I dont know if this is the best place to ask this question, but there
seems to be a bunch of people in here who MIGHT be able to help.

In my many visits to the Island, since 1967, I have gone ON a bike,
IN a car and, laterly, IN a car with 2 bikes on a trailer.
Taking a trailer involes a lot of hard work and I am finding it more
and more arduous to load and unload the trailer at either end of the
journey. There is also the hassle on the Steam Packet and the longer
journey time, especially if we get diverted on from Liverpool to
Heysham!
So, this year for the first time, I have decided to take the car only.
I may regret this and go back to the trailer for 2007.

Now, being in the Island without a bike is not the end of the world, is
it?

I thought I would ask in here if anyone knows of how I might borrow
or hire a bike ON the island. If its not posible, well, it was worth asking!
I would only require use for a couple of days during practice week. Just
for a couple of sedate (honest!) laps and some rides local to Sulby, where
we stay. I normally ride a 400cc (grey import) Honda, but almost anything
would do. I dont know if my other half will want to ride pillion or not.
The ideal thing would be a "cruiser" but I dont suippose anyone HAS a
Dragstar (my over arfs mount) or a Harley lying idle?!!

Its not clear if any of the Islands dealers do hire bikes, but maybe
somebody in here will know?

For the record, I am a 63 year old with some 47 years riding experience.
I dont know if thats a good recommendation or not??

So, any ideas?
If not, I will settle for driving the Beetle.

Thank you, one and all...

Mike
MV

Come on you Manxies, someone must have a C90 lying in the garage.

Thank you Tom!

Actually, I was hoping more for an SS50!
I had one of those and used to have great fun as it roared flat out.
I was doing all of 49mph, but in my head, I was flat out in top on
a 500 manx on the mountian mile!
You really have made me think Tom.
I have been to the Island in years gone by on some interesting bikes.
All from Staines (near Heathrow)
I did it on three different BSA Bantams and twice on a Suzuki A100
(Son of Bloop for those who are old enough!)
Do you know what?
They were some of my most enjoyable trips to the TT.
That is except for the year when I boke down at Windsor (about 8 miles from home) and pushed the Bantam the rest of the way!

Again, thanks Tom.
Memories...

I doubt if any Manxman will trust anyone with a nomme de plume of MV!

Some years ago a mate of mine re-built a Honda Monkey bike BUT he also grafted a 110cc top end onto it. A fair bit of machining was necessary. He also had everything resprayed "flourescent pink" and white.

Come the TT he rode up to Heysham from Longridge (Preston), in torrential ran and gale force winds and with all his gear, packed into a big rucksack on his back, the bike was so light on the front it was wandering all over motorway.

After he got to the Island and dumped his gear he reckoned he got well over 70mph down Bray, "on a monkey bike" !........'No thankyou'.

He spent ten days in the Isle of Man rode it back to Preston on less than three quids worth of petrol in total.

I think I missed the point of this thread to start with.

Hi Mike,

Don't know if this is of any use, but at least you can make an enquiry.


http://www.biketours-uk.com/catman/view/1/378/index.cms

Malcolm

Hi Mike,

Lemme have an ask around, not promising I can come up with anything, but you never know

I have your Email Address, I will contact you after the weekend to let you know if I have any progress.

Cheers

Fitz

Hi Fitz,

thanks for even trying!

Good to hear from you.
So, how are you doin?
Are you a bit more mobile than the last time we spoke face to face??

Cheers

Mike
MV

I presume you're Insured? You would have no problem hiring a bike off me if I was on the Island!
However, I would suggest contacting one of the Manx dealers, Road and Track, Paul Deadman, Tommy Leonard, S and S Motors, etc. Surely someone over there would like to make some extra money?

Why thanks Nick!
I did think of contacting one of those guys and Pauls shop isnt far from where we stay/
By the way, we will be in residence at Beg cottage, just up the side road from Sulby Bridge if anyone fances popping by.

MV