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Grace Jones
I've been around bikes since my teens in the sixties. The scene was very different from today. I was always riding pillion and really loved it (still do actually) especially on my hubby's blade. The first bike I went pillion on was owned by Mr Dai Mallia known as MOLE it was a 500 Triumph Daytona. I also used to ride on the back with a guy called Mike Cider, why? Cider because was from Devon/Dorset way. He rode a Royal Enfield turbo twin 250 the thing about that bike I remember was the terrible sound it made. It was a two stroke and I didn't like it at all. Another guy was called Paddy Mcinerney. He owned a Triton a real beauty sadly to say that the three guys mentioned are no longer with us. Nothing to do with bikes but might add they have left some wonderful memories. It was while I was hanging round with the bikes scene that a new era was dawning on me. Enter the Dragon the mighty Bryn Jones came into my life with his Tiger 90 Triumph but he was off the road for six months under the totting up procedure for speeding ect, ect. Anyway after serving his time Ha Ha Ha, a 69 Triumph Bonneville was secured. I loved that bike and still love the Bonnies so now there's no going pillion with anyone else. The only thing we wore those days was lether jackets especially the pillion riders. Helmets were unheard of, the boys used to have a tank full of beer then fill the tank full of petrol (or in my case I used to fill it up for Brynmor) and off we would go for a blast. I rode pillion up until my early 40s I gott rarther worse for drink one night and declared that I was going to ride a bike. My husband's eyes reached the ceiling! " I've heard this before" he thought so I did my CBT in a few weeks and have not looked back since. I passed my test on a 125TDC sport, on my second try, to say I was nervous would be an understatement . Hubby already had a 200 cc Honda Benley for me with the orders if you don't pass you don't ride it. A couple of days befor my test a car clipped me and knocked me off my bike I thought it would have put me off but everything went aok. I loved the little Honda Benley it would only do about 70mph flat out and used to the shake about and rattle like a leaf in the breeze but it was great fun. I then got myself a brand new CB500 after riding Mr Allan Davies's and I could not get used to the front brake as it was so powerful compared to the drum brakes on the Benley so I fell off a couple of times by giving it too much of a handful on the front end. Next bike on my list was a Suzuki SV650 a lovely little twin and kept it for a couple of years before moving on to a Fazer 600 and loved that as well and fially so far, a CBR 600 graces my bum. I've done about 12,000 miles , had it nearly two years. I ride in all weathers. I've also done a track day at Pembrey on my hubby's No two bike a VFR 400 NC30 that's a wonderful little tool and hope to do another later this year. I had some early training with Mr John Morgan a Police instructor and some further training with Mr Dennis Robinson who is an advanced instructor I'm also having another course in the next few weeks. So that's about it for now see you all on the road some time ride very safely. Mrs Grace Jones.
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