My Motorbikes
I have always enjoyed motorbikes. The last one I had was when I was a new Christian back in 1978. I had a Yamaha XSB650, which I think was the model before the Special came out. During the time that I had that bike the new Yamaha XV750 came out and I took one for a test ride. I was totally impressed with the bike and since that time it's always been in the back of my mind that I would like one. As a Christian biker I find that a good ride is a perfect time to spend time with the Lord that is quite different from any other occasion.
MY SON'S BIKE
My son bought himself a motorbike recently. It is a 1989 Kawasaki ZXR250. Because he didn't have his bike license at the time I had it stored in my shed. Naturally I took it for a ride from time to time just to make sure it didn't cease up. :)
Naturally this renewed my old desires for a bike and that desire just wouldn't go away.
SO I ASKED GOD
The desire for a Yamaha XV750 just seemed to grow and grow, so I said to God "If it's ok for me to have a motorbike can you please organise some finance." I didn't really expect anything to come of it, but it was either later that day, or the next day that I received a pre-approved loan in the mail. Wow!
It was just a matter of time before I found the right bike. It is a 1986 Yamaha XV750. It had been deregistered for some years, so I would need to get it re-registered, which meant new plates.
THE NUMBER PLATE
I don't know why, but number plates have always interested me. I decided that I would like the numbers 3 and 7 on the plate, both being numbers of God, but didn't really decide on the letters. Imagine my surprise and delight when the numberplate was handed over and I read 37WSH. So I guess you could say I got my wish!
Even though it's old, the bike is a delight to ride and I enjoy it very much. It needs a little tidying up, but I will tend to that as time goes on.
As it was when I bought it
MY SON'S BIKE
My son bought himself a motorbike recently. It is a 1989 Kawasaki ZXR250. Because he didn't have his bike license at the time I had it stored in my shed. Naturally I took it for a ride from time to time just to make sure it didn't cease up. :)
Naturally this renewed my old desires for a bike and that desire just wouldn't go away.
SO I ASKED GOD
The desire for a Yamaha XV750 just seemed to grow and grow, so I said to God "If it's ok for me to have a motorbike can you please organise some finance." I didn't really expect anything to come of it, but it was either later that day, or the next day that I received a pre-approved loan in the mail. Wow!
It was just a matter of time before I found the right bike. It is a 1986 Yamaha XV750. It had been deregistered for some years, so I would need to get it re-registered, which meant new plates.
THE NUMBER PLATE
I don't know why, but number plates have always interested me. I decided that I would like the numbers 3 and 7 on the plate, both being numbers of God, but didn't really decide on the letters. Imagine my surprise and delight when the numberplate was handed over and I read 37WSH. So I guess you could say I got my wish!
Even though it's old, the bike is a delight to ride and I enjoy it very much. It needs a little tidying up, but I will tend to that as time goes on.
As it was when I bought it
After a repaint, original bars put back on and some other fix-ups.
Note the number plate...
As time went on it was obvious that the bike needed a lot of money spent on it and I decided that it made more sense to replace it rather than spend money on it and still have an old bike.
Note the number plate...
As time went on it was obvious that the bike needed a lot of money spent on it and I decided that it made more sense to replace it rather than spend money on it and still have an old bike.
Out with the old and in with the new.
My XV750 needed some money spent on it. It had the typical XV750 starter problem, leaky mufflers and a few other bits and pieces that needed sorting out. I decided that rather than spend the money on the old bike I'd rather buy a newer one. So I prayed about it and had peace about borrowing $4,000 off the bank for a replacement.
After a lot of shopping around (especially on www.TradeMe.co.nz) I came to realise that $4,000 just wasn't going to cut it. There was nothing around that I was satisfied with for that money. I was disappointed and didn't know what to do next, so back to asking the Lord for some guidance and advice.
The Plan
During the night I woke and had this thought that if I used $3,000 of the $4,000 that I had to pay off some other bits and pieces, then I would be able to afford to buy a more expensive bike. My reaction was "No, that would never work!" But the thought wouldn't go away and I struggled with the concept until I woke up in the morning and checked it out on a spreadsheet. I have all of my finances mapped out on a spreadsheet, so it was a small task to alter a few bits here and there and check out the feasibility.
