A brief biking history of Big_Ham

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I'm procrastinating, meant to be doing revision, but it's not going well so I thought I'd write this partly for myself and partly for anyone that's interested.

A Brief Biking History of Big_Ham

My first encounter of bikes was watching Mick Doohan and Foggy on the tele when I was about 8 or so I guess. That's what really got me interested. Then about 3/4 years later when my dad and I were sitting watching motocross he randomly asked if I felt like trying it. I said yes obviously.

So my first proper experience of riding bikes was when I was 12 or so riding a Kawasaki KX 80 around with Chiltern Young Riders.

https://www.psndealer.com/powersportsdlr/images/NewVehicles/2000kx80.jpg

Don't have any pictures of me actually riding except a really poor quality one on the wall in my room. The quality really is that bad.

In any case I was snowboarding loads at the time and we couldn't afford to do both, so I was given a choice. Snowboarding or motorcycles. At the time I chose snowboarding. So that was that.

I didn't have anymore proper contact with bikes (The odd NEC show excepted) until I turned 17.

Personally didn't fancy a 50, decided I would simply save my money for a big bike when I turned 17. When I turned 17 I booked myself on a three day intensive course and passed first time with 3 or so minors. This led on to my first proper bike the old school GSXR400.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/Gixxer4.jpg

A 1992 bike. Grey import from Japan, was an awesome little bike. Restricted to 33bhp it still went ok for a little bike. Had an indicated 120mph out of it downhill. It got me on rideouts with the 400greybike forum. I didn't really use BCF that much at this point and hadn't met anyone off it.

I changed the tyres on it from the aweful mismatched Avon and Bridgestone combo it had for some Conti Road Attacks and managed to get my first kneedown on it at 11pm in October with leaky fork seals.

A year passed and I sold it on to someone from the forum (21chappers) who later wrote it off when someone pulled out on him. I have no idea where it is now, so if anyone sees K319KWU about give me a PM.

Next came the yellow Hornet. It was originally my dad's, but he got a different bike so sold it to be at a decent price.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/Picture004.jpg


This was full power and I could really bully it around. The fly screen did a better job than you'd think of keeping the wind off. The hornet probably improved my riding more than the GSXR did.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/Burnout.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/Picture023.jpg

Also did my first on road video on the hornet. I think the video's since been deleted, but I still have the pictures of my very amateur set up that I used.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/ABCD0008.jpg

It's all about the gaffa tape.

Had my first on track experience on the hornet. Silverstone National. Fortunately it was dry that day.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/_DSC3514.jpg

I was beginning to long for a sports bike again however. Since I was(should that be am? ) still young I was a bit limited by insurance with what I could get. Even sports 600's were coming out at around £700 TPFT. That was until I discovered the perpetually overlooked bike that is the Mille.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/2008_0816Image0007.jpg

It had to be restricted for the last 3 months of my restriction then it was full power. Since it was getting derestricted anyway I thought it a little rude not to get it mapped whilst it was apart. So I had a PCIII USB put in and it was mapped. In the end it made 119bhp on the Southern Cross Fuchs dyno.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/2008_0914Image0010.jpg

Video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNAZnvLd9o8

Got it bad and my my it was a very quick bike. It was now on the mille that it occured to me that my riding was getting rather stupid on the road. I figured it was only a matter of time before I was busted doing silly speeds and the Mille made said speeds all too easy.

Chopped it in and got the race hornet.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/2008_1029Image0001.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/l172.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/l100.jpg

I did a few trackdays on the hornet with the aim of racing the following year. My track riding really did come on in leaps and bounds aboard this machine. Must be something about the hornets.

video of a trackday

With all the track riding I was doing I was missing riding on the road. So fortunately I was able to get put onto my dad's insurance just to potter about on the roads. I wasn't riding stupid anymore since I had a far greater respect for the power of the Firestorm which I gained from the Mille and I was getting most of my fast riding done on track on the hornet.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/2008_0621Image0001.jpg


This bike also had some stupidly loud ART end cans. The cans were so loud that small children ran for cover and it would set of car alarms. It was an ok bike to ride. It was nice to just ride the torque on it. The much publicised CCT issues with Firestorms never happened.

