Appeal for help after unique bike is stolen
A BIKER was upset to find his special motor stolen from Market Bosworth over the weekend.
Lawrence Bransby was staying at Bosworth Hall Hotel with a group of riders when his converted Kawasaki KLE500 was taken overnight.
The group from Mojacar Motorcycle Touring Club had been on a 140-mile trip and were staying there for the night.
Mr Bransby said that three hooded people were seen near the bike and that it was knocked over at one point, only to later be taken.
He bought the vehicle last year and had stripped and rebuilt it as an offroad bike for long distance travel.
He was planning to take the bespoke vehicle on a trip with his son into the Sahara in Morocco in 2019.
The avid rider said: “I put an awful lot of work into that bike. It’s a lovely bike, it just catches the eye, it’s unique.
“If it was just an ordinary bike, I would just take whatever I get from the insurance and go out and buy another one, but this was unique.”
The international biker had just returned from a five-month solo trip riding across Russia on a Suzuki DR350.
Mr Bransby said that three hooded people were seen in the car park near the bike and that it was knocked over at one point, only to later be taken.
The distinctive bike has the registration plate PN06 EKA and had a steering lock on at the time.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: “On Saturday night (13 October) we received a report of a motorbike being stolen in Market Bosworth.
“The bike, a blue Kawasaki KLE 500, was parked at a hotel in The Park.
“It is believed to have been stolen sometime between 11.45pm on Saturday and 1.40pm on Sun- day (14 October).
“A white number 51 was painted on the tank.”
Mr Bransby, 67, is an accomplished biker and has written several books about his journeys, which have taken him several times across Russia, as well as through Central Asia, Africa and Albania.
He originates from South Africa and was an English teacher there for 20 years and has written numerous teenage and adult novels.
He lives in Eccles in Greater Manchester and has two children and three grandchildren.
The youngest of his grandchildren was born prematurely just as he set off for Russia, and was there to greet him when he returned home.
You can read more about his adventures and books on his website.
Police are appealing for anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area or the bike being ridden to call 101, quoting incident 792.