My first bike Honda CB125S

In 1983 I became the proud owner of this new to me Honda CB125S. A 1975 version of the peppy little single cylinder learner legal commuter bike. For me it was a massive step up from my chicken chaser (racing bicycle) to have such prodigious power on tap.

I had dabbled with a Suzuki AS50 as a possible sixteener, but we moved to west wales where I continued in school. In brilliant teenage style I managed to get nicked by the local bobby with my mate Steve Irvine for riding up and down an empty lane in the dark of winter. No insurance, licence, tax or MOT……or helmets! So, the sports moped dream got sold to pay the fines.

A levels it turned out, didn’t grab me so I returned to Derby to study engineering. Now 17 it was possible to get on a 125cc, a much more exciting proposition. Dad found a chap with the Honda for sale. The deal was done and I couldn’t wait to get my wheels on the road.

The Derby house sold allowing my parents to complete the west wales move. I remained in Derby to complete my studies and stayed with my dads mate.

So, the big trip was in the Easter holiday of 1984. A two hundred and fifty mile ride.

Fuelled up I headed out of Derby in the general direction of Wales. The sky was grey threatening rain but holding off until I reached Stafford. Here the downpour began in earnest, my open face helmet with goggles combo was proving to be unsuitable with both steaming up and leaking issues. My cheapo wax cotton jacket held out until I reached Shrewsbury when the rain sneaked in at every seam. My trusty Doc Martin boots had been cleverly waterproofed with plastic bread bags, unfortunately these had blown off and now my feet were soggy too.

The rain became progressively heavier and colder as I crossed the Welsh boarder, as I reached Newton I considered heading back. Long distance riding it turned out was hard going, especially with useless riding gear.

But the thought of failing spurred me on. I had done this journey with my dad in the van many times, I knew that I had reached the best bit, the road over the hills from llangurig to Aberystwyth. With a fill up of fuel I pushed on into the gloom, the ever present rain sprayed off my front wheel with a constant hiss. The little Honda engine slogging away up the inclines and then breaking free on the decents with a grateful buzz of relief.

My spirit rose as I rounded the last corner on the downhill run into Aberystwyth, the sky on the horizon was brighter with  a hint of the sun breaking through.