Frenchbob

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but shouldn't people be working when they're at work?

Glad you're OK, but................. How's the bike? Surely the only damage wasn't to the spark-plug cap?

Those bars look really comfortable; I can't imagine why more Tenni riders don't fit them.

Bultaco?

Something about it makes me think it's English. Greeves? [some of the later ones had Ceriani-type forks]

Bantam Club BSA Bantam racer.

Low, black: way to go.

Most of two MZ 250s in the back of a Triumph Vitesse [sort of Herald]: that wobbled, too.

That's something to remember. Thanks. The local Voxan dealer is also my Moto Guzzi dealer. All the same.............

I wish I had never got involved in this thread: I'm thoroughly unsettled now! I had never heard of the Wakan, which looks like a motorcycle designed in someone's favourite motorcycle-designing dream. And it's French! The Saxon looks gorgeous, too.

I would agree that my comments probably don't apply to the re-engineered Mick Broom Vampire which I know is still available hand-made to order....at a price. I had in mind the original 1981 or whenever debut, which was a disaster by any standards. And yes, you can read even that debacle as a brave effort to stem the tide of defeat sweeping the Brit motorcycle industry then..........but I'll stick with my original opinion. I'm still interested in Voxans, but I'll wait until my friend has run his for a while before getting too interested. Hey, you're right: the Hesketh does have a chicken's-head crest on its tank! I'll tell Serge tomorrow and cheer him up: he's moulting at the moment.

There are Voxans much cheaper than the price quoted, here in France anyway. All have the same motor and all but the "Scrambler" have the same power. I have a good friend who tried a few models at a factory bash at Clermont Ferrand and has his name down for a new cafe racer. They're not selling in big numbers here, and I'm not really sure why, but then neither did Guzzi V11s, apparently. I like them, and I'm tempted by the Street Scrambler, a Scrambler with the more powerful motor and sports wheels/tyres [1000cc, 100bhp supermotard, anyone?] - the V11 would have to go, though! There's also the business of getting to know a new type of bike: I'm old and lazy. A French Hesketh? I could be mistaken, but weren't Heskeths badly-designed, under-developed bikes made by an eccentric, moneyed and enthusiastic but otherwise untalented, fat aristocrat who couldn't even ride a bike himself? No, I don't think they're French Heskeths!

Only if there were ships' hooters.

Quite possibly it was Leeds, Ben, but I wouldn't really know: I don't follow the football in England any longer. The World Cup killed any vestigial interest I had. Serge has been having a stressful year: he's been a father twice and some English bloke bought a barn to renovate that borders on my land - he has been living in a caravan with three cats, all of whom have been sitting looking at Serge through the fencing. Serge thinks they're trying to play mind games with him. Thanks for asking.

I don't hump the chickens, Doc! I was making the point that chickens have personalities. Honest. See? Bring on the chickens.

Guy, I have used a Guzzi V50, a Kawa Z650 and my Thunderbird to commute at various times. There are three problems: it's hard watching a good bike become a wreck, bit by bit; it's dangerous and often unpleasant to deal with commuters in cars and maniacs in white vans when you're not at your best or most alert; the weather is also against you, especially where you live and on the route you plan doing. The worst two of my get-offs happened in fast city commuting traffic, and I contributed to neither in the opinion of the police: that knowledge and the insurance payments didn't make it hurt any less. Well, you asked. At least don't ruin your baby, and stay shiny side up. Edit: I forgot the Suzuki 550, which was the best machine for it I ever used. If I did it now, I would use an Armstrong, though.

If you have opened any of these posts in error, you'll know that he couldn't possibly be the next james Bond: too, shall we say, encumbered!

I'm here to tell you that chickens gots personalities, too. Beats titties every which way [well, almost]. One of my mother hens, Gigi, fought off a buzzard to protect her three chicks, tonight. I witnessed it. Proud!

Yes, a quirk is simply an identifying peculiarity, usually tolerable, occasionally endearing and sometimes [Duc desmo engines] inspirational. I'll just go and ask her indoors whether she considers her quirk worth living with: don't hang on my reply: I may be in Casualty [urgences] for some time!

Mine's got footrests made out of unobtanium. There you go. Respect, Ratchet My footrests are made from unobtanium, and break frequently. I cocked that reply up magnificently, or you could call it post-modern irony.

And it's a Triumph. No wonder he's happy! Nice one, Ryan.

Post-modern ironyis my speciality [hence some of my difficulties on this forum] but New Man I'm not! Nor do I believe that History has ended. We continue to make the same mistakes, and benefit from them..or not.

I speak as a lover of all things Italian, of course. Much of my adult life has been spent suffering from FIATs [Fix It Again Tony], Ducs and Guzzis. Sadly no Italian women.