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Motorbikes have
always been a keen area of interest for me and in
the early years when I didn't have two halfpennies
to rub together, I simply "made do" with whatever
came along. Now that I'm older (much older) and the
kids have grown up, there's some disposable income
for the first time ever, so I thought WTF, life's
short - have some fun! So I bought a brand new bike. Over
the last couple of years I've swapped and changed
like a mad man and no doubt some
people think I'm a bit of a loon, but I just
couldn't find the bike that did everything I wanted.
I guess being an impulsive character doesn't help
either. Anyway, I buy what I fancy at the time and
change it when I fancy something different. Mind
you, that's what I did BEFORE the Credit Crunch came
along! LOL
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HONDA
CB1100SF X11 [1999]
This is one of those bikes you either love or
loathe. Needless to say, I love 'em. They're big,
brutal, bikes that say "If you like me, hang
around. If you don't, fuck off"!
There's nothing sophisticated about them - they just
are what they are - proper bikes! Not covered in
plastic and not with a tail 6ft in the air for style
- It's basically a naked Super Blackbird with
more(!) midrange grunt! Funny thing is though, It'll
rip your arms from the sockets if you're in hoon
mode or it'll whisk you comfortably across the
continent if you're in touring mode. (more) |
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HONDA
CB250N [1980]
This is my "Winter Project". It's a horrible scruffy
thing, one level above a hack and I'm about to
refurbish it over the winter of 08/09. Unlike my
previous projects, this one will not be a full
rebuild to concours standards. Instead, it will be a
straightforward refurb, spending as little as
possible. (more) |
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HONDA
CB400 Super Bol D'or Hyper Vtec Revo III [2009]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! This is a true Japanese Honda, built in Japan and
not exported to the UK, so there are very few
of them on British roads. It's a real screamer, not
unlike the CB-1 which I used to have, but with much
more mid-range thanks to the introduction of the
VTEC system, where the engine uses 2 valves per
cylinder up to 6,300rpm and then after that, all 4
valves kick into life. (more) |
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YAMAHA MT-01 [2006]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD!
This was my most recent acquisition - a thundering great
1700cc V-Twin in a sporty frame with R1 derived
brakes, swingarm, etc. Seriously huge amounts
of torque - 111ft/lb at 3750rpm and 90% of
that is available at extremely low revs.
Hold on tight!Torque to make you grin like a Cheshire Cat! (more) |
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HONDA
CBR 600RR [RR7]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! The new RR7 was well
received by the press and declared KING
of the 600's. Honda had been trailing behind Yamaha,
Suzuki and Kawasaki with the RR5 but this new model
turned everything upside down. All new engine, new
frame, more BHP, more midrange torque.
It's nothing short of a complete redesign. Mind you,
no doubt it'll be old hat within months... (more) |
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HONDA
VFR [2007]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! A great all-rounder
of the highest quality. Likes to spend time in the twisties and is equally at home touring. The high
build-quality gives a pride of ownership which
none of the others could equal. And then of course,
there's that legendary V4 engine...(more) |
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Yamaha FJR1300 AS [2007]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! Supremely comfortable and eats up the miles with total ease. 154mph, 145BHP,
99f/lb torque, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. Magnificent
tourer but a bit of a heavyweight when it comes to
popping over to your local bike haunt... (more)
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Honda Hornet 900 [2005]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! I've always been a
Honda fan and the CB900 F2 was the perfect contrast to
the big FJR as a second-bike. Amazing amount f
low-end grunt and a rush of exhilarating power at
higher revs. Also light, nimble and naked...
(more) |
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Triumph TT600 [2001]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! The TT600 was something
to nip to local haunts on. Only 5,000 miles
on the clock and looks like brand new!! Okay so its
no youngster, but it's in magnificent condition and
that 14,000rpm howler of an engine is just what the
Doctor ordered! 155mph, 108BHP, 50f/lb torque. 0-60
in 3.5 secs.
(more) |
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Moto Guzzi Griso 1100 [2006]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! Probably -
no definitely - the most beautiful bike I've ever
owned. A real piece of Italian styling which
attracted onlookers and admirers from all walks of
life. It was a stunner and had performance to match.
