I'm in love with my Bonnie

IT was the thought that her son would ride a bike before her that prompted Pauline Stacey learn to ride a bike. On the day she passed her bike test, Pauline bought a Triumph Bonneville.

She said: "I had been a pillion for 20 years, but my husband changed his job and it now meant that I was missing out on some rideouts. I was getting withdrawal symptoms.

"Then I realised that my son was approaching 17 and he could be riding a 125 and be out there before me. That was it, I booked up my CBT to see if I had what it takes. I had so much fun, I was hooked, so I booked up my direct access.

"I bought my Bonnie the day I passed my test. I had been searching for a few months, driving my husband mad whilst I dragged him here there and everywhere looking for my first bike.

"I looked at everything, Honda Hornet, Cagiva Raptor, Kawasaki ER6N, Suzuki Bandit to name a few, but I kept being drawn back to the retro looks of the Bonnie. Having taken direct access (two days on a CG125 followed by two days on a GS500) this would be my first 'real' bike so I wanted something that I could learn the craft on without scaring myself witless.

"The other advantage with the Triumph was the insurance group was lower than nearly everything else and the service intervals are every 6,000 miles, so running costs are comparatively low, and it's British."

Pauline works as a pension administer in Bristol and is also a member of the Bristol branch of Motorcycle Action Group (MAG). She urges other bikers to join the campaigning group, as it's a great way to socialise and to improve riding conditions for bikers.

"Bristol MAG helped secure biking in bus lanes and it has promoted anti-skid manhole covers in the city," added Pauline.

"I'd like to see all road users have regular re-education on the Highway Code, as it's quite surprising how many motorists are oblivious to who's got priority at junctions and roundabouts."

When asked about biking in general, Pauline returned to waxing lyrical about her Bonnie. "The bike is great," she added. "Its easy riding position, with a low centre of gravity, has given me great confidence and the bike doesn't feel unstable even when being pushed. She can more than keep up when I'm out on group rides, which does surprise a few people because she might lack top speed, but she makes up with being surprisingly agile through twisties."

If you are interested in joining MAG, visit www.bristol.mag-uk.org, and to be featured in this section, email h.mottram@bepp.co.uk.