Motorcyclin'
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Think I've just found a new hero....
“Don’t buy a motorcycle because will get you killed.” Really? Our guy wouldn’t agree to this stupidity. He’s turning 100 this year, update: he just turned 100 and he might still be able to ride. We just talked to the guys at the Bordertown Biker Bash, a motorcycle rally in Amherst Nova Scotia held in July, and they confirmed that Wymann Betts could lead the motorcycle parade again. It would be just a month before he turns 101.
However, there are some concerns about his ability to ride a motorcycle. There is talk about him either riding in a sidecar or antique car. However, he's proably the oldest guy in America to be able to ride. The secret: “not thinking too far ahead”, he says.
“Bun,” as his friends call him, has been riding motorcycles for more than 50 years. He started his life on two wheels riding a scooter - it was easier for him to commute to a nearby sawmill. He traded a lot of bikes, and the last one he bought is a 2003 Honda Gold Wing he’s still riding. "When it's moving about 15 km/h … everything goes fine, but it's heavy," Wyman "Bun" Betts told CBC's Information Morning a couple of years ago.
“I’ve just never grown up,” he also says - which seems to be a great strategy when fighting with age.
Still riding at 100. "I've just never grown up" | DriveMag Riders
Meet one of the oldest active riders in North America
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@TeWaio said in Motorcyclin':
Some rust on a few parts despite me being pretty meticulous with cleaning it. Although winter salted UK roads are pretty harsh given I commute on it.
This is your friend; It's absolutely brilliant at keeping rust and corrosion away.
I also use a greenhouse heater under my bikes to keep warm air around them. Tip I picked up from a classic bike shop. Costs peanuts to run
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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 23 February, 2020
A classic Triumph flat tracker from the race director of the Wheels & Waves festival, a Virago influenced by 90s Japanese import culture, and the latest oddity from Lazareth. Ducati Monster S4 by Barn Built Bikes Whether you leave them stock, sprinkle them with aftermarket parts or really got to...
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Ok, I'm getting involved.
Got my CBT booked for next Monday (the way it works here in the UK is that you get moped license on our car license, but then need to do a CBT course to get up to 125cc). Quite looking forward to it, not been on a motorbike for years.
@raznomore - did you ever end up buying the Harley?
I'll never be a sports rider, will certainly just be for cruising only. Hoping to build myself up to something like this ...
Revealed: The new Triumph Bonneville Bobber
Triumph is going all-out to conquer every sector of the motorcycle market. The Triples and Tigers are approaching icon status, and the new Bonnevilles are selling as fast as the factory can make them. It must have been tempting to take a breather, but Hinckley is now pushing into uncharted...
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@MajorRage a good bike for blatting around on your CBT...
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@MajorRage that's some bike. Good work.
I still have my eye on this!
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@MajorRage said in Motorcyclin':
Ok, I'm getting involved.
Got my CBT booked for next Monday (the way it works here in the UK is that you get moped license on our car license, but then need to do a CBT course to get up to 125cc). Quite looking forward to it, not been on a motorbike for years.
Wise approach.
When I got back on a bike 6 years ago I booked a few sessions with an advanced riding instructor rather than just hop back on a bike. Heard too many stories about silver bikers hopping on Harleys and wrapping themselves around lampposts. Invaluable.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Motorcyclin':
@MajorRage said in Motorcyclin':
Ok, I'm getting involved.
Got my CBT booked for next Monday (the way it works here in the UK is that you get moped license on our car license, but then need to do a CBT course to get up to 125cc). Quite looking forward to it, not been on a motorbike for years.
Wise approach.
When I got back on a bike 6 years ago I booked a few sessions with an advanced riding instructor rather than just hop back on a bike. Heard too many stories about silver bikers hopping on Harleys and wrapping themselves around lampposts. Invaluable.
My bro hasn't ridden since an accident in central London a couple of years ago. Woke up on the ground, to this day no recollection of what happened at all and no idea how he came off his bike, whether he was hit, etc.
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@Bones said in Motorcyclin':
My bro hasn't ridden since an accident in central London a couple of years ago. Woke up on the ground, to this day no recollection of what happened at all and no idea how he came off his bike, whether he was hit, etc.
Hope he's OK.
I can remember most of my accidents - particularly the embarrassing ones. The Bowen Street/Lambton Quay "I think I'll use my left knee as a 3rd wheel" spectacular still lingers after 4 decades....
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Motorcyclin':
Hope he's OK.
+1
The vast majority of the time I ride I have a gopro recording. I also have dash cam (front and rear cameras) on two bikes. But the best is a paranoia about cage drivers.
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@antipodean said in Motorcyclin':
@Victor-Meldrew said in Motorcyclin':
Hope he's OK.
+1
The vast majority of the time I ride I have a gopro recording. I also have dash cam (front and rear cameras) on two bikes. But the best is a paranoia about cage drivers.
The biggest change I noticed when getting back on a bike was the performance of cars. Whereas before you'd expect them to slow down on corners/slippery roads, they carry on as normal due to traction control/ ABS etc.
I think drivers have improved in their attitudes towards bikers and seem more considerate than in the past.
But you still get the loons who think their Ford Transit can out-accelerate an '88 GXS550. It may be old, but it's still bloody quick.
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@Victor-Meldrew yeah physically all good, had a sore back for a while but doesn't seem to still be suffering. I know he suffered pretty badly in relation to the memory loss, think he lost that whole day and maybe part of the next day - found it extremely frustrating.
Hah the only accident I've had I think I've mentioned before - wrote off the little FS50 in Queensgate car park when a lady decided to selfishly pull out in front of me while I was probably going too fast and also stuffing a magazine in the front basket.
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@antipodean the biggest hazard in London is the fucken twist and go riders. They'll pull in front of you on an angle at intersections, etc.
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@Bones said in Motorcyclin':
@Victor-Meldrew yeah physically all good, had a sore back for a while but doesn't seem to still be suffering. I know he suffered pretty badly in relation to the memory loss, think he lost that whole day and maybe part of the next day - found it extremely frustrating.
Glad to hear he's on the mend.
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