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My preferred choice of motorised transport is motorbike. I guess this is because I do not have the patience to sit in traffic and don't like to be dependant upon unreliable public transport. I passed my full motorcycle test in 1992 and have owned four different bikes since then. In April 2004 I passed the Institute of Advanced Motorists motorcycle test.
I currently own a 2005 BMW R 1200 GS — a large capacity touring/enduro bike built to be as good off-road as it is on road (GS stands for ‘gelande/strasse’ which translates as ‘off-road/street’).
The engine is the latest in the long-line of ‘Boxer’ opposed twins that BMW have used since 1923 (see specials.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/fascination/history/history_main.html for the history of BMW motorcycles). This latest engine, one of the so-called “hex-head” series, has lots of low-down torque (85lbft or 115Nm) and a power output of 100bhp (at 7000rpm). The bike also benefits from comparatively low weight (199Kg), servo-assisted ABS brakes and BMW's unique approach to suspension.
I have been keen on mountain biking since the late 1980s but only got seriously back into it in 2006.
My first proper mountain bike was Marin Bear Valley that I had between 1989 and 1995. Following that in April 1995 I purchased a 19" Orange Vit T2 titanium hardtail. I've certainly had good use out of the Orange over the years and although the bike is now considered ‘retro’ to me it is still a great bike. Interestingly Orange reissued the Vit T in 2007 to celebrate their 20th anniversary but are only making 21 of them and they are priced at £3500 (mine was £2100 in 1995 with an LX groupset).
The photos below are the Orange in Spring 2006 with most of the original parts still on it:
Below is how it was looking in Spring 2007:
In 2007 I upgraded nearly every part of the bike including the wheels (Mavic Crosstrail) and entire drivetrain (mainly Shimano XT). I also replaced the cantilever brakes with ‘V’ brakes. The forks are the original Pace carbon fibre RC35s.
2008 saw a major updating of my biking with the purchase of a Scott Spark Ltd. This is the world's lightest full suspension production mountain bike and is a truly exceptional machine.
The social network I started for riders in my local area is www.petersfieldmountainbikers.org.uk
I am interested in, but not that knowledgeable about, historic motorcycles. Museums that have interesting collections can be found on my ‘Places to Visit’ page.
In early August 2004 I spotted this collection of Indian motorcycles parked outside a local pub. I stopped and took the following shots but did not speak to the German owners. I have later been informed that the guys who rode these Indians are members of the German Indian Motorcycle Club – www.indianclub.de (site is in German) – and on their way to the international Indian Rally which took place in Britain that year. The styling of Indian motorcycles has long appealed to me and I have number of books on them, but before the day of seeing this collection I don't think I had ever seen one example ‘in the flesh’ so was quite surprised to spot twelve of them together. I really admired the fact that these bikes were being ridden overseas, were not ‘over-restored’ and were reliant on improvised luggage.
This museum, near New Milton in the New Forest contains an interesting collection of motorcycles. Many of the machines are from long-gone British manufacturers and all the bikes on display are immaculate.
