I've not had many bikes over the years because I tend to keep them, probably too long. Some of the younger members on here may not be familiar with my earlier bikes.......but here goes
1962 started riding on a 1960 ish BSA 175 Bantam, I passed my test on it and looked for something with more go. I road tested a 650 BSA Road Rocket (what a great name!) and decided there and then that the Bantam had to go.
1963 ish I bought another BSA, this time a 1956 DB 34 500 Gold Star Clubmans. What a bike that was...inch and a half GP carb (remember those?) and close ratio gear box. I kept that one for about 5 years.
About 1968 I bought a little 50cc Garelli motorbike. I think I got it as a run about. It was a proper bike, not a moped and to be honest it was very good. I thrashed it all over the place and it transported me and my girl friend, soon to be my wife, for maybe a year.
About 1969 I bought back my old Gold Star. What a disappointment that was. Long story short, I had to completely rebuild it. I was never really happy with it and sold it soon after we were married.
1971 I bought another BSA Gold Star, this time, one of the last to come from BSA, a 1962 DBD 34 500 Clubmans. Absolutely lovely bike and I kept it 'till 1977.
!977 I bought my first Japanese Bike, a 1976 Honda 750 F1. I fitted a sports fairing, rear set footrests, sports bars and Dunstall can. That bike was lovely. Nothing ever went wrong with it and all I ever had to do was ride it. Now I still love Gold Stars, but they always needed something doing to them to keep 'em on song. Yes you could say the Honda was an eye opener for me! I kept the Honda 'till 1990 and sold it for what I had paid for it!
1990 I bought the best bike I had ever owned, a 1989 Yamaha FZR 1000 EXUP. I still own that bike, or what's left of it after cartwheeling into a field about 18 months ago.
2008 I bought a 2006 Yamaha MT01. To be honest, I really liked this one too. A very quirky 1640cc V twin. It looked like it had been on steroids. Kept it for 4 years and only sold it because it was very tall and very heavy, for me at least
2012 I bought my first new bike, a Yamaha FZ1, which I still own. Nice bike, a nice turn of speed, decent brakes and suspension, comfy and Ideal for touring. Planned trips on it this year are to Wales, Normandy and Scotland, and maybe more.
2015 I bought my S thou, which is in complete contrast to anything I've ever owned. Just a few teething troubles with the suspension, nothing down to the bike but more to do with me, and my rather petite build.
So there you have it 55 years of my biking history......I hope I've not bored you too much with it all.
