Riders’ Lives ~ Simon Courtie

1. What was your first motorcycling experience?

Going around a Magull housing estate in Liverpool on the back of my mad uncle Dave’s vintage Beemer when I was about 7

 2. What is your current bike?

Ducati Monster 750 IE Dark. I love it

3. What bike would you most like to ride/own?

Buel Lightning

4. What was your hairiest moment on a bike?

While racing a mate, he cut across me and I flipped over. Stupidly I held on to the bike and travelled 50 yards, through a bollard, upside down with the bike rocking between it’s back rack and my gloveless knuckles pivoting on my helmet’s ‘full face’ section which wore completely flat

5. What was your most memorable ride?

Exploring the Brittany coast as a youth on a Yamaha FJ 1100 with a mate riding a borrowed vintage Ducati. It was the era in France when it was acceptable to cruise along the beachfront boulevards wearing your helmet on your arm. Very 80s!

6. What would be the ideal soundtrack to the above?

Wonderfully cheesy 80s soft rock sums it up – Don Henley ‘Boys Of Summer’ or Dire Straits!

7. What do you think is the best thing about motorcycling?

Leaning around perfect corners. Gut busting acceleration, queue filtering, wheelies, the sound of the V Twin, all of these are good… but nothing beats a beautifully executed lean!

8. What do you think is the worst thing about motorcycling?

Diesel spills. Stupidly unnecessary and they can make monkeys of even the finest rider

9. Name an improvement you’d like to see for the next generation?

A miraculous material that is cool in summer, warm in winter, can withstand road rash and looks like normal denim or leather. In short, a ‘cure all’ for year round biker clothing. I suspect the ball’s in NASA’s court

10. How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who didn’t let the small matter of ‘not being able to afford it’ stop him enjoying a damn fine motorcycle