Over the past 31 years I have had quite a few motorcycles. My first was in 1975, when I was 16 years old. I have a few British motorcycles in this time, they included a 1950 BSA C11 (250cc 4 stroke single) and a 1967 BSA Bantam D10a (175cc 2 stroke single). I will admit I had a certain fondness for Suzukis and would probably have got another one until I did the research and liked the current crop of Yamahas better. The machines I have owned were all used as everyday transport all year round. As the years went on though, I did tend to use them more for recreation until they ended up as toys. Most recently I have purchased a new Yamaha FZS600 Fazer, a 1995 Yamaha XJR1200, a Yamaha XJR1300, a 1985 Kawasaki GPZ1000RX and now a 1993 Kawasaki 1100 Zephyr. I also have a 1949 Vincent Rapide which is undergoing a very slow restoration. I don´t know how long this will take but, being as the machine has been off the road since 1961, there isn´t any real need to rush it.

My personal websites

		1993 Kawasaki 1100 Zephyr
		2006 - Now
		The original retro muscle bike, very nice!
		1985 Kawasaki GPZ1000RX
		2003 - Now
		Well, you have to have a change sometimes - 17 years old, 5000 miles on it and 170mph. Not bad for £2500.
		2000 Yamaha XJR1300
		2000 - 2003
		All that the 1200 should have been and then some. Great bike but a bit difficult to get after-market parts for. Still there are tons of bits available in France & Germany all available via the internet.
		1995 Yamaha XJR1200
		2000 - 2000
		The right size and style of bike to replace the Fazer. It was exactly what I wanted but I bought a lemon. No fault on the part of the dealer as they didn´t know either. After they spent a lot of money trying to sort it and it not being to my satisfaction, they gave me a full refund after 5 months use.
		1999 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer
		1999 - 2000
		My first ever brand-new bike. Got this as a 40th birthday treat for myself. Superb bike, goes fast, stops fast, handles well but just too small.
		1949 Vincent Seriec C Rapide
		1993 - Now
		My ongoing project. This is a labour of love and will continue to be so for a while yet. I am making progress in a slow but sure manner and I´m convinced one day she´ll be back on the road again.
		1978 Suzuki GT750B
		1988 - 1991
		Obviously a purchase performed whilst wearing rose-tinded glasses. I bought it because I'd always wanted one, it was cheap and didn't need much work. Got a bit scary above 95mph and even more so trying to slow down from that speed.
		1983 Kawasaki GPz750
		1986 - 1988
		Bought this from my brother just as a run-around. Turned out to be a very good bike. Although dated now, it was ahead of it´s time then.
		1973 Norton Commando 750
		1984 - 1984
		Had this one a little while on loan from a friend. Look absolutely stunning and sounded lovely too. Great pose round town but two-up on a 60 mile trip - forget it. Bloody torture.
		1979 Suzuki GS550E
		1982 - 1984
		This was as exceptional bike in all regards for it´s time. It was fairly fast, stopped and handled reasonably well. The reliability was exceptional and I did about 30000 miles on it.
		1977 Suzuki GT550M
		1980 - 1982
		Back to reality after the XS250 saga. This was a really good bike. Not as big, heavy and thirsty as the 750 but not much slower either. You cannot beat the smoothness of a 2 stroke triple (in my opinion anyway).
		1978 Yamaha XS250
		1979 - 1980
		Why did I buy this! It was probably the worst bike I´ve ever owned. It was unreliable, a bad-starter and not even quick. No wonder I stayed away from Yamahas back then.
		1974 Suzuki GT250M
		1977 - 1979
		This one first came to me in the period orange. It had a full-race fairing, clip-ons and rear-sets. I threw it up the road a few times and got banned for 3 speeding offences. Whilst of the road I rebuilt it to how it looks in the picture (C.H.I.P.S. was big on TV then).
		1967 BSA Bantam Sport (D10a)
		1976 - 1977
		I remember buying this for £75. When I sold it, it was to a girl. When she came to pick it up she didn´t like the handlebar position so she undid her handbag and took out a complete toolkit to adjust the controls with.
		1951 BSA C11
		1976 - 1977
		I bought one of these as a basket case from a bloke in Ramsgate, Kent for £5 when I was still at school. My dad gave me a big hand in restoring it and I think he was a bit pissed off when I sold it before ever having ridden it. Oh well, that´s kids for you!
		1973 Puch MS50D
		1975 - 1976
		My introduction to bikes. I got it from a kid at school a year above me for the princely sum of £47. I threw it down the road first day out, did my paper round on it, had a mate stuff it into a car in a car park and had a right old laugh with it.