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Here you can find out about some of the bikes I have owned, and my opinions about motorcycling in general..
I have listed the bikes with a small bit of rambling about each one, some more than others :)
I also have this Motorcycles and Leadership thing I wrote and well... plagiarised from Frank Wu, Chancellor & Dean, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, thanks Dood I hope you dont mind!
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My first big road bike was a 1976 Honda 750-4.
Like a lot of people in my age group, the 750-4 was the first step to road riding.
It handled like a sloppy sponge, went like the clappers and combined with those harder than steel tyres we had in those days, was deadly.
I spent many a day riding through the countryside enjoying the freedom..
It was pretty much bulletproof, and it served me well on many "over 1200km in a day" road trips. There will always be a small spot in my heart for this bike.
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After the Honda 4 came the Ducati Pantah. To tell the truth, I had always loved the Ducati 900SS and wanted to buy one instead of the Honda 750.
But finances were tight and the Honda put me on two wheels. I had the chance to own a Ducati Pantah, and I jumped at it. Any Ducati was better than the Honda - I wanted to corner.
So enter the 1981 Ducati Pantah 500. I owned this bike until I could ride the wheels off it, my first experience with the joy of high speed corning, and laying to waste every other motorcycle through the tight stuff.
It handled so well, nothing, not even my friends Honda CBR1000 (Wayne Gardner Replica) could come within 3 corners of it. I admit I was finally beaten by a friend on his 650 Pantah, but only on the exits as the single difference was HP (engine Size).
This bike taught me to ride, and it directed my riding philosophy towards sport riding rather than easy riding (choppers).
I become a fully fledged Ducati Man. Later on in life I ended up owning several of these machines over time. |
Being such a Ducati freak, well more of a "disciple in the art of corning", it was a big surprise to all my friends when I turned up one day on the Suzuki GSXR750.
This bike was blazing fast, handled great (well up to about 240kph where it developed a unsettling weave), and looked awesome.
I ignored the silly "SACS" stickers and the "Hypersport" name. It was a Sports rider's dream come true. Japanese power with light weight handling and big soft tyres.
It blitzed everything including my wallet.
It only lasted about 14 months, (too many monos??) and died a quick, explosive death. But while it was around, wow... I mean WOW!.. |
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I bought a Honda CX500 when I thought I would try my hand at being a motorcycle courier. I loved riding so much I just wanted to do it everyday. I figured doing it for a living was going to be perfect, even if it was on another Honda.
Being a motorcycle courier is basically the deadly art of weaving through city traffic going at breakneck speeds whilst racing other couriers for money and fame (fame amongst the other couriers). It went great for a while but ended in tragedy.
I survived but the Honda was laid to waste. Not before I tried it out at touring though!. I did a trip to the far north and rode it through four wheel drive tracks and trails.
I rode it everywhere!. I remember dropping it on a muddy slippery mountain side track, where I realised the front wheel had locked up due to the build up of mud...After removing the front guard in the sticky red mud (I had mud all over me, the tools and the bike) I managed to keep going. I even had to get a stick and dig the mud out of the swingarm where it was stopping the back wheel from turning!
Then as I finally got back on the tar heading towards the nearest town for beer and fuel, it rained. I mean poured. At least it cleaned me and the bike up! There was this aweful red trail down the road all the way from where the track met the tar into the petrol station and pub car park in the local town!
People did frown... I bolted the guard back on (I had ocky strapped it to the panniers) and then carried on with my trip.
I said it ended in tragedy. Like all motorcycle couriers, I was always taking risks and trying to do many things at once - talk on the radio with a handheld mike (not easy on a bike), plan the next stop and look out for other crazies in their vehicles.
Yup, I failed at the last thing and got my first lesson in not trusting anyone to do the right thing on the road. The Honda had a fatal accident. I only broke my wrist ;)
I still remember one buddy shaking his head from side to side whilst saying "poor Cx, poor CX". He felt sorry for the thing. It might have had to do with the wheelies I used to do on it and not it's death!
