Re: [ST] Old bikes

["Chris Harwood" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't relish my first bike.  It was a used BSA Barracuda (Starfire for the British market I believe) and it had a VERY nasty habit of dropping me on the road with my knee locked-out when kick-starting!  It didn't matter if you jiggled it at the top to make sure it was engaged, it would give no warning whatsoever.

Small wonder I never passed my test on it.  I arrived 5 minutes late (not smart in the UK) and completely knackered from half an hour of trying to start it.  I'm sure it was only my exhaustion that persuaded the examiner to let me try.  Anyway, I locked the rear on the emergency stop (mostly because the front brake did nothing on that model).

Fortunately in those days you didn't need to pass your test as you could ride a 250 indefinately on 'L' plates.

Chris Harwood
00 RS

>>> eoinkirwan@xxxxxxxxxx 10/03/2006 00:26:33 >>>
<snip>
I think most of us retain a soft spot for our first bike, no matter what it 
was. Mine was fun to ride if you weren't in a hurry, it was daylight, the 
wind was behind you and there wasn't any traffic on your tail... Struggling 
at 40mph flat-out into a strong headwind with a trail of impatient cagers 
behind you and that crappy headlamp to see by, was less than fun!

I did see 70mph on the clock once - just before burning a hole in the 
piston...
<snip>

Eoin.


'04 ST955i
'90 GPz900R
ex... a few
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