My first bike - My first crash
When I started motorcycling in 1970 things were a lot different than
they are now. I was just a young kid of 17 and raring to go. I had been
in the Merchant Navy and decided to get a job in a hospital instead. I
lived a fair few miles from this place of work and it seemed to be a
problem of how I would actually get there but the answer for me was
obvious and I could not wait to get a bike.
As I had been in the Merchant Navy, I had saved a fair amount of money so the financial side of things was not going to be a problem. Off I went to Bill Heads of Preston (many will recall this shop) and browsed the bikes. What was recommended right away by Bill himself was the Honda 50 a semi-automatic bike which was more of a scooter. I paid in full and could not wait until it was ready a few days later.
At this time, you were able to jump on a bike (right up to 250cc) and just ride it on "L" plates. The day came but because I had no idea how to ride a bike, my uncle Roy volunteered to ride it back home for me. This was a good thing rather than me try to negotiate the busy City of Preston on something completely alien to me.
Bike delivered glittering in the sunlight in its red and white paint and plastic, it was time for my foray into motorcycling. As there was not law regarding helmets at this time I just got onto the thing and rode it up and down our street. It was not long before I had got the idea and as there was no clutch to worry about and few gears it was actually quite easy to ride and soon I was venturing out further a field.
When I had got a few miles under my belt I began to experience the freedom that a motorcycle can give you. It gave me instant independence too and I had that go anywhere exhilaration instead of getting on a bus. Since then, I have hardly ever used buses or trains preferring instead to have my own transport come what may.
I was so happy and so keen to ride my new bike that the day before I was due to start my new job at the hospital, I decided to make a recce to make sure I knew the way and it being quiet because it was on a Sunday. What I had not accounted for though that next morning was the cold. I set off with jacket and gloves but my head was completely bare and I had no goggles. When I finally got there it felt like I had no forehead and my eyes were streaming. It wasn't long before I had my uncle's helmet on a big scarf around my face and a set of real leather flying goggles which I loved. Summer though was different and I would revert to bare head mode. We just never considered what could happen in a crash.
By now I was getting confident on my Honda but being confident does not mean competent and it showed. I was riding through Leyland one day when I came to a bend though not sharp it had a lot of gravel on it. I panicked when I saw this as I understood from my cycling days what it could mean. I slammed the brakes on, locked up both wheels and yes, you guessed it I came off and slid into a lamp post. How my head missed that concrete post, I don't know but I was unhurt. The only damage to the bike was the front mudguard and the number plate on top (these could cut people in half like knives).
When I got home shaking like a leaf, I got on with repairing the damage and once I had straightened everything out and touched it all up with some red paint, it was presentable. The thing is, this did not teach me a lesson and I crashed this bike twice more, once ending up under a car but for all the accidents I had, I never got injured or wrote a bike off. Call it luck if you like but looking back, it does make me cringe.
Many bikes later and much wiser, one of my last bikes was a Honda CBR1000F. It was awesome but this time I had the experience and some good equipment including one of the best leather suits money can buy. It didn't cost much since I got it second hand. When I look back, I would not change anything and relish the days when health a safety did not exist, the freedom of the wind in my hair on a summers day and the exuberance of youth speeding me on.
As I had been in the Merchant Navy, I had saved a fair amount of money so the financial side of things was not going to be a problem. Off I went to Bill Heads of Preston (many will recall this shop) and browsed the bikes. What was recommended right away by Bill himself was the Honda 50 a semi-automatic bike which was more of a scooter. I paid in full and could not wait until it was ready a few days later.
At this time, you were able to jump on a bike (right up to 250cc) and just ride it on "L" plates. The day came but because I had no idea how to ride a bike, my uncle Roy volunteered to ride it back home for me. This was a good thing rather than me try to negotiate the busy City of Preston on something completely alien to me.
Bike delivered glittering in the sunlight in its red and white paint and plastic, it was time for my foray into motorcycling. As there was not law regarding helmets at this time I just got onto the thing and rode it up and down our street. It was not long before I had got the idea and as there was no clutch to worry about and few gears it was actually quite easy to ride and soon I was venturing out further a field.
When I had got a few miles under my belt I began to experience the freedom that a motorcycle can give you. It gave me instant independence too and I had that go anywhere exhilaration instead of getting on a bus. Since then, I have hardly ever used buses or trains preferring instead to have my own transport come what may.
I was so happy and so keen to ride my new bike that the day before I was due to start my new job at the hospital, I decided to make a recce to make sure I knew the way and it being quiet because it was on a Sunday. What I had not accounted for though that next morning was the cold. I set off with jacket and gloves but my head was completely bare and I had no goggles. When I finally got there it felt like I had no forehead and my eyes were streaming. It wasn't long before I had my uncle's helmet on a big scarf around my face and a set of real leather flying goggles which I loved. Summer though was different and I would revert to bare head mode. We just never considered what could happen in a crash.
By now I was getting confident on my Honda but being confident does not mean competent and it showed. I was riding through Leyland one day when I came to a bend though not sharp it had a lot of gravel on it. I panicked when I saw this as I understood from my cycling days what it could mean. I slammed the brakes on, locked up both wheels and yes, you guessed it I came off and slid into a lamp post. How my head missed that concrete post, I don't know but I was unhurt. The only damage to the bike was the front mudguard and the number plate on top (these could cut people in half like knives).
When I got home shaking like a leaf, I got on with repairing the damage and once I had straightened everything out and touched it all up with some red paint, it was presentable. The thing is, this did not teach me a lesson and I crashed this bike twice more, once ending up under a car but for all the accidents I had, I never got injured or wrote a bike off. Call it luck if you like but looking back, it does make me cringe.
Many bikes later and much wiser, one of my last bikes was a Honda CBR1000F. It was awesome but this time I had the experience and some good equipment including one of the best leather suits money can buy. It didn't cost much since I got it second hand. When I look back, I would not change anything and relish the days when health a safety did not exist, the freedom of the wind in my hair on a summers day and the exuberance of youth speeding me on.
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