Wow!
I discovered that by doing what the Lord showed me I could afford to pay off a more expensive bike and be better off each month with the money left over!
The New bike
I have just bought this 1992 Yamaha Virago XV1100 (18 April 06). It's a dream to ride with plenty of power just waiting to be used.
My XV750 needed some money spent on it. It had the typical XV750 starter problem, leaky mufflers and a few other bits and pieces that needed sorting out. I decided that rather than spend the money on the old bike I'd rather buy a newer one. So I prayed about it and had peace about borrowing $4,000 off the bank for a replacement.
After a lot of shopping around (especially on www.TradeMe.co.nz) I came to realise that $4,000 just wasn't going to cut it. There was nothing around that I was satisfied with for that money. I was disappointed and didn't know what to do next, so back to asking the Lord for some guidance and advice.
The Plan
During the night I woke and had this thought that if I used $3,000 of the $4,000 that I had to pay off some other bits and pieces, then I would be able to afford to buy a more expensive bike. My reaction was "No, that would never work!" But the thought wouldn't go away and I struggled with the concept until I woke up in the morning and checked it out on a spreadsheet. I have all of my finances mapped out on a spreadsheet, so it was a small task to alter a few bits here and there and check out the feasibility.
Wow!
I discovered that by doing what the Lord showed me I could afford to pay off a more expensive bike and be better off each month with the money left over!
The New bike
I have just bought this 1992 Yamaha Virago XV1100 (18 April 06). It's a dream to ride with plenty of power just waiting to be used.
Another answer to prayer and another new bike. As much as I enjoyed the Virago, there was a problem in that my wife of the time found the pillion seat uncomfortable. So the search began for a better option. This was important because Sally and I often went out on the bike together and I wanted it to be just as enjoyable for her as it was for me. I tried out many new bikes and eventually settled on the Yamaha XJR1300. This bike had style, handled well and had a ton of power. More importantly :) the pillion seat passed the wife test.
The next issue was price. Anything worth considering was $11 - $13,000, which was a bit out of my price range. Through a series of events I came across this bike which was within my price range. A real answer to prayer. It is a 2004 Yamaha XJR1300 with only 22,000 km on the clock.
Sally and I rode the Virago to Taupo (275km) on Friday 30th March 07 after work and then traveled on to Auckland on Saturday, a further 280 km. Once we had exchanged bikes we rode straight back to Levin. We encountered a lot of rain on the way up, and it only rained for the last 40 km of the ride home.
The bike was brilliant, although it took a while to adapt to the difference in riding style. Having the shocks adjusted to my weight made a huge difference to the handling.
Well, after a couple of months I decided that this bike just wasn't me. It was too easy to go way too fast and the ride wasn't as enjoyable for me as the cruiser style, so it was shopping time again.
The next issue was price. Anything worth considering was $11 - $13,000, which was a bit out of my price range. Through a series of events I came across this bike which was within my price range. A real answer to prayer. It is a 2004 Yamaha XJR1300 with only 22,000 km on the clock.
Sally and I rode the Virago to Taupo (275km) on Friday 30th March 07 after work and then traveled on to Auckland on Saturday, a further 280 km. Once we had exchanged bikes we rode straight back to Levin. We encountered a lot of rain on the way up, and it only rained for the last 40 km of the ride home.
The bike was brilliant, although it took a while to adapt to the difference in riding style. Having the shocks adjusted to my weight made a huge difference to the handling.
Well, after a couple of months I decided that this bike just wasn't me. It was too easy to go way too fast and the ride wasn't as enjoyable for me as the cruiser style, so it was shopping time again.
Shopping..
I searched bike shops, the internet and everywhere else I could find, trying to find the perfect bike. A lot of the new Jap cruisers were bigger than I wanted and none seemed to fit what I was looking for. Then I had a closer look at the Triumphs. With an engine size of around 800cc I thought it a bit small, but decided to have a look at them anyway. I enjoyed the riding style and the power was ample for cruising, so it was just a matter of which one and what specs.
