My Bikes

Until very recently, my current BMW was the R1100RT and I loved it. However, all good things come to an end and this one has gone on to its next owner. I replaced it in March 2002 with this:

In my time I've owned a number of bikes from a range of manufacturers and nations. My first bike was a BSA C15 SS80. This was the sports model of the C15 range - a cheap and cheerful unit 250 intended for the mass market of the early nineteen sixties. Unfortunately BSA was starting its decline and the result was unreliable both mechanically and electrically. Mine was twelve years old when I bought it and it had been used for riding on the rough. My ownership of this machine was long enough to pass my riding test. I then bought an Ariel Red Hunter. Mine was the last of its kind, built in 1959, it was just before the introduction of the Ariel Arrow two stroke. A pre unit single cylinder 350, it was easy to ride, forgiving and reliable. During the two years that I owned it, I rebuilt it to almost concours condition. Then some scumbag stole it.

For six weeks while I waited for the insurance company to stump up the money for my Red Hunter, I bought a very rough Ariel Arrow. Like my BSA it had been used and abused. Shortly after receiving the insurance payout and buying a Laverda, I got rid of the Arrow with a sigh of relief.

My Laverda was one of the few 350s imported into Britain. A sleeved down version of the Alpina 500, it was an attractive machine. Slightly underpowered with a top end of about 90mph, its lack of outright performance was compensated by the stunning handling. Unfortunately Laverda saw fit to make the camshafts out of metal that had all the tensile characteristics of parmesan cheese. At Ł350 a shot, they were expensive enough for me to decide that a new bike was in order.

I bought one of the last Yamaha XS650s and wondered why I had not bought Japanese before. Reasonably priced, reliable and efficient it served me well for over 30,000 miles. I loved it and still look back on those years with fond memories. I sold it to make way for an XV1000TR1. Having been well served by my previous Yamaha, I decided to stick with the same manufacturer and have not been disappointed. Twenty years later it is still in my garage - I love it even if the press didn't.

For a wile I had a backup bike. I bought an old BMW R45. Underpowered and sluggish, it was intended as a back up to the TR1. For two years it served that purpose. During the summer of 1993, it needed new valve guides and I paid out for what I thought was going to be a professional job. It turned out to be an utter bodge. Wondering what to do about the bike and whether I should chase the bodge merchant for compensation, BMW brought out the R1100RS. As a savings policy had just matured, I decided to trade the R45 in for a shiny white R1100RS.

I loved it. When BMW brought out the R1100RT, I took one out for a test ride and realised that this was the bike for me. In January 1996, the RS went and the TR1 was joined by my RT.

Since then I bought a Honda Deauville. See my test report from April 1998. In March 2002, both the Deauville and the R1100RT went in favour of the BMWR1150RT - a worthy replacement.