Leonie is a Triumph aficionado . Both her and husband John ride excellent examples of the marque , but , being a designer , Leonie has configured her black Triumph Speed Twin with beautiful aftermarket touches , making the already handsome bike into a work of art . Motone pipes , bar-end mirrors of polished metal , Ohlins rear suspenders , sump guard , aftermarket covers , a knurled aluminium gas cap , and a custom diagonal chequerboard saddle in dark brown leather , combine with many small touches to make the bike uniquely her own . It ’ s her dream bike she says , and she adores it . Having ridden pillion with John for about 10 years , doing thousands of kilometres together , she said , “ He became too comfortable with me on the back ...”, so she decided to get her own bike and licence . John remembers a different motivation . He remembers her being asked rather pointedly by a group of independent women riders why she didn ’ t have her own licence . To which she replied , “ I think I ’ m too old now ”. One of the ladies pipes up and says in indignant fashion “ I don ’ t think so , girlfriend . I ’ m in my 50 ’ s ! ”, she points to another and says , “ She ’ s 63 ”, and the last woman added “ And I ’ m in my 70 ’ s !”. Needless to say Leonie booked her test . She bought a Yamaha MT03 , which she loved learning on , and joined Every Sunday riders as soon as John and friend Preston O ’ Brien and three others began it . Next she graduated to a Yamaha XSR , before finally getting the bike of her dreams and styling it perfectly . She says she would never have another brand of bike now , the Triumph styling and old school heritage appeals to her , and she is very happy riding with John and others – anywhere , anytime . She ’ ll leap aboard when she needs to and uses it to escape the stresses of life . Leonie insists on doing all the work on her bike herself , and hates sharing a garage when she ’ s working . She reckons she ’ s no ‘ biker chick ’ though , rather an engaged motorcyclist who enjoys riding with others . “ But ”, she says , “ the best trips are spontaneous runs to the Puhoi Pub with John for a pizza and beer .” A mid-afternoon stop at the Awakino Hotel was
Two-up motorcycle gymkhana is a test of motorcycle welcome control , and we were met by the sight of a skinny Stunning skies in the Taranaki marlin being weighed in at the car park , which KIWI RIDER 89