KTM 1190 Adventure in the Northern Pennines

 Yesterday was a rare "almost dry" here in the grim North of England. I rode over to Middleton-in-Teesdale via Kirkby Lonsdale, Sedbergh, Kirkby Stephen and Brough. I was blessed with blue skies nearly all day...it was almost warm! Upper Teesdale led over to Garrigill, then over to Nenthead for lunch. The roads were beautifully quiet...fantastic. From Alston it was over Hartside to Penrith and beside Ullswater and back home over Kirkstone. A great day out. The video below is of the ascent of Hartside from Melmerby (Part of a bonus extra for me to the top of Hartside and back from the West😀)

Either click on the bottom left YouTube logo or here to open in a new window.

The Future is Orange

 Is it really?....Well it is for me as regards the motorbike! 

Having owned the previous Honda for over 4 years I was ready for a change....and a great deal available at KC Superbikes in Carlisle for this...a KTM 1190 Adventure. I just need to grow a bit now so that I can reach the ground....or perhaps grow up....Nah!

Perhaps I'm having an "Old Life Crisis"😀

Storm at Jack Scout

 The forecast yesterday was for a predominately dry day, and the motorbike is due it's MOT early next week. So once I'd put the battery back on and given it a through check over I thought it best to give it a short run out....within the current rules?...I don't know! Anyway I decided to make the short ride to Jack Scout (Jenny Browns Point) and have a short walk. The bike was great, but the walk was cut short due to the incredibly fierce wind. Hopefully the video will convey some of that.

As before a click here will open the video in a new window.

Half the Year Gone Already!

 Almost 3 weeks since my last post. It seems like I have less time than ever....and yet all the time in the world! But with half the year gone past in a flash, it's time to update the blog to the end of June. once more the selection of images (and dates) below is a bit random...but then so are my "doings"....variety is after all the spice of life.

June 12th, an overcast day, windy but it did manage to stay dry. I walked up the Dubbs Road to climb a couple of easy Wainwrights...the closest to home. This is taken from just below the summit of the first Sour Howes. I had lunch here with almost the full length of Windermere in view. 

It's a broad hummocky "ridge" to it's neighbour Sallows. the summit is the highpoint in this image.

14th June, I had a day out on the motorbike over to some of the best bike roads in the UK.
As well as the superb roads, in many places off the beaten track the verges were covered with Mountain Pansy's....

...plenty of Orchids as well....Marsh Orchids? Please let me know if you can identify them correctly!

My Honda NC700X on the "Irish Ford" over the Harwood Beck in Upper Teesdale.

June 17th, I was back on the 2000' trail, and an early start to climb Place Fell from Bridge End in Patterdale. The early start (for me) was partly to avoid the expected intense heat of the day and also the forecast thunderstorms due to appear around noon. Here we look into the lower reaches of Deepdale.

Looking Northeast from the summit of Place Fell the sizeable "dub" of water completely dried up after our hot and arid Spring.

Place Fell trig, the eastern Fells in the hazy distance.
I did miss the thunderstorms..the first drops just arriving as I got back to the car.

June 22nd, a walk round the coast at Arnside. This twisted Oak caught my eye.

Back in time! to 11th June, a walk from Cartmel (lovely and quiet) with P.

June 13th, an easy day out in the MX5. Mungrisedale and Mosedale...sadly there were lots of barbeque scars and firepits...appalling.

June 20th, another day out in the MX5 over to the Pennines. Again great driving roads, generally quiet and so much to see...the above was new to me. This is only a small part! All built by one man (an ex-miner)in his garden. All proceeds to the Great North Air Ambulance a truly worthy cause.
It's in Nenthead and is a little off the main drag, if any one would like a grid ref to see it please let me know.

June 24th, another day on the motorbike...walking would have been madness in the heat!
Over Wrynose and Hardknott to Saltcoats on the Esk estuary. Ravenglass is the village across the water.

The River Mite and the railway viaduct.

This image of our favourite Ospey on it's nest is a little bit fuzzy!! It was taken on my mobile phone through a spotting scope. We've spent a lot of time watching the progress of this family. they seem to be doing well so far.

30th June and half the year gone. My mission to climb all the 2000' Wainwights has been severely derailed by Covid 19. But today I set out on what was to be an almost 1005 wet walk over Kentmere Pike seen above....

....Harter Fell above. I returned to the car, parked near Stile End via Nan Bield
Only 2 people were seen...hardly surprising given the appalling weather. Good to be out though.

It had been dry at home, so I took the Elan to the coast (unusually using it's road wheels or a change). I have got plenty of cycling in over the last 3 weeks or so, and am comfortably ahead of my self imposed target for the year. I shall be putting more of my physical efforts into the 2000'ers over the next few months....hopefully covered with associated blog posts for those who may be interested.

