Here we go
So I was 16, at boarding school and working on a new nature trail in Denbigh Quarry in North Wales
Two of one of my teachers mates turned up on some trial bikes and rode around the new nature trail, I remember commenting "that looks fun"
Later that year at our annual Young Farmers Dinner I won an award for my work on the nature trail (a book was normally presented as a prize) I remember tearing open the paper and the book was The Motorcyclists Handbook I remember thinking "but I don't really like bikes"
Non the less I read it, quite a few times, I distinctly remember looking at the picture of the Harley and thinking god that is ugly why would anyone buy one of them. Lol
Left School, at 19 my mate called round on his DT, he next brought a spare helmet and we went out a few times, that was until I said "giz a go" so into the local park riding around with no helmet thinking "I really like this, this is a trail bike, they can do alsorts, there's that big grassy bank, bet I could jump that". I did, with me going one way and the bike going the other. I'm still luck to be hear to tell the tale as I was out cold for a good 10 minutes, I still have the scar, my mate thought I was dead!!
My girlfriend at the time said to me, promise me you'll never get on a motorbike again, a few years later we split up and the first thing I did? Yup went and bought a motorcycle, back in 1989 I became a proud owner of a Yamaha RS 125, it got nicked, went in for my bike test, failed and got a speeding ticket on the way back to the bike school (Oh how they laughed)
Passed my test at 21 bought an RD 200 DX, then bought another for spares.
My mate then rang me up and said "I've just bought Westy's H1" I think the silence from my end said it all and he said "I'm coming round"
I remember the noise, the odd looking 3 pipes and thinking wow that's different, when he set off on one wheel in plums of smoke and noise I was hooked.
Needless to say I bought that bike
Then a KH 250
Then several more KH 250's
Another KH500 (as it turned out that is what my mate had bought)
I bought a few 4 strokes to repair and flog
Honda CB 100 N
Honda CJ 250, I remember my girlfriends friend being interested in the bike, she was drop dead gorgeous with long blonde hair and blue eyes, very slim and had massive boobs, I told her that the bike wasn't ready yet, she replied " it's OK I'll come over anyway" she came around with the tightest top on she possibly wear and we spent most of the day together, I finished the bike she bought it and wheeled it away.
Turned out she couldn't ride and just wanted to get in my pants
I was sick and tired of having to stop and fill up at Hartstead Moor Services riding my KH 500 from Hull to Liverpool, working in a bikebreakers we got a Kawasaki GTR 1000 in as a damage reparable, so I bought it, with it's 26 ltr tank it was a revelation, Hull to Liverpool and back on one tank, heated grips a big fairing, it was a great bike, heavy and had that engine braking thingy, good job as it as an A1with crapper brakes than my KH 500, also it was very heavy, kept it until the big ends started to knock and then scrapped it
Then bought a H1B, an A1B
an Honda NC 29 urban tiger colours (damaged repairable)
Flogged that and bought aYamaha FZR 750R (Japanese market only bike (damage reparable)
I remember being at work Friday and turning around to the guys at work and saying "I've flogged the FZR, I'm going to buy a H2" this was before the days of ebay, I put some feelers out and Rick had a B, but I really wanted a 72 H2, I got a phone call from a guy down South saying I've got a H2 for sale, OK where are you, "Kent" my heart sank (motorxycles were my only transport as I hadn't passed my car test and didn't until I was 33)" I'm just outside Hull" was my reply, he said "are you going to Lotherton Hall Bike show, I can trailer it up for you to look at" we met up I fell in love with the bike, bought it, it was running on premix, but came with the oil pump, refitted the oil pump and turned up to work on it on the Monday
Much to the amazement of the guys at work
Oh and a week later did a 500 mile round trip to the German Triples Rally on it
Gary T
