BEEN THERE, GOT THE T-SHIRT
A ride to Barcelona in 1984, with a crashing Bike editor.
One evening back in 1984 my friend Doug and I were discussing where to go at the weekend when he saw there was a 24-hour endurance race at Montjuic, Barcelona with the added bonus Teambike were there. We bumped into a few known people on the way down including Brecon Quaddy (Bike editor at the time) who was testing a GSX750 which he dropped while keeping up with Doug (who had been racing a 250LC in the production class back then).
The T-shirt now covers the screen of my GS1000G project which is the same type of machine as I had in 1984. Steven Benterman, email
The more things change I’m 60 this year. As a motorcycle (specifically chopper) obsessed kid my mother would post Street Chopper to my boarding school (I know, I know...) so I could get my fix of flexy forks and Americana. But things change… An expanding waistline and Covid have made me reappraise all that’s pleasurable, practical and possible in motorcycling; I’ve recently sold my Bimotas, my TL-R and my H2 Carbon. I’ve turned my back on trackdays and found solace in the joys of green lanes, roadbook rallying and a Moto Guzzi V7 Special. How’s that for a step-change? My journey from Puch VZ50 via X7, 350LCS, various large Zeds, the original Fireblade, and the H2 has been a long and ongoing one. But Bike has remained my window into the world of bikes and biking. It’ll be my probate solicitor who cancels the subscription. Here’s to the next 50 years.
David Campbell, email
Miserable old twats
I bought my first bike, a Suzuki GP125, in August 1978, which I traded in the following January for a CB250N Superdream. I lived in rural Wales and patronised the local Honda dealer, who had a showroom resplendent with CX500S, CB900FS and CBXS.
I was loyal to that dealer, despite the nationwide deals on offer in MCN, solely because they refused to service anything which hadn’t been bought from them. They were, as you stated, ‘miserable old twats’ (Bike, September). My wife’s last bike, a 600 Hornet, was couriered in a van from Scotland to Wales, and my XJR1300 arrived in a similar manner. My local dealer is happy to service them, and engage in genial banter over a coffee. We live in more enlightened times. Martin Schell, email
Bikes save lives
This weekend had been the first I’ve been able to return to my family home in West Wales for nine months (Covid). During that time my father, who is mad about all things motorcycle, has had life changing cancer surgery. There’ve been times over the last few months when I’ve worried dad wouldn’t ride again but today, with the
sun shining, we dusted off his ride and hit the road…
The ride in question is a 2008 Triumph Bonneville with naughty pipes, attached to a Watsonian sidecar. We only went for a short spin and followed it with ice cream overlooking the beautiful Taf estuary at Laugharne. During our time on the road dad and I forgot the stress, anxiety and worry of the last few months. He was no longer the frail shadow of himself he’s been recently, and I was 13 again. Whilst we sat at Laugharne looking at the view, Dad said to me, ‘that bike’s going to keep me alive son’. That sentence encapsulates for me the power of a motorcycle .
Sam Hodson, email
V4 KTM
Come on KTM, where’s the V4 Superduke for the road. Not all of us want to buy Italian and if it’s anything like the 1298 it will be phenomenal Martyn Webster, email 1972
It’s 1972 and I’m 12 years old and I’m being piloted around the Loire in a Simca, parents up front drinking in the bucolic pleasures of the French countryside. But, we could have been in Eritrea (had it been founded earlier) for all I cared, because I had been devouring my much-thumbed copy of Bike since we picked up our rental car at Nantes airport a week earlier.
I can visualise it now, not the chateaux, or rolling vineyards, but rather Mark Williams languidly smoking a B&H, sixteener shoot-outs and an alluring Moto Morini 3.5. It stays in the blood this motorcycle thing. At 61 I’ve ridden through over 40 countries, over mountain passes and across deserts. Sometimes I feel a bit jaded. However, I still rip Bike out of its envelope when it arrives and pour over it like a reluctant Maoist after ten years of the Little Red Book. I hope to carry on this routine until I die, so a big thank you to the torch bearers of Bike. Ash Rhodes, email
It’s funny ‘cos it’s true
I’ve been reflecting on the biggest change to motorcycle ownership in recent times. Not electric power, Euro 5, cruise control, hipsters or the demise of the humble choke. I’m referring to the perils of internet forums… They can be a treasure trove of information, but forum administrators should adjust their sign-up pages as follows: Do you agree to post a grumpy reply to anyone posting a question that has been asked before? Do you agree to respond to a question asking for advice on how to fix a problem by saying you should never have bought that thing in the first place? Do you agree to include a list of all the bikes you own as your signature so you can show you’re not a newbie? Do you agree to post replies that change the topic as quickly as possible so you can feel part of the conversation even if you don’t know the answer to the question? Neil Adams, email
We’re backing Bourne Peter Boast’s articles about Franco Bourne’s progression in Junior Superstock this season made me appreciate what it takes for a young rider to have a chance of making it, so when I read about Franco’s fundraising page we happily chipped in.
It feels nice to help somebody out, but that little bit of altruism paid back at Brands Hatch a week later with my young sons and their cousins.
I pointed Franco out to the kids as he went past, explaining that we had given some cash for his campaign and they were delighted to have a link to one of the riders out there. They strained to be the first to spot him as he came up Pilgrims and cheered him on round Druids! Now they were asking about grid positions, the track layout, how fast they go – last time out they were more focused on the selection at the pick-and-mix stand. Four new motor-racing fans were born, and my brother and I can now comfortably share our passion with properly engaged kids. Sponsorship money definitely well spent.
Peter Fitton, email
Thanks Peter, Franco really appreciates the support. More on page 124, including information on his just giving page. HW