My past bikes

Puch Grand Prix - John Player Special
A bloke at a show told me a Puch Grand Prix JPS would be worth quite a bit now if it was in good condition. Mine wasn't, it was a heap of crap, and I didn't know what I was doing when I bought it. the frame was twisted and the engine blew up in the first 2 months so scrapped it and bought my AP50!

Mine had a fairing but I can't find a picture of one so it must have been rare

Suzuki A50P (or A50P) the P stands for 'Pedal'
I spent all summer on one of these after forking out a hard earned £50 for it. The front end was a bit bent following the previous owners crash, but I didn't care. It was an early model with the metal fork gaiters and I resprayed it during the summer whilst working at my uncles garage. I fitted a micron pipe and sticky tyres and wore the pedals away at every opportunity, at one point I was getting through a set a month.

When I started my first job this little bike did the 18 mile round trip for 7 months until I was 17. I'd love to restore one.

Yamaha RS125DX
An RS125 was my first venture into 'bigger bikes' and to me it felt like a rocket ship. Having missed the 250 learner cut off date I had to have a 125cc to learn on. Sadly like my first moped this was another piece of crap that blew up on me within a few weeks.

'Stuff that' I thought and went and bought a brand new bike with my apprentices salary (and a guarantor).

Honda MTX125R
I bought this brand new and had a great time with it. After buying a fresco front and rear pipe it went really well. Mind you I did need a new cylinder head after crashing it racing a mate down a dirt track, the exhaust whacked it and it leaked water around the plug hole where there was hairline crack.

I was sad to see this one go really, especially as the guy who bought it wrecked in within a few weeks.

Yamaha RD350LC (x3)
I've had 3 of these in total, but couldn't wait to get my first one which I did immediately after passing my test. I managed to seize it up on the way to work and it spat me off at over 80mph, which really knocked me about.

I'm thinking of getting another one soon as they look so sexy with a set of cracklers on.

Honda MTX200R
After crashing my 350LC I decided that I was riding too fast and traded down to a brand new MTX200R. For some reason it always had a mid throttle flat spot which I never managed to cure.

When I sold it the bloke who bought it was going off around the world on his boat and was taking it with him .... god knows where it could be now!

Kawasaki KH250
I bought this really cheaply when I decided to sell the MTX200. It served as a run around for a while but kept slipping out of second gear. I eventually sold it and wasn't sad to see the back of it.

This bike was a far cry from the 350LC's I had been used to and it was no wonder the Yamaha's outsold them about 5 to 1.

Kawasaki KDX200 (x2)
I had 2 of these bikes when I was in 'road bike' denial. One of them went like the clappers and the other was a pile of junk with the NiCad lining coming off the barrel.

I once ordered a spare piston for one of them and it was sent broken or got broke by the postie, when I called the shop who sent it they said I'd done it whilst fitting it and it was my tough luck, so was on my own with it! I won't be dealing with those idiots again!

Yamaha XT500
I just couldn't start this thing, my brother used to have to start it for me. There was obviously a knack to it and I just didn't have it! I used to get my bro out of bed to start it so I could go to work on it.

It also had a leaking valve stem oil seal and used to smoke like mad when first started, but my god it wheelied - what a thumper.

Suzuki GSXR750G (Slabside)
I bought this 'wobbler' from a local chap as a present to myself for passing my apprenticeship. It was super fast and drew a lot of attention from everyone .... particularly the old bill who stopped me thinking it was a race bike on the road.

The high speed wobbles scared the life out of me as did the jaw dropping acceleration. I found it for sale at the Stafford show (see picture) a little while back and very nearly bought it again, but having survived it once common sense talked me out of it!

Suzuki GSXR1100M
This is the fastest bike I've ever ridden - what a complete beast. Heaven only knows how people used to hold on as a pillion. Sadly it met its end on the way to Wales when the front end washed out on me under heavy breaking into a bend.

Myself and the pillion were kindly breathalysed by the old bill (even though I had a chest injury) and taken to Hereford hospital!

Honda CB900RR - Urban Tiger
What a superb bike this was. My Urban Tiger handled like nothing I'd ever ridden before and stopped on a sixpence. Mr Honda had got everything right with this bike.