A Personal Motorcycle History....Or A Misspent Youth? Part 7

 If you've read the previous posts (and if you haven't why not?!!) I ended Part 6 with no motorcycle in my life. I did still have a car, although it was written off (and replaced) within a month of the motorcycle accident. I was out peak bagging at every opportunity....and then life caught up with me.

 I met my wife Alison, bought a house...grown up things! Life was good. I've tried hard to remember exactly which year I started to hanker after another bike...I do remember what triggered it tho'. We were Munro bagging, it was an appalling day so weren't on the hill. I bought a Bike magazine to read and pass the time. It had an article in it about the "Best Used Bikes". One of the bikes featured was a....

BMW K100RS
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Ours was the same as the one in the image except for the the black patches on the fuel tank...they look like an owner addition!

 We purchased it from Allen Jefferies, Shipley in I think 1993. It was almost 10 years old but had good service history and approx 21000 miles on the clock. The engine and running gear identical to the K100 I'd bought back in 1994, with the addition of the very effective fairing and of course hard luggage (very grown up!). I do remember the test ride, it had been 7 years since I'd ridden a motorbike and it was with some trepidation that I headed up to Baildon and beyond, wearing a borrowed helmet! Of course by the time I was back at Allen Jefferies I was hooked again...it only took 6 miles!

 Alison had never been on  motorcycle in her life but took to it straight away. Over the next 4years we piled the miles on the RS. Many shorter trips across Northern England, North Wales and Scotland. We had a number of continental tours (not all without incident. Visiting France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland (by accident!) and Norway. The K100RS was very reliable and other than a replacement fuel pump (a common problem) it only required routine servicing, a new battery and tyres while we owned it. Great times...

 However life isn't always quite how you'd like it to be and in 1997 Alison and I separated. The BMW was sold. I bought a place of my own and a motorbike was a luxury I couldn't afford. So started a second sabbatical from powered 2 wheels....

BMW F650 Funduro
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was the same model as pictured, with a few modifications. No hugger on the rear wheel plus a shortened rear mudguard, an Arrow performance exhaust and a mildly tuned engine (I was told)

 2001 and Cumbria was gripped by Foot and Mouth disease. The hills where I was spending all my free time were out of bounds,. It was time to get back into motorbikes I decided. BT shares were sold to aid the purchase of the F650 from Sapphire Motorcycles in the June (I think) of 2001.

 The BMW F650 was jointly developed by BMW and Aprilia and available in 2 variants. Mine the Funduro had a little bit of off road ability, although I barely used under those conditions. The 650cc single cylinder 4 stroke engine was designed by Rotax, had a 5 valve head and produced in standard trim 48bhp, mine was a good bit healthier than that. It was also the fist BMW with a chain final drive.

 It wasn't long after my purchase that the restrictions were lifted, but once again I was hooked. I can neither remember how many miles it was showing when I purchased it or indeed when I sold it. It did have a reliability problem which reared its head periodically and took a bit of tracking down. It turned out to be the intakes between the twin carbs and the cylinder head had over time become porous. 

 Christmas 2005 and I had received a gift of the Long Way Round DVD....that would prove to be an expensive (for me!) gift...   

BMW R1150gs
My photo this one! taken at home.

I traded the BMW F650 in for the 1150gs at Southport Superbikes in 2006. The 1150gs was a one owner bike with 17000miles on the clock, it had been very well maintained and cared for. powered by an 1130cc horizontally opposed air/oil cooled twin cylinder 4 stroke engine, it had the traditional BMW shaft drive. It was in totally standard trim when purchased, but modified by me with removal of the tyre hugger using the BMW delete kit, and the addition of a Remus exhaust inc. Y pipe....it sounded wonderful. The image above shows the BMW tank bag fitted, this was almost always installed for my tenure.

 The 1150gs was a superb bike (they still are!) very quick on bumpy, twisty roads, able to cruise at whatever the speed limit may be and amazingly in confident hands very capable off road...just don't "drop"it...unless you're a weight lifter! It's not for good reason that it's successors have become the best selling larger capacity bike for year after year here in the UK and elsewhere.

 I covered 39000 miles on the 1150gs and kept it the longest of any bikes that I've owned. Many many long days out, tours of Scotland, Wales and Ireland were enjoyed. It was kept in good order serviced on time and only required tyres and a new battery, except for a clutch release bearing. A classic example of a cheap part costing a fortune...the 1150gs doesn't have a frame as such the engine is a stressed member with everything else fastened to it...to save weight and for rigidity. The downside to that is that to get at the clutch requires that the bike be split in half and all the labour that will involve....Very Expensive!!

 It was time for a change, everyone seemed to have a GS, some thing different to ride....

BMW F800S
This image is mine,travelling light as always! Taken near Braemar just a couple of months after I'd walked past here on the TGOC
.

