Reliving my youth

[Carla_G]

I'm 56. My nephew came round 6 months ago on his 125cc motorbike, he is starting out on what seems to be a very complicated procedure to get a full licence. I got mine years ago and it seems it is still valid. So, sat astride his bike, I suddenly had this rush of adrenaline, and had to stop myself zipping off up the road on it. I used to love the various bikes I had before I got all domesticated and boring. So, now with kids left home and life sort of settled and comfortable, I really fancy something like a modern Triumph bonny or even a street triple. Just for dry weather easy riding nothing stupid, and I would even do a "refresher" course, not that I really think I need it, as I had some pretty mean machines, even if it was a long time ago. Anyway I digress - I ran this idea past her indoors, and was met by what I can only describe as a tsunami of a mixture of anger, ridicule and disbelief. In fact, she made some comment along the lines of being less upset if she found me with a young blonde. Now, me being a not particularly attractive old(ish) fella, it leaves me in a bit of a predicament. Personally I prefer the Triumph, but I suppose the blonde is also a fairly attractive idea, although possibly more expensive. Do you think I should carry on chipping away with the Bonneville idea, abandon everything for an easy if slightly boring life, or go for the blonde option? I f the latter, where do I start looking, and what are the insurance issues??

Have her dye here hair blond if she isnt already... and ask her to be that blond sitting behind you while you go and do what you love... This way you can taste the boredom and adrenalin at the same time... Lie is too short for pondering this much...

 

[driverman]

Bike, blonde, both great rides! I always wanted a Royal Enfield with red petrol tank. Never got one though.

 

[R G]

Hit the mid life crisis, and look back , I did the same thing about 9 years ago and went out and got a Blackbird ,no not a woman a Bike , although I wouldn't have said no either way , Still nice to think of the old bikes I had in the 70s , live you're dream is what I say you're a long time dead ...

 

[Besoeker]

I'm 56. My nephew came round 6 months ago on his 125cc motorbike, he is starting out on what seems to be a very complicated procedure to get a full licence. I got mine years ago and it seems it is still valid. So, sat astride his bike, I suddenly had this rush of adrenaline, and had to stop myself zipping off up the road on it. I used to love the various bikes I had before I got all domesticated and boring. So, now with kids left home and life sort of settled and comfortable, I really fancy something like a modern Triumph bonny or even a street triple. Just for dry weather easy riding nothing stupid, and I would even do a "refresher" course, not that I really think I need it, as I had some pretty mean machines, even if it was a long time ago. Anyway I digress - I ran this idea past her indoors, and was met by what I can only describe as a tsunami of a mixture of anger, ridicule and disbelief. In fact, she made some comment along the lines of being less upset if she found me with a young blonde. Now, me being a not particularly attractive old(ish) fella, it leaves me in a bit of a predicament. Personally I prefer the Triumph, but I suppose the blonde is also a fairly attractive idea, although possibly more expensive. Do you think I should carry on chipping away with the Bonneville idea, abandon everything for an easy if slightly boring life, or go for the blonde option? I f the latter, where do I start looking, and what are the insurance issues??

My real interest was four wheels rather than two. I grew up on a farm and was driving round the farm roads in a 1936 Austin 10 from the age of about 12. No synchromesh on the gearbox - that teaches you how to change gears properly....

I digress. A bit later in life I sort of inherited a bike like this:

A 350cc four-stroke single. I used to ride around at the weekends when I went home....it was in my student days.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Tel, good answer as usual, however, I've had the blue bricks treatment, so point 3 is void. Also, I am confused by point 4. Are you suggesting my wife sulks if not ridden for a few days? This seems very odd, and a reverse situation to my way of thinking. Maybe there is some greasy other fella with something throbbing between his legs involved. Bet the ******* is a Electrical Trainee as well. Anyway, do I detect you are leaning heavily towards the Triumph?

ahh married life

 

[trev]

go for the bike.

1. bikes don't lie.

2. bikes don't have moods.

3. bikes don't get pregnant.

4. bikes don't sulk if you don't ride them for a few days.

can't be arsed to think of more,

5 A bike won't get jealous and stop you riding it if it catches you looking at another bike.

 

[telectrix]

My real interest was four wheels rather than two. I grew up on a farm and was driving round the farm roads in a 1936 Austin 10 from the age of about 12. No synchromesh on the gearbox - that teaches you how to change gears properly....

I digress. A bit later in life I sort of inherited a bike like this:

A 350cc four-stroke single. I used to ride around at the weekends when I went home....it was in my student days.

i'd guess that was around a 1950 model. my 1953 was a 500 single with the jampot rear suspension,

 

[Besoeker]

i'd guess that was around a 1950 model. my 1953 was a 500 single with the jampot rear suspension,

I seem to recall that it was a 1952 model. The rear end was unsprung and it had magneto ignition with an advance/retard lever on the handlebars. That might date it to quite a bit earlier.

It was in a bit of a parlous state when I got it and it quite a bit of refurbishing to get it running.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Lovely bikes. Only ever had a Kwack 600, ZX-6R.

loved it but like a piece of plastic crap with a sewing machine in it compared to those bikes.

 

[telectrix]

I seem to recall that it was a 1952 model. The rear end was unsprung and it had magneto ignition with an advance/retard lever on the handlebars. That might date it to quite a bit earlier.

It was in a bit of a parlous state when I got it and it quite a bit of refurbishing to get it running.

my 1953 was magneto and manual advance /retard lever. it also had exhaust valve lifter so the kickstart was easier.

 

[Besoeker]

my 1953 was magneto and manual advance /retard lever. it also had exhaust valve lifter so the kickstart was easier.

Yes, a valve lifter would have made life a little easier.
A little incident when I came to start it up for the first time has stuck in my mind even though it was decades ago.

I'd worked out what that little advance /retard lever was. Just not which way round it was. Naturally, it goes without saying that I got it wrong. First kick and the bl00dy beast spat me off.

Rather undignified to be sent sprawling in the sawdust of my father's wood shed. Thankfully, there was nobody about to see me losing the first round match with the Matchless matchless.

The steep, and advanced learning curve would have prevented even the most retarded retard from repeating the error.

 

[telectrix]

true. the kick back could be vicious.

 

[specs]

get a blond install her in the garage, get a bike put that in the garage also, go tell the wife. Please please post back the outcome.

 

[ferg]

When I asked the missus about getting a bike again the answer I got surprised me a bit.

"If you are going to have a midlife crisis then have an affair but.... YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANOTHER MOTORBIKE!!!!"

So no affair and no bike but the idea did wear off eventually.

 

[TJ Anderson]

Just do it. Triumph make some lovely bikes these days (don't leak oil like the old ones) but not fast enough for me. I have an S1000RR at mo, quickshifter, anitiwheelie, TC, 193 BHP, definatly not a tool for a born again biker