Dr Tigger's bike history

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This is most of my bike history, or at least that which I could remember when I made this page. If you've ever met me, you'll know that a few too many head injuries and a few too many very good nights out has left me with a tad 'suboptimal' brain.

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My first bike: Yamaha SR125

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I spent my second year of college's commuting money on this sweet little lady having convinced my parents it was simply to save money. She took 15mins to start when I first went to look at her and then never missed a beat, whether it was commuting around London hospitals, sliding in front of busses around Elephant & Castle or screaming down the A2 at 65mph. Alas she could only keep my interest for 6 months.

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My first big bike - Suzuki SV650s (Suzi)

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So, after 6 months I did my DAS and collected my brand new SV the day I passed. Having never riden a faired bike when I turned the handle bars for the first time pulling onto the Edgeware Road, I was so shocked that the clocks didn't move with them I almost fell off. Today, I still feel that an SV is one of the best introductions to big bikes. Not too fast but great fun and fab to ride about on the back wheel (I do not condone doing so).

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The 'Gixer' years - GSX-R 600s

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The early noughties were my hooligan years, which I look back at with shame and disbelief. The de rigueur machines were Gixers and Ninjas and I got through three Gixer 6s before the theft of my last one saved my life having collected it that day after being tuned and dropping one tooth on the front sprocket and going up two on the rear. Heavy and lumpy compared to a modern 600 more than able to be genuinely scary.

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The wilderness years - NO BIKE!

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Initially because of money and then because my bad back had started to ruin my life, I didn't ride for around 8 years but I always felt like a biker without a bike.

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Gingerly back on two wheels - Honda VFR800 (Horatio)

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Still wanting a race bike but being cautious about my back I returned to two wheels with a new VFR800. The amazing V4 engine and Honda build quality made this THE middleweight allrounder. I adored Horatio but came to realise I was ready for more when I almost ground through part of the middle section of the exhaust by getting my knee down on right handers. A fabulous bike above 4500rpm and gorgeous in the cherry red.

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My dream machine - Repsol Honda Fireblade (Betsy)

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One bikeless day off, I popped into my local Honda dealership, as I had every other month for a year, and, without any plan to, ordered a brand new Repsol liveried Fireblade; my dream bike. As powerful as others at the time but more rideable, more comfortable and bloody gorgeous. I lost my licence riding her home after her first service and absolutely didn't open her up all the way on the A1 which some have claimed. Gorgeous and fabulously sexy.

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A forced change - KTM 990 Adventure (Sir Humphrey Bikelby)

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As I had decided to undertake a massive bike trip, I needed a steed on which to do so and I chose the KTM 990 Adventure. Better handling than a GS, cheaper than a Tenere and, at the time, I wasn't sure a Kwak or V-strom would be up to it (not the case as you can do anything on anything if you want to badly enough). Great design, great motor, excellent handling in the rough but let down by cheap components like bolts & electrics. It broke my heart to have to sell him on my return.

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Honda XL1000 Varadero (Betty)

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As I had sold Sir Humphrey and gone bikeless for a winter it was inevitable that I would be buying again at the start of the season. Alas at the time I was too skint to buy 2nd hand and very undecided as to what I wanted to do on a bike in the medium term after Tigger's Travels. I bought Betty; a tired old design from Honda but we had some great times together on the road and in the garage. She ended up quite different to what I bought in 2013. Click here to see more about her and her modifications.

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Not enough of a change - Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin (Eeyore)

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Having finally ditched Betty, because she wasn't what I wanted having spent A LOT on her, I promptly bought Eeyore because he was a Honda Adventure bike before thinking if he was what I really wanted rather than a better, newer version of Betty. He was indeed better, much better - read my thoughts on the Africa Twin here. Nevertheless he wasn't what my soul needed despite exceptional off road ability. He is not missed.

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A desperately needed change - BMW S1000XR (Manfred von Targett)

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Manfred was just AWESOME in pretty much every way. If it wasn't because I have to prove I love my wife more than motorcycles he wouldn't have been sold.
He had a few tweaks - click here for a summary.

It is very likely I will have an S1000XR again as they are just wondertful allround bikes with soooo much ooomph. He is missed.

An amazing surprise - Honda CB1300 (Arthur)

Arthur was supposed to be with me forever as a future Resus Dept. project but alas he had to go as he was just a tad too small for a big trip and Grim2, Back North trip was looming. For a big muscle bike he was comfortable and a good allrounder but it was hard not to notice the lazy handling and weight when pushing into corners. He will be missed.

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A budget adventure bike - Honda VFR1200X Crosstourer (Angry Roger)

Angry Rog was a bit of a short term bargin for the Scotland trip because Lovely though Arthur was he was just too small to bang in lots of miles every day.

I tried to Get Rog wrapped but his fuel tank was too complicated a shape so he ended up being painted. As the plan was to make him the next Resus Dept project the value loss of painting him an unpopular colour wouldn't matter unless my family and I unexpectedly decided to sell everything and emigrate to Shropshire. Oh. Bugger! Still sold him for what I paid for him though. Great engine especially through a wide stubby can. Great all-round bike and no signs of wear despite his age.

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Next? Hopefully a Ducati Multistrada Enduro????