Page 40 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)

STUART GRAY

The picture attached
is my first bike.
Unfortunately, I don’t
have a photograph of the
first girlfriend but the
second one is my current
wife.
The Douglas had an
interesting history. I
don’t have a lot of detail,
but it was brought into
NZ by Noel McCutcheon
who was a member of the
DANIEL JOHNSON NZ team that won both

the 350 and 500cc team
My motorcycling prizes on the Isle of Man
commenced in 1975 in 1957 and also in 1958
when my dad purchased when he was the team
a Yamaha 90 from Barry captain.
Smith in Mt Waverley, Sadly, a bike of this
in Melbourne, for his historic importance
new agency business. (only 218 90-Plus models
If one of the paperboys were ever built between
didn’t turn up, we’d 1954 and 1957) should
deliver the papers on it. never have got into the
My brother went to Europe hands of a 17-year-old
for three months and left me his Honda CB400F mechanical ignoramus
Supersport to look after. Unfortunately, he returned and but, in 1964, it was just and a beautifully cast,
I had to give it back. Fast forward to 1977 and my EH an old bike. finned, alloy front brake.
Holden wagon was a bit tired, so I convinced my wife to Having said that, it The engine had the
trade it in for a Toyota Corolla for her and a CB400F for had been beautifully habit of wearing out
myself. So began our proper love affair with bikes. restored by Ian Docherty cam followers and
In 1978 I attended the Alpine Rally in Brindabella in Dunedin and was the leaking oil from every
with some workmates and, since that time, the same absolute pride of my life. available joint. The cast-
bunch of guys have gone on a five-day motorcycle It was the top-of-the- iron barrels eventually
adventure every year since. line model with a pair loosened off their
The CB400R was upgraded to a Honda CB900FB2 of Amal GP carbs, Lucas stud nuts and one was
and then a VFR750 with a Kawasaki KLR650 as a racing magneto, alloy eventually punched off
companion and, eventually, to the current collection rims and mudguards, the crankcase causing
which includes a 2008 Honda Varadero, a 2005
KLR650 and a 2000 model MV Agusta F4 750. The
MV may have to go in the near future as it’s now
getting a bit hard for me to fold myself into. GRANT SHEPPERD it cost but the deal was done
The lovely young lady in the photo with the and Dad rode it home as I had
brilliant red hair is my first love and wife of 43 I’d just read the article on ‘First no licence. Having said that, Dad
years and, yes, she’s still riding pillion. The helmet bikes’ in the December issue didn’t either.
she’s holding is a Shoei. When they first sold them when I came across Falloon and I rode it up and down our
in Australia, the cost was $40. Every Shoei helmet Spanner judging the Motoclassica street every day, waiting for my
since, some crash-tested to make sure they worked, show. Bugger me. There was a 15th birthday so I could get my
has doubled in price every time. Suzuki T125 – my first bike. Seeing provisional licence (that was the
Daniel Johnson, comfy000@bigpond.net.au
that put a grin on my face that’s deal in NZ at the time). I’m sure
The lovely young lady probably still there as you read the neighbours celebrated when I
was allowed to rider further afield.
this. As a 14-year-old, I’d saved up
in the photo with the enough milk-run money to buy a That bike did what motorbikes do:
brilliant red hair is my first cheap bike. The old man took me it gave me freedom, independence
love and wife of 43 years to check out the T125 and gave it and confidence along with a big,
the okay. I can’t remember what silly grin.

40 MOTORCYCLE TRADER