2 Wheels

Having travelled many miles by bicycle in my youth my introduction to powered travel was on two wheels. My first motorcycle was a BSA C11G single cylinder 250cc machine with 3-speed gearbox and rigid rear frame.

BSA C11G

It was invaluable in giving me freedom to travel where I wanted when I wanted as well as a degree of road sense which helped me pass my car driving test later on.

I changed the C11G for an old AJS 18S 500cc single cylinder machine with 4-speed gearbox. I remember it as being a bit of a pig to kick-start, even with the help of the valve lifter, but it, like the C11G before, gave me many miles of relatively trouble free transport before I transferred my allegiance to cars.

I briefly came back to two wheels, during the period of frugality necessary when I took on my first mortgage, with a Norton Jubilee 250cc twin cylinder machine.