Fay and I are probably good for one more multi-thousand mile ride this year (to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and 55 years of riding together) on the Guzzi Stelvio or Triumph Trophy, but that will be the last hurrah for tall bikes of 600+ pounds curb weight.

Also, I've about had it with high-tech bikes full of automated wizardry that no one can work on and which can't be repaired beyond a certain point.

I'm getting the premier mechanic of the USA to start with a bike that was wrecked in 1988 with 100,000 miles on it and has been laying in a shed since.

He has taken it down to every single nut and bolt, every gear, shaft, seal, and bushing, and is building and refurbishing every moving part to as-new spec, with a few modern material improvements.

He's not repainting or rechromimg anything, which is why I can afford for him to do it. He did powdercoat the replacement frame , but that's it.

Once it's done (by June, I hope - he started in November), I'll get rid of the modern bikes and just use this one for everything, solo and two-up. And I can tune, service and repair it myself.

Guesses to be made written on a 5 pound note to my address.

Lannis