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Bikes

 

I got my first motorbike at 17, a Yamaha DT125. This was followed by a much newer DT250, which was a lovely bike, and then in due course a brand new Yamaha RD250LC. This motorcycle has passed into legend as the one that got the learner laws changed. It was certainly the first production 250 easily capable of a genuine 100mph even without a following wind. Some time later I had a Honda 250 Superdream, and then nothing for twenty years or so until the Bandit in 2001. And now I have the XJR 1300, which is an absolute joy. The motorcycling press have, with one or two exceptions, missed the point of bikes like this completely. It is difficult to entirely sum up the appeal, but I can go some way towards it by saying that I feel the same mixture of pride, excitement and disbelief that it's actually mine with the XJR as I did all those years ago with the DT125.

I take a keen interest in my riding and try to ride to a high standard. I am quite happy to enjoy the bike but I have every intention of being alive tomorrow to go on enjoying it. To that end I have done Advanced Training with the IAM, MAC and I've also completed a BikeSafe course with Dyfed Powys Police. Many of my friends and colleagues in the Ambulance Service are also keen motorcyclists and we sadly know only too well the consequences of a moments inattentiveness or one risk too many. I don't preach - there's no need. I ride largely for myself and I get enjoyment from riding as well as I can and constantly trying to improve. As others will tell you this does not mean I'm against making progress when it's safe!!
     

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Yamaha DT125

My first bike - it was my pride and joy. It was very second hand but pretty reliable and very tough. Living on Exmoor there was plenty of opportunity for off road as well as tarmac and I enjoyed it to the full.

Suzuki Bandit 600

Born Again!! After a twenty year layoff, the Bandit was a great re-introduction. I did 11,500 miles in just under a year and passed my IAM test on it.

August 2002 - A Dream Come True

It's 20.9 miles home then......

Yamaha XJR 1300

I still can't quite believe I own this bike - it gets better and better with every mile (and believe me I've done a few)

XJR at home

Now sporting a rack and a hugger

Donington Park, August 2003

My first Track Day - the only XJR - I'm still grinning!!

Donington, September 2003

Comparatively few people have been allowed to sit on my bike. I have to look at this photo now and again to remind myself that one of them was Neil Hodgson......

This was about a week after he was crowned World Superbike Champion.

Ponderosa Cafe, Horseshoe Pass

The steak and kidney pie is highly recommended

Llyn Ogwen

Tryfan - The North Ridge

Not climbing it this time but it brought back some memories

The Open Road

The Snowdon Horseshoe in the background

A Grand Day Out

Not a bad mileage for a day trip !!

Two Years Old

Well, two years and ten days to be precise. Three years to the day since I bought the Bandit and 35,000 miles, 24,000 of them on the trusty XJR. The smile gets wider all the time!!

And from the other side....

Look - I like taking pictures of the bike, alright?

Five Minutes of Fame !!

The MCN Sofa tour came to Machynlleth Ambulance Station in December 2004 to see how Ambulance Service bikers felt about other bikers.

Thanks to Pete Jones for organising the day and to MCN for the use of the photo.

It's infectious.....

My old friend Gary Thomas succumbed in the summer of 2004 and displayed excellent taste by buying an XJR.

 

A Healthy Lifestyle

Where we used to walk (very healthily) around the hills of Wales we now ride from one biker's cafe to the next!! Just as much fun but perhaps not quite as healthy......

My thanks to Gary for the use of these photos from a memorable day in June 2005

Near Capel Curig

Poole Bike Night

Every Tuesday night through the summer Poole Quay is filled with bikes. Malcolm, Gary and I made the trip down on a superb evening in July 2005.

Thanks to Gary for the photos.

Poole Bike Night

Malcolm's custom TL1000S

XJR Owners Group - Peak District Tour

Enjoying the sunshine in Matlock Bath.

(Thanks to Gary for these photos and to Paul and Paula for their company on a brilliant day)

Near Castleton

In the Peaks

 

April 2006

37,000 miles young. There's something about sunshine and chrome.

Helimed Rideout

June 2007 - taking part in a ride the length of Wales in aid of the Air Ambulance.

©AJAR Photographics & used by kind permission of Alun Roberts

Helimed Rideout

At the finish in Ewloe with my fellow riders Paul Brown from the XJROG, Tony Bond from Ambulance Control and Karen Davies a paramedic working on the Air Ambulance who rode pillion for part of the journey.

©AJAR Photographics & used by kind permission of Alun Roberts

XJROG Isle of Man 2007

Great company, great roads, great scenery. And, against all the odds, great weather. (It was the weekend of the worst floods in mainland Britain for many years).

Thanks to Carl Laidlaw for the photo

The Mountain Course

The stuff of dreams, and indeed legends.

Poole Quay

September 2007; Malcolm and I made it to Poole for one of the last nights of the season. Well, he had to give his new FJR a run......

 

Thanks to Malcolm for the photos

Poole Quay

The smug, self-satisfied grin that comes with XJR ownership!!

 
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