MY BIKES
Ducati 748SP
I've been riding bikes since I was 16. I got the bug after my father starting riding bikes in 1978. He started on a Honda NC50 moped & then rapidly progressed up the ladder to a Kawasaki Z400 twin in 1981. During 1980 when he was away at weekends spannering for my cousin (who was competing in the British 250cc motorcross championship at the time) I would sneak out late at night on my dad's moped & ride around the Lincolnshire country lanes. At this stage I was 15 & I'm sure my Dad knew what was going on but, he never said anything. When I reached 16 he bought me a restricted C50 & things progressed from there! At 17 whilst in the 6th form at school I saved to buy my first "proper bike" - a Honda CB125 twin (the unrestricted version) which I still remember with fondness.
Below: VFR750, Knockhill, 1990
Having discovered bikes, beer & girls I then promptly fouled up my A-levels. My Dad, bless him, then got me an apprenticeship at GEC Marconi Electronics in Lincoln which enabled me to feed my habit so to speak. Below is a list of the bikes I have owned since the age of 16:
Honda C50 1981-1982 The legendary C50 Honda CB125T 1982-1984 80mph learner-legal 125cc 4-stroke Honda VT250 1984-1985 100mph, water-cooled 90 degree v-twin 250 - trick as hell in its day MZ TS150 1985-1990 £50 to buy and did 30k miles on it Honda CBX550F2 1985-1990 My first large bike - a real hot rod in its day. 125mph 550 MZ ETZ250 1986-1988 My first MZ250 - each weekend to & from York Uni in all weathers - 100% reliable MZ ETZ300 1988 - present day >100k miles but in retirement until I rebuild the motor MZ ETZ250 1989-2000 £90 and did 132k miles on it - still going strong with a new owner Honda VFR750FK 1989-1996 Should never have sold it. Brilliant. Bought for £4979 in 89. Sold in 96 for £3500 Honda RC30 Aug' 1990 - Nov' 1990 (0-9 points in 3 months!) Ducati 748SP Mar 1996- 29/7/00 Gone but not forgotten. My first Ducati - it left be stunned when I first road it - immense stomp MuZ Skorpion Tour Apr' 1997- Aug' 2002 Sold only because I needed more power to carry a girlfriend. She's gone and I miss the bike :-( Ducati 748Rs 29/7/2000 - present day Yamaha FZS600 28/7/2002 - 17/5/2003 Honourable but boring. Sold to make way for the Triumph below Triumph Sprint RS 17/5/2003 - present day Great roadbike. Heavy but comfy and grunty. Probably the best roadbike I have ever owned. Honda VFR750FK Nov 2003 - Feb 2004 A veritable pensioner - bought for restoration. Not as good as my original example or was my memory playing tricks on me? Sadly sold to make way for racing when I'd nearly got it finished. I needed the money. Suzuki SV650s Nov 2003 - Jan 2006 Bought for a return to racing in Bemsee's Minitwins championship. Changed to Ducati 800ss in Jan 2006 Ducati 800ss Sept' 2006 - present Bought for Minitwin racing. Now in the process of turning into a racer. Ducati 800 Sport i.e Nov 2005 - present Bought for Minitwin racing but, I decided it was too nice so kept it for road use instead. Upgraded to 03 800ss spec' with full-floating Brembos, Ohlins/Showa suspension, 5-spoke Marchesine wheels, Power Commander III usb with my own custom map, open airbox, Ducati performance high-level titanium cans. 80bhp, 7.9kg-m of torque. It's a hoot.
They've all been great bikes in their own manner - I can truly say that I don't really have a favourite because I liked them all (except the Fazer) for different reasons.
Above: MuZ Skorpion on the Buttertubs pass in the North Yorkshire Dales in February 2000