A great bike to ridng it may well have been, but it was still a big bus of a bike and needed some serious muscling around most of the time. It was rock steady once over, but getting it over was interesting. You had to plan for the corner about 3 corners in advance.

The pegs were also rather low.

The Firestorm soon went and my dad decided to buy a CBR600 again. He had a Steelie when I had the yellow hornet.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/ABCD0008-1.jpg

This is the FX model. Again I was always taking it pretty steady on the road. My road riding was pretty much the same as it was since when I had the yellow hornet. When I had the CBR I started meeting people on BCF. Managed to get on rides with a few of them and hopefully more this year.

It was early this year however that I realised I was simply not going to be able to afford to race. The went up for sale. Most of the race stuff is sold. So it's back to the road again for me.

Hopefully when I've finished uni and got a proper job I'll be able to race, but in the mean time it's back to the road. Hopefully touring and trackdays.

This brings us nicely to the road bike I've put a deposit down on very recently.

03 ZX6R.

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Big_Ham/kawablueit2.jpg

They are changing that god aweful screen for a clear double bubble and fitting braided lines before I pick it up. It's got freshly fitting Pilot Powers and looks to be in pretty good condition.

Have a few ideas with what to do to it, but I'm not too fussed about completely going to town on it.

Perhaps I'll do another history in another three years.

I hope it's been vaguely interesting for some of you to read and isn't riddled with spelling errors.
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[Fnatic]

Fvcking awesome history.

I hope when I get to your age to have anything like half of the good bikes you've had.

Awesome read.

[Azonicben]

Interesting read, must have taken a while to type.



Now get back to your revision
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Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Thankyou for taking the time n effort. Nice little read.
Ta

Pat
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[The Tot]

Wave's history was cooler
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Jenks]

thats awesome mate!

the GSXR is currently sat in chappers garden
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[rac3r]

Cool Hopefully i'll have a Hornet soon
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[craigs23]

Nice write up.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Fawbish]

I bet you felt old as you wrote this mate


I didnt quite understand the last part....have you sold the hornet then??!!!


Whatcha gonna use on the track dude? Surely not that pretty Kwak!


Must admit mate, beautiful bike Welcome to the clan

How muchos, amigo?
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Fawbish]

Should feel a damn sight more powerful than the hornet eh?

I wanna ride a 636 I've heard that little 36 makes a bigger difference than you think.


Changing the gearing or anything or leaving it stock? (Cant remember if you messed with the sprockets on the hornet?)

Arr, thats not a bad deal.

Should be a nice compromise between awesome looking roadbike and super capable trackbike
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Mr.Everready]

I'd have sold you my 636 for alot less than that.

I need a bigger bike for taking the wife on the back.
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the undemocratically unelected mod of the Scottish section

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[The Tot]

Dude, if you were planning to use your 636 on track - there were at least TWO going on sale at MCN ninjas for £2k-£2.3k . Well i guess now you've switched over from honda, get yourself on mcnninjas since you can usually source ridiculously cheap spares from there - such as a full Ti exhaust system for £140 delivered! Must get myself on some SE rideouts when i'm next down.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Looking now, thanks Titz.
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My Flickr

[Wave2k]

i like B1h's ,
https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v61/104/57/513334194/n513334194_22359_4936.jpg
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Wave2k]

nah not tall at all, 5ft 10.5.

Think i just look a bit animated because of the hanging off with 1 arm and leg off.
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[chris-red]

[Wave2k]

eh ? im not small you got me mixed up maybe ?
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[AngelGrinder]

Nice ZX, think it's the best looking one they've ever made.....that looks suspiciously like A&M's showroom upstairs...

Your talking of touring, where are you planning? I think I might be heading to Normandy, Belgium, etc in the Summer if you were interested.

And I'm going to do atleast on trackday at Silverstone, or the California Superbike School this year.
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Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Wave2k]