Bought from Penrith Motorcycles, I part exchanged the GS in the March 2014. I later heard the 1150gs had been bought by a collector! The BMW F800S was certainly different to the GS, it was a one owner machine in very good order full main dealer history and had 7000 mile on the clock. Powered by a silky smooth 800cc twin cylinder 4 stroke engine producing 86bhp, and extremely economical...indeed for the performance almost unbelievable. No shaft drive on this BMW though, it had a toothed belt final drive....silent and again smooth. Perhaps its most impressive feature were its front brakes though..a lightweight bike, twin 300mm discs with 4 piston Brembo calipers and ABS made for tarmac rippling stopping power.

 The F800 family of bikes are greatly underated in my opinion. I probably bought the wrong model...I should have bought the ST version, with a more upright riding position. It would have suited my style of riding/exploring more, and would almost certainly still have owned it. I kept the F800S for 3 years and did 14000 miles. Almost all made up of long days out and several tours of Scotland.

 Getting on a bit, the riding position not the best for these old bones in 2017 it was time for a change....

 That post will be along soon and will bring us up to date, thank goodness I can hear you all say.

Once more thank you for reading, if you've made it this far.

Tek Care and Stay Safe.

A Personal Motorcycle History....Or A Misspent Youth? Part 6

 A quick recap on where I was in Spring 1981. I still had the Honda CX500 road bike and the Suzuki PE400 off road/enduro bike. Plus my car! My interests waxed and waned as has been evident throughout these posts. From memory off road riding was losing its appeal (as it often did during the Summer) and the Honda CX500 was worthy....but the lure of a larger, more powerful bike was irresistible.
 I decided to part exchange both the CX500 and PE400 for my first "Superbike"

Suzuki GSX1100
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was the same as the one pictured except the "stripes" were Blue

 Bought new, the GSX1100 was the most powerful (and fastest) mass production bike at the time. Powered by a 4 stroke, 4 cylinder DOHC engine boasting a 4 valve TSCC head....this produced according to the specs close to 100bhp. It did weigh 260kg though...suspension was air forks with adjustable pressure and damping, the rear shocks adjustable for damping and preload. 

 Once the original tyres were swapped for some stickier Michelins it handled really rather well, especially when I look at the diameter of those fork legs! This was a mixed blessing it encouraged you to exploit the plentiful power...and still in my early 20's I thought myself invincible.

 2 days off a week, split...Thursdays and Sundays..Thursdays were for the hills...peak bagging, and Sundays...well during the Spring/Summer/Autumn of 1981 the GSX was blasted up and down the Motorways and A roads to race meetings. Often to see modified versions of the very same bike as mine race, proper superbike racing...flat barred tuned monsters ridden to the edge of adhesion and beyond by some of the greatest racers in the world, such as Graeme Crosby, Wayne Gardner. This youtube video from back in the day gives an idea of what these bikes were like to ride. 

 I loved the "buzz" of riding the GSX1100, and the fun continued during the Spring and early Summer of 1982. I was with hindsight riding it in an ever more crazy fashion...and after being stopped by the police one evening near Ambleside (and let off!) I started thinking perhaps I should buy something a bit more sedate....

BMW R80 g/s
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
 Mine was the same as the bike in the image, but with custom Dream Machine paintwork. Rather than the White/BMW motorsport colours it was a classic BMW combination of Red with Black Smoked highlights.

 Late July 1983, I traded the GSX1100 in for the BMW R80 g/s at Allan Jefferies in Shipley, I picked it up on the 1st August. Could 2 bikes be much different? The R80 g/s was powered by a horizontally opposed 800cc twin cylinder 4 stroke engine with shaft drive to the rear wheel via a single sided swing arm...relatively common place now, but a rarity then. The engine in a low state of tune produced 50bhp, but in a very usable way. Ideal for long easy days out...a much more sensible way to ride.

 It went to the Isle of Mull in the Autumn for a very wet week but I didn't keep it for very long. This was one bike I've always had regrets about selling, in the intervening years prices have rocketed for this model...the Grand Daddy of all the "Adventure Bikes". April 1984 and I was thinking of a bigger bike again..

BMW K100
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was identical to the one pictured

 Bought new, again from Allan Jefferies. BMW's first departure from the horizontal twin configuration they had become synonymous with. The engine an inline 4 cylinder 4 stroke DOHC unit, watercooled and again shaft drive using a single sided swingarm. They would prove to be very capable bikes with generally excellent reliability. Mine certainly was.

It was used again for travelling to spectate at motorcycle events and for many mini tours over the 2 years I owned it.

Kawasaki KL250

(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)

Mine was identical to the one pictured

 I'm not sure of the timeline here, but I think I bought it (new) in late Spring 1984. No trade in, this was owned in addition to the BMW K100. I remember very little of this bike, indeed it was only in a recent conversation with Tim on the phone that he reminded me I'd sold it to him! Bought as an easy to use off road bike and for the narrow lanes in the Lakes where the K100 was not that happy. It was powered by a single cylinder 4 stroke engine producing about 20bhp it certainly wasn't a ball of fire, but was quite a good "green laner", good suspension and quiet.