The only problem was vibration... (more) |
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Honda CBF1000 [2006]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! I was so chuffed
when I rode this away from the showroom. Detuned
Fireblade engine with a brilliant midrange pull and
superb handling. This has just got to be the easiest
bike in the world to ride - they should issue them
to learners!...(more) |
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BMW R1100S [2004]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! Another cracking
bike. And a real beauty as far as I'm concerned.
Superbly strong engine with amazing levels of torque
and really confidence inspiring suspension. The only
down side was the hurtful riding position for fat
old guys like me... (more) |
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Honda Deauville 650 [1998]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! Soooo many
people misjudge these bikes and call them DullVilles.
It's a load of nonsense. There's a lot of fun to be
had from the torquey V-Twin engine and its all too
easy to find yourself way beyond the speedlimits
with this Honda....(more) |
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Yamaha XJ600N [1996]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! I bought this with
just 1,300 miles on the clock and enjoyed it
thoroughly. It wasn't sporty and it wasn't fast, but
it was a great bike nevertheless. It did pretty much
everything you asked and was comfortable enough for
looong journeys....(more) |
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Honda NTV650 [1993]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! This was a bit of
an impulse buy, but I never regretted it. Awful
colour, terrible styling, but superb reliability and
a truly gutsy engine. The finish on these bikes was
far superior to the later Spanish-built Deauvilles...(more) |
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Honda CB-1 [1989]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! This was purchased as
a second bike - something to scratch about on. It
was a stunning little machine with the CBR400RR
engine which wailed like a screaming banshee when it
passed the 13000 revs mark. 100% fun and pleasure...(more) |
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Honda VFR400 NC30 [1989]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! Another
superbly built Honda machine. It just oozed and
dripped quality and was enormous fun to ride - for
about 5 miles - and then the pain kicked in!! You
need to be about 21yrs old to ride one of these
anywhere. Crippling riding position ...(more) |
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Honda CB750 F1 [1977]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! My magnificent
CB750 F1. What a gorgeous bike! Damned heavy though
- even pushing it around the garage it felt like a
GoldWing! I really wanted a 1969 CB750 but the
prices were (are) way too high for my wallet, so
this was next best...(more) |
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Honda CB550 F2 [1976]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! Probably my
favourite mid-70's Honda. Beautiful engine, gorgeous
styling and adequate performance for British roads.
Just the right size - not too big, not too small.
Perfect for those Sunday summer rideouts. Rebuilt it
2006...(more) |
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Honda CB400/4 F1 [1976]
SOLD! SOLD!
SOLD! My second
rebuild and my most accomplished. I managed to turn
a virtual wreck into a thing of beauty. When I
finished it, it was just too nice to ride and so I
sold it to a guy in Japan. Funny to see it going to
its birthplace 30 years later...(more) |
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 Sadly, I have
no more photos of these bottom four bikes. The GT750
was something I took in part-exchange when I was a
car salesman in the mid 80's. The black CB250 SuperDream was
bought brand new from Ken's Motorcylces in Newcastle
Upon Tyne. Great bike! The KH250 I "found" in the
corner of an MOT Station and it was covered in black
grease. Paid £150, pressure-washed it and discovered
an 8,000mile beauty!!! The very first bike I ever
owned
was a Honda CB250 G5. Lets say no more!
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Trips... |
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Isle Of Man TT Races - 2009
I'm going to the TT on a VIP Day Trip courtesy
of my employer!!!
On the day of the Senior
TT Race, my Son & I are going
to be taken to
Blackpool airport, flown over to the
IOM, collected by a chauffer
in a
Mercedes Limousine, taken around the road
circuit and then dropped off
at a VIP spectator area and then collected at 6pm by
the limo, back to the
airport and home again!
WAHOOOO!!!!!!! |
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Dad...
Below is a photo of my Dad, Michael McQuiggan.
He's sat on his Dad's motorbike which some
believe to be a Rudge Ulster but nobody can
confirm this for sure. The photo was taken on a
patch of ground beside the family home in Portadown,
Northern Ireland in 1958. Dad left Ireland in the
early 50's to
seek employment, met my Mum and got
married. Sadly, he died aged 27, from cancer.
If you can identify the bike, I'd really
appreciate it.
Email me.
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