Bike History

My first bike was a Suzuki GP125, (top) bought in August 1985. Blue in colour and nearly three years old, he saw me though both part one and part two tests. Mainly used for commuting to Chesterfield or Sheffield, but some trips into the Peak District and Lincoln were regularly undertaken, even Wakefield (once). In March 1989 after 19000 miles Richard bought him to learn on, and I moved onwards to:

Yamaha XS250, silver in colour and able to carry a pillion, as well as having a top box fitted, this six geared bike went allover the country. My first long trip was to North Wales (second on West Shore Llandudno), but north Norfolk, Scarborough and the like were regular destinations. As it was a 250cc engine and a six speed gearbox, trips over the Pennines meant frequent gear changes, and by the return journey my left wrist normally ached from all the clutch work. As this bike was only meant as a stop gap to something better, it was not too long (well 13000 miles) before:

1 August 1990, and the birth of Jason (third and bottom). Again six gears and chain drive, Jason was a Yamaha XJ600. Over the next four years we traveled even further than previously, even into central London. Weekends in Cromer were a regular event. After exactly four years and nearly 44000 miles time for a change to:

Nigel. A Honda NTV650. A slightly larger engine for long journeys, and shaft drive. Back to five gears again, and again visits allover the country. Nigel was black and had a fairing added to improve weather protection, the disadvantage was he was susceptible to cross winds. Nigel was murdered in Warsop by a Massey Ferguson tractor in March 1997. This sudden loss lead to:

A Kawazaki 550 which was a very temporary solution to the crisis. After two weeks with this bike, which had an unusual feature of a tilt meter, to let you know itf you were going up or down hill, it was supposed to be a fuel gauge, but shot up and down in relationship to the gradient you were on regardless of the quantity of petrol in the tank.

Superceded in April 1997 by Jason Junior, a shaft drive, five gear Yamaha XJ900. (See Jason’s page) Subsequently superceded by Jason III on 1 April 2003.