 Not sure how long I owned it, but probably sold it to Tim in late 1985/early 1986 to help fund a new car...I was back to one bike, the K100. Walking was becoming more of a "thing" and I felt a large bike was a bit of a waste, I had a new car for transport after all. So....

Yamaha SRX 600

(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)

Mine was identical to the one pictured

   Spring 1986 i sold the BMW K100 in part exchange for the Yamaha SRX600, a lightweight single cylinder 4 stroke engine, in a lightweight chassis. I suppose in hindsight I felt that as the motorbike was purely a "leisure" vehicle, I may as well have a fun type bike. About 45bhp pushing 170kg ish meant lively performance. The handling should have been excellent, Japanese bikes had left their poor handling behind in most cases...however the SRX600 felt oversprung at the rear...I only weighed 65kg at the time which made matters worse I think.

  I hadn't put many miles on the SRX (maybe 2000) when one evening I set off to go bouldering in Great Langdale. A beautiful sunny Summer evening, wearing light polycotton trousers, trainers and a ski jacket things all went wrong.

 Making the most of the evening I took the Crook road to Bowness, and then Rayrigg Road (national Speed limit in those days). Climbing up below the Miller Howe Hotel there is a steepening in the road (slightly flattened since). Opening the throttle to pull the wheel up as it crested the rise, the back wheel kicked up and pitched me off, it all felt like slow motion...how fast...I'm not sure...probably 70mph? I landed heavily on my head and shoulder (tarmac is hard at that speed) and slid up the hill and across the road coming to rest against the kerb maybe 50 metres or so from the start of the accident. It was no exaggeration to say I was a bit of a mess...and the SRX was a write off.

 I can tell you that light trousers and a ski jacket provide very little protection against tarmac. Remarkably I wasn't seriously hurt, no broken bones or sprains. My helmet had taken a lot of the impact, I had a few cuts and a fair bit of skin missing, a huge friction burn down one side of my body.  

 No mobile phones in those days, so having picked myself up, I wheeled the mangled SRX into an unoccupied garden and walked/hobbled up to Windermere to phone home. I asked Dad to come and pick me up...and to bring a towel for the car seat to protect it. I dismissed the idea of hospital...they'd ask to many awkward questions! Mother cleaned up the cuts and gravel rash...where upon Dad said my backside looked like a plate of mince!

 I was back walking/running ( bagging all the Wainwrights in 8 months in that year) in a week. But that would be the end of motorcycling for a while. 

Once again you've done well if you have stuck with it to here. Thanks for reading, I've documented this for myself really before the old fool forgets any more!

Tek Care and Stay Safe

A Personal Motorcycle History....Or A Misspent Youth? Part 5

Following on from the last post I now had a car for daily transport. This meant I could have a less practical motorbike for leisure use on the road. I had after all owned the MZ for 2 years!  Enter the....

Yamaha RD350LC

(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)

Mine was identical to the one above

 Purchased used, although only a month or so old and less than 600 miles on the clock. Powered by a 350cc liquid cooled 2 stroke twin cylinder engine. A wet weight of 150kg and 47bhp made for very lively performance. It also handled very well (there was a one make race series which started the careers of a number of future world class racers). I ran it for a short time on wet racing tyres which gave it unbelievable handling for an otherwise stock road bike. 

 It was a complete departure from anything I'd owned, great for an after work blast...but wearing over a long day out. Perhaps this wasn't right for my type of riding. We'll return to this thread later in the post...

Suzuki SP370
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was the same model as above, but silver rather than red.

 Meanwhile I still had the KTM, and as I'd discovered not a practical bike at all. I needed to get rid of it, so part exchanged it for the Suzuki SP370. I took a massive hit moneywise but was pleased to see the back off it...owership was definitely a mixture of Type 1 and Type 2 Fun!

 I bought the Suzuki SP370 new they were being offered at a very good price £795 if I remember correctly. Powered by a docile 370cc single cylinder 4 stroke engine, it was a complete...and welcome...contrast to the KTM. It made a very civilised trail bike, and a more than capable light touring bike. I replaced the high front mudguard with a lower tyre hugging item, this stopped most of the spray at the risk of blockage by mud.

 Overall I enjoyed the ownership of the SP370, it went on a very wet tour of the West Coast of Scotland to Durness. It rained everyday, but didn't miss a beat. It was also very frugal, especially compared to the RD350LC I owned at the same time. 

 This post has a confusing timeline (to me at least) due to the way the bikes were bought and sold. Indeed I have had a couple of phone conversations with Tim trying to get things in the correct order! 

Honda CX500
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was exactly like the one pictured above

 Summer 1981...I think! and I swapped the RD350LC for a Honda CX500. Bought new from Sapphire Motorcycles, and a complete change from the Yamaha. The CX500's engine is a watercooled 80 degree 4 stroke V twin producing just under 50bhp. Considerably heavier than the Yamaha and with poorer handling...doesn't sound great does it? 

