Petrol. Childhood conditioning.

I grew up around cars. My Dad was a self taught mechanic, bodywork expert and restorer. I used to sit in the cars he was doing up or selling, and read books. He had a garage, in an enclosed courtyard, off the square in Potton, Bedfordshire. I looked it up recently, there's a car dealership still on the same plot of land, off the market square. When I was growing up he had loads of Alfa Romeo's, GTV's, Alfasuds and one particular Guilia Super, the one used as the police car in the original Italian Job,

that went like absolute stink, and regularly blew a head gasket. I recall a red Triumph Herald convertible, a Yellow Cortina, a midnight blue Jaguar XJ6-L, a Citroen DS. After the Alfa phase it was Renaults, not something I remember so fondly I'm afraid. Latterly he restored an old Bugatti, a Volvo P1800 estate that still rolls around Harrogate today, and various other interesting things. Before he got into powder coating... By then however, cars were a significant interest in my life. As a teenager, after the Suzuki TS100, I loved motorbikes. As I got a bit older I realised I rode like a complete nob and was certain that if I continued on two wheels I'd die. Over the next 30 years or so I sunk a fortune into some expensive metal. Ferrari 430 Spider, R8 V10, Lamborghini Gallardo, double figures on 911's including a 997 turbo and 997 Turbo S cab, most C4S's including a 993 in immaculate condition, a 996 GT3 and a 1971 911T. Golf GTi's, M3's, Range Rovers, Land Rovers, every type of pick up truck. As I've said earlier, after having kids in my late 30's early 40's I considered two wheels once again. Was I old enough and experienced enough to ride a bike? I'd spent years building a tech company doing 30,000 miles a year so my awareness and experience on the road were pretty high. I was concerned about the kids, but I wasn't planning on commuting. So at 44, I took the plunge, and went and did my CBT. Along the this journey I have attempted to answer, for myself, some of the fundamental questions which new motorcyclists wrestle with. Not least of which, the million dollar question...which motorbike to buy...