The Shopping List
I decided on either the America or the Speedmaster. There wasn't a lot of difference. The Speedmaster had a 865cc engine as opposed to the America's 790cc. Also, the Speedmaster had a tachometer which was something I wanted. Whichever bike I chose had to have a comfortable seat and sissy bar for Sally, and also a pack rack or similar. I didn't like the standard pipes on either bike, so that was another consideration.
I wasn't really able to find the ideal bike in a bike shop that was affordable, so it was back to TradeMe. I found what looked to be the ideal bike, so it was off to Auckland again. I had my birthday off from work and flew up at 7am. I was met by a friend up there and we went to check out the bike.
It had everything I wanted. Even though it was the America, it had a tacho. It had after market pipes which sound absolutely choice, a comfy pillion seat, sissy bar, pack rack and saddlebags, and it was cheap!
Here's the latest, as from 23 May 07
790cc 2004 Triumph America
I searched bike shops, the internet and everywhere else I could find, trying to find the perfect bike. A lot of the new Jap cruisers were bigger than I wanted and none seemed to fit what I was looking for. Then I had a closer look at the Triumphs. With an engine size of around 800cc I thought it a bit small, but decided to have a look at them anyway. I enjoyed the riding style and the power was ample for cruising, so it was just a matter of which one and what specs.
The Shopping List
I decided on either the America or the Speedmaster. There wasn't a lot of difference. The Speedmaster had a 865cc engine as opposed to the America's 790cc. Also, the Speedmaster had a tachometer which was something I wanted. Whichever bike I chose had to have a comfortable seat and sissy bar for Sally, and also a pack rack or similar. I didn't like the standard pipes on either bike, so that was another consideration.
I wasn't really able to find the ideal bike in a bike shop that was affordable, so it was back to TradeMe. I found what looked to be the ideal bike, so it was off to Auckland again. I had my birthday off from work and flew up at 7am. I was met by a friend up there and we went to check out the bike.
It had everything I wanted. Even though it was the America, it had a tacho. It had after market pipes which sound absolutely choice, a comfy pillion seat, sissy bar, pack rack and saddlebags, and it was cheap!
Here's the latest, as from 23 May 07
790cc 2004 Triumph America
28 August 2009
What? Another bike? I was so impressed with the Triumph I previously owned, that it just had to be another Triumph!
Yep, but hey, I checked it out with the Lord first! His comment, this bike is a bit like a two edged sword. Yes, I will get the pleasure of riding it, but it will also be used to open doors for ministry. How? I don't know yet, but I know our Lord well enough to know that I will soon find out.
So.. the new bike. A 2010 Triumph Thunderbird. Took it for a spin today and was totally impressed with the power and the handling. The bike boasts 85hp, or 146.1 Nm @ 2,750 rpm. With a six speed box.. a very nice six speed box I might add, there is a smooth transition through the gears right through to overdrive (6th). Even in overdrive there isn't the need to chop down to pass. This bike just powers away. The 1600cc motor just purrs along at 2500 rpm at 100km. The handling is so good that the bike almost steers itself through the bends. I took it around the bays in Wellington before cruising the motorway to Petone and was equally impressed with both rides. All in all, a very smart looking machine that delivers in all aspects.
What? Another bike? I was so impressed with the Triumph I previously owned, that it just had to be another Triumph!
Yep, but hey, I checked it out with the Lord first! His comment, this bike is a bit like a two edged sword. Yes, I will get the pleasure of riding it, but it will also be used to open doors for ministry. How? I don't know yet, but I know our Lord well enough to know that I will soon find out.
So.. the new bike. A 2010 Triumph Thunderbird. Took it for a spin today and was totally impressed with the power and the handling. The bike boasts 85hp, or 146.1 Nm @ 2,750 rpm. With a six speed box.. a very nice six speed box I might add, there is a smooth transition through the gears right through to overdrive (6th). Even in overdrive there isn't the need to chop down to pass. This bike just powers away. The 1600cc motor just purrs along at 2500 rpm at 100km. The handling is so good that the bike almost steers itself through the bends. I took it around the bays in Wellington before cruising the motorway to Petone and was equally impressed with both rides. All in all, a very smart looking machine that delivers in all aspects.
