Rider & Bike relationship - Part 3

Apologies to everyone who was looking forward to the third part of my series. I had to miss a month to get some much needed ‘head space’ but here it is at last!

If you’re at all like me, you’ll know that one of anything is not enough. You’ve just got a new S1000RR on PCP. It really is the business – but there’s a track day coming up and you don’t want to risk throwing it down the tarmac. On eBay there are decent looking Gixers for a couple of thousand – what about one of them? Off-roading is a lot of fun; an enduro like a CRF450 isn’t going to take up a lot of room and will really build your machine handling skills. Some of these classic bikes look pretty cool, cheap to insure and like having money in the bank the way prices are going up!

Before you know it, you’re starting to look out for lock-up space in your local area. You need a spreadsheet to keep track of paperwork and servicing and as for storage of spares and accessories ... enough said. If you’re a fashionista like me, you’ll need the appropriate kit to wear with each bike.

Certainly, it’s nice to have different bikes for different types of riding. However, after the third or fourth you need to stop and take stock – how much are you actually riding any of these bikes, are they giving you enjoyment – or just stress? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself:

Are you buying bikes because you really need them – or just because you’re bored, need an excuse to be away from your partner, kids etc? Or maybe there’s just an empty hole at the centre of your being that you somehow hope another bike is going to fill

Are you really that keen on mud-plugging round some cold and dirty field and coming home covered in bruises; or risking life and limb on the track? Wouldn’t you be happier bimbling round the lanes on a nice comfy middleweight?

If you can afford the cost of multiple bikes then fine – but are you spending money that’s needed elsewhere? Are you and your family missing out on holidays, restaurant meals, decent clothes; is your partner threatening to walk out on you; are your kids being mocked for wearing trainers from Lidl? If so, you need to look at your priorities.

There’s more to life than motorcycling and having loads of bikes won’t make you a better rider. Sit down and take a long hard look at yourself. Seek a Voluntary Exclusion Order to ban yourself from local dealerships. And delete that eBay app.

Roland Cambridge