I started my motorcycling career on 1st April 1959 owning an Indian Brave 250cc sidevalve four cycle engine.  This machine was an engineering disaster and years later I learned that it was one of Indian’s last thrashings before the company was absorbed.  However, it was two wheels with a motor and it served the purpose.  Later when I was riding machines capable of 260 km/hr that could rip rear tyres out in 3000 kilometres and had an acceleration kick at 8000 revs capable of pulling wheelies in sixth gear I had forgotten the modest 75km/hr max 250.  Still, try riding a Ninja on a dirt road and you will look for a more modest performance.   

 

In England I rode a series of BSA, Norton, Matchless and Velocette motorcycles - I was never a Triumph fan - and enjoyed the street riding but it was in New Zealand that I discovered a few pleasures of two wheel recreation that I was not part of in the UK.  I owned a Honda 250 Elsinore and on that I took part in road trials and some off road riding with the Navy Motorcycle Club.  

 

A few years later after a session working in Australia I took up with the Two Wheels Social and Touring Club on my BMW 650 twin.  The Ninja proved to be an expensive hobby sucking money into maintenance  in the form of brake pads, tyres and essential servicing.  Two Wheels did a session at the Tauranga  race track (Bay Park) where I won the handicap race on my BMW with only 3000 km’s on the clock.  I also took it to the drag strip and clocked a 15.2 second standing start quarter - not bad for a modest touring machine.

 

I also learned that BMW  motorcycles can handle the dirt roads well and so I would be off at the weekends exploring remote places in the North Island avoiding the main tar sealed roads until I got tired and needed a rest.   Riding the BMW was the nearest thing to flying I could get and could that bike take the bends!

 

For a short story of a young motorcyclist’s first day out click here.

The Author on the Honda 250 - 1974 Navy Club Gymkhana - note the cans instead of cones.