 The CX500 could certainly munch miles though, a large fuel tank, comfy seat and the convenience of shaft drive meant I used it for the longer rides I preferred.

Meanwhile on the off-road front things were about to change again...

Fantic 175 Trials
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Things are a bit hazy about this one, I'm confident mine was this model...but mine didn't have lights

 Another bizarre move in hindsight...I part exchanged the SP370 (slightly battered, and modified) for a used Fantic 175 Trials bike. The engine a 175cc 2 stroke engine in a soft state of tune. (it also occasionally would fire in reverse!..disconcerting to say the least!)

 I bought it, not to compete on but to use really as a "playbike". Tim had a Bultaco Trials bike at the same time. It was used for a few trail rides, other than the restricted fuel capacity it helped to make any obstacle east to surmount. It was the only Italian bike I've owned, and against their reputation at the time was reliable...except for the right footrest falling off... but that could have been contributed to by user error!

 I'm nit sure how long I kept the Fantic. An impractical extravagance, it had to go...

Suzuki PE400

(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)

Mine was the same as the one above

 I part exchanged the Fantic for the Suzuki PE400. The PE400 was used, but from memory had had an easy life and was generally in good order. Powered by a single cylinder 400cc 2 stroke engine, although an off road racing bike it was a much less focused machine than the KTM I'd owned previously.

 Memories are again hazy of this bike, I used it for trail riding with the Trail Riders Fellowship and don't remember an reliability issues...indeed I can only really remember a couple of rides on it. Although I'm sure it was used a lot more than that.

I'll leave this post here, thanks for reading...we'll reconvene in a day or so.

Tek Care and Stay Safe

A Personal Motorcycling History....Or A Misspent Youth? Part 4

Although the Honda CB400 Dream was quite a capable bike it was a bit bland perhaps. I'd probably only owned it about 4 months at the most. Anyway I was earning quite a bit more money so decided I should upgrade to something a bit larger...and more powerful...

A Yamaha XS750
(this photo taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was exactly like the image above

 Bought used from Sapphire Motor Cycles in Staveley. It had less than 1000 miles on...barely used! The XS750 has a 4 stroke, 3 cylinder engine with shaft drive and triple discs to slow its not inconsiderable weight down...a real grown-ups bike! It produced round about 67 bhp, and was supposed to have a top speed of 110 mph. I certainly never had it up at that speed mind. The handling was typical of large capacity Japanese bikes of this era. Just look at the super skinny forks.

 Very comfortable over longer rides, I can't remember what it was like on fuel...it was way more powerful than anything else I'd ridden before, but didn't encourage "spirited riding". My mate Tim was still into off road riding, and as I liked the idea of keeping the XS750 in good order I thought a small easily manoeuvred off road bike would be a good idea...Oh dear... 

A Honda SL125
(This photo is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was exactly like the image above

 It had taken over 5 years but eventually I had a Honda SL125, having being seduced by one back on the Windermere Ferry all those years ago. I bought it used (well used in fact!) from James Walker's in Kendal. Powered by a single cylinder 4 stroke engine, developing perhaps 12bhp (when new) quite a contrast to the XS750 in my parents garage (which I was slowly taking over). It was very light though..which made it ideal for the use I had in mind.

 The SL125 was used throughout the Winter of 78/79 with minimal maintenance Daily commuting the short distance to work and off road on days off, including "Runs" with the TRF (Trail Riders Fellowship). It was indeed ideal for this purpose, incredibly reliable considering the abuse it received...it snapped it's chain twice from memory...but I always carried a repair link so no worries there. It did however break a piston ring...reducing it's power,  but actually not stopping it!

 I was enjoying the off road stuff, the SL125 was doing a great job. Winter is fraught with error and I had a lot of money tied up in the XS750 parked in the garage not being used (I think I only owned it for 4 months) I felt I should change it for a proper off road bike. (My parents thought I was Mad...so do I now!) So....

KTM 400 GS
(This photo is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was for all intents and purposes the same as the image above

 I traded the XS750 in at Sapphire Motorcycles for the KTM 400 GS, a full on off road racing motorcycle. Mine was used, but not if that makes sense. I'll explain...I'd called and asked Sapphire if they could get me a new KTM 400 GS, they couldn't. Off road bikes are introduced as new models/versions every year with the latest innovations and modifications learned from the previous seasons racing. They told me that the importers, Comerfords in London had a bike which had been prepared and run in for their sponsored rider Vic Allen to ride in Enduro's. I can't remember why he'd never used it...perhaps injury?

 I agreed to buy it...they sent it on the train! to Oxenholme. So I now had 2 off road bikes. I think looking back I'd lost the plot. The KTM was a thoroughbred racing machine...ridden by the human equivalent of an old nag! The 2 stroke engine had more power than any normal rider could cope with, top quality suspension components a very capable fully road legal machine in the right hands. It was also fully road legal

 I had a love/hate relationship with the KTM, it wasn't a bike to potter about on. But if you were in the mood to press on it could certainly do it....70 mph off road feels quick believe me. It was very well made and adorned with neat touches to make "in the field" maintenance.

