12 GIRL BIKES

January 9th

I had been saving for a full frame DSLR (D700 or 5D Mk II) for the last couple of months. Over the last week, due to unforseen circumstances, my savings must be diverted to a different sort of photographic equipment. My Kawasaki zx9.

Though I've been without an SLR for a couple of months now due to previous economic hardship, I expect the repair to my motorcycle will improve the quality of my photos even though I'll still be actually taking them with my point and shoot. You see, I've been relying on public transport for the past year, and while it gets me to work and back, it has had the effect of keeping me mostly confined to the city. Having an operational bike again will empower me to pursue my dream of riding and photographing the northern california coastline. That stretch of highway is a big part of the reason I moved to San Francisco in the first place.

I got this photo earlier today when I was dropping in on my bike during visiting hours at Scuderia. Deb, the service manager, was gracious enough to let me sneak into the back of the garage and take some snaps of my poor disassembled engine. In some ways, it feels like the bike is getting an attitude adjustment via a bit of mechanical therapy. After trying to kill me twice on the highway, first by blowing a radiator hose, and later by dumping coolant under my rear tire - the green murder machine will hopefully now become a little less psychotic.

I definantly need a better name for her though. Green Murder Machine seems a bit too ominous and potentially like a self fufilling prophecy.

Honda Pan European – ST1100 T986 SRE

Honda Pan European’s were introduced to the AA fleet in urban areas in 1994.

It has an 1100cc V4 water cooled engine with shaft drive five speed transmission. They were built as a pre-specification to suit AA patrol needs (similar to police specification), and upgraded to carry all the AA’s roadside repair equipment.

The last Honda Pan Europeans were retired from active service during 2001.

This example was looked after by Patrol Andy Ayres in the London/South-East area following its de-commission from service. It has since been restored and is used as a show vehicle by Patrol Alan Crowley from the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne area. This bike has recently completed John O’Groats to Lands’ End charity run raising nearly ?25,000 for children’s hospitals