OFFICE OIKS
‘So much more than a pretty face’
Best ride A 50-mile Austrian mountain pass between Graz and the Red Bull Ring; the Scrambler made it both an effortless and enjoyable ride.
Longest day 801 miles travelling home from Austrian Grand Prix.
What hurt first? Knees. The footpegs are quite high so you start to ache after a few hours in the saddle.
Anything to confess? Got pulled by the cops. I can’t remember what speed I was doing but they didn’t know either. Someone was on my side that day.
High point Opening the throttle on a summer’s day and drinking in the sound of that throaty V-twin.
Low point My foot slipping off a footpeg on a commute home and looking down to find oil everywhere. A stone had hit the oil cooler pipe and caused a right mess. What do you most admire? It’s a tossup between how great it looks and the sound… probably the sound.
What’s it really good at?
Waking up the neighbours.
And really bad at?
Rain riding; there is zero protection.
What’s broken or fallen off? A mirror fell off after John McGuinness’ son’s driving instructor reversed into it.
What irritates? The brake hose that for some reason is routed over the dash.
Tell us a secret
I got 180 miles out of a tank once.
What did you think at the beginning?
I was going to have a good summer.
And now? That I had a good summer; but given how pretty it is I can’t imagine subjecting it to a salty British winter.