Probably not the most practical bike I've ever owned....

MZ250 Supa5
(This photo is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was the same as the image above

 But this one was! Massively underrated at the time and an object of fun to many. In the Spring of 1979 I realised that owning 2 off road biased bikes was silly...so part exchanged the Honda SL125 at James Walker's in Kendal for this MZ250. An East German (Crikey...before the "Wall" came down!) very  well priced 2 stroke single cylinder engine tuned for torque and long life rather than performance. Having said all that, there was at the time a one make race series for them! 

 I really enjoyed owning the MZ it was very reliable and economical on fuel (as you'd expect). The only failure was on the kickstart lever, which was an easy fix. I used the MZ both for the daily commute, day trips way and as transport to the hills for walking trips. I think from memory I rode it for about 12000 miles. 

 I hadn't bothered with car ownership or even had lessons to take a car test up to this point. It was whilst I owned the MZ that I felt owning 2 motorbikes and no car was perhaps a bit limiting when away from bikes I enjoyed walking...and skiing in the Winter. But these posts are about motorcycles not cars....

Well done if you've read this far..and if you've kept up! I'M struggling to remember dates so goodness knows how anyone else make anything of it.

Tak Care and Stay Safe

A Personal Motorcycle History.....Or a Misspent Youth? Part 3

As described in the previous post on the subject, I was frustrated with the Honda XL250. Spring is a great time to change your bike (this would be a recurring theme!) together with my fondness for travelling further afield swayed me towards a pure road bike. March (I think!) 1976 saw me the proud owner of a brand new....

Honda CB250 G5
(Apologies for the use of the photo taken from the internet and any copyright infringement)
Mine was the same as the one pictured except on a P reg (hence no front plate required)

 This felt like a much larger bike than it actually was. A 250cc twin cylinder engine, SOHC fed by twin carburettors and an electric starter! Plus a disc front brake, although from memory it wasn't the best to say the least. A max speed of just over 80mph in real terms, was with hindsight more than enough.

 I piled the miles on this machine travelling to motorcycle events across the North of England and had a short camping tour round Kintyre in Scotland. I also used it for transport for work and to go walking and fishing in the Lakes. The summer of 1976 was of course one of the best, from memory it didn't rain in Kendal during the day from 1st April until mid July, motorcycling heaven. If I wasn't hooked before I was during this period of fantastic weather.

 Up till now motorcycling had been a mainly solitary experience, moving to Kendal away from Bowness meant I had lost touch a bit. I learnt that Tim Wray (from Bowness) had the same bike...in the same colour as well. I called round to see him and to have a chat...people with motorbikes always have plenty to talk about. Tim also had a Kawasaki KE175 trail bike...motorbike mad! We would become great fiends....and still are. 

 Tim was keener on trail/trials riding than the road, lots of time was spent exploring the capabilities of various off-road bikes over the following years. 

 The Honda was used mercilessly, I clocked up about 14000 miles in the 12months or so I owned it. I only came to grief once more by good luck than skill, colliding with a Wine & Spirits delivery van a couple of 100 metres of home...resulting in a rather battered Honda...and no damage to the van at all...Dad had been right!! I was a bit cut and bruised, but remember straightening up the Honda in the garage during the evening to be ready to ride over to Scarborough the next day for the road racing.

So the following Spring, March again I think I traded in a rather battered CB250 for another Trailbike....

A Yamaha DT250 Monoshock
(Apologies for the use of the photo taken from the internet and any copyright infringement)
Mine was identical to the image above.

 Bought brand new in March 1977, and another 250cc engine, it was the first 2 stroke bike I'd owned. It was used again without mercy both off road and on and from memory never missed a beat. Lots of fun was had...including a 2 up trip to Hereford and back in the day from Kendal. It spent many days caked in mud and hammered over rocks. 

 It did however in early December bite back (perhaps it was over enthusiastic throttle use) spinning up on frozen grass and falling and trapping my right foot. This happened on the Garburn Road...a favourite area in those days. Barely able to walk, I eventually rode home. Mother decided I should go to the hospital, a severely sprained ankle which resulted in a plaster cast and 3 weeks off work. The cast was removed on Boxing Day. 

 Something which I'd almost forgotten...I had taken up skiing in the Lakes, self taught (like motorcycling!) and without a car...this bike was ideal for ploughing through the snow to get to Kirkstone...Skis and poles across my back and a rucksack with skiboots etc also on my back...I'm shivering now typing this!

 I kept the Yamaha for 13 months I think (Tim will correct me if I'm wrong!) I cant quite remember why I felt I should forget about the trail riding?...I certainly enjoyed it...perhaps I thought there was more chance of injury? Anyway it was Spring....new bike time! So off to James Walker for the 5th time and I bought a....

