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Welcome to "The Garage"

(aka my Bike Page)



Beware of pot-holes and wet drain covers
27th June, 1998 - Latest outing
This page looks its best when viewed at 1024x768, but should be OK for 640x480
Hi, and welcome to my Bike Page. You are visitor number since I started this page on January 17th, 1997.

I started my biking life many years ago, as a teenager, with a little Puch 50 moped. It wasn't a Puch Maxi - it looked like a 'real' bike (I think it was called an M50 Sport), but I never saw another one on the road. I would be interested to hear from anyone else that ever owned or even saw one!
I went along to a local training scheme run by the RAC/ACU, and quickly gained the proficiency to outgrow the Puch, and traded it in for a Honda CJ250T. Bright yellow and black, it was - I didn't need a fluorescent Sam Brown - the tank was visible for miles! Funnily enough, I never saw another one like this on the road, either. I passed my test, but enjoyed the atmosphere at the training scheme, and kept going back as a helper. It wasn't long before I was sent to do the RAC/ACU's 'Instructor's course, and became a qualified Instructor! I even got a petrol allowance (it didn't cover what I spent, but what the heck - I didn't do it for the money!).
We found that a considerable number of our ex-pupils were coming back, either on a regular basis to help out, or for the half hour break in the middle of the afternoon, just for a 'social', so we formed a club, the basis thereof being the encouragement of young motorcyclists to enjoy 'enlightened' and safer riding than was the norm in those days (jump on a 50cc bike at 16 and kill yourself, or wait until you were 17 and jump on a 250cc bike - remember the old Yamaha RD250? - and kill yourself faster!). I am glad to see that in the UK at least (I don't know the regulations elsewhere), that both classroom and practical basic training are now essential to passing the test, and if you want to ride a bigger bike before passing your test, you have to do it accompanied by an instructor. The club's membership swelled, and included many of our old pupils, as well as most of each new intake for the training course, and a fair number of 'mature' experienced riders.
The 'Instructor with the yellow Honda' just had to get an upgrade, since a lot of his students were turning up with bikes more powerful than his own, so I moved to a 400 SuperDream. Not the standard blue or silver colour scheme, but pure black, with two-tone orange pinstripes around the tank and on the side covers. I only ever saw one other of these on the road (looking back, it seems I had a thing about unique bikes), and it was the subject of many admiring comments at the club. This bike saw me through to the end of my first bout of motorcycle mania, a period totalling 6 or 7 years, during which I owned only two bikes (okay two and a half if you include the Puch), but had the opportunity to sample dozens - virtually every bike 250cc and under at the time, Honda CX500 (one of the first shaft-drives), BMW R60, Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans, 1000cc Laverda something or other (don't think it was a Jota), to name just a few of the more exotic ones.
Advancing years (23, huh!), courting, and foul weather, eventually meant that my car (that I had had from about age 21) took greater and greater priority as a form of transport, and I laid the bike up for the winter. It wasn't the done thing to turn up at a bike club in a car, so I gradually lost touch with my bikey mates. Eventually, the inevitable happened, and one by one, during the course of a single winter, three of my mates had bad smashes, from which only two returned to bikes. I decided to sell my bike the following spring, and stick to cars. Subsequently, I got married, and have raised a family. I saw in a newspaper a year or two after getting rid of my bike, that one of my closest friends during my early biking years, had been killed in a large pile-up on the M25. I don't know if he was still on a bike at the time, but it was upsetting nonetheless.

So, here I am, 13 years later. We have two cars and three kids. Our main car is big enough for the whole family, but the second car definitely isn't, and is not used all that much either. Proposal: ditch the second car, and get me a bike instead! Financially it makes sense, and it gives me an excuse to get back on a bike. Sure, I am a bit daunted at the prospect - bikes are a lot more powerful now, than they were 15 years ago, and there are considerably more cars on the road too! I think that my previous life as an instructor, and all the bad habits that I have picked up as a car driver, should serve to keep me on my toes if I do get a bike, but 13 years IS a long time!

