it round, and go back...

Luv

Chrisie.. xx

[Tim Reeves]

I started off with a Puch Maxi 2 speed automatic. Went quite well until the clutch shot out of the side casing and over took me going down a hill! That was the end of that

I now ride a Suzuki VL800 for plodding about with the missis on the back and have a Suzki Bandit for tearing about on. Both good fun.

Its a lot more sociable as where ever you pull up and there are other bikers, someone will always talk.

[Gazza58]

Spooky, I was thinking much the same just a few days ago. I had 2 Velocettes, a Viper and a Venom. Followed by a 1996 Triumph Thunderbird, a lovely bike that I toured Europe on several times, followed by a Blackbird, a Hayabusa that tried to kill me, and now another Blackbird. I suppose it's the closest I'll get to flying again.

I actually overtook a mate of mine in France when I had the Hayabusa. We were going nutty as usual, the difference being that when the overtake happened, he was still sitting in the saddle of his bike. I had parted company and was flying through the air thinking 'this is gonna hurt'. It did. A lot. French hospitals are wonderful.

[Steve Hargreaves - Moderator]

Used to have a Kawasaki ZX9R but it went when the kids came along......

This is me on a Trackday.....

Note the blacked out visor to hide my worried expression & the depressingly upright nature of the bike.......judging by the front forks there is some impressive braking taking place however.....