CUT-PRICE CLASSICS
My motorcycling over the last 55 years has all been of the low-budget variety, simply due to finances. This was not so much of a problem in the early years, and I enjoyed many lovely Brit machines, especially BSA A10s. Recently, however, as a pensioner the problem has become more acute and good machines are harder to come by.
The last good bike I bought was my lovely Ural 750 Retro, 10 years ago. I rode it solo for 8 years and thoroughly enjoyed it, but it grew heavy for me. Urals are heavier than they look. They have a flywheel that would do for a traction engine and the frame tubes are nearly solid; I have never known anyone manage to bend one. The 750s are much more reliable than the communist-era 650s. As my right foot began to fall to bits so I became nervous of dropping the Ural. It now has a sports chair attached and it’s great. I will be able to continue riding it until I run out of brain cells.
That left me with the problem of what I could ride solo, as I only resort to using a car if the weather is particularly foul. I have become known for this locally, andin recent years. This one was horrible, much slower than the Honda CG it was modelled on. The cycle parts were rubbish, with bits packing up all the time. Its end came when I slipped off a wooden bridge on it into a dyke filled with stagnant water. I can’t help wondering if I had an unconscious desire to dump the wretched thing into a swamp. I sold the remains of it to a young chap who wanted to build it into a café racer. Not so silly really, he will learn quite a lot during its resurrection. I just hope it doesn’t put him off bikes.