Early morning starts for rides into the Welsh mountains, whilst chasing a very quick friend on his Ducati, was the order fo the day. I have very fond memories of this bike and would like to restore one ...... one day.

Kawasaki KDX220R
With a bit of a gap (skint) between the Fireblade and this KDX it didn't take me long to find my dirt bike feet again. I joined the TRF and met some super blokes. We spent hours up to our knees in mud or rivers rescuing each other from one catastrophe or another.

This KDX was a lively little thing and was off as soon as it hit the power, mind you the carb did freeze up badly ..... just when you didn't want it to!

KTM450EXC
I bought this new as the KDX was too mad for trail riding and my trail riding improved immediately. Matt bought one also and we have done mile after mile on KTM's.

Many people knock them for poor reliability but this one has been great (apart from the stand). Probably the 'most fit for purpose' bike I've ever owned.

Kawaski KE175B3
I bought this from a chap at work. He'd owned it from new and it's completely original. It even has the big back mud flup which everyone took off and threw away.

I keep promising to restore this to original but CRM50's, Matt's Honda or Chris's GPZ keep getting in the way of starting it!

Kawaski H2
This H2 isn't used as much as it should be and is in standard condition. It could do with some sympathetic restoration to the plating and chroming but it isn't bad at all.

It doesn't stop, it doesn't go round bends but it still gives plenty of modern bikes a run for their money from the lights, so watch out! I just love the noise and the smoke it generates ..... early 70's Jap bikes ... quality :)

Kawasaki KMX125
2 of my mates passed their tests on this bike. I got sick of hearing them talk about how nice it would be to ride a bike, so I went out and got them one.

They're both still riding and the KMX is still with a mate of one of them, not being used ...... I must get that back!

Yamaha XT350
Matt and I bought this to introduce people to trail riding. We had a few people hire it out for the day including the lad who eventually bought it.

Sadly the cam chain gave up on him whilst he was trying to start it (with a drill by all accounts).

Kawasaki KE125B3
I bought this bike on ebay when I was drunk .... NEVER surf ebay when you've been drinking, it works out expensive and you have to eat a lot of humble pie in front of the Mrs!

I had this strange dream that I'd restore it and have two beauties parked next to each other ....... what a berk!

Honda CB400F - Four Hundred Four
This bike was a pleasure to ride and the engine was a sweet as a nut. It had been owned for a long time by a friend of a friend and now resides with my mates father in Wales.

Like all Hondas it had a superb build quality and was well thought through in the design phase ...... I do like Honda's.

Honda CRM250 Mk2
I bought this from a bloke in Ludlow who coudn't start it. His mate started it and wrung it's neck from cold ..... I shuddered. When i got home I couldn't start it either and Matt and I sweated our cobbs off trying to get it going.

Later after examination we noticed someone had chisled off the copper emulsyfying tube in the carb! New carb and it started first kick ... aren't some people bodgers!

Yamaha DT125LC Mk1
I don't know why I bought this and wish I hadn't. It had no ignition and the left hand switch gear was missing ....... could I find one ....... could I heck!

I sold it to someone who was going to use it weekends at his caravan in Wales so, it's probably trashed by now.

Honda CB1100RD
I love this bike but I'm frightened to use it in case some old bird pulls out of a junction on me, or I slide it up the road. It still has the original exhausts and is in very good condition, in fact it got a highly commended at the Stafford show in Oct 09. Spare parts are a rare as rocking horse s**t!

I'm considering how much I'll be riding this beauty!

Honda CRM50R
I built this for my lad and it goes like stink for a ped. It nearly never made it home because it was in such a poor state when we picked it up we considered chucking it in a bush!

Would I do the same thing again ......... a month ago the answer was no ...... but now having seen his smiling face riding it, it has to be yes. I can't wait to hear the results of the first moped race :)

Honda CBR1000F
Just a week or two after Matt bought his CBR1000F from Penzance I got the bug and bought this beauty from a guy in Orkney! The two bikes couldn't have been any further apart! I got it shipped down on a courier and was delighted with the overall condition for an 18 year old bike.

I intend to do a bit of long weekend touring this summer and will use it to visit the Nurburgring in July when a few of us are 'popping over'.