An Addition to the Family
I have always wanted an old kick start Triumph, so when one came up on Trademe that looked like me I decided to go for it. The bike was in Christchurch, so I flew down on Good Friday 2012. Two weeks prior to this our first South Island member (from Christchurch) joined our club, Triumph Riders Motorcycle Club, so I contacted him to see if I could catch up with him while I was down there. He wasn't sure what he was doing that day so he told me to give him a call around 4pm and we could hopefully work something out. My plane got into Christchurch at 2.30pm and the guy I was buying the bike off met me at the airport. It was a short journey to his place and shortly later I rode out on my 1977 Triumph Bonneville.
By the time I'd filled the tank it was 3.45pm so I gave Gordon a call. There was no reply. I had to catch the 12.30 ferry crossing from Picton (340Kilometers away) the next day, so I really wanted to get half way that afternoon if possible, so here I was wanting to meet Gordon in Christchurch, but also wanting to get on the road when the phone rang. It was Gordon saying that he was at his batch near Kaikoura and that I would be welcome to stay the night if I wanted to. What a blessing! Kaikoura was half way to Picton, so I got to do half of the journey, got to meet Gordon and had a meal and bed for the night. Awesome!! I got as far as Cheviot, about 70k short of Kaikoura and the oil light came on. I hadn't checked the oil when I filled the tank up. Not very wise in hind sight. Sure enough, the oil in the tank was barely touching the bottom of the dip stick. The only service station in town was closed and I was at a loss as to what to do. Then a Triumph Sprint pulled up alongside me and the guy asked me where the nearest gas station was. I told him 70k North and he said he had enough petrol to get him there. I told him of my shortage of oil and he just happened to have some with him, so I bought it off him and was on my way again. What a miracle! Modern bikes don't carry spare oil normally! So I made it to Gordon's place and we watched rugby and talked bikes and had a very enjoyable time together.
It was about 8am Saturday when I hit the road again. I felt to stop in the Kaikoura township for breakfast, so did that. A Christian group set up in a park area right across from the cafe I was at and started singing gospel songs and songs of praise. What better atmosphere could a bloke get? I got to share some testimony with a guy there and pray that God will do the rest. It seemed like a divine appointment if you know what I mean.
I left Kaikoura and headed on towards Picton. My bike was the last on the ferry, lined up with another Triumph and a whole lot of Harleys. I ended up in the bar with some of the Harley guys and had an awesome opportunity to discuss my faith with them there. It just seemed with everything that happened on the trip had God's hand in it. After the ferry docked in Wellington some 3 hours later I had a 100km trip to get home. I got just 10 kms from home when the bike started missing badly and then died. This seemed really strange to me because I really believed I would ride the bike home. I couldn't find anything wrong with the bike. Circumstances said that I wasn't going anywhere, so I rang my brother to come and pick me up, thinking all the time that this wasn't right, that I should be riding home. While I was waiting for my brother to turn up I lifted the seat and just started poking around, checking stuff out. It was then that I discovered a loose wire that I had previously overlooked. I connected it back up and kicked the bike into life. I then called my brother to cancel the rescue and rode the rest of the way home.
I praise God for what can only be described as a journey of Grace and provision. This little beauty is parked in the shed next to my Thunderbird.
I have always wanted an old kick start Triumph, so when one came up on Trademe that looked like me I decided to go for it. The bike was in Christchurch, so I flew down on Good Friday 2012. Two weeks prior to this our first South Island member (from Christchurch) joined our club, Triumph Riders Motorcycle Club, so I contacted him to see if I could catch up with him while I was down there. He wasn't sure what he was doing that day so he told me to give him a call around 4pm and we could hopefully work something out. My plane got into Christchurch at 2.30pm and the guy I was buying the bike off met me at the airport. It was a short journey to his place and shortly later I rode out on my 1977 Triumph Bonneville.
