Desert Island Bikes

Are you old enough to remember

“Desert Island Discs”?

Roy Plomley,Michael Parkinson

or Sue Lawley presenting?

The theme, was to interview”celebs”

They were cast alone on a desert island

with 8 records for company,

plus one book of their choice,

and the Bible .

The desert island had food and water

and not much else.

“Welcome to  desert Island bikes”

Peterbeta biker-you are cast ashore on a desert island:

You are allowed 8 bikes

and a book or video/DVD of your choice .

As well as food and water,

there is a full sized road race circuit,

an ISDT standard,enduro course,

An international moto cross track

as well as 100 miles

of twisty coast road,

superbly surfaced ;

There is unlimited petrol and 2 stroke oil

and an internationally renowned mechanic

lives on the other sige of the island !!

Now Peter

what would be your 8 bikes and tell us why you have chosen them……

“Well Roy,

I think I would split my choice between

all the disciplines.

I would want 2 classics,

2 road race bikes,

2 off roaders

and 2 road bikes.

For my classic choice

I would have to have a Vincent Black Shadow

(a motorcyling icon and OGRIs choice of mount)

and probably  a BMW R90S

allways wanted one in orange smoke paint!

The roadracers are an easy choice

Ago,s MV Agusta

and Hailwoods Honda 250 six.

(both chosen for their noise as much as their ride!)

Just look at that beautiful engine!

This is one of George Beales superb replicas

The offroad choice would be a trick Honda CRF 230

“WHAT!!!!”"

I hear you scream

“a free choice and you pick one of those!!!!”

Well its one of the few bikes

that I can ride well

and with total confidence .

And as a complete contrast

it would have to be a Maico 490 crosser

(This ones for sale on Leboncoin.fr

I,m very tempted……..

the complete antithesis of the Honda!

I,d scare myself witless,no doubt

but I,d have plenty of time

to learn to ride the beast!

Road bikes would have to be a Honda RC30

I just love the look!

And of course an italian.

A Gilera Saturno-I just adored that bike

and thought it a superb ,lightweight

roadbike;

What a motorcycle should be!

(although the new KTM RC8

would be a close second)

The book/film choice is easy

“On any Sunday”

Steve McQueen and the legendary Malcolm Smith,

A film packed with a great mix

of exuberance and thrills.

(THE FASTEST INDIAN

would have to be a very close second!)

Its so hard limiting your choice to 8 bikes!

Probably choose a different mix tomorrow!

Why not tell me your choices?:P

Mud,mud,glorious mud

Funny stuff mud.
It tries its best to suck your wheels from under you-front one way,the rear spinning hopelessly in the opposite direction.Your instinct tells you to go slower,your brain knows you must apply more gas,a constant dilemna for all dirtbikers.In fact ”Gass it!” seems to be the cure for all awkward moments encountered on the trail.If it all fails,mud provides a nice soft landing at least!
Mud is ok when it shows itself to the world.
A farmtrack with petrol tank- deep gullies,the result of the monster 4 wheel drive John Deere tractors paid for with EU subsidies,presents no problem to the greenlaner-luv ,em.
A stretch of boggy moorland churned to butter consistency by a thousand pirellis-no problem!as they say just”gass it!”

Its when mud secretes itself,when it presents a crust of vegetation to the unsuspecting or a small innocuous puddle, barely afforded a second glance-the beast snatches the passing wheel and sucks you down into his stinking lair.