We’ve never had it so good

I’d become quite blasé about the update-u-like Euro-compliant bikes in turgid colours being churned out by manufacturers recently. Then I saw Ducati’s Scrambler Desert Sled, Triumph’s Thruxton R, Honda’s Africa Twin and BMW’S S1000XR. These bikes, all of them desirable, are worthy of a place in my dream garage.

Planning of a purchase ensued, to replace my aging CBR600… but the prices, when revealed to the long-haired general, prohibited proceeding to the checkout. Even when the PCP was explained.

Then the April issue’s first ride on the Kawasaki Ninja 650 took us both by surprise – complete with actual double takes. £6349? Six thousand three hundred and forty nine pounds? For a brand-new, warranty and everything, mini Zx10-alike? It’s gorgeous. It’s light. It’s a like-for-like replacement for my humble needs. It’ll tour. It’ll scratch. It’ll cost me less than £20 at the pumps. Did I mention it’s gorgeous?

No, it’s not the hipster revolution the Thruxton was seducing me into, nor the nomadic-drifter existence the Scrambler had me pining for and doesn’t represent the world-traveller escape of the Africa Twin or the S1000XR. What it does is represent me, the dad-of-two with a mortgage and monthly repayments to make. £6349? We’ve never had it so good. Jody Cox