Jan 27 '97 - This weekend, I've seen, ridden, and decided to buy a Honda CB500. The Bike Shop at Faversham is willing to do a trade based on the value of the car as well, so all in all, the deal fits all round. I took a demo bike out for a ride - the shop wanted to make sure that after 13 years, I wasn't going to be wasting my money - so they insisted that I go out for an hour or so, before we talked business (I think they just wanted me well and truly "on the hook"). After an awkward first mile, getting the feel of the clutch and brakes, I remembered to lean the bike around bends, rather than steering it, and then suddenly, it all came flooding back to me.
From the Bike Shop, I returned to the M2, headed London-bound for 1 stop, then off and left onto the road heading down towards Ashford. This is a gently curving, quiet country road, a lot of which unfortunately, at this time of year, heads directly into the sun at 3 in the afternoon, which is just when I was riding down it. Along the way, I was forced to stop at some traffic lights for roadworks. I could see beyond that the road was clear, straight(ish) and dry, so I decided to 'open her up' as I pulled away. Gently at first, to avoid an embarrassing uncontrolled wheelie, I took the revs up to about 9,000 before switching to 2nd, and similarly for 3rd gear. Looking at the speedo revealed I was already pushing 70mph, so in the name of integrity (not to mention the £250 I would have to stump up if I damaged their bike), I eased back the throttle, and took it straight up to 6th gear, where I let the speed fall off to something more appropriate to the country roads I was using. A few miles later, and I turned left again onto the Canterbury to Charing road, back towards Canterbury. On the outskirts of Canterbury, I dropped down onto the A2, for a quick blast down to Bridge, before exitting, crossing over, and re-joining on the other side, to come back to Canterbury. At the lights, I was in the 2nd lane, behind a car. The road quickly narrows to just one lane here, while swinging left. The lights changed, the car in front of me leisurely moves ahead of the cars to our left, and pulls in, but I am left with about 20 yards of 2 lanes. Pull in behind him, or get in front? Well - what would you do - I was still only in 2nd, so down goes the wrist, and three seconds later, I am comfortably at the head of the queue of traffic, and can throttle back again - what a buzz! This is what bikes are all about - being in control. A little bit of stop-start stuff in and around Canterbury, then back up to the A2 heading back to Faversham.

Before I knew it, I had been out for an hour, and covered 35 - 40 miles of motorway, country roads, lanes, and city center traffic. The bike behaved beautifully, easing me gently to 70mph without ever revving above 5,000 (red-line at 10,500), and hitting 80mph from a standing start in just a few seconds, still in third gear, by twisting the throttle a bit harder.

Back at the shop, I am looking at the CB500 they have for sale. Two years old, with 9,800 miles on the clock, identical to the demo bike I have just ridden. It has a half fairing (from the top of the radiator, up) with twin headlights, and it's red (The pickie above is taken from the '97 Honda Catalogue - I will post a picture of MY bike as soon as I get one). The finances having been worked out, I collect my bike next Saturday (1st Feb). Watch this space...

