Warren Smith, customer care agent, Knxus
What was your first machine and how much did it cost? My first bike was a Honda H100. I could have got a 50 cc when I was 16, but my father said if I waited until I was 17 he would buy my first bike and make sure it was a good one. I don't know the price, but the bike was only a few years old. It was blue and lovely looking. I had dirt bikes before that, which I used through the woods where I lived, but they were far from being road legal.
Why were you drawn to two rather than four wheels? My father always had bikes, it was in the blood. He would have preferred I didn't get into them, but what do you expect. I was riding his Honda 400 super dream when I was 14. The thrill, speed and independence and the feeling of being alone and in control drew me to bikes. Back then as well, it was seen as the poor man's transport, if you couldn't afford a car, you had a bike.
What is your current bike? I am currently restoring a Honda VF400 1984 model. It was laid up in a shed for years and I think most of the linkages on the suspension were seized. I have totally stripped the bike down, and am in the process of building it back up again. The project was going to be on a shoestring, and has been so far. The style would be along the lines of a single-seater street-fighter. I have cut back the seat rails to turn the frame into a single seater and to expose the back wheel. I'm fitting twin-spotlamps to the front and a four-into-one exhaust which I have to make myself, because I can't get a factory-made one. I'm doing all the work myself which is very satisfying. The frame is now bright yellow and the tank is going to be deep blue.
What is your next bike likely to be? The plan is to ride this one for a while and then sell it on, the money I can make from it will go into buying something else I can do up. I would like a 750 next time. Not too pushed which, but hopefully an old Suzuki GS750, or Z900.
Have you ever taken a long journey on your bike?
Yes, I toured Scotland on a Honda CX500, I did over 3,000 miles in two weeks, got through a back tyre and the bike didn't miss a heartbeat.
How much do you spend on bike gear? Not that I have a lot at this stage, but I would always spend as much as I could on a helmet, gloves and jacket. I always went for the Frank Thomas waxed cotton clothing, they're more waterproof than leather.
Have you ever had an accident on your bike? Yes, it was bad enough, no broken bones, thank God! I was riding a Z550 and I had my girlfriend on the back, I was taking her to work. I was traveling along the outside of stopped traffic, one car driver got fed up waiting and pulled out to do a U- turn without looking, and BANG!
If you were minister for transport would you make any improvements for motorcyclists? Of course. I would put in place compulsory training schemes for young riders to make sure the level of skill is high enough for the road. I would have major advertising to promote safe riding, and to make other road users aware of our two wheeled friends. Another fact, that is overlooked far to much, is that in our modern times of high emissions and falling oil supplies, the bike remains more fuel-efficient, produces lower greenhouse gases and, due to the fact it has far less body work, is of lower impact all round on the environment than cars will ever be.