When I was a young teenager, all I wanted was a motorbike! I loved custom, chopped bikes more than anything, however my parents, worrying for my safety (as all wonderful parents do) cleverly tricked me into getting a car! My family persuaded me to do my driving test first. My Grandma never passed her test and has always encouraged us to learn to drive to make sure we were independent especially as we got older. Very wise words Gran!
However, the day I passed my test the crafty buggers gave me a car! Now don't get me wrong, it was the most amazing thing they could ever have given me and it opened up my entire world, but from that moment on I would forever be poor. Car insurance, road tax, MOT's, petrol, every spare penny went on the car, with nothing left for CBT or bike test, let alone a bike!
So years passed, and although I have had several cars which I have loved and enjoyed driving, it still hasn't cured my hankering for two wheels!
So last year, I decided that I would make more effort to do my CBT, my big bike test and get my bike. (Secretly dreaming of winning the lottery so I can havemy Krazy Horse Bobber!!).
Well after chatting at great lengths to a very lovely chap at Camrider in Ipswich, it turned out that none of the riding schools have bikes that are small enough for me. I'm not saying they don't adjust, they just don't adjust enough for my tiny legs! Ok, so new plan. Pay the hundreds of pounds to do everything all at once and go direct to big bikes, or buy a 125cc bike to adjust and do my CBT on.
The idea of going straight to big bikes sounded great, but having NO experience, was also very scary, so I opted for the later. Now buying a 125cc motorbike might sounds straightforward, but every teenage boy in the land wants to own one! Couple that with trying to find something cool, and your looking at lots of money, and I'm poor! After weeks of searching bike shows, swap meets and ebay, my fella and I came across this little thing.
Now boys, if you're reading this don't got getting all grumpy at me for using the wrong words and all that crap ok!
An AJS 125. Still the original British owned AJS company (apparently :p) but now made in china so this little beauty only cost me the measly sum of £300 with a years tax and MOT! Bargain! Oh and yes it does run!
So now to make some adjustments so I can reach the ground! Luckily my man is rather handy with an angle grinder and a welding torch so we set to work cutting off all the bits I don't need!
So what have we done so far? First that daft bag rack on the back and the twin seat! That little engine is going to struggle to move itself let alone me, a passenger and bags, definitely not needed, so removed! Oh and the rails on the sides.
The forks lowered, and the rear shocks swapped for shorter ones. Lowering the whole bike loads, so the kick stand needed adjusting too!
So my little bike currently looks like this!
On second thoughts no it doesn't, those are the old shocks! :p Nevermind will have a new picture soon! Next we need to rebuild the back end and the seat, but it's definitely got a cafe/brat style look going on! And yes that is my old man's butt in the left corner, but it's a nice butt so I'm leaving it in!
I'm really looking forward to getting the structural stuff finished so I can get my CBT done and start riding properly!
And then get my big bike license, and my bobber!! :D
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