Ebbo's Old Bikes

Created 25/01/03 - Updated 30/07/06

These are some of my old bikes, all now long gone :-( Some were good, some were bad, read on for the full story.

Puch Maxi-S

1972' I was 15 years old, and it took me 20 weeks saving £1 per week to raise the 20% deposit for the Maxi.

Good points: It was cheap to run, just 20p to fill the tank with 20/1 petroil mix

Bad points:   The seat was painful and water would run down the throttle cable in to the carb and stop it running.

Suzuki A50

1973' I needed more power and a proper bike. This was the best I could afford. Top speed was a genuine 55mph, I can't remember ever being beaten by the Fantics & FS1E's of the day.

Good points: It was fast (if you could find the next gear)

Bad points:   Positively the worst gearbox I have ever used, don't ever complain about your BMW!

Honda 125s

1974' Kitted out for a week's camping trip to the Lake district 120 miles away, for some reason it didn't handle too well loaded up, strange? :-)

Good points: This one would do 65mph and unbelievably on the Lakes trip it averaged 120mpg!

Bad points:    Front brake was way to weak and the metal was as soft as...

Triumph Tiger Cub

1975' Bought for £20, it was too cheap to turn down. It was fast, 85mph due to hi-compression piston, big carb and straight through exhaust. It made a lovely noise.

Good points: Very fast, beautiful sound and great fun.

Bad points:    It leaked oil, broke down every other lamp post, and was a right pig to start, need I go on?

Yamaha RD350B

1975' Bought new for £420 and kept for three glorious years. It was never tuned and would do 105 mph. I know that because I collected a speeding ticket on the York bypass, the policeman couldn't believe it either!

Good points: Fast, good handling and superb looks.

Bad points:   Ignition timing needed doing every month or performance would suffer, I became an expert!

Honda CX500

1979' This really was a step forward. Shaft drive, electronic ignition & electric start! I fitted a Rickman Polaris fairing and a Brealey Smith top box.

Good points: Very comfy and easy to live with, a superb all round machine.

Bad points:   Yes, mine suffered the usual engine problems very early on, fixed by Honda with no further problems.

Honda CB500T

1985' Bought with funds from fitting a kitchen! riding to work on it one sunny afternoon I was sedately overtaken by a BMW. I knew then where the future lay.

Good points: It was cheap to buy...

Bad points:   Vibration meant the cruising speed was only about 60 mph. any more and the dreaded white finger crept in.

BMW R100RT

1991' Bought for £1700 and kept for 10 years, what a bargain! It only needed new discs and a clock to sort it out.

Good points: Superbly built, cheap to run and an excellent fairing.

Bad points:   The seat could do with being longer...

BMW R1100RT

2002' It was either completely renovate the R100RT or buy something like this, I guess I got lazy :-)

Good points: Very good handling even two up, loads of room for a passenger and superb ABS brakes.

Bad points:   It cost to much!, the paint chipped off easily and the gearbox was notchy at times.

BMW R1200RT

2006' Sadly my 1100RT was written off after a lorry reversed on to it, while I was sat on it! this is the replacement :-)

Good points: Superb revey engine and slick gearbox finally proves BMW can get it right!

Bad points:    Front discs warped at 6k, otherwise she's going fine.

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