It was a shaft drive so getting the front end up required redlining the motor and dropping the clutch while doing no more than 10 kph. hehehe. |
My first experience with Kawasaki was with the 1985 GPz900R. After the Honda died I wanted to do some touring, but could not go all out for a tourer.
The Kwaka was another scare-the-hell-out-of-you fast bike, spinning the rear wheel at 140kph when too much throttle was applied.
It handled well enough but had a disturbing trait - it wanted to "tuck in" when leaning at extreme angles in sub 30 kph corners taken at 90.
Out on the highway it was a dream, great brakes, oodles of power and a respectable top speed. Load her up and ride, ride, ride.
Even with a tent, sleeping bag, camping gear, clothes and fishing gear, it handled through corners with confidence.
It finally got sick while being used as an all weather Tarp and Tent frame for my dream bike. Kwakas are built tough but not meant to be used as tent poles.. |
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Ahhh. Now for the best bit... The 1975 Ducati SS900. Commonly known as the Super Sport.
Without arguement, the best bike in the world. Kick start only (no electric button), a Man's bike you had to kick to start, .. and kick, and kick and kick...
Rarely did I don the leathers without first starting the bike. (Otherwise I needed to shower).. Once it started (which was Ducati unpredictable - sometimes first kick, sometimes an hour later), the sound was music.
Nothing, and I mean nothing has ever sounded so good. A big, 90 V twin with Open mouth carbs that could suck in a small bird, or set fire to your knee if it spluttered, I had fitted a Gianelli 2into1 pipe which spouted flames out the back when I gave it some, and a roar as you twisted the throttle.
This bike loved to be ridden - hard and fast and through corners. It was nothing to spend the day doing 180 KPH. On the SS900, the world seemed to slow down around you.
The leather frame cover..err... I mean seat, was sparce, there was no room for anything but your bum and no spots for luggage. Carry a small backpack was the only way to travel. But this was not for touring (although I did tour on it). This was for Sunday Cafe Racing at its best.
It stopped brilliantly also. I had waited all my motorcycling life for this machine and when it arrived I was in heaven. I was completed. I needed nothing more from life.
I owned and rode the Duke for years, happy in the fact that I could blow off all the GSXRs', FZRs' and anything else that claimed it could go fast on the road.
This bike handled anything the roads could throw at it - "riding on rails" was the term used back in the day. Confidence to plunge into unknown corners at ridiculous speeds that left anyone not on a SS900 way behind. Of course that came at a price. It caved in your back and arse.... but who feels anything but joy when tossing the SS into a sweeper at 200kph?
I could write a book about this machine. I bought it as a basket case - had to pick it up in a trailer, but it checked out to be an original 1975 model, with an engine/frame number of 443. The first 500 made. Loveingly put together by the Ducati Racing Factory. Everything inside the motor was polished, even the rocker assemblies, the crank - all of it had been carefully assembled. This
bike had the self timing, self generating electronic ignition. No battery required. I assembled it to start it and ride it, which I did for about 5000 kms. Eventually it needed a full rebuild, and I did that, replacing every gear, shaft, valve and piston. It was like a brand new bike.
It broke my heart when I finally sold it, but it went to a good home, where it was ridden hard every Sunday and was the major display piece in the loungeroom in between.
I still miss "the old girl". In one of these pictures you can see a very young me proudly holding up a side cover that says "SS900". You can also see the GPz900R in the background holding up the tarp! |
During my Ducati years I needed something to get around on while the Duke was lovingly restored. So I bought a Kawasaki Z1000. A real classic.
Faster than a speeding train and about as powerful, no brakes to speak of and handling that could only be described as "truck like"..
It was a brute. A big, lovable brute. Again that bullet proof Kwaka motor, heavy as a cement truck, and big comfortable seat. A perfect commuter.
I sold it when the Duke was back on the road... It was a very forgettable bike, I cannot recall any really good times on it, it just did its job and that was that.
The Photos here are pretty old, actually most of the bike photos on this page were taken in the early 80s to early 90s. I did not take many pictures of the z1000, some also have my daughter in them... Kids love Motorcycles!
