Motorcycling

Okay, I admit it. I had an early mid-life crisis. I have been a biker since 30th August, 2002, when I passed my motorcycle practical test at the second attempt at the age of 31.

I had first wanted to get into motorbiking at the age of 22, when, whilst studying in Grenoble in the French Alps, a university friend of mine, Adam, was visited by his brother and his brother's friend, who were on a European bike expedition. The idea appealed to me then and sowed a seed in my head. Unfortunately, my financial situation as a student defeated any ambitions I had to take lessons, let alone pass a test.

In early 2002, my friend and former BAiT band colleague, Dan, told me that he was going to do the Direct Access course, which allows anybody over the age of 21 to obtain a full bike licence (for any type of motorbike) by passing the motorbike theory test; CBT (Certificate of Basic Training), which is a three hour test in a private area to show that you are able to control the bike; and finally, the practical test.

Dan's idea re-ignited my own interest in getting a bike licence, and so, without further ado, I made some enquiries and booked myself in for my theory test. The theory test was pretty straightforward, and merely necessitated a good understanding of the highway code.

The Test

A couple of weeks later I made the short journey to Leicester to do the CBT test, which took place in Leicester Council buildings' car park. Following the CBT, and after a couple of weeks, I did a three day intensive course, with a practical test on the third day.

Unfortunately, by the time of the test, I was still coming to grips with the mechanics of riding a bike, trying to consign actions to muscle memory in the same way that you do when you drive a car, and was still not paying attention to Leicester city centre's terrible one-way system.

Three minutes before the end of the test I was heading down what I thought was a one-way street (it wasn't: it was a double-parked two way street, and I had missed that very important detail as I turned into the road). At the end of the road was a sign indicating that all traffic was to turn right (i.e. it was a one-way street). I dutifully moved into the right-hand lane, believing that I was on a one-way street, only to hear the dreaded words 'Careful John, you're on a two-way street' over the intercom. I knew that I had blown it straight away. Such a mistake is a serious mistake and an instant fail. This was a crushing disappointment, made worse by the fact that I had only mage a couple of minor faults, and was otherwise going to pass.

On reflection, I am glad I failed the first practical test, because it made me decide to go out and get a couple of months' experience on a 125CC bike, before reattempting the test on a 500CC. I picked up a second hand Honda CG125 for £1500. It was a wonderful little bike, having only had one previous owner, who had just passed his test, so the bike was in great condition.

The Honda CG125 is a classic learner bike, and is also used by many people as a commuter bike, mainly due to the fact that it will do 120 mpg (in my experience - some have claimed 200 mpg, but I just don't believe that). It will do just over 70 mph - not that you need to do over 70 mph on British roads. I had a couple of months on the CG125 and it really got me into the mechanics of riding a bike, so that I was far more able to concentrate on the road.

After a couple of months, and having passed my test at the second attempt, I sold the CG125 on to a commuter and got straight on my current bike, a Yamaha XJ600S Diversion, or Seca II, as it is known in across the Atlantic.

The Diversion itself is a classic first bike to own, and many people doing Direct Access courses sit their test on one. It's a versatile workhorse and will do 110 mph comfortably. I highly recommend them as a good all-rounder.

My Future Bike

I am very much into the concept of touring and Enduro bikes. You can keep your sports bikes for the race track, and fair-weather riders (the Escort drivers of the motorbike world, and usually the ones who ride in shorts at stupid speeds).

Having read Neil Peart's (the drummer from the Progressive Rock band Rush) book, Ghost Rider - Travels on the Healing Road, a very personal book, which deals with Neil's 55,000 mile road trip across North America, following the tragic deaths of his daughter and wife, I am very tempted to look at getting hold of a BMW 1150GS Adventure, or more likely its improved successor, the 1200GS Adventure in the long term.

The BMW 1150GS and 1200GS both look and perform great and have excellent reviews from the bike magazines and owners alike. More importantly, they have visibly been put through the mill and come through the other side by Neil Peart and, more recently, by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in the series 'The Long Way Round'.

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