WILL COLEMAN
1982 KAWASAKI Z440 LTD
Ever since riding Rick’s Triumph, I’ve noticed my interests are changing – now I keep looking at Triumph projects on ebay, but going to the West Kent I began to understand what Rick means about there being a much bigger picture than buying online. I can see the sense in getting to know people and asking around until the right bike finds you.
I think technology has moved so fast in recent years that for people of my age there’s a kind of automatic assumption that anything old has to be rubbish. That may be true with phones, but I got into the Z440 Kawasakis I ride because I liked being able to work on them. Modern bikes are so tied into computers that you can’t even fiddle with the indicators without messing something else up. There’s a solid feel to old bikes – a chunk of aluminium is way more substantial than a bit of plastic.
I was really grateful when Rick offered me the chance to ride his Triumph on the West Kent Run. At first I was pretty apprehensive, with the gears and brake being on the opposite sides, but I got used to it... sort of! The bike felt really ‘planted’, although the riding position and rearward sweep of the handlebars felt very different to the Kawasaki – the Triumph seemed to swoop round corners rather than whip round them like my bike. The biggest difference was the power delivery; the Triumph was really grunty compared to the 440 and felt raw and unrefined. It’s exciting, but it left me thinking: ‘Er, is it meant to be like this?!’
Taking Maria on the back after the puncture was quite helpful, as I was able to tell my girlfriend Ellie that the bike was great two-up – she likes the look of old Triumphs anyway...
The West Kent was an excellent event and I felt very welcome. With my usual friends I don’t get the chance to talk bikes for two days solid, and I enjoyed camping with Tom and Rick’s other friends. Everyone was really friendly and there’s no age barrier when you’re talking bikes. I had a ride round the campsite on Rick’s TRIBSA scrambler, his 1928 Sunbeam and his mate Nick’s 1930 Triumph NSD; that’s not the sort of thing that happens everywhere you go, but it seemed normal there.
I’m definitely planning to come back next year, the only thing is... well, Rick kept saying: “One puff and you’re hooked,” and he’s right. I’m saving up for something British – Nick suggested an Enfield might make an affordable option, but Rick still thinks we may be able to find a 350 or 500 Triumph at the right price.
‘EVERYONE WAS REALLY FRIENDLY AND THERE’S NO AGE BARRIER WHEN YOU’RE TALKING BIKES’