Honda CB400T

(Apologies for the use of the photo taken from the internet and any copyright infringement)

Mine was the same as the one above.

 Back to a Honda and a 4 stroke engine 400cc SOHC with 3 valve heads, not a performance machine really 27bhp and would reach mid 90's with a following wind. Tim had also bought one, although he still had an off road bike as well. He sold his quite quickly.

 The Honda Dream name was revived for this model (which I think only lasted 1 year) but in all honesty this wasn't really the bike of my dreams. It was still my daily transport and was used again for light touring, including a holiday to Galloway with Tim he still had his red version of the same bike. Strangely Tim and Ang now live on the Mull of Galloway so I know he liked the area!  

 I can't remember how many miles I clocked up or in fact exactly when I sold it. What I can say is things were going to get a bit crazy.

Thanks for reading

Take Care and Stay Safe

A Personal Motorcycle History.......Or A Misspent Youth? Part 2

What follows will probably only make sense if the previous post is read first.
There I was the proud owner of my first motorcycle all paid for, legal in the eyes of the government and in possession of a shiny blue Stadium crash helmet. However as I said before having never ridden a motorbike, absolutely no experience whatsoever.

 Dad took me onto a private road and explained the controls. Made sure not only that I understood where they were, but also what they did and why! I'll post the image of the ST70 again below....

This image is taken from the internet (apologies for any copyright infringement)
The engine gearbox etc were  based on the world best selling Honda Cub. Well proven technology, the gearbox is connected to a centrifugal clutch, This was one less thing to learn at this stage. The front brake controlled from the right hand lever on handlebar (as UK bicycles and motorbikes).The right foot controlling the rear brake and the left foot the gears... all 3 of them! Of course the mighty engine producing 5.2 bhp connected to the twistgrip throttle on the right handlebar
Off I wobbled, no dramas that I remember...after about an hour of gradually getting the hang of things and increasing my speed and practising braking I was given some sobering advice.
Thoughts I have never forgotten...Any small bump or scratch caused by a collision on a car....would more than likely have resulted in a visit to hospital...or worse had it been a motorbike.

At that I was on my own...next day I commuted to work in Kendal from Windermere. No problems.

I loved it...it was summer of course and as well as the commute I would be out every evening and days off exploring the Lakes roads and lanes. The motorbike enabled me to venture so much further than the pushbike. 

Every week I was reading the Motor Cycle newspaper from cover to cover, listed within it were the national and local events for Trials, Scrambles (Motocross), Grass Tracks and Road Racing. It wasn't long before I was spectating. Fuel costs were minimal almost 100mpg from the ST70 and although at this stage I wasn't travelling that far I was certainly putting the miles in. it wasn't all plain sailing though I had a couple of tumbles...neither at any great speed or with any damage to me...there was a little loss of paint on the Honda though.

After a few months I clearly remember one Sunday morning announcing I was off to watch The Travers Trophy Trial at Alston. Over 50miles and over Hartside. Dad said I was asking a lot of the little bike and a bit of mechanical sympathy was never a bad thing. I didn't go. 

I was earning about £15.00 a week, my "Board" was £5.00...What I needed was a bigger bike, with my limit being 250cc as I was yet to pass my test.

The image is from the internet (apologies for any copyright infringement) It is identical to the one I owned

 I had only owned the Monkeybike for less than 4 months, during that time we had moved to Kendal we had a large garage...which wasn't used for cars (the camper was to high)....Into my life came the above, a Honda XL250 Motosport. A 4 Stroke single cylinder 4 valve engine, kickstart only  It was bought used, again from James Walker's in Kendal. Proper clutch this time of course, 5 gears! and about 4 times more powerful. The choice was influenced by what I was seeing at the events I was spectating at, and it's apparent ability to traverse rough ground.
 Surely now there was no distance to great. It was still fairly economical, almost twice as fast, more technologically advanced...and frustratingly unreliable! Not unreliable in a bits dropping off/breaking way...just never knowing if it would start...unpredictable might be a better word.

A classic case...January 1976 and I had been watching an All Wheel Drive Trial above Dubbs Road near Windermere. All went well, I had enjoyed the day...until it was time to go home to Kendal. Would it start, would it buggery! No phone at home in those days...I had been brought up to be as independent as possible...time to start pushing then. Fortunately the first section is more or less downhill, perhaps it would start running it off/bump starting? Nope...flat to Staveley and just beyond on the A591. But then a long uphill (where a Police motorcyclist stopped and said he would give me a tow if I had a rope...I hadn't..great offer though) before a coast down into Kendal. Upon pushing it into the garage at home after about 7 miles it was for sale in my mind. I turned round and thought I'll just give it one last kick over....of course it started....