The second photo has a motorcycle helmet made-into-a letterbox. I was bored one day... Thats what the number 7 is - the house number! The postie liked it so much he come in one day and told me. |
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Later in time, while I still had the Ducati, I needed another "commute" bike. Something to go to the shop on, ride to work, get around town, go on holidays with. The duke only liked to go where the throttle was held open and the road was curved like a snake.
So I bought a Yamaha YZF R1 (1000 cc). OMG. Handled better than the Duke (but it was 25 years younger), went faster than a bat out of hell and did stoppies if you hit the front brake hard.
It was truly the fastest and best handling road bike built at that time. I think it could still hold its own with most. It was FUN. Monos, monos and more monos.... Knee scraping cornering... Bullet accelleration..It had it all...Except the sound and feel of the Duke. Anyhow, it was nice to have such contrast in my garage.
I loved the R1 almost as much as the Duke. So silky smooth, it could do anything. Commute, tour, race day, cafe thrash. The first really complete road bike I had ever owned.
Unfortunately my career turned into an International one, so I had to park the bikes and head overseas. A few years later it was the Duke that got sold, I figured the R1 could travel around the Globe better (parts wise).
I came back for a visit 10 years later, pulled the R1 out of storage (it never ended up travelling), cleaned it, gave it new battery and tyres etc, and it ran without a hitch over 2000 miles until one of my friends added it to his collection (I had to return overseas).
Its still in the family, and goes like it did the first day. He rides it every now and then and says "its so silky smooth" not a animal like my BMW S1000R.
The pictures in the gallery from the first link are taken in 1999 when I had just bought the bike. The second link contains pictures from 2010, after the bike had been stored for 10 years. Amazing motorcycle!... |
So this brings me to my current Machine. The Kawasaki 2012 ZZR1400 (or ZX14R). The absolute culmination of a motorcycling life.
This is the best machine I have ever owned, bar none (sorry old girl). It is a Mega Sport bike that can and has been used for touring.
Fastest and most powerful motorcycle in the world at this date, I had to up the anti and do the ECU (remove those nasty things like speed limiters, STP curves and tame ignition maps.). I put on a Brocks racing pipe (hehehe) and shed about 15 kilos, a fast flow air filter and some Carbon Fibre bits rounded it off..
The end result is a somewhat lighter, much, much more powerful, "worlds most powerful motorcycle".....
Top speed is now somewhere above 330kp (but who is looking at the speedo when going at that speed), Acceleration is even more monstrous and neck snapping (just try and keep that front wheel down), and this bike can handle the twisties like the big mega sport bike it is.
I am one happy chappy and I think Kawasaki really got it right with this one. I have a few of my rides on my you tube channel in case anyone is interested...
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| It is aptly named "The Beast", its a keeper, well at least until they make one that is 1800cc.... |
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| Motorcycling and Leadership |
Riding a motorcycle has taught me a lot about subjects that could well be learnt in a management school. Leadership and Motorcycle Riding are remarkably similar.
When riding a motorcycle, it is about many things, some of which are:
- Decision Making - Obtaining and sorting through information and making important decisions based on the best information at hand.
- Risk Management - Identifying, prioritising and dealing with the potential and immediate risks. People act differently from how they should behave. If someone does not follow the law or traffic rules, or even road ettiquite and swerves at you, cuts you off or goes through a red light, if you don't predict that these things could and will happen, then you put your life at risk. You cannot rely on abstract prerogative, you must avoid letting peoples actions harm you.
- Understanding People - People judge motorcyclists quite openly. People divide themselves into tribes. Then they divide again. It's motorcyclists versus drivers. "Versus" is the right word.
- Solitary Enjoyment - Being alone is the normal riding state. Going for a ride through the countryside with only the bike as company is a pleasure that few understand. Sure, there are times when you have a pillion, but mostly you are on your own.
- Self-Discipline - Riding a motorcycle enforces self-discipline. Many an accident involves a single vehicle. That means more than anyone else, a rider's worst enemy is himself. You have to be calm and alert. If you ride angry or drowsy, you will meet trouble.
