Bikes....bikes..... and more bikes!

The following was written by Kev as a comment on John G's post about his biker-days but it's so bloody long, I've put it in a post instead!

So here goes.......



Hi John......nice to sort of meet you.
Seeing all these photos gives me a real warm glow. Late 70's to through the 80's biking......doesn't get any better...my main time too!!
Skipped the moped and started with the RD at 17 eh....must confess, I did do the moped bit (AP....which I've still got!!) then at 17 bought a Mk3 250 Ducati (which I've still got!!)..then went through a couple of 250 RD's (both silver DX's...both blown to pieces (as you do!)) then a G5 (remember them?), an XS500..loud as hell...(as I thought it would be pretty cool to slash cut the pipe to just infront of the collector box..tee hee!!). After that it only pulled about 80 'cos it didn't have any back pressure..but hey...made me smile (and used to wake my dad up when coming around the by-pass half a mile away at 2.00am).
Then I nearly went for a GS550 too, but got a CB550 instead. This is the one that nearly put me in a box. To cut a long one very short....too fast around an s bend in the middle of the night, hit the kerb, bike end to end down the road.....me?...head butted the kerb (wearing a £5 piss-pot from Exchange and Mart and MkII fighter pilot goggles) then somersaulted through a five bar gate and into a field where I stayed for a couple of hours before I came around!!.....Result...fractured neck, a bit of gravel rash and lots of free drugs in hospital!
Then came a must have. A mate of mine's dad had a 1950 MAC Velocette which I just had to have when he said he was going to get rid. That became my daily mode of transport, purely as a complete laugh. Rigid frame and sprung saddle (Dowty forks on the front)....anyway, still got it. Then for something to go further afield on came a CB750K2. Good reliable bike, albeit a bit of a rat.
One day in '85, I went down to the local bike shop to get a £7.50 seat cover for the said Honda, when in the shop I found and fell in love with on sight...a 900SD. Ran up to the bank...arranged a loan....ran back to the shop....shocked my dad by turning up at home on a huge red throbbing monster (as I like to remind Sarah of from time to time.....wey hey!!)......still got that one as well. Then came the, like yours but not nearly as lovely....yep you've guessed....the obligatory (although I was obviously a late starter) 400/4..and an F1 to boot...and of course it was hand painted matt black...top drawer. This was to get to and from work........aren't they bloody small though. How did you manage 'cos you look like a tall bloke?!
After that came the Z1000ST. Again hand painted matt black....4 into 1...handled like a bag-o-shite (mattress on wheels)...but still almost the biggest kiddy on the block at the time.....great! That's about the time Sarah and I got together.....and her favourite bike so far (weirdo!). I used to tie 4 pint bowls of Creme Caramelle on the back and ride 17 miles to visit her. Good god, I certainly know how to woo the lasses!
Then what was it?...oh yeah....595 Triumph. This came about by way of; went to IoM in 88, then again in 98. Great in 88....crap in 98....too many 'tubes of toothpaste' types (I know you know what I mean) that can go fast in straight line, but fuck it all up around the corners. Came back from the Island knowing that I needed something that would get me past these idiots. A mate of mine at the time had a green 509.....me me me...I want one. Another friend of mine worked in sales in another local bike shop. She phoned to say a 595 (Black...so another must have) had just come in. Get there quick and all mine for under book value. Anyway, went back to the Island in 99 and didn't have the same problem....!! Incidentally..still got this one as well although went to the Island again this year...on the Duke (she had to revisit :-)....!)
Don't think I've forgotten anything....but you never know!
Sarah's been trying to get me to write something since starting all this bloggy type stuff and I've always backed off (for fear of being sucked in). Well, I'm sorry for babbling but seeing your bikes set me off on one of the things I love best.....Sarah being the other ...of course! :-) Seeing your last photo of your France trip brings happy memories flooding back of doing the same type of thing.....5 mates...Bol d'Or....'87...a right laugh...but maybe that's for another time and place. Never did the 'off road' thing though, so can't comment there. Don't know anything about it! Perhaps you could elaborate one day!
Anyway, I'd better go now before Sarah thinks I'm looking at 'dodgy' porn on the net.....again!

All the best........Kev.