The first post
So here we are, my first post! I used to ride bikes mainly for commuting back in my early 20's, nothing particularly flash or cool. But as I started to approach my 40th the idea of getting a bike again began an itch that needed scratching, the wife didn't seem to mind, the kids thought it might be cool. So I started to think I actually might get away with this. I started to look around at what bikes may interest me, that is when I stumbled across the whole custom motorcycle scene, especially the Cafe Racer scene. Looking around all the different projects and really cool bikes, I realised I needed one, I fell in love with what people were doing with BMW R series in particular.
I looked into the prices and were amazed at how expensive the really good ones are. I looked at bikes on Kevils Speed Shop and other BMW professional converters, the attention to detail, the design, the look was just amazing, I soon understood why they were so expensive. After reading more and more I started to realise that some people try to create their own versions of these Cafe Racers. In my humble opinion they never look as good as the professional jobs, but you can get a bespoke bike, learn a lot in the process and get all the rewards and satisfaction of doing it yourself.
When growing up I had a Saturday job at a car garage and I used do up, paint and clean and replace the odd part on my first few cars, so with that little bit of knowledge (dangerous!) I started to think that I might actually be able to make my own.
I read more and more (the internet is great for that!) and I soon started to realise that maybe I could do this, I watched videos, contacted some bike builders, asked advice, looked on forums and decided I was ready to take the plunge. I found a BMW R80 RT in London on ebay, I didn't want to buy one blind on ebay, so seeing one in the flesh, listening to it, kicking the odd tyre made me make up mind that was the bike for me, the price was fair and my journey began.
Here are a few pictures of the bike build.
Anyway here we are now, I am 40, I have started a new adventure (not a mid life crisis!), now I find myself wanting to use the thing, I commute to work which is great, it's a fairly short journey, I have been out the odd time on the weekend, but I think I would really enjoy it more if I had some like minded people to go with. An idea has been sitting in my head for a while, not quite a motorcycle club (feels a bit Hells Angelseee that!) but a community of people that maybe around on the odd weekend for a bit of a ride. Anyway the below poster explains the idea. So on this blog I will be writing (badly) about who I meet, what I get up to and what fantastic machines I see on these rides. Hopefully it won't be just me talking about how I meet just me.
Until next time.
Eamonn
I looked into the prices and were amazed at how expensive the really good ones are. I looked at bikes on Kevils Speed Shop and other BMW professional converters, the attention to detail, the design, the look was just amazing, I soon understood why they were so expensive. After reading more and more I started to realise that some people try to create their own versions of these Cafe Racers. In my humble opinion they never look as good as the professional jobs, but you can get a bespoke bike, learn a lot in the process and get all the rewards and satisfaction of doing it yourself.
When growing up I had a Saturday job at a car garage and I used do up, paint and clean and replace the odd part on my first few cars, so with that little bit of knowledge (dangerous!) I started to think that I might actually be able to make my own.
I read more and more (the internet is great for that!) and I soon started to realise that maybe I could do this, I watched videos, contacted some bike builders, asked advice, looked on forums and decided I was ready to take the plunge. I found a BMW R80 RT in London on ebay, I didn't want to buy one blind on ebay, so seeing one in the flesh, listening to it, kicking the odd tyre made me make up mind that was the bike for me, the price was fair and my journey began.
Here are a few pictures of the bike build.
Anyway here we are now, I am 40, I have started a new adventure (not a mid life crisis!), now I find myself wanting to use the thing, I commute to work which is great, it's a fairly short journey, I have been out the odd time on the weekend, but I think I would really enjoy it more if I had some like minded people to go with. An idea has been sitting in my head for a while, not quite a motorcycle club (feels a bit Hells Angelseee that!) but a community of people that maybe around on the odd weekend for a bit of a ride. Anyway the below poster explains the idea. So on this blog I will be writing (badly) about who I meet, what I get up to and what fantastic machines I see on these rides. Hopefully it won't be just me talking about how I meet just me.
Until next time.
Eamonn
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