By the time I'd filled the tank it was 3.45pm so I gave Gordon a call. There was no reply. I had to catch the 12.30 ferry crossing from Picton (340Kilometers away) the next day, so I really wanted to get half way that afternoon if possible, so here I was wanting to meet Gordon in Christchurch, but also wanting to get on the road when the phone rang. It was Gordon saying that he was at his batch near Kaikoura and that I would be welcome to stay the night if I wanted to. What a blessing! Kaikoura was half way to Picton, so I got to do half of the journey, got to meet Gordon and had a meal and bed for the night. Awesome!! I got as far as Cheviot, about 70k short of Kaikoura and the oil light came on. I hadn't checked the oil when I filled the tank up. Not very wise in hind sight. Sure enough, the oil in the tank was barely touching the bottom of the dip stick. The only service station in town was closed and I was at a loss as to what to do. Then a Triumph Sprint pulled up alongside me and the guy asked me where the nearest gas station was. I told him 70k North and he said he had enough petrol to get him there. I told him of my shortage of oil and he just happened to have some with him, so I bought it off him and was on my way again. What a miracle! Modern bikes don't carry spare oil normally! So I made it to Gordon's place and we watched rugby and talked bikes and had a very enjoyable time together.
It was about 8am Saturday when I hit the road again. I felt to stop in the Kaikoura township for breakfast, so did that. A Christian group set up in a park area right across from the cafe I was at and started singing gospel songs and songs of praise. What better atmosphere could a bloke get? I got to share some testimony with a guy there and pray that God will do the rest. It seemed like a divine appointment if you know what I mean.
I left Kaikoura and headed on towards Picton. My bike was the last on the ferry, lined up with another Triumph and a whole lot of Harleys. I ended up in the bar with some of the Harley guys and had an awesome opportunity to discuss my faith with them there. It just seemed with everything that happened on the trip had God's hand in it. After the ferry docked in Wellington some 3 hours later I had a 100km trip to get home. I got just 10 kms from home when the bike started missing badly and then died. This seemed really strange to me because I really believed I would ride the bike home. I couldn't find anything wrong with the bike. Circumstances said that I wasn't going anywhere, so I rang my brother to come and pick me up, thinking all the time that this wasn't right, that I should be riding home. While I was waiting for my brother to turn up I lifted the seat and just started poking around, checking stuff out. It was then that I discovered a loose wire that I had previously overlooked. I connected it back up and kicked the bike into life. I then called my brother to cancel the rescue and rode the rest of the way home.
I praise God for what can only be described as a journey of Grace and provision. This little beauty is parked in the shed next to my Thunderbird.
After 4 years of enjoyment on the 1600 Thunderbird and clocking up 77,000 kms (48,000 miles) it was time to upgrade. I had someone wanting to buy the Thunderbird, so off I went back to Motorad in Wellington. The next bike was a new 1700cc Triumph Thunderbird Storm. The extra performance was incredible and handling was superb. I still have this bike and still enjoy every moment on the road and with mates. The choices for colour were matte black, gloss black or silver marble. The silver marble appealed to me because it seemed everyone was going for the black and I wanted to have something a bit different. I have never had a bike that so many people have wanted to touch and photograph.
The latest addition is a 2017 Triumph Bobber which I bought new to keep the Storm company at night :). Have been thinking about putting forward controls on it along with higher bars and turn out pipes. If I go ahead with this I will post a pic.
A few adjustments to the Bobber. I hated the sound, honestly, it sounded like a sewing machine, but with the new turnout pipes you can actually hear it now without it being obnoxious. The mini ape bars give a much more comfortable riding position.
So I sold the Bobber as it wasn't getting a lot of use and after a while had an itch that needed scratching, so bought the next bike, a 2009 Harley Davidson Dyna Street Bob FXDB, which accompanies the Triumph Thunderbird Storm in the shed.
The current bike (below) is a 2020 Harley Davidson Softail FXST 107ci (1745cc) which I bought on 11 April 2024
