A brief history of the bikes
A late bloomer?
Unlike many of my peers I came to riding two wheels quite late on in life, not passing my test until I was 25, taking the then fairly new Direct Access Route to a full UK A1 bike licence. I know it was still the early days of these courses as in Southampton at the time there were only 2 examiners who did the bike tests and only one of them actually rode a bike. Not sure if it was a good thing or just comedy gold but I think I was giggling throughout the test as my Examiner was the one who didn't ride so was following me round Southampton in his car! Needless to say I passed it at the first go.
A1 bike licence sorted I could ride any roadworthy bike on the UK roads; so what to get for my first bike? Well after a few searches and viewings and lusting after bikes I couldn't afford A trip up to Norfolk to the Folks ensued. A few visits to the local Fenland bike shops and generous parents resulted in my first long ride after passing my test. The choice of bike for this not insubstantial trip from Norfolk to Southampton was a 1979 Honda CX500! It was cheap, reliable shaft drive and bulletproof even if it did have the sex appeal and the weight of a beached whale. So me and my plastic maggot made the trip back down south kitted in what was my staple riding gear for a good few years - a cheap helmet and textile bike jacket from the Motorcycle City warehouse clearance sale in Farnborough, a pair of trusty second hand German Para Boots, oil stained jeans and Millets over trousers!
The CX was eventually joined by my Fathers 1986 BMW K75c which he moved to Southampton so he had a bike down here after he got an R1100RT (more about this bike later!). After having use of the K75 the CX was just sitting there so it went to a new owner and the K75 became my only Bike somewhere along the line it was transferred into my name on the V5. I still have the K75 although I like to say it is a project bike/ work in progress it will get recommissioned at some point and be back on the road again as there is something I like about having the 666 number plate.
Briefly I had a Suzuki Marauder 800 alongside the K75 and while it was a fun bike and a lovely cruiser for pottering around it didn't stay long.
The next big change came when I met my Wife and we happened to be having a wander round Chichester on a trip out. A visit to CMW motorcycles saw us come out as the owners of a MK1 Honda CBF1000 GT spec. The previous owner had let it get blown over in a storm so there was some fairing damage - purely cosmetic; so the bike was up for a ludicrous price and after a quick and enthusiastic test ride round the Chichester bypass we signed on the dotted line. Once this bike was in full time use the K75 was consigned to the project/ let's restore it to its former glory/ turn it into something different part of the garden.
A few more years down the line and once again I was offered one of my fathers hand me downs - this time the R1100 RT. It was only just run in and I took it over the 100 000 mile mark while in my care. I couldn't justify having two mile munching bikes and the laziness of the Boxer engine meant it was easier for me to ride alongside the wife when we went for a ride together. The CBF1000 was after all a detuned Fireblade engine so wanted to get places fairly rapidly! The Honda went off to pastures new.
And then I guess some might say I had that mid life crisis moment that is prone to bikers. I've always liked Ducati; I guess the release of the 916 and Carl Fogarty becoming World Champion on one might have had a bit to do with it but they were THE bike you lusted after. The same can be said about Harleys for some but for me it was the Ducati's. My Wife, Helen, had by this point in time passed her test and been through a fair few bikes herself until she purchased her dream bike. She rides a Harley Davidson XG750 Street. Low to the ground and enough oomph to keep her happy.
Now as she has her own bike and the step son had done his CBT and had a 125 I didn't need to take a pillion any more! Enter the Ducati Hyperstrada 821 LS. What a fun little bike to ride, factory luggage for some light touring, very effective fairing to stop the worst of the wind blast and Supermoto styling coupled to 110BHP for when you wanted to be a little bit naughty.
All was going brilliantly with the 'strada until it wasn't. Electrical Gremlins and a small repair bill meant I was getting twitchy and the Hyperstrada went to be replaced with, as my wife says, a much more sensible bike. My current ride the Ducati Scrambler Urban Motard.