Bike’s bike addicts
Five blokes, 23 bikes between them. Bike’s team of accumulators pass on their multi-bike ownership tips
Hugo Wilson, Bike editor
Bikes currently owned? There’s a 1948 Matchless in the house, a Moto Guzzi scooter and a Honda VFR in the yard, a Moto Morini 3½ Sport in a lock-up across town, a moped in the Bike lock-up 12 miles away, a Moto Morini Camel at a farm 50 miles down the A1 and another receiving remedial attention with a specialist. Storage is a problem. What’s next? Seven bikes is almost manageable but I now operate a strict one-in-one-out policy. A Moto Guzzi V11 might replace the VFR, the Mobylette and Morini 3½ are heirlooms that my kids will have to deal with. What’s the ideal number? Three: a modern road bike, a trail bike and an entertaining classic, but I lack the will power. Tips for a happy life with multiple bikes? Classic insurance, plus free tax and no MOT on bikes over 40 years old saves money and grief. Involving family and friends is good. Mrs W. enjoys scooter outings, two trail bikes allows rides with my son, moped gang rampages are hilarious.
Paul Lang Bike art director
Bikes currently owned? A 1993 Ducati Monster M900, a 1998 Honda CR250 Supermoto, a 1982 Honda NCZ50 Motocompo and a 1972
Carnielli Graziella, lovingly known as a Cheeky Boy. What’s next?
My last two acquisitions have been folding mopeds and I would love a couple more. Maybe an Italjet Pack 2 or a WW2 Corgi. The genius of a tiny bike obsession is that they take up almost no space. What’s the ideal number? Similar to your wardrobe, have a piece for every occasion. Track, road, touring, off-road, giggles… it’s the perfect excuse to purchase more. Tips for a happy life with multiple bikes? Be happy with what you’ve got and make sure you get the most enjoyment out of them. My collection of oddities is more rewarding than having the latest, trickest, most expensive machine that you are afraid to ride.
Mike Armitage, Bike deputy editor
Bikes currently owned? Three: Yamaha TDR250, Honda C50, Royal Enfield Bullet Electra X. Each does something different so there’s usually a bike to suit a given excursion or mood. The problem is remembering tedious stuff like MOT dates and finding time to ride them as much as I want, and Mrs A. thinking that three is more than anyone needs. What’s next? I’d love a 750cc sportsbike for occasional head-down silliness, the odd trackday and moments of shed-based gawping. Ideally a 1998 Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD but depending on what I’ve had for lunch it could equally be an FZR400RR, or a VFR800, or a ZRX1200R, or a Suzuki Goose… What’s the ideal number?
I’m happy with three, though suspect five would be perfect. Extreme accumulation is prevented primarily by finances; if I had some disposable cash then I’d give in to more of the metal-based crushes. Tips for a happy life with multiple bikes? Emotional connections are good. Buying back your first bike for soul-stirring purposes is easier for domestic management to understand than buying one because it has a gear-driven backplate sprocket on a cast magnesium flange drive.
John Naish, Bike contributor
Bikes currently owned? Six: Kawasaki Z1 900, 1975; Suzuki GS1000S, 1979; Kawasaki H1 500, 1975; Kawasaki KH250, 1976;
multiple bikes? Keep on top of maintenance. It’s tempting to stop riding one when it needs fixing and enjoy the rest instead. Then the next one breaks and you leave that too… until you’re down to one working bike, and the demands of fixing the fleet feel overwhelming. Better to open the garage door and think, which beauty shall I take today? And buy bikes that are the same colour. Blue works well, I’m told. Keep them in a garage remote from the house. Your wife might pretend to think you own only one motorcycle.
Mark Williams, Bike founding editor
Bikes currently owned? An SWM Gran Milano – currently being radically customised into a post-apocalyptic streetfighter (honest), 1991 BMW K75S – my very comfy, highly biddable, surprisingly powerful, ultra-reliable hauler, a mildly customised 1983 Honda VT500 Ascot that’s highly entertaining on twisty backroads. What’s next? Maybe a Yamaha SCR950 or Guzzi V7 Stone, because I haven’t owned an aircooled V-twin since 1980-something and I miss the visceral feel and sound thereof. What’s the ideal number? Five is my magic number. An affordable adventure trailie that’s competent off-road would be a nice addition: maybe an SWM Superdual, a tricked-up Enfield Himalayan… or time to re-build yet another Yamaha XT350/500. Tips for a happy
life with multiple bikes? SORN any bikes you’re not actually going to ride, or you may get a hefty fine from the DVLA when you come to re-tax them. And there really is no point in owning bikes you aren’t going to ride. If that turns out to be the case, flog ’em and buy ones that you are.
‘… more rewarding than having the latest, trickest machine’