This was my first road bike, in the days before the stupid 30 mph restrictions for learners, when you could keep up with the rest of the city traffic and not be forced into the gutter by other road users!
A great little two stroke, very fast, I remember doing the usual teenage trick of cutting down the baffles in the mistaken belief that it would go faster but all I managed was to make it louder and when it occasionally backfired the baffles would launch themselves from the silencer and clatter down the road!

My first four stroke, felt like a real 'plodder' as far as I can remember. I think the 'S' stood for sport but I respayed mine black, fitted a Dunstall silencer and renamed it '125 Special', much to the amusement of the local lads.

Back to strokers and what a machine! I bought my X7 from a dealers in Brandon, Suffolk and they had a driveway along side the shop, there was a petrol station opposite so I decided to fill up before heading back home. I just opened the X7 up like I would have done on the Honda, pulled a wheelie straight across the road before dropping the front end down in the forecourt!

After moving back to Norwich I decided on something bigger to ride. I always liked the Goldwing (how tastes change) but I had to make do with the little brother instead. I fitted a cassette player into the fairing and speakers into some aftermarket panniers... Steppenwolfe's 'Born to be Wild' never sounded so good.
A pleasant bike to ride and would cruise at 80mph all day but bloody heavy to pick up if you dropped it...oh no cracked fairing.
I had this when I met the wife but did not make a good impression with my future father-in-law when 230 kgs of bike on a side stand sank into his new tarmac drive!

I bought my NC24 as an unregistered grey import with some damage to one of the fairing panels.
I managed to source a replacement panel and put the bike back together and register it. I removed the electronic speed restrictor (a small circuit board located in the speedo), knocked through the baffle plate, as you do, and what a machine, 400cc, 16 valve, of over engineered v4 pocket rocket.
I can tell you this is the best handling motorcycle I have ever ridden, roundabouts just do not exist when aboard this and that engine just sings to you.
If you ever get the chance to ride one of little marvels don't turn it down!

This was probably the worst bike I ever owned, a total slug. It was reliable but just horrible to ride or maybe it just felt that way after the delights of the NC24. Needless to say I did not keep this very long!

A very nice ride, typical honda, very reliable, solid build and quality finish. I fitted an alloy race can, braided hoses (makes all the difference) and Renthal bars.
I would definitely have another one.

500cc of Britsh 1941 single cylinder side valve, just sounds great thundering through sleepy North Norfolk villages on Sunday afternoons. That motor firing once every streetlamp as they say!
I had this bike the same time as the Hornet and even rode it wearing an original steel DR helmet, maximum grin factor.

They say that Harley's don't handle, I can tell you that they do (at least the sportsters anyway), maybe not like a race rep sports bikes although I have given a few a run for their money.
The thing with a Harley is the sound, there is just nothing like it, no other v twin can get close to that off-beat thump thump as exhaust gases pushes out through a pair of Screaming Eagles.
One thing is a must for any Sportster owner...ditch that crap Kehin CV carb and fit an S&S !

I restored this from a pile of bits as a winter project, for the full story see my BSA Bantam page.

My current ride is this Triumph America 790cc Twin. This is a very comfortable bike with a relaxed riding position.
Loud pipes are a must as the stock ones sound like a muffled fart in a duvet factory during a sponsored silence!
Apart from changing the pipes I have cut down the airbox inlet so the engine can now inhale better and fitted the air injection plugs, not very 'green' but I reckon it won't make a shit's worth of difference on the envionment compared to all those 747's flying out of Heathow & Stanstead! and nobody seems too bothered about them.

I did find that being used to self cancelling indicators (as on the Harley) I kept forgetting to cancel them so I designed & built a 'bleeper' unit that fits under the instrument panel. I sell these on Ebay so keep a look out for them if you have the same problem.

I also have a 1981 Suzuki TS185 as a winter hack and am currently building a BSA C15 Trials bike from bits.