‘Maybe you should get into the classic moped scene’

I’ve come up with some twowheeled experiences you might think of trying for the first time over the next 12 months. You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Have you ever ridden a sidecar outfit, for example? I can confirm that piloting a combination is a very different experience. to riding a solo machine – and certainly not intuitive. But when you get to the stage of being able to go where you were planning to go and stop in a straight line, it feels very satisfying. Gerry Fry in our workshop, who rode a trials outfit in the British Bike Championship for many years has given me a little tuition and advice. I’d recommend finding your own Gerry before venturing out on the roads, too. Outfits seem to have a mind of their own.

And talking of trials, you really do need to own a classic trials bike. I rode my 1947 AJS rigid in the Talmag Trial this month and had a brilliant day out. I wish I’d started trials riding years ago. My

Ajay is nothing special to look at, but it used to belong to local AJS specialist Maurice Hocking and the engine is superb. After five years of trying, I managed my best ever result at Hungry Hill, cleaning 29 out of 30 sections. Forty years ago, I was watching Sammy Miller clean up at the Talmag – and this year he was there watching me.

Trials is addictive. I’ve also got one of Gerry’s old 350 Triumphs (in solo trim) set up for long distance trials and a TLR200 Honda and 1974 Ossa MAR for twinshock events. Oh, and I’ve just bought what I think is a sister machine to the seven 1970 ISDT Cheney Triumphs. Should I ride such a precious machine? You bet. You can’t have too many trials bikes.

Maybe this is the year you should get into the classic moped scene. My first bike was a Fantic Super T – I still own one today and love riding it. And, through the Odiham MCC, I’ve got into ‘racing’ a classic moped at their twice-ayear ‘Mopedathon’ endurance races. You wouldn’t believe how much fun you can have on a moped. Try it. You might just be surprised. classicsuperbikes.co.uk