Feb 01 '97 - Today, I collected my bike. The day dawned dry and bright, if not a little on the cool side (but you can't have everything, can you). I drove the old car to the Bike Shop, via Argos where I picked up a backpack to help carry all my gear around in. Got the paperwork sorted out first, then went upstairs to the shops 'gear' section. Found a nice Shoei helmet, Weise jacket, boots, gloves, etc., then went back downstairs, where the guys from the workshop had wheeled the bike out to the road for me. A quick run through (this is how you open the filler cap, check the oil, etc.), then it was all mine. --->
The fairing certainly makes a difference to the wind hitting your body, but I found myself getting a stiff neck after a few miles at about between 60 & 80mph, I guess where the wind catches the top of the helmet. I also had a bit of trouble with the visor flying open each time I checked over my shoulder - I was afraid of losing my glasses, but I guess I'll get used to it, or find some way to avoid it. My only other worry is that my gloves feel so thick, that I have trouble feeling the controls - I keep bleeping the horn instead of cancelling the indicators, but again, I guess I'll get used to it - and the gloves will wear in in time too.
Feb 03 '97 - On Saturday, I just rode the bike home, then of course, all the kids wanted to sit on it, and pose for photo's etc., but I didn't get another chance to ride it till this morning, coming in to work. I was horrified to find that the roads were covered with a substantial layer of slippery frost. "That's it!" I thought, "I'm going to end up dropping it on my first day", but taking it carefully, I negotiated the slippy roads out of our village and onto the main roads which were just damp (but only marginally less slippy!). I made it into work with no incidents or 'excitement'. I am now sitting writing this, looking forward to going home tonight, so that I can try it out in the dark, and find out what the lights are like.
Feb 15 '97 - It's Saturday. Today, we are going to Maidstone, to stay with my wife's family for the weekend. The kids are on holiday, so they will stay over on Monday, while I come back for work. So, I've got the perfect excuse to go on the bike. By 10am, we've got the kids and everything packed into the car, so I get my gear on and get on the bike. It's cold but dry, so I decide that I don't need the overtrousers - Jeans should be OK. So off we go. Karen & kids (and gerbils) in the car, and me following on the bike. Karen feels she has something to prove, so she sets off up the road like a bat out of hell. I am determined not to get drawn into a race (at least not this soon!), so I plod along after her. She is waiting for me at the first junction anyway. I think she got the message.
The journey from home to Canterbury is slow and laborious. I could have overtaken many times, but I want to stick with Karen for now. By the time we have gone a mile, I began to remember what a drastic affect cold wind between the legs has on your bladder! After about three miles, I am beginning to wish I had put on the overtrousers after all. By six miles, I am starting to get tempted to overtake after all, and get ahead so I can find a convenient tree! Eventually, we get to Canterbury, where Karen wanted to stop off at a supermarket. "Will you wait with the children, while I go in?" she asks over her shoulder, and before I can answer, she's gone! After another 15 minutes of hopping from foot to foot, she finally gets back and I sprint to those toilets for blessed relief! Back on the bike, and I follow her out of the car park, and onto the main road. There are a couple of bikes waiting at the lights, to go in the opposite direction. They both wave to me, but I guess are a little perplexed as to why I am plodding behind this car, on an otherwise clear road! From Canterbury to Maidstone is about 30 miles. We go across country - main roads, but fairly quiet. There is a section by Chilham Castle, where the road does a lazy right followed by a lazy left. I let Karen get a bit ahead, so I could try leaning the bike a little more than I have been able to in the last couple of weeks between home and work. I hit the pair of turns at about 50 - 60 mph, and just lean the bike over to the right, round the first, then flip it upright and over to the left, and out the other side, still doing the same speed. What a beautiful feeling. But now I have to slow down, 'coz I have caught up with Karen already! Next time, I'll give her more space and try it a little faster! The bug is definitely biting again. Even 13 years of being cocooned in a car hasn't killed it!
A few miles further on, down the hill to Charing. At the bottom of the hill is a Happy Eater, with a pub next door, both of which often have a handful of bikes in their car parks. Today is no exception, and I am greeted by several as I pass by. The next stretch is a fairly wide stretch of open road. We got caught behind a slow moving car, and when we reached a straightish part, Karen pulled out to overtake. I let her go, then knock the bike down a gear, sweep out from behind the slower car, and back in again. By the time Karen has finished her more gentile manouver, and checks her mirror, I am already back in the same position she has seen me throughout the journey. I can see her grinning - she can see how much I am enjoying myself. Near Leeds Castle, the road does a double bend to the right, while also going over the brow of a slight rise. I can still remember nearly getting caught out there, back in my teen years. I hit the first bend doing 70+, and made it round by the skin of my teeth, but barely had time to get the bike upright again, and hit the brakes, before I was on the second bend, still doing about 60mph, and cresting the rise to boot! I learned new respect for that stretch of road that day, and it has stuck with me ever since. Today, I took it at a more acceptable 45-50mph. Much more comfortable, if a little less 'exciting'!
On to the final stretch, down through the village of Leeds, across the Maidstone to Tenterden road, then down to Boughton Monchelsea. I got caught at the junction, and got seperated from Karen. When I finally got across, and onto the small lane opposite, I was able to chase after her, but couldn't quite catch her up. However, she continued on our normal (car) route, while I nipped down a short-cut, that on the bike, might save me some time. At the other end, I was able to pull out in front of her, and so for the last 1/4 mile of the journey, I finally got to be in front! A minute or two later, and we pull up at her parents place. It's normally a pretty mindless journey, that we have done so many times, I am sure the car knows it's own way, but today, I can remember virtually every inch of the journey, and can tell you where the slippery bits were, the potholes, and just about any other aspect of the journey. I think I need some caffeine or something, to bring me back down again for a while.
See you again soon...
May 23 '97 - Today is Friday and this weekend is a Bank Holiday weekend. I hope to get out on the bike SOMEwhere this weekend - it's been a while since I have done anything beyond riding from home to work, and work to home, but I still really enjoy even that short ride. I have been for a couple of excursions out through the country lanes on my way home, rather than straight down the main road, but nothing much more than that to report.

