My timeline in motorbikes

It’s kind of odd that I start this site speaking of motorcycles – as much as I like them, most affectionate bikers I know have a much stronger relationship with their bikes and riding in general than I have with mine. I also feel like I should ride more, so perhaps this will provide some additional motivation to do so.

When I started to look wistfully at bikes, several friends of mine grimaced in pain – or in the anticipation of pain. I am known to be clumsy and somewhat reckless, and it is generally thought that this combination does not make for the best riders.

Happy to report that twentysomething years later I’ve not yet managed to kill myself, even though I do show some debatable affection for the tarmac.

The first one. Ducati Monster 750

Photo courtesy of a random French person trying to sell a similar one – Mercì and best of luck.

The story of me and the Monster somehow summarises most of the things I like less about myself. I got it on a whim without having ever sat on a motorbike before (and not being a dragon on a bike either) – and I couldn’t even really afford it back then. On the first outing, shortly after discovering how steering works (which felt like sorcery), I fell for the first time as I was startled by a car overtaking me on my right.

I practiced largely at night as there was less traffic, and in a few days I thought I had good command of the thing, enough to attempt a wheelie leaving the traffic lights to a roundabout. I really don’t know how such thought occurred to me, and by the Gods, was it embarassing.

Long story short, I started using it less and less often, and we parted ways with some shame few months later. As fine a bike as I am sure it is, I cannot say anything about it as a vehicle as our story tells more about me – a long wait was to occur until the next one.

The London one. Honda CBF 125

Photo of the actual thing. Unsurprisingly wet.

Roughly 10 years later, the memory of the Monster was still painful enough to decide to do baby-steps. Good decision this was.

This little thing, admittedly too little under my 100kg frame (add pic of bear on unicycle here), was a pleasure to throw around, and so light and easy to pick up that I thought I could remedy my inevitable fuck ups almost by pure force of will. In the city it was a godsend and I had some fun with it outside, too. I would still like to have a 125 around here just for playing and fucking around.

This inexpensive toynever gave me a problem in the (2? 3?) years I used it and she tolerated quite a trashing. I was just thinking of upgrading it and on my way to get my full A UK licence when we decided to leave the UK, so I just had to let it go.

The first love. Honda CB 500 S

Oh Odin if I miss her!

Depending who you ask, they might suggest this is a good beginner bike, or claim she is uninspiring. I loved her to bits.

So, I had the version with some fairing (above it’s her in the flesh) and these bits of plastic do WORK in keeping the airflow away. I loved the “straight from the 80s” look, and there is surely nothing classier than golden wheel rims to date. The bike is reliable, predictable in the erogation (with a nice kick on the upper end), light and yet stable in all weather… and you can buy it for next to nothing. I would like to have another one of these, if I only had a garage…

I used to commute 100km daily with her and that helped to learn the ropes proper – still had no licence at the time but I am positive there was a legal loophole I was exploiting so all good. During the commute I also fell a couple of times – these accidents quite possibly ended up making me a more attentive rider. Long highway rides, Alps, Appennines, and my personal speed record so far.. she did it all and never let me down.

Yet, we had to part for an accident. We were in for my longest – and funniest – trip yet: Milan to Valencia, secondary roads only, “Extra curvy roads” mostly selected by the amazing “Kurviger Pro” app. Things changed but the trip looked a bit like this:

This is probably one of the best thing I almost did – despite the scorching heat of long stretches of the road in July. I crashed almost at the end, projecting myself against an enemy vehicle ™. I was right, for what matters, but it does not matter much when you are on a bike and crash against a car. Protective equipment saved me (the helmet was cracked and the back protector took a good hit) and I just had few broken bones and a totalled bike to cry on.

I did not stay off a bike long, but to date I have not done another similar long trip yet (mostly though for lack of time).

The bike I really wanted to love. Moto Guzzi V7 III

She’s pretty, isn’t she?

I longed for a Guzzi for a long time. This was the time: “New Country, New Bike” – especially as the old one’s engine was broken clean. I wasn’t lucky as covid and confinement came but we never really clicked. I had some good fun on it but I always found her wanting when pushing the throttle, somewhat less stable in corners than I wanted… and quite a bit to often to the mechanic.
I loved her sound and her look – but then this was perhaps what I needed to realise I am an “Honda guy”. I sold her back to the original seller and finally found the one (so far).

The one: Honda CB 1300 S

Red and white scream “I am classy and I fucking know it”

She came home after quite a bit of hunting as there are not many around here, and even less sporting the ABS, but this is the perfect bike. She’s got the 80’s look(🎵), I like, heavy (“Heavy is good. Heavy is reliable”), yet easy to flick around. She drinks a lot – but frankly, so do I.

Only gripe is I don’t use her much. This is something I need to assess and actively make time for. Work from home and having everything generally within 20mins walking makes it for less travelling.

Finally, if I were a rich man (🎵), I would probably have three or four bikes that I don’t use in the garage, and I think I know which ones.