Side-stand down - a biker's tale

As part of a narrow but select demographic – ageing, male, motorbike-riding petrol-heads living in Hove – the Babbler is heartened to share a garage with French anglophile Bea, a much younger, braver person who delights in going fast. Late last year we caught up with her to talk about two-wheeled transport of various kinds... and kicked things off, like all true bikers, by discussing machinery.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: bysshebash@gmail.com... intro/outro music courtesy of www.purple-planet.com

Transcript

The Babbler: I guess we could talk about biking?

B: Yes please, can do.

The Babbler: You've got some pictures there [on the wall] of bikes.

B: Yes, these are pictures of the bikes I've owned.

The Babbler: And they all look like Kawasakis?

B: Yes, apart from my first one, which was a Honda.

The Babbler: So how long have you been a biker?

B: As a rider, just over 20, maybe 20 years. I used to be a pillion a lot, before.

The Babbler: So you passed your test 20 years ago?

B: Yes, just over 20 years ago. It was the best feeling ever, to pass the test.

The Babbler: You said you rode pillion before. How did you find that?

B: Loved it. Well, I just loved being on a motorbike, so being a pillion was good, because you didn't have to worry about not drinking or stuff like that, just enjoyed being on a bike, you know, even if after a few years I thought, I fancy riding myself. So I had to go for it, such a good feeling, right?

The Babbler: It can be.

B: Oh, yes.

The Babbler: I found as a pillion, it's actually quite insane, because you have no control over what the person in front of you is doing.

B: But when you don't know how to ride, I suppose being a pillion, you don't really realise how it is to ride. So now when I happen to be – it's not often – but if I happen to be a pillion, I don't like it so much, I freak out.

The Babbler: I remember just grinning like an idiot [as a pillion], because I was thinking, yes, this is absolutely crazy, you know, anything could happen.

B: Yes, I'd rather be the person riding [now] than being at the back, because I feel more safe
riding than being a pillion.

The Babbler: What was your first bike?

B: My first bike was the Honda Super Dream 125.

The Babbler: Do you still have fond memories of that bike?

B: Yes, I remember picking it up when I went to buy it, I didn't keep it long, because it was
just really to familiarise myself with riding. I moved very quickly on to more powerful bikes – the Honda was too slow, but it was good to learn on.

The Babbler: Did you know other bikers in Brighton?

B: Just a few. The person who I was seeing at the time was a biker, and then all of his friends, yes, so, a little group of bikers. But again, there are lots of sites on social media where they've got biker groups, so whoever needs to find someone to ride with, there are biker groups that you can join.

The Babbler: So you got rid of the Honda?

B: Yes, I moved on to a Kawasaki GPZ 550 and then to a 750, then I had two 9Rs, and finally I had my 12R, which I'd dreamed of for a while, and I still have it. So I moved on from a 125 to a 1200, quite quickly.

The Babbler: So, over a couple of years?

B: Oh, no, no, when I say quite quickly, for me it feels quite quickly, but I think I had the 125 for a very short time, the GPZ 550, had it maybe a year, then I moved to the 750, I had that one for maybe a couple of years... it was great, that one. Then I had the two 9Rs, but as soon as I could afford my 12R, I went for it, and I've had it for maybe eight, nine years.

The Babbler: It's a scary-looking machine.

B: Oh, it's beautiful, isn't it? It is scary though, therefore I'm going to sell it next spring, it's lovely, but I've realised that it's too heavy now, it's way too heavy, and so I'm going to sell it... if you're interested. Yes, next spring it's going, unfortunately, I can't keep it.

The Babbler: And is that it for biking?

B: Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, but I don't know yet what I'm going to go for, but it will be something a bit lighter, a bit more easy to maneouver, it's time to move on to something lighter.

The Babbler: The insurance must be quite high for the 12R?

B: No, no, it's not the insurance, no, it's pretty affordable, I guess because I've been riding for quite a while, and I've never had any crashes or anything, so...

The Babbler: I was going to ask if you'd had any accidents, if you've ever come off.

B: No, no, I'm a very, very good rider, and pay very good attention to what's around on the road.

The Babbler: I've come off about two, three times, the first time waiting to go on to Waterloo roundabout in central London, in the rush hour, when a car just drove into the back of me, and knocked me into the incoming traffic.

B: Goodness, what were you riding, do you remember? What was it?

The Babbler: It was a Yamaha XS750, a bit before your time... that was in the late '70s.

B: [That accident was] not good!

The Babbler: But it's sometimes said that you're not a good, sensible biker until you've come off at least once?

B: Well, I see what you mean, but I think it's also good, you know, it's nice to not to come off! 

The Babbler: Are you an all-weather biker?

