WIMA Victoria: Memories of 'L's

Memories of Ls

Big, black, shiny and with the potential to deliver 250cc of thrust! Yes, my Suzuki GN250 was quite a fearsome sight. The thought of actually sitting on it and moving, with the motor running and without being held from behind made me tremble at the knees and break out in a cold sweat. This whole idea of balancing on two wheels was not too dissimilar to a push-bike, so why the hell didn't my GN come with training wheels?

The number of toilet rolls used in the house drastically increased due to the number of times I had to go to the loo prior to every ride. Deodorant was liberally applied to cover up the all too obvious smell of fear.

Friends at university politely enquired, 'but isn't it dangerous?'. 'No! It all depends on your attitude', I confidently replied with a smile, through clenched teeth in anticipation of the terrifying ride home. I thought I would never tame the beast. But, after several weeks of constantly stalling at traffic lights, being abused by predictably unsupportive drivers, riding half an hour out of my way just to avoid a roundabout and being 'dragged off' at the lights by lycra clad fitness fanatics on their twiggy little pushbikes, I finally developed a smidgeon of confidence.

I decided I would try and ride a little more aggressively and assert my gleaming presence on the road. I was soon zooming along with the wind buffeting my helmet in all directions, making my head feel like it was attached to my body by a flimsy straw.

On I sped, my confidence actually increasing, when suddenly there was a noise like a thousand mosquitoes chasing a naked baby, and out of the corner of my eye I caught a luminous flash of red and yellow. I had been overtaken by a postman! I was so deflated and embarrassed. I had all the right gear, a 'big' shiny bike, and I thought I was going really fast and doing really well. I was only doing 50km/hr!

Time has passed and I never thought it would happen, but it did. I outgrew my 'big' GN250. I was so sad to let it go, but go it did as part payment for a really 'big', red, shiny Suzuki Bandit 600. Only problem is, it's all happening again--the nervous sweats, the increased heart rate, the numerous trips to the loo, the trembling knees, and when I think I'm at least doing the speed limit and going quite fast, I'm cautiously crawling again.

Oh well, better safe than sorry, and I know one thing for sure--I'm not going to outgrow this one in a hurry, if ever! Funnily enough I've never had a problem getting it on the centre stand, but it's taken me six months to learn how to get the bloody thing off it. People really get the wrong idea when you're sitting there rocking backwards and forwards on a stationary motorbike for a prolonged period of time. But that's another story!!!

Alison Maclaren