Sadly, I have just heard that Robbie Powell, owner of the Bike Shop at Faversham, and the guy that got me back onto two wheels, died very suddenly recently. A sad loss to the local biking community, but I hope that the shop will be able to carry on in his memory. If ever they read this, my condolences to his family.

It appears that I have become something of hero with the children in our village. My children are regularly asked questions about my bike, and all the children from the school wave to me when I ride by. One has brow-beaten his father into getting his bike out of mothballs, while another of the Dad's has confessed his yearning for two wheels to me, and is now planning to get himself a bike also. If this goes on, we might have to form a PTA Bike Club! There are also several of the more elderly residents who frequently stop and talk to me now, about their times and adventures on two wheels.

Dec 22 '97 - It's nearly Christmas, and I am rapidly approaching the first anniversary of my rebirth on two wheels. Thankfully, no spills to report, but unfortunately I do now have a couple of scratches on the bike - I dropped it while putting it on the centre-stand would you believe! Damn was I mad as hell for the rest of that day...

I've not had the opportunity to do anything much other than local stuff to work and back, or occasionally to Canterbury, with the exception of one Sunday morning back in the summer. My cousin and her husband were staying with us for the weekend, and he has also just got himself on two wheels (although it is his first time). He has a Honda CBR1000 and was just itching to show it off to me, so he bought it down from Oxford and on the Sunday morning, we went out for a spin, planning to meet our wives at Deal for a picnic. They did the 7 miles in a car in 15 minutes, while we did the 'scenic' route on our bikes, covering about 60 miles, and taking about an hour and a half. Surprisingly with me on a 500 and him on a 1000, I kept losing him (I suppose that knowing the roads and where to overtake was probably an unfair advantage), but it gave us both a chance to 'spread our wings' so to speak, just for a little while.

Jun 27 '98 - My cousin and her husband are visiting again. With them coming down to us from Oxford, Pete and I decided to make his ride a little more interesting than just 'motorway, motorway, motorway', by both he and I aiming independently for Brighton, and then coming back together along the south coast. Unfortunately, the day dawned very wet and windy, so we put off our little excursion for another time, and he suffered the motorways coming directly to us. We did go out for a little ride this evening, though. We headed out towards Dover, and the Alkham valley. It's a lovely scenic route through a couple of little villages, with some nice bends. We cruised along the valley, and at the end he said "How about going back and doing it again" while a big grin spread across his face. On our return trip, we picked up another biker who followed us along. Pete led this time, and decided to let me see what his 1000 ccs could do that my 500 ccs can't! This time we covered the same distance in a little over half the original time - I didn't get a chance to look at the scenery! Through each of the villages, we slowed right down to 30, but for the rest of the time we 'enjoyed' the ride! We then turned around and headed back down the valley again towards Folkestone, still fast, but this time I gave a little more consideration to the poor state of my rear tyre, and less to trying to keep up with Pete. After these dashes, Pete felt that he had blown away his cobwebs adequately, and was content to continue our journey at a more sedate pace. We continued on to Folkestone, where we skirted the town, and headed up to the clifftops at Capel-le-ferne. By mid-afternoon, the rain had cleared well away, so the roads were now dry, and the views across the channel were spectacular and sunny. Halfway between Folkestone and Dover, the old road that we were on joins with the newly built dual-carriageway. A brisk blast down this long hill into Dover itself, along the front, up the Jubilee Way over the docks, and then home again in time for supper. What a great way to end the day. We are both looking forward to (and planning an excuse for...) the next visit!

