Started off with a Raleigh Chopper Christmas gift after asking (for about a year) mum and dad for a bike. Polished the paint off that one and got in love with the freedom it gave me. I got myself a girlfriend who lived 2 miles away and she gave me her Raleigh (again) Champion racer to commute back and forth to her which I did very eagerly because she made me feel so good. Got into work and started buying, tweaking and dealing all sorts of cars as mum and dad were very insistent that I don't get myself a motorbike. Motorbike = leave home.
Got married, had to settle for an old piece of ****, an Austin Farina (remember those!!) which was very practically as it could turn into a sort of van by throwing the back seat down. First ever hatchback made that Farina, Farina as in PininFarina her designer. Upgraded to a better car, bought wife a car.
Nothing to do on Sunday mornings. Hearing those beautiful motorcycle vrooms and high frequency wails got my blood pumping. Started frequenting biker pubs to see what bike takes my fancy, and buying all the bike mags in the shelves. Some quick lessons on a C90. Took my test bought my SV650. The idea that you always improve your riding, the contact with your surroundings and the quickness of acceleration does it for me. Still polish the paint off the bike, just as I did in my Chopper years.
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