This was my first bike, a Honda CB125 T Superdream.  I bought it new but it got a little bit bent in an accident when a car pulled out of a side road without looking and I went into the side of it.  The forks were bent, the tank had a huge dent in it and one of the lock stops was snapped off.  The insurance company wrote it off.  I can't remember quite how but I ended up with the remains.  I got the forks rolled and put a second hand tank on it and then sold it.  I didn't fix the lock stop though as I would have needed to strip the frame right down.

After I passed my test I got a Honda CX500.  It was secondhand and was a reasonable bike but not very good for long distances as it had no wind protection.  Typically for CX500's the cam chain tensioner failed which cost rather a lot of money to fix.  This is a stock fault on the CX500 and most were done under warranty.  If you are going to buy one check that the tensioner has been fixed because if it hasn't already failed it will do!  It also suffered for rotting exhaust cans.

When I started work after Uni I bought a new Suzuki GSX600F which was such a good bike after the old CX.  Its was fast and comfortable and did 135mph and 60mpg (not at the same time though!).  I gave the CX to my Dad and he later sold it to my uncle.  I had a few problems with the GSX, it needed a new ignition coil and a new ignition switch which were both done under warranty.  The new chain and a full set of brake pads weren't!   At the time I didn't have a car so going to meetings at work was difficult.  After about eighteen months and 13,000 miles I sold the GSX and bought a cheap car.

There was then a gap of about five years without a bike until a friend at work persuaded me to buy this Yamaha RD350 off a friend of his.  I only kept it for a month.  I'm not a big fan of two strokes but it got me interested in bikes again.  It only did about 35 to the gallon but it handled well and if you got the revs right it went well as  long as you could put up with the blue haze following you every where.  I part exchanged it for my next bike:

a Suzuki GSX750F which is a bigger version of the white one.  Very comfortable and fast but very poor quality next to most other bikes.  It was cheap to run though and didn't need anything doing to it while I had it.

Well after nearly a year I spotted a Ducati ST2 in the local shop so the GSX had to go.  They gave me a very good price for the GSX and apart from a small fuel injection problem I was happy with the ST2.  It handles so much better than any of my other bikes and it has the factory fitted panniers as well.  Its was just three years old and has done 13,500 miles.  Its 994cc's, fuel injection, upside down forks and all the right bits!!.  The FI problem took some time to sort and turned out to be cured by balancing the throttle bodies which is like balancing the carbs on a normal bike.  

I serviced it myself including changing the cam belts and fitting a new clutch.  The biggest problem was that its was the wrong colour!  All Ducati's should be red!

I popped into CMC which is one of my local shops and just happened to see a 1999 ST4 in red and just had to have it.  It had the panniers fitted and had only done 10,000 miles.  The ST2 was stating to develop a few problem, the clutch was on its last legs and both front disks were warped (which is a common fault).  However they gave me a good trade in so that was it.  107 horse power instead of 75  - great fun!!!

I've now clocked up 23,000 miles including five trackdays and a week touring around Normandy.  The bike is great but it hasn't exactly been ultra reliable.  Its had a new clutch pack, five rockers, a cam shaft, two sets of belts plus assorted brake pads etc.  Oh and a clutch slave cylinder, a rear sprocket and two sets of tyres.  Despite all that, I don't know what I would get to replace it with when the time comes.

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