Sunbeam S7

Spotted this really nice S7 parked at the Falkirk Wheel today. It turns out to be owned by a guy I know, Joe. He's had the bike for years and it has changed a lot over the years, but think its latest look is the best by far

New Royal Enfield Continental GT

Its a far cry from when I first read about the Enfield coming back to these shores in Bike magazine back in the 70s. Slowly but surely they have been improving and sympathetically up dating the range. Another important thing, I think, was the factory being allowed to add the "Royal" part to the Enfield name. I think I was surprised as much as anybody when they announced they were going to launch the "GT", and also the fact it looked like the prototype with out much if anything changed. Now I just have to get a ride on one.....

 

 

Ace Cafe to Madras Video http://vimeo.com/77834318

Honda CB450 D

1966 Honda CB450D. These bikes came about when Honda were having problems shifting the CB450 K0. The factory sent over styling kits to fit to some of the K0s to try and make them more appealing to the buying public.

Where the road started (legally) for me

My AP50, looking a wee bit rough after running through a Winter. December 1978 was when I legally hit the road, there might have been a few earlier excursions, on my 1977 Suzuki AP50 in blue. I was up at 6 am and headed out for a very cold ride round the town for about an hour before having to get ready to walk to school, they (school) wouldn't allow me to ride it there! At the time I thought it was a rocket, well for a few months anyway. It soon got to the stage of being ridden flat out every where, and surprisingly stood up to this treatment. I used it for 18 months, mainly due to the low wages I was getting as an apprentice mechanic I couldn't afford to put my Honda CB200 on the road (a bike my Dad gave me when I was 14). After passing my bike test not long after my 17th birthday I used to take Jacquie (then g/friend now wife)out on the back of it. I think just about every time we we're out the Police used to stop us, or so it seemed. It was a good wee bike and one of the few that I didn't keep, but I don't feel the need to go out and by another as some people seem to do with their first bike. Jacquie also had a red one at the same time, which was faster!!!

Jac on her red AP50