Letter to i newspaper (Sept 2018)

Dear Mr McDonnell,

In the 1970s Triumph motorcycles started down the pan along with the rest of the British motor manufacturing industry. A workers' cooperative just about finished it off. In the 1990s Triumph was restarted by a property developer and is once more a great British motor manufacturer. Please don't let this company be destroyed again, I don't think I could bear it.

Probably not Yours, although I haven't quite decided yet.

Letter to Motorcycle Sport & Leisure (Sept 2018)

The late 1970s and early 1980s really were the greatest motorcycling years. Roads had improved but weren't that congested, a run through the centre of London was a pleasure and a blast to the nearest coast a breeze. The law was enforced in person, not remotely, and often sportingly by an officer riding an R80.
But above all, gone were the oil seeping, underpowered British bikes and in were the smooth, reliable and powerful Japanese machines. Bigger, but not unwealdy like some today,  comfortable and uncluttered, they were simply wonderful. It would be foolish to fault modern electronics and the safety their systems can give, but there is nothing like the connectivity you felt on one of those old naked 1000cc fours. Just you controlling a superbike, with two brakes and a throttle.