Me

I started getting interested in motorcycles around 6 years ago when I was stuck in a traffic jam in London on my way to work in the company car, which was one of the perks of the job, and was watching motorcycles filter through traffic, delays seeming something irrelevant to them. Having got the message, I started my motorcycle license training, passed (eventually on the second test), started on 125 bikes, which I used mainly for commuting to work, and was introduced to many other riders, some of whom have become close and dear friends, outlasting many non-motorcycle triggered friendships, and resulting in incomparable loyalty. Although I had come to appreciate all the bikes I had so far, even giving them names,(a common practice amongst maritime enthusiasts), I gradually upgraded to bigger bikes, in part also due to errors committed by car drivers who wrote off my motorcycles, while luckily causing mild to moderate injuries to my body. Nevertheless, the commuting was soon followed by off-road and touring adventures, some conducted in the company of friends, but some, like my Iberian Peninsula Circumnavigation, on my own, as others were tied down by varoius obligations and responsibilities.

I would always tend to get dual-purpose motorcyles because of their multi-functionality, and if ever dropped, the damage would be reduced to a minimum. I started off with japanese motorcyles, but due to the discontinuation of bikes multi-purpose like the Super Tenere, Dominator and Africa Twin, I ended up purchasing european models, trying both single and twin cylinder bikes. While owning a KTM from new led to many accomplishments in touring and off-roading, in my case, purchasing second hand motorcycles ended in numerous disappointments, and unfortunatly, through no fault of their own, all my BMWs proved either inappropriate, or faulty and damaged, either through general wear and tear, or through errors made under the previous riders ownership. Obtaining a second hand BMW from your local BMW dealer for that peace of mind, as the "approved used" warranty can save you much grief and aggravation afterwards, is something I highly recommend. While many private aquisitions turn out to be reliable motorcyles, you could also be as unlucky as me.

For the years ahead I have made many plans, such as touring in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and North Africa, as well as many more off-road exploits both in Britain and abroad. Having recently been presented with a GPS unit, recording coordinates, trips and points of interest has led to a new hobby: Creating maps for personal use, and for helping friends with navigational issues.

I look forward to what the future holds, and regret, that I did not start any of this much sooner.