- Self-Confidence - There are many ways that riding is considered "too dangerous" for most people. As a rider (all my adult life), I have always had the confidence and strength of character to ride, even knowing the risks. It is not for everyone.
- Improvement - The pleasure and enjoyment from staying current about the latest models and developments, but riding my bike as often as possible.
- Control Your Direction - When cornering on a motorcycle, you have to look where you want to go, not where you are going.
In Business the same goes for a leader. Decisiveness and action are needed. A leader leads, not manages. A leader makes decisions based on information and must ensure the information is the best possible. Above all else a leader must be able to prioritise. 10 emergencies all come in at once and the first decision must be in which order should they be dealt with.
People are who they are: human beings, with the flaws inherent to all of us; each is an individual. I cannot rely on everyone to conduct themselves according to ideals and perform tasks pursuant to plans. It is better to be realistic and include a margin of error. This is the basis of risk management. Identifying risks are important to rider and leader alike. In one, your life may depend upon it, the other your career!
Motorcyclists are segregated by every driver and member of the public into a group. Within that group exists segregation between motorcyclist sub cultures. Bikies vs Loners, Chopper Riders vs Sports Bike Riders vs Dirt Bike riders, and so on. People judge motorcyclists based on the rider being on a bike and exclude them from "the normal" society. We are not one of the larger group. Being a leader is the same. You can never be "one of the troups" and quite often will end up being the focus of all sorts of judgements. You are being watched, and your behaviour is always expected to be of a certain quality. All of these dynamics play out in daily life. Hierarchies, distinctions, and discrimination - justified and not - abound. In all social contexts, people size you up. Whether by rank, responsibilities, or subtleties that you yourself are not quite aware of, we assess one another. People are good-natured. They are curious. When I am parked at a coffee shop, many people come up to me and ask questions about the bike.
"How fast can it go, or, How fast have you had it to?" and "It must be heavy?" are often repeated questions.
When I am off the bike and it is parked, I guess I appear more approachable and people feel more comfortable about my role in society. This has taught me in Management to make available time where my staff can feel comfortable approaching me to talk. As a manager, it serves my interest to assume people are well meaning and I often remind myself to indulge people's interest in knowing more and to set aside my grievances as well as theirs.
I usually ride alone. I value solitude. In Business the loneliness at the top is cliche. It is there and you need the ability to handle being alone and conducting yourself from an inner value without being too influenced by the group.
On a Motorcycle, there is no point getting angry and displaying abusive behaviour at the everyday driver just because they may have performed an action without thinking - an action that threatens your very life. They act before they think and this often leads to "accidents". They were negligent rather than intentional in their careless conduct. The same goes for Senior Management. You can never show your anger, you must remain calm and in control, even when your staff do things that cost time and money. You must take action and not let your emotions take control. Since everything I do in office is a public act, I compromise my effectiveness if I lose my temper. Even if I am in the right, observers will remember only that I "lost it". I cannot even assert that I was correct in a dispute, without appearing petty.
Every now and then, on a motorcycle I have a "close call" or "near death experience". I am inches away from enormous truck wheels, cars that do random acts of crazyiness, or just dealing with bad roads. A tiny patch of oil, unnoticed by people in their cars can mean the early end to my ride and/or my life. You cannot lose your nerve; you shouldn't venture forth if that is foreseeable. The same is true of leadership. It's never less than high-stakes.
The experience matters more than the machine. While I love reading about and seeing the latest models and accessories , it's more meaningful to be out on the road. After any ride, there are mistakes to review. I want to improve my skills.
Likewise, I have concluded as a supervisor that the challenge is not keeping up with new hardware or the latest software. It is user error that plagues us. I mean my own more than anyone else's. Professional development is key.
Similar to looking into the corner ahead to execute your cornering plan on a bike, it pays to keep your focus on the future. Looking ahead to where you want to go is very important for a leader, creating a vision and maintaining it in your sights is essential. Know the direction you dont want to go, but do not focus on it.
We process the world through metaphor. For each of us, passions are how we understand reality. For me, riding a motorcycle has made me a better person and a better leader. |
