G'day!
I'm Michael, and Brutus is a retired 1999 Queensland police ST1100
He's got 154200km up, and 60,000 are mine. I've converted for pillion, but basically, he be errrr... STOC...
Brutus is the first bike I've ever named (beyond 'bitch') and the first bike I've thought of as male.
He was due a pretty up and some farkles over Christmas, but the folding stuff is in short supply (I know ya hear me, brother...) so I finally sorted out the police-switch-block to wiring relationship instead.
Brutus is my daily commute, my weekend fun and my stress relief. His colour is technically "Subliminal Hi Visibilty White", because when he appears is the tiniest corner of your mirror, your brain screams "COPPER!"
(or your idiomatic equivalent) and you touch the brakes, check the speedo, stare hard into the mirror, and look to get out of the way. In that order usually.
In a lot of ways ex police bikes are fun... at 20k over the speed limit (on a closed circuit using professional drivers) people just peel left out of the right lane as you come up behind them. Some drop to 50k and go apoplectic, however, so it can be a double edged sword... and NO ONE flashes me out fanging... ::)
But passing cops wave me
(less now the Bimmers and Suzys are in), and there are few bikes as comfortable that will do twisties so quick; explode into the post-red-light free-of-cars safety-vacuum in under a second; and still walk nicely along in the peak hour car park when I have to.
Though my current partner has a car (and she lets me borrow it for Bunnings) I haven't owned one since the family family court stole my Tickford Fairlane a dozen years back.
Ride to live, live to ride doesn't need a % patch.
I'm keeping Brutus alive as long as I can, and I'll add to the garage rather than replace him.
See you on the road. Stay upright.
Jenko.
Oh, by the way, I'm a 51 year old (today) federal public service headkicker... very odd, but I'm a nice guy.
And Hippy Bird Day to me.
