Way back when...
Iremember it like yesterday, aged just 17 and bagging myself a battered VFR400. I only paid £500 quid for it, and it even came with petrol in the tank. As for the blowing exhaust, that was just character, right? And stripping half the bike to get to the rear cylinder manifold was just an education. I loved that bike; it never ran right, it never quite sounded right, and it looked like it’d been dragged through several hedges on several occasions… backwards. But it was brilliant, cherished and powered me through my first full season of racing. I was gutted when it went and it was only when we were putting this issue’s cover test together I realised the charmer I’d let slip… not to mention the bargain.
It was my first, but not my last biking regret, swiftly followed by a KR-1S that left an equally indelible imprint on my biking persuasion; a love for Nineties grey bikes. If you’ve ridden one, you’ll know exactly what I mean. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? The power won’t impress you, the looks will make you question my sanity, but the riding experience, when you’re not in a hurry or gagging to beat the guy on the big Gixer, will warm your cockles. Boothy and I had a right blast testing the four steeds on the cover, screaming motors to silly revs for a disproportionate return in pace – especially the RGV. They were reminiscent of a time, smell and noise long lost, but well worth revisiting and I hope you get a good and proper taste of that scene when reading through our musings.
Keeping with the reflective mood, this month’s State of Tune feature is also a good gauge to how times have changed over the last three decades. Stock bikes are now so powerful, the methods to extract extra power have changed unrecognisably. It’s pretty damn interesting. And while I’m at it, let me introduce you to our new Workshop section. Each month we’re planning to present a step-bystep guide to servicing and maintaining your bike, with help from our friends at Black & White Bikes. Brake servicing is up first, and there’s a lot to take in, but we hope it helps you in the build up to the new season… because it’ll soon be that time again. Yep, it’s 2019, and we’d like to wish you and yours the most brilliant of New Years. Make sure to check out our bucket list feature for great ways to fill it up, and fire us over updates of the antics you get up to. Here’s to a safe and fun season!