SIGHT UNSEEN

Until recently I owned a 1974 Ducati 750GT and a modern Aprilia 650 enduro. The Ducati (which I bought new, by the way) is to be polished, admired and taken out now and again. The Aprilia has more substantial rides on country and coastal roads. Modern bikes are about riding: classic bikes are about the bike.

Then, at the age of 74, I decided I wanted to buy another. The Ducati is useless for short London rides. It doesn’t understand 20mph limits and it’s heavy and unwieldy in traffic. My lock-downed thoughts turned to a lightweight. It had to be a classic since much of its time will be spent being polishing and fettled (I am realistic). I considered a British lightweight of the 1950s or 60s. But small British bikes of that period are rather crude. Think of Tiger Cubs, Royal Enfields or BSA Bantams. All very worthy, but not very beautiful or stylish. Not to me, anyway.

I then thought of the beautiful, postwar Italian lightweights – the little jewels – as they are called in Italy. So many models to choose from, in the 1950s 150-250cc range. I started to look at MV Agustas, Moto Guzzis, Morinis, Gileras, Mondials