10 years of bikes

[craigs23]

You know, they say you never forget your first bike. In a way, I tend to agree, but probably because I still ride a 125 like I did a decade ago.

This weekend I would have been riding bikes for 10 years - as I recall passing my CBT 2 days after my 17th birthday. I still recall getting home from the test centre, getting the CM out the garage and riding to a friend's house for a bit of showing off, whilst humming Born to be Wild.

So here we are, the bikes up until now. Some missed, some not so missed, but I'm glad each have given me a little experience along the way.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/cm125c.jpg

The CM125C. My first wheels. Was a good little bike, probably the best 125 I've had - but then it would be, being the first and all.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/4004c.jpg

My first big bike - the 400/4. Took me through the 33bhp probation test with no trouble at all. Begun to get the restoration/cleaning bug, as well as learning how to keep momentum on a low powered with no brakes. Everyone always thought I was 'a bit young to ride one of those aren't you?' but it kept me out of trouble.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/mybandit4.jpg

The Bandit 400. Bought as a commuter as I didn't want to ruin the 400/4 running backwards and forwards to Uni each day. It got me by, after I had to wrap all the under seat electrics in tupper wear and sandwich bags. I guess it taught me how to bump start a bike.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/myvfr7.jpg

The NC30. I can't say too much, as I might get emotional. It was taken from me, way before its time. Oh the noise of a unbaffled Pro Series 2 Art can...

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00366.jpg

The CBR400. An NC30 replacement it was not. Fantastic handling though.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/rvf.jpg

The RVF. The first true obsession. I'm still wondering why I felt the need to destroy my hands for a week whilst polishing that frame. Lovely bike though, I was thinking of getting another for everyday use, but I'm not sure if I'd fit anymore.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00297.jpg

The Blade. The bike I always wanted - the one that got me into biking. I had to have one, an original 92 beasty. Smashing bike that scared as much as it was a pleasure. If I thought I was obsessed with the RVF, this took it to a new level. Ultimately though, and with access to just one bike at the time, I bought one too early. It only saw sunny weather and I was beginning to loose out actually riding the thing. Plus, I missed the noise of a V4.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00938.jpg

So I bought the Konica, which in a way, I still have today. I had had an NC30 and an RVF, Tyga seemed to be becoming popular, so I'd thought I'd give one a go. Irrespective of how much work I'd put into that project, I couldn't get over the fact that I'd created a two wheeled Vauxhall Nova with a shit bodykit. It lasted half a dozen rideouts before it was stripped down again.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00394.jpg

To something completely different. Or rather, the same. A nice standard NC30. With a couple of tweaks.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00054.jpg

The NC30 was never going to see daily use, and with a new job, and impatience with this country's pathetic public transport system, I bought a CB1. Since that time, I'm still certain it's the best £500 I've spent on any bike. An absolute riot, which I rode like it was a supercharged CG125. Suspension by Ohlins, super sticker Alpha 10 tyres...3 points on my licence when clocked by an unmarked bike. Dang. Reluctantly sold as I thought I needed a bigger bike due to a promotion (and re-location).

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00544-1.jpg

So I bought a Hornet, which on paper seemed to be a good natural progression. But for some weird reason - maybe the fact that it felt an itsa-bitsa bike, lacking the overall package and quality feel of the CB1 that proceeded it, I didn't like it. I kept picking holes in the bike, rather than just accepting it. Like the CBR400, it lasted a little over a month.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00606.jpg

So I got an R6. After a massive test ride session to find what bike I actually needed (so should have kept the CB1), I eventually decided that a sports 600 could cater for weekend thrashing, as well as weekday practicalities. First non Honda bike in a while - the Yamaha's dependability and build quality were top notch. Kinda miss that bike a bit, I keep eyeing up older model R6s and wonder if I'd like one as a weekend toy.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00995.jpg

I read too many bike magazines. But I just had to find out whether or not what they were harking on about was true. Could a road going sportsbike really be that good? Could it really be that much better than the R6? Yes. It could. I test rode and subsequently bought a CBR600RR next, and what a phenomenal piece of kit. The only fault I could find was a light fuel injection glitch when trailing a throttle down hill at 40mph or so - a light on/off judder. Other than that, it was absolutely sublime, right amount of power, good comfort, good on the fuel, incredible brakes and the best suspension setup I've ever had - so flickable yet so stable - even 2 up. The problem was, as I was surprised to find out, speed is only one other element I enjoy about biking.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/n773285502_4202795_3480.jpg

My CG125 taught me a lot more about what I really enjoy. Its essence was the reason I got into bikes in the first place - and it stems way back to those CM125 days. I like riding bikes, irrespective of speed, because I just enjoy riding. It's as simple as that. The CG, or later named 'Lucky' took me everywhere, anywhere, at a rather sedate speed. Fantastic, why had I forgotten about this? Lost in power figures and inadequacies in my own riding ability, the CG has reformed my riding experiences today. It even tried to kill me, more than once - but the fact that both of us kept on going reaffirmed our partnership. I was sorry to see that pirate flag flutter for the last time, but I'm glad of the time we had. I sold the CBR600RR as it subsequently became undesirable, a little too easy to speed on, and, maybe, even a little bit boring.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00240.jpg

The 125s lived on though. With the CG gone to some orphaned children's riding school (and a nice profit, despite its lack of MOT), I bought myself another little bike. More durable, better equipped and with more provisions to go further into the countryside - behold, the XR125. 10,000 miles later, I still get that same level of enjoyment out of the thing. Although most of my mates think I'm barking mad for riding it so much.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00544.jpg

With the CBR gone, and friends riding a little faster than the 60mph XR, not to mention the odd pillion ride here and there, I needed something more suitable for 70mph cruising. So I bought myself a new ER6. It's been good, but recent news at work - and subsequent redundancies, have given me a wake up call that I really should stop buying new bikes. So, the ER6 has got to go soon. I think I was in too much of a rush to get it anyway - something a lot cheaper out of the Friday Ad would have been sufficient, like a CB500 or....

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00967.jpg

A Superfour. Despite the fact that I still have the ER6 in my possession, I thought it was a good idea to cut down on bikes by buying another one. Needs a bit of TLC (see my other thread), but it's all there. Plan is to part with the XR and ER, as the 400 seems to cater for both of their qualities...so I'd be back down to 2 bikes again - 1 ornament, 1 motorcycle.

[Fnatic]

Wow

The NC30 and the NC31 are my favourites. Love the R6 though especially with that can.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Nice little write-up.
The 400/4 & XR125 are the ones i would've kept.

Happy Rides


Pat
Oh... and the CB1
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[Bikeless]

That NC35 was bloody gorgeous aswell as the back to standard'ish NC30,would have kept both of them and ditched bigger bikes,

[Wilson123]

The one with blue wheels and the R6 are the best, your bikes are sick.
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Doug97 wrote: Fuck you, what they did was awesome. You just wish you had the balls to be like them, instead of being constantly afraid that there's a rule somewhere out there you might be breaking.

[craigs23]

Cheers, it has been quite a collection.

My personal favorites, if I could have just collected them rather than trade onto the next model would be the 400/4, Blade, current NC30, and possibly the CB1.

[serlant]

Also happy birthday for thursday/friday. if i had one choice it would be the stock NC30... mmmmmm

[The Original Muzza]

What's your favourite bike manufacturer?
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Current Bikes: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (2020)
Former Bikes: Honda MSX125 (2014), BMW Funduro (1996), Honda VT500 (1983), Yamaha FZR250 (1989), Suzuki GZ125 Marauder(2005),:Triumph TT600 (2002) (stolen)
From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.