OUR BIKES
I have to accept that one road bike is as
much as my marriage can withstand. Off
road, I ride a Beta 250 trials bike, a truly
magnificent wee beast and a story for
another day.
I have looked at the new Triumph 900
Tiger Rally as a way that might combine all
my foibles into one bike, but that is a way
off yet. It will be an excellent compromise
eventually, but while the blood in my veins
still has some heat, the Thruxton 1200R is
my absolute darling. Heads turn every day
it’s parked in public, people of both sexes
come to chat about the bikes of their own
past and are amazed that it is new, reliable,
doesn’t leak oil, twice the cc of old, and
damn near half the weight, as well as
staggeringly pretty.
There are those riders who believe the
BMW R9T to be a thing of beauty, but my
daughter, the optometrist, doesn’t currently
need anymore clients. Jokes.
When your pride and joy looks like the
perfect vision of your childhood dreams,
rides like the rocket factory built it, is
finished like an art installation, and
performs with grace, style and impeccable
efficiency, I know it is my perfect bike. It will
go as hard as I push it, and then some, and
I will come home again.
Grinning like a bloody idiot.
40 KIWI RIDER