Hitcher
31st December 2007, 17:51
Five years ago, I set out to see if I could procure a motorcycle helmet that would fit the legendary Hitcher cranium. I told myself that if I could, that would be a "sign" that I should take up motorcycling...
Mr Shoei came to my rescue. The following day I booked myself and the most lovely and amenable Mrs H on a learn-to-ride course. She was so stunned, she agreed. By the end of January 2002 we owned a Yamaha FZX250 Zeal and a Honda CB100. Two weeks later the Honda was traded for a Kawasaki EL250 Eliminator, and our lives changed fundamentally and forever. That was nearly 150,000 motorcycled kilometres ago.
Three years ago today I traded in a perfectly good ZRX1200R for a Honda ST1300 -- ANZA's demo bike.
That bike was "cursed". I had two significant "moments" on it and a couple of sphincter looseners as well. The first of the significant moments was two years ago this Boxing Day, resulting in a broken collarbone and taking the highly efficient team at ANZA four months to affect the necessary repairs. The second significant moment on 11 June 2006 saw this bike's ultimate demise, thanks to the backward advances of a RAV4's arse.
In the ST's favour it did transport me for about 36,000km of entertaining motorcycling along some of New Zealand's most marvelous roads, and a Grand Challenge for good measure. It also taught me that an FJR1300 is a superior motorcycle in every respect...
Here's to the next five years of motorcycling madness!
Happy New Year, everybody.
Mr Shoei came to my rescue. The following day I booked myself and the most lovely and amenable Mrs H on a learn-to-ride course. She was so stunned, she agreed. By the end of January 2002 we owned a Yamaha FZX250 Zeal and a Honda CB100. Two weeks later the Honda was traded for a Kawasaki EL250 Eliminator, and our lives changed fundamentally and forever. That was nearly 150,000 motorcycled kilometres ago.
Three years ago today I traded in a perfectly good ZRX1200R for a Honda ST1300 -- ANZA's demo bike.
That bike was "cursed". I had two significant "moments" on it and a couple of sphincter looseners as well. The first of the significant moments was two years ago this Boxing Day, resulting in a broken collarbone and taking the highly efficient team at ANZA four months to affect the necessary repairs. The second significant moment on 11 June 2006 saw this bike's ultimate demise, thanks to the backward advances of a RAV4's arse.
In the ST's favour it did transport me for about 36,000km of entertaining motorcycling along some of New Zealand's most marvelous roads, and a Grand Challenge for good measure. It also taught me that an FJR1300 is a superior motorcycle in every respect...
Here's to the next five years of motorcycling madness!
Happy New Year, everybody.