‘Somewhere out there, there’s your perfect bike’
The tough economic conditions we’re experiencing and all the bad news in the world have made me think about where the classic bike world fits into our lives. After all, no one actually needs a classic bike, but we do need a little fun and pleasure in our lives – and classic bikes are great at providing that. So perhaps we should think a little bit more about what we actually want from our bikes.
Some classic riders don’t seem to have changed a lot since they first got into bikes. They still like to ride hard, ride far and ride fast. For them, a classic needs to deliver on power, speed and reliability. It needs to go well, stop well and handle well - as well as being fun to ride. And for them, something like a ’70s muscle bike might be just the thing. And Japanese fours like a Kawasaki Zed or Suzuki GS1000, or an Italian sports bike like a Ducati 900SS or a Laverda Jota should be able to go as long as you can – provided they’re well maintained.
Nostalgia still plays a big part in choosing a bike, too. Maybe you hanker after a bike you used to own (or would like to have owned) back in the day. Maybe you’ve always wanted a Triumph or a Norton. If so, I’d recommend joining a club.
They give you a ready-made bunch of mates to ride with, many organise regular ride-outs, gatherings and other events that give you a great excuse to get out on your bike – and they often provide a pool of technical knowledge and help that you’d be hard-pushed to find anywhere else.
Other riders prefer just to strike out on their own and turn down the pace a bit. Sometimes, that’s what I want to do. I’ve just bought an old BMW R75/5 at the Stafford auction and taken it for a quick run. It’s lovely to ride; not particularly fast or sporty, but it’s so nice just to plod around on. I enjoyed riding it so much, I’ve got it up on the bench giving it a thorough going-over and a full service. Once it’s done, I plan on riding it a bit more before it goes up for sale.
Somewhere out there, there’s the perfect classic – whatever perfect might mean to you. But, whether you’re choosing your first classic or looking to change your existing bike to embrace a new classic experience, it’s important to make the buying process enjoyable. Embrace the research and take your time on deciding what you really want out of a bike. Time spent choosing your ideal classic bike will never be wasted. anthonygodin.co.uk