Nov 10 '99 - It has been a while since I last updated my site - my apologies... I lost ftp access to my account, and have only just discovered that I can upload/update via my browser. Well, the last 18 months have been busy for me personally, but uneventful for the bike. I am now up to the worryingly excessive mileage of 17,600 ;) 3 years of 5 minute journeys are taking their toll. The battery needs changing (the starter and headlight take more out of it than the journey manages to put back in), the soles of my boots are wearing quicker than the tyres (although I have changed the rear at about 13,500), and the exhaust is likely to rust through soon. I put a new chain on last weekend - what a game trying to get the old one off! I couldn't find either a split or 'soft' link to allow me to easily split the chain, and ended up having to take a hacksaw to it! A number of blades later, the chain was finally off, and assembly of the new one could commence. Did I have the special tool that I now discovered I should be using... No I didn't - and now my bike is immobile! Ah well, the guy at the shop assured me that I could achieve the required affect with 2 hammers - well eventually, I got the chain on, and the connecting link sealed and secured into place, but what started out as a half-hour job, took me and my mate about 3 hours! I'll think twice next time...

April '00 - Three and a bit years of unremarkable riding later, and here I am, still on two wheels. My poor old bike is beginning to feel its age though, and sadly, the time has come for us to part company. The good news though, is that the finance director of our house has said I can have a NEW new bike! Let the search begin...

May '00 - I have set myself some criteria for the search for a new bike, based around what frustrates me on the Honda. I decided that a step up to a 600 would give me twin disks, and some extra umph, without incurring huge penalties on Insurance - especially if I go for a street bike, rather than something like a CBR600F!
Apart from my little Puch, I've always been a Honda man, so I checked out the Honda brochure - The Hornet was OK, but not stunning - and no nose fairing. Next step - check out MCN and a few magazines. They all extolled the virtues of the Yamaha Fazer, and it has a nose fairing too, so I arranged to go over and see one at Faversham.

May 8 '00 - Went out for a test ride on a Fazer today. It certainly has some poke, and very good brakes. I only had about half an hour, so went for a quick run back up the A2 and into Canterbury. It was great on the main road, and pulled easily up the big hill to scary speeds frighteningly quickly - I could get myself into trouble with the law much too easily on this machine! Round town, it handled well, but at low speeds those incredible front brakes nearly had me off when I braked just a little too harshly on approaching a junction. At a standstill, though, I found the seating position just a little too wide for my stature (I'm only little), and wasn't that comfortable keeping the bike upright and stable. I gave it a quick once over in a carpark, and was impressed by some of the touches - a parking light position on the ignition switch, quite a bit of room under the seat for storage, but this demo bike wasn't a 2000 model. On riding back to Faversham, I decided that this bike hadn't grabbed me by the throat and said "Buy me - I'm just what you want!", and went home a little deflated. I hadn't been all that taken with the looks of the bike when I saw it in the flesh, either. I'll sleep on it for the moment...

May 12 '00 - Down to Alford Bros in Folkestone today, for a test ride on a Y2K Fazer. Same story on riding it though... I like the clock and twin trips on the speedo, and also the 'hazard' switch to flash all the indicators, but I'm still not sure about the bike. I got back to the shop, and decided to get all the figures from them, and as I walked back though the showroom, I had to squeeze past this beautiful thing in Blue (no it wasn't a female biker in tight leathers). For a short moment, I thought it was an R6, and almost walked on, until I saw the word Bandit on the fairing... I hadn't seen a 2000 model faired Bandit before (I hated the previous model), and fell in love with its looks straight away. When I found out it was £500 cheaper than the Yamaha, I almost got my chequebook out there and then - but hold on, "Can I have a ride?", I asked. "No - our demo bike is out for the day, but take this brochure away for the weekend, and come back on Monday...".

