SFB, Kawa and Hairy Larry got this whole mess started up with.....mopeds.......
Not trying to keep up with the Jones', Smiffs or even Rodger the Dodger, Bodger (and no that ryhming thing wasn't intended) has decided to show what was considered a small blight upon the Banbury area back in the days of the dinosaur.....the 70s.
Imagine a small English country market town that at one time had Europe's largest cattle market. It was also known for Banbury Cakes, the world famous Banbury Run, Eddie Dow of Gold Star fame and also the Banbury Cross which was a roundabout of sorts that formed a crossroads just near the town center.
At a small parking area adjacent to the Cross was where the local areas motorcycle riders would meet of a Saturday to indulge in rounds of ale at the pubs or cans from the local off license (liqour store) and just hang about being a nuisance to the local towns people by making a terrible amount of noise with their motorcycles, drunkenness and general tomfoolery.
But what added to this terrible scene and was associated by proxy with those motorcycle riding individuals was something that would be liken to a C film biker movie.......a swarming pack of moped riders who would buzz up and down the High Street of Banbury on their 50cc Yamaha FS-1E mopeds such as this
led by, shocking as this may sound, the leader of the pack on this:
Not trying to keep up with the Jones', Smiffs or even Rodger the Dodger, Bodger (and no that ryhming thing wasn't intended) has decided to show what was considered a small blight upon the Banbury area back in the days of the dinosaur.....the 70s.
Imagine a small English country market town that at one time had Europe's largest cattle market. It was also known for Banbury Cakes, the world famous Banbury Run, Eddie Dow of Gold Star fame and also the Banbury Cross which was a roundabout of sorts that formed a crossroads just near the town center.
At a small parking area adjacent to the Cross was where the local areas motorcycle riders would meet of a Saturday to indulge in rounds of ale at the pubs or cans from the local off license (liqour store) and just hang about being a nuisance to the local towns people by making a terrible amount of noise with their motorcycles, drunkenness and general tomfoolery.
But what added to this terrible scene and was associated by proxy with those motorcycle riding individuals was something that would be liken to a C film biker movie.......a swarming pack of moped riders who would buzz up and down the High Street of Banbury on their 50cc Yamaha FS-1E mopeds such as this
led by, shocking as this may sound, the leader of the pack on this:
a 125cc Fantic Choppper. Yes, that's right, a Fantic Chopper. Throw in a Garelli and a Honda AP50 or two and you've got yerself a motorcycle gang.......sort of.
The locals with Honda 750/4s, Norton Commandos, Triumphs, BSAs , Yamahas, Suzukis, and Kawasakis of different shapes and sizes , Nolan Kahn who traded his Vincent twin in for a Honda Gold Wing that he airbrushed some space scenes on and was susequently featured in "Bike" magazine, didn't stand a chance aguinst these guys.
As do all things, things changed in Banbury....the local motorcycle yoofs all but disappeared, Banbury went and changed things so much there's hardly any place to park anymore and the moped gang disappeared off the face of the earth by getting cars, married or what have you.
But luckily the Banbury Run is still held there but at nearby Gaydon or Drayton School, Banbury Cross is still there and you can still get Banbury Cakes.
Back in the day, when the land masses were still cooling, and the internet wasn't even imagined...heard often was the refrain, "I'd rather walk than ride a "MOPED"."
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, I wanted to get a Honda CB-750 for my first bike, but ended up with a Cl-175 K3 instead. It seemed kinda moped like in comparison to the 750, but at least it didn't have pedals. It ended up being a good choice. Even though I could have handled the bigger bike, the CL was more versatile and handled off-road as well as on road.
Here in California it seemed too, there was a swarm of mopeds for awhile. I'm sure it had to do with rising gas prices, and it was a way for people to try two-wheeled motoring. I was never too keen on the styling of a lot of the cheaper models, that had sort of a step-though look to them. The Yamaha and some of the older European ones that SFB has posted at least have a small motorcycle appearance to them.
As far as pedals, they are a throw back to those early motorcycles that were bicycle derived(like many in the Banbury Run). Some of those early ones required "LPA", or "light pedal assist" to make it up the hills.
Things go in "cycles", here we are again with rising fuel costs and monetary crunches. It seems more mopeds and classics are being dusted off and returned to the road in my neighborhood.
I noticed what you said about things in "cycles' Larry and yer right.....gas prices got people onto mopeds back in the 70s and it's happened again, but now with some mopeds and more scooters about.
ReplyDeleteWith the exception of the Fizzy, Honda AP50 and the wee Garelli, the majority of which were step throughs these actually looked like motorcycles.
For myself, I'd never have one, mainly due to them not being really safe IMO.....way to underpowered for todays traffic and they don't stand out enough for others to accurately see, even with all the stuff that the safety groups want worn or put onto anything with two wheels.
Hey Bodger, I was one of the 16ers over the summer of 79 on my Suzuki AP50, wouldn't have missed it.... a few of my friends thought they were a waste of time and would wait till they were 17 for a real bike, as it was most of them went to cars or the pub instead!
ReplyDeleteAs it was I used the AP50 to get to school then later as my transport to work, 18mths I used it. Even after I pass my motorcycle test I used it, think I kept the Police busy as nearly everytime I went out on it two up I'd get pulled, where the "L" plates, take it you "don't" have a licence etc... was worth it to see their faces.
kawa
Was just takin the piss a little outta those I mentioned....mopeds served a purpose....it was just the sight of those guys runing around like Hells Angels was kinda amusing....
ReplyDeleteSuzuki AP50.....damn....how'd I bugger that up? Did Honda do a sport moped at the time or was it just the Cub step-throughs that you could actually pass the test on and immediately go to 350 and larger as the ex girlfriend of one of mates did.