Motorbikes.

Motorbikes! I just love them. Riding bikes, mixing with bikers, going to rallies and parties, all the true friends I have are bikers. Woo hoo! Almost every one of the best or most memorable days of my life has either been on a bike, or doing something connected with them. There's nothing quite like the sense of freedom you get with the open road in front of you and your mates by your side. You get to feel the wind on your face, smell the air first-hand — not to mention the sound, the vibes, that sensation of flying, the feeling of being 'out there', you against the rest of the world and the elements. Even those wet rides in rush hour around the M25 are a challenge to be conquered.

So many great memories I have stored away, my first ride out, the first ride out I lead, our first rally, riding in torrential rain through Germany, approaching Prague at 80mph at 10am as the sun was rising above the skyline, camping all over the country in sun, rain, frost, wind and mud, from waking up to a freezing day on Dartmoor in a Bivi bag to foggy club house caves. The mad dancing until 2am and more laughs per hour than is healthy I’m sure. Battling with language barriers in France & Czech, Oh and the Bayeaux ring road! I’ve been frozen and cooked on my bike’s and still I want more and more! And I still get butterflies of anticipation before every ride every day.

Yeah, ok, sometimes it does seem like everyone else on the road is out to get you, but again they are just hazards to calmly deal with, one by one. Sitting in their little metal boxes with heaters and carpets, like mobile front rooms, comfy and warm, hence they always say "Ooops Sorry, mate, I didn't see you!"  Seeing that unrestricted sign and safely overtaking that expensive BMW that just cut me up through his own impatience at me sticking to a 30 limit is just sooo very satisfying.

But those of us who ride bikes have so many advantages over those poor souls inching along the blocked roads in their metal cages. We know we're alive, while they are half-dead already. We have the thrill of controlling an obedient steed which will follow our every motion, almost like producing poetry when it all goes right. While they have to sit in their lines of traffic, trapped, then when we arrive we can find a space to park almost anywhere... But personally I don’t recommend NCP, but that’s another story.

Dangerous? Maybe a little. But what's life for, if it's not to relish in the odd adventure here and there? I crave odd and bizarre situations, on a bike you find them. Cold? Sometimes, but I would much prefer to be a bit cold than be stuck inside a metal box, smelling of damp carpet. Dirty? Well, you might pick up a bit of dirt, but at least modern bikes don't leak oil like the old ones did.

As for sports bikes in comparison to Custom bikes, I’m lucky enough to enjoy both and can see the advantages in each. On the sports bike you can cover long distances fast with minimum hassle, no wind blast and little noise. On the Cruiser, its wind in the face and anything over 85 is getting uncomfortable, you are much more conscious of distance and speed, but the noise and attitude the bike conveys makes up for all that, and then some. Parking at Tesco’s on my rice rocket and no one gives you a second look, park the Dragstar and OAP’s and kids appear like magic for a look!

It would just be nice if the motorcycle press saw biking in a more balanced way, anything that can’t go as fast as the amount in kilos it weighs gets relentlessly mocked. All that knee down, stoppie, wheelie stuff has no place on a public road and I see it as part of our responsibility as bikers to portray a positive and friendly image to Joe public. Just my thoughts.

Dave - Thames Valley Vultures