May 15 '00 - I have never read a brochure so thoroughly, or so many times in just 2 days. It went everywhere with me! Another long lunch, while I trek down to Folkestone again (my poor old Honda - I've done more miles in the last week than in the last couple of months!). There waiting for me is the demo Bandit. I'm pleased to see that not only is it the Y2K model, but it is also the faired version, and it's the Blue one that I have already decided is the one for me...! After a quick run through the controls (you have to hold the clutch in to start it?!), I'm sitting on it, and am immediately much happier with the seating position in relation to the length of my legs. It sounds lovely, and it goes - perhaps not quite as much 'kick in the back' acceleration as the Yamaha, but it is what I would describe as unremarkable power. It'll take you very quickly through 60 and on up to 3 figures, but without all the fuss and noise of some bikes, and with the comfortable upright riding style and smooth acceleration, I felt at ease on this bike.

OK - lets get critical - brain over heart - remember those criteria? Twin disks? : check (not quite as remarkable as the Yamaha, but effective nonetheless); Lights? : twin lamps - one each for dip and main beam - even in sunlight they look quite bright to oncoming traffic... since I can't arrange an overnight test ride, I'll have to guess that they will be adequate (the dip beam has a 'projector' type lamp - looks impressively bright - hope it illuminates as well); Mirrors? : Wider and higher, and the fixtures to the bike are firmer so they are steadier. They also fold back in the event of a hard knock or tight parking space. As for my elbows, I hadn't realised just how easily they would mask out a police car... Running costs? : Well fuel consumption is much the same as any other 600 street bike (and a lot better than things like the R6, CBR600, and Triumph TT600), Insurance is £30 cheaper with the same company than the Yamaha, and of course, let's not forget the £500 pounds on the price... Well that's the boring justification bit, now back to drooling... I'm definitely in love with this bike, and I rode home just knowing that I was going to buy one.

May 16 '00 - Discussions and Justifications with the boss having taken place last night, I placed the order today. Although they can have the bike ready for me by the end of the week, I have to wait until June 1st to get my hands on the money. It's going to be a long couple of weeks.

June 1 '00 - Today I have to work. All the arrangements have been made, but I can't get to Folkestone until about 4pm. The weather has been really foul for the last couple of weeks, but thankfully has dried up in the last couple of days, although it is still overcast and a bit chilly. I left work as early as I could get away with, and zipped home to get changed and pick up the cheque that my wife had collected earlier in the day. Then off to Folkestone. A brief moment of farewell to my dear old Honda, then handed over the cheque and the keys, got a new set of keys back, and that was that!

A nervous start saw me having trouble starting the bike, and then keeping it going - I wasn't sure what I was doing wrong until about 1/4 mile later, when it ran out of petrol! So much for the full tank they promised me! Switched to reserve, and then I was away. Through the town, and out on the old road back between Folkestone and Dover - I've got to keep the revs down to 5 to 6,000 so this route is a little more conducive to conservative riding. Along the front at Dover, then I cut up the hill past the castle and around past the barracks and military school, then straight across the roundabout and down past St. Margaret's, Ringwould, and into Deal, then back home. While I am riding, I consider that it will probably take me a month to do my first 500 miles. I get home, and Mike (my middle son) and his friend are waiting for me. Karen took a few pictures of them sitting on the bike, then I have to take them each for a quick run round the village (well, it's an excuse not to put the bike straight in the garage!), but then I have to put my new toy away for the night.

Visit me again soon, to find out how I am progressing.
Graham.

PS - I am pleased to see so many of you have left me messages in my guestbook, and am encouraged and flattered by some of your comments. Thanks. I will endeavour to get some more pictures up, but for the present have lost access to a decent scanner. I shall try to rectify this as soon as I can.

Here are a few sites I have found, in my quest to re-acquaint myself with today's bike world.
  • Suzuki's own UK site A look at some of todays models.
  • Ronnie Cramer's MOTORCYCLE WEB INDEX A great reference site with details (but not good pictures) of most modern bikes.
  • Motorcycles on the Net Amongst other things, a good list of Links.
  • UK Motorcycling Info Loads of useful contact numbers and info for the UK Motorcyclist.

    Free Guestbooks by Phaistos! PS - Before you leave, please take a moment to sign my guestbook, or you can just read it, and see what others have said.

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