back I bought a Vespa 300 GTS. Loved it. Zapping
from point to point, in swarming Auckland traffic,
it was a revelation. You know the drill; chuck your
helmet under the seat and arrive in a suit (there’s
a certain élan to be-suited scooter driving). But
it came after surgically removing a fairly large
roll of wedge. I’d looked around for months to
find the sort of bike I actually wanted - quick,
nimble, stylish – after all if you’re going to rock
up to a producers meeting, the bike needs a
bit of presence, at my age. Couldn’t find it.
Budget was a consideration. Today,
I still have a wife who likes me.
So here’s the point. This little BMW
is exactly what I wanted, then.
I’m not going to fluff this – it is absolutely bloody
wonderful. I do not believe a better learner bike
has ever been made. And that is its market. Yes,
I enjoyed zipping around on it, and wringing a
handful out of the 300cc single is just a grinning
delight. It revs like a banshee when asked, and it’s
so light and nimble, you dance with it. The seating
is compact for someone of my leg length, but at
a shade over six feet, with a short top half, I fitted
KIWI RIDER 67