43 years with a MC licence

[firefighter]

Now there's a piece of history! Happy birthday. Now who was it the other day saying that the testing is too easy!?

[Blackbird]

Congrats Dennis - We have similar time on 2 wheels as I turned 60 late last year and have been riding since I was 16!

Good on ya mate and here's to many more decades on 2 wheels! Grow older disgracefully.

Cheers,

Geoff

[yod]

what a bloody great post Dennis, put a huge smile on me dial

bling awarded

[PeteMun]

Good one mate thanks for sharing !!

[Toaster]

Good post and great website links too.

[vifferman]

At 17 years I got the bike licence ....

The photos say it all and the licence cost 5 shillings. To get the licence I rode the bike up the street and back with the officer watching and I got the bit of paper.

Well I hate to burst your bubble but that license was only valid for six weeks from the date of issue, so you're going to have to start all over again.

How it worked "back in the old daze" was that to get the equivalent of a learners licence, you did the theory test, paid 5 shillings (or when I did it, 50c), and that gave you a paper licence for 6 weeks. After that, you just had to pay another 5/- or 50c, and get another 6 weeks. (I actually started riding before I had a licence or a bike).
After that, you did your practical. For me, the MOT oroficer said, "Is the red bike in the carpark yours? Meet me round the other side and we'll go for a blat." Then he told me what route to take and what to do, stopping every so often for new instructions. I had to do an emergency stop (he rode up beside me and tooted his horn), some figure-8s, a hillstart, and some riding around with him following. Got my car and bike licences when I was 15, but didn't get my HT till I was 23.

[oldrider]

This week I turned 60 and looked back to my first motorcycle. At 17 years I got the bike licence and had three breaks from two wheels but now am back into it, a span of 43 years and from a Francis Barnett 200 to a Triumph Speed Triple 1050.

The photos say it all and the licence cost 5 shillings. To get the licence I rode the bike up the street and back with the officer watching and I got the bit of paper.

Happy birthday for your 60th! Congratulations on 43 years of happy motorcycle riding!

Why don't ACC focus on the positive things like this instead of trying to cancel us out!

Because the AA (who openly hate bikes) have tried to identify us to them as dangerous and "dispensable"!.....The wankers!

Time make them (the AA) dispensable I think!

[Motu]

Well I hate to burst your bubble but that license was only valid for six weeks from the date of issue,

Renewable for 50cents.I paid the 50 cents 3 times before I went for the practical - a figure 8 in the car park while he was talking to someone else.''Have you done it yet? Well,you didn't fall off so that's pretty good.'' 1970.

[martybabe]

Now there's a nice nostalgic post, happy B'day Sinned and congrats on riding all those years.

My test was in the UK in 197? something, it consisted of riding round a city block one way whilst the examiner walked round the other way. The only thing I had to do was perform an emergency stop when he jumped out into the road.

As this was all I had to do I was completely focused on it, so when I spied him make a move for the kerb, ( quite easy as he was the only pedestrian for miles),I jammed them anchors on as hard as I could and came to an almost instant stop about 100 metres away from him.

He said I was a little premature as he hadn't even raised his hand to indicate he wanted me to stop but he was impressed with my anticipation and cautioned me against doing emergency stops for no apparent reason in future. Wise words

[DougB]

I cant remember getting my licence, but I can remember being taught to ride by an experienced rider, this was in 1953, so I have been on two wheels for about 57 years. One thing I remember from my first lessons was how to adjust the front brake so at full pull it would not stop revolving on loose metal causing a skid. Most roads were gravel then. Riding has changed a lot since then - we even have to wear crash helmets now and the cold is no longer prevented by stuffing newspapers down your ex army greatcoat front.

[JohnC]

Congratulations all you old people.
I didn't get my licence until 1973,but we still had the traffic cop stand outside the local council office an watch you ride up the road style test.
Rode my sisters Triumph 200cc Princess for that ride,,,,all you mods can work that one out.
DougB,you must of seen some changes huh,,my father was riding during your early years,,Currys milk bar ect,the smell of hot oil on cast iron,,

[martybabe]

Cripes, I just clocked the date on the OP. Oh well congrats on another Anniversary Mr Sinned.

[duckonin]

Happy birthday for your 60th! Congratulations on 43 years of happy motorcycle riding!

Why don't ACC focus on the positive things like this instead of trying to cancel us out!

Because the AA (who openly hate bikes) have tried to identify us to them as dangerous and "dispensable"!.....The wankers!

Time make them (the AA) dispensable I think!

AA have been around a long time oldrider and well u know that,they shall be here after we have ridden on, they get stronger all the time branching out into other types of insurance, a while ago it was just vehicles, now u can insure you socks, jocks and hat 4 your head...

[BMWST?]

i got my license in Lower Hutt,at that time they had their own "traffic cops" I was about to get the go up the street and do a u turn,when a motorcycle cop turned up...I cant remember exactly what we did but it took half an hour and involved some u turns right at the top of normandale...

[_Shrek_]

you poor bugga's, i paid $1 answered 3q's they gave me a provisonal & said come back in six weeks, went back after time was up paid $3 & they gave me my bike licence