B: Yes, yes, so long as it's not icy on the road, you know, freezing temperatures. As a matter of fact, I prefer to ride if it's raining rather than in strong wind – really strong wind really freaked me out one year. I was down in the south of France when I'd been to the Bol d'Or, and on the way back, the mistral hit, so it was so windy on the motorway, and I really, really didn't feel comfortable at all. I prefer wet weather to a strong wind – I don't know why, it's really, really, not for me, it freaked me out.

The Babbler: Well, you lose control a bit.

B: Yes, and I've got this thing, I just don't like the wind on the bike.

The Babbler: And it's weird being shifted sideways.

B: Yes, this is what scared me, I didn't like it.

The Babbler: Do you ride much around Brighton?

B: No, definitely not in Brighton, if I want to go to Brighton I cycle.

The Babbler: I've got a bicycle that I haven't ridden since I moved to Brighton. I feel sure Brighton is very safe for cyclists, but I've seen one or two stupid drivers, and I do wonder sometimes, as I don't want to come off.

B: No, you've got to be careful again, you've got to be careful.

The Babbler: One thing I've noticed since moving to Brighton is the number of electric bikes,
and delivery bikes – Uber, Deliveroo and so on – and some of their riders are crazy. You've got to watch out for them because they just don't stop at traffic lights, they're everywhere, on the pavements and so on. As a biker, do you ever have to negotiate those sort of situations, where there's an electric biker who doesn't have any insurance, doesn't really care about causing accidents? 

B: I've noticed that, not when I'm on the motorbike, but on the push bike, because I cycle to work every day, and sometimes I like to go along the sea front, but when the wind is not in my favour, I cycle back inland, so I use Western Road, and I mean you've got to be so careful on Western Road now, with all those delivery bikes. They're so fast, they're electric, and they think that they know the road so well, they're racing to deliver something, [and] at night they don't have back lights, some of them, or front lights, so you've got to really watch out for them. I understand that they're just doing their job, but they drive like lunatics, so you've got to really watch out for them, because they would just run in front of you, just like that, and they're so quick... and sometimes they just go past you, so near you, they're really not good. [You] didn't used to see them a few years ago, maybe three, four years ago, you didn't see them. Yes, yes, there's more and more of them now. 

The Babbler: Do you have a dream bike, if only you had the money? 

B: Not now, but you know my dream bike was my 12R.

The Babbler: You never fancied a Harley Davidson? 

B: No, I wouldn't, I would not ride a Harley, they're not fast enough! 

The Babbler: Ok, will you ever not have a bike?

B: I suppose when I lose my marbles, and I don't know what I'm doing anymore, but people do ride into their '80s, yes, I love it when I see that, I love it... I don't know, I can never foresee the future, so don't know. 

The Babbler: I know someone, he's 77 I think, and he's still riding, has four bikes.

B: Well you see, that's brilliant, and so long as you can still ride, and have enough strength, because sometimes you need to manoeuver... I say yes, please, go for it, oh yes, it's such a good feeling.

The Babbler: Did you ever think about racing when you were younger?

B: I would love that, what I've always wanted to do is a track day, I've never got around to it, but I would love that, yes. 

The Babbler: Your current bike would be ideal for that, wouldn't it?

B: It would be a bit heavy, definitely would have the power for it, but yes, that would be so good. Have you ever done a track day? 

The Babbler: No, I'm too timid, I wouldn't like it. On the rare occasions I've gone riding with friends, I don't like it, because I don't like going that fast, I just enjoy the experience of being on two wheels, I don't feel I have to sort of beat anyone, race anyone. 

B: It's not so much beating or racing or, you know, coming first, but I think if you like the speed, going fast, yes. It's not so much going faster than the one next to you, but enjoying for your own experience, you know, the speed, and being able to go round corners, so appropriately that... I love to watch riders on the circuit, I mean, they're so good, you know. 

The Babbler: What's the fastest you've been? 

B: I think I did 150, for maybe a few seconds. I just looked up quickly at the speedometer and then
went straight back down, I just wanted to do it. 

The Babbler: 150mph?!? You're mad! 

B: Well, it was a bit mad, but as I said, when you like speed...

The Babbler: And I thought I was crazy, I did 100 once, and that's it. [Much laughter from B...] 150mph? Was that on a public road?

B: It was, on a road that I found, just perfect, perfect, but as I said, it was just for a split second. I'd already done, I think 145, when I was on a motorway in France, I managed 145, and then, you know, you always want to go a bit faster, a bit faster, so I went to 150, and as soon as I did, I slowed back down again, but it's just to see how far, how fast I can go really, but that was pretty, pretty, pretty much it. Yes, but it's a good feel, even if it only lasts for 10 seconds. Absolutely.

The Babbler: That's crazy! Well, I'll say thank you very much B for being interviewed. 

B: Oh, my pleasure, my pleasure, Martin.