Mad, or nomad?

Ours is not to reason why Bike’s founding editor decided to hit the road and live on his bike for summer 2019. But he did. And he seems reasonably happy about it…

Decades ago when I was a bike and rock journalist in Los Angeles I knew a punk band who lived in their cars. In balmy California that wasn’t so tough, but for the past few months I’ve been doing the same, kinda, in Britain. I’m not going to risk ridicule by explaining exactly why but it’s nothing to do with being broke and there’ve been periods, weatherrelated it’s true, when I’ve swopped my sturdy BMW luggage for a suitcase and an SUV. But if nothing else it’s proven one can live one’s life aboard a motorcycle, albeit kipping at B&BS and the like. The motorcycle is my 1991 BMW K75S and though hardly glamorous, its smooth, bullet-proof engine provides all the performance I need, and despite high mileage neglect it just keeps on keeping on. Although relatively capacious, the BM panniers somewhat limit one’s wardrobe but after early miscalculations, in addition to my marvellous Oxford Montreal jacket and Knox armoured trews, I settled on my Akito waterproofs, two pairs of jeans, two sweaters, jean jacket, three shirts, several T-shirts, socks and underpants, pairs of trainers and sneakers, towel and toiletries. And as one still has to earn a sort-of living on the road, a suitably swaddled laptop.

Fortunately this nomadic lifestyle has almost ended but I’ll savour the memories, apart from trying to remove the obstinate panniers outside a late-night Laundromat after 90 rain-sodden miles.

1991 BMW K75S 26,883 MILEAGE: Bridgie TYRES: Battlax 42-ish MPG: