Meet:-  Graham Allen

First started riding "Up North" when I was 16 with a Honda SS50, terrorising the local chippy with mates on FS1Es and AP50s. Got my first "real bike" at 17 with a RD250 which I loved and cherished (but obviously crashed it) Progressed to the cutting edge (for the time) CX500 and then a VFR500 which handled like a dream but chucked up all it's coolant on rides over 100 miles Joined the Police in the Met in 1984 in order to ride and drive fast and started to commute on a Suzuki GSX750 --Yes the "flying teapot"---actually quite a good bike --but you never look at yourself in a shop window when riding it !! Started to get into World Superbikes (as a spectator !) and when ZXR750 released I had a go on one and that sealed the deal---absolutely fantastic handling. Had managed to join Met Traffic in 1991 and spent most days off "hooning around Herts and Bucks with like minded work mates in Gatso free UK. Managed to get another ZXR750 - with proper ram air this time !! and got intoxicated with it ! An RF600 then kept me in commuting and I started to get the foreign holiday trip bug. A short interlude from Traffic and then rejoined working NE London, dealing with Police collisions and serious and Fatal Collisions. Got the opportunity to help out at "Bikesafe" which I really love and have done some Bike work with ROSPA. Bike wise I tried out a Triumph Daytona which was so good I bought my second 4 years ago. My last dabble bike wise has been the Aprilia Futura (Italian VFR - which has been great for touring and only broken down twice !!!)

The Aprilia finally gave up the ghost and I have gone over to the "darkish side" as I got a Beemer K1200s - which is a superb tool but it is a bit boring. No worries -- The bike finance fairies let me have my dream -- an MV1000 is sat in the garage. "Sat" being the operative word as the alarm electrics fried a week after getting it -- "Italien shite" -- Won't I ever learn !!!