I took my motorcycle test in Kendal in the January 1976 as well and passed first time...I'd been putting the miles in somewhere in the region of 6000 miles in all weathers in the 5 months or so. The test was no whre near as rigorous as the present one. From memory, a few questions on the Highway Code. Then the tester walked round the block, you rode in the opposite direction hence he saw you a number of times including his "suicide" move as he stepped out in-front of you to carry out the "Emergency Stop"....Brave Man!!

As the  old cartoon said "That's all for now folks"

Stay Safe and Take Care

A Personal Motorcycle History....Or A Misspent Youth?

Another Me, Me, Me entry..with no apologies for the self indulgence. This could get a bit wordy.
 Not the usual type of post on this blog, but life changes and sometimes it's just time to reflect. So feel free to click elsewhere....there will be more walking/cycling etc posts along in the near future. This post will be one of a series..of I'm not sure how many!

 So as Lewis Carroll said "Where should I begin". The start would be as good a place as any...

 My first memories of a motorbike are from perhaps age 5ish. Most Saturdays I would be collected by my Maternal Grandad from Windermere and taken through to Ambleside for the day. No doubt to give my Mother a rest, (Dad worked Saturday mornings then) we didn't have a car. looking back I was probably spoilt by my Nana and Grandad, Uncle Ray was still "at home" then...and in the shed was his motorbike an AJS 500cc Twin. This was his everyday transport, I was allowed to sit on the AJS (whilst on it's stand). Sometimes it was started so that I could hear it run, always being told not to touch the exhaust pipes as they would burn me.

 My Grandad and my Father had both used motorbikes as transport in the late 1940's and 1950's as many people did, cars being pretty much out of reach financially for most people. When Mum and Dad got together his triumph 500 Speed Twin was not only used for his daily commute from High Oxenfell to Windermere (in all weathers), but for trips to watch races and scrambles all over the country with their mates. Silverstone and back (2up) there and back on a Sunday...before any Motorways!
 I was regaled with stories of a group of them all heading off to these race meetings, some of the antics and adventures..no breakdown service in those days. Dad had done his National Service in the REME and was a motor engineer (specialising in automatic gearboxes later) so punctures and breakdowns were not the trauma they cold have been and something could usually be fashioned to get them home.
 Of course motorcycles were dangerous (they still can be!) and both Dad and my Uncle Ray spent time in hospital with broken limbs. But to me hearing of the freedom and fun that you could experience non of that mattered.
 By the time I was 6 or 7 Mum and Dad had bought and converted a Standard Atlas into a campervan. This and future campers would give Mum Dad my Sister and I many future fantastic holidays and fuel my love of the outdoors and adventure. If there were local Car or Motorbike events we would go to spectate..many of those venues are no longer used...Silloth was a favourite I remember.

 My Uncle Ray had sold the AJS, so there were no motorbikes to see and dream of. There was then a period when other things filled my free time. Like other kids I kicking a football about ( I was never any good). We now lived in Bowness, so riding my bike, exploring the hills, woods, fishing and generally messing about beside and in/on Windermere was were I would be found most of the time I wasn't at school or asleep.

Motorbikes were all but forgotten, I'm sure my parents and Nana were very pleased.

Skip on a few years and age 16 I'm on the ferry across Windermere with my bike off fishing to Rawlinson Nab. There next to me was a Honda SL125...like the one below. Wow I thought, how cool is that? It was clearly out of reach , mainly because would have been limited to 50cc capacity but also by its likely cost (I had no idea how much it was anyway). I had a small amount of money saved up from work at weekends and school holidays, On the way back from fishing I called into the newsagents and bought the Motor Cycle newspaper...Oh dear!!

 I was still at school and had elected to do an extra year to obtain some extra GCE's (that dates me). I had no clear idea what career I would like to follow so more qualifications seemed like a good idea. Looking back with 20/20 hindsight this was a mistake. I didn't enjoy that last year, most of my schoolmates had left and were earning "proper" money. By now I was 17 so I left with my 6 GCE's and off I went.

 Jobs locally were hard to come by anyway, so I did the weekend/holiday job "fulltime" for a couple of months. Then a fulltime job came up in Kendal, decent enough money, and I was taken on.

 Only one problem, getting there...a motorbike was the answer of course. In those days no test required as long as it was below 250cc (madness looking back, its a wonder any of us survived!)

so off I went with Dad to "James Walker's" motorcycle emporium with £200 burning a hole in my pocket. Long since gone, and run by his son Frank (in his 60's then) he was a real character. It didn't take me long to decide on the steed of my dreams, I'd seen "Easy Rider" I knew what I wanted....

Please accept my apologies for the image quality and to whoever owns the copyright

Yep...a Honda ST70 Monkey Bike!
Mine was exactly like the one pictured, bought used for the princely sum of £170 the remaining £30 was enough to tax and insure the beast. We loaded it in the back of Mum and Dads camper and off we went home.
Now bear in mind at this point I had never ridden a motorcycle......
Thanks for reading
Tek care and Stay Safe.
To be continued....