My name is Andy. I was born in 1968 in Portsmouth, Hampshire on the south coast
of the UK. I live in Portchester and always have, spending my early days playing in the grounds of Portchester Castle and on Portsdown Hill.

I spent a lot of time in my youth with my grandparents who lived in Portsmouth. My
Grandad was a dispatch rider during world war 2 with the Royal Artillery and I never tired of hearing about his adventures in Europe and Asia on his Matchless G3L and
BSA M20WD.

As a child I remember playing on an assortment of old motorcycles in the tiny back yard of his home including a 1920's flat tank BSA, a BSA C11g and an old NSU.

All these bikes were thrown into a skip when their house was modernised during the late 70's. I recon the old flat tank would
be worth a fortune now days.




My Dad worked for the Fire Service and had attended numorous accidents involving motorcycles, this and the fact that he had an accident on his BSA when a young man ment he wasn't keen on bikes. I rember the "You'll not have a motorbike while you live in my house" arguments so well! Although I couldn't have my own bike this didn't stop me riding my mates' bikes. Honda SS50, Yamaha FS1E, Honda XL125, Yamaha RD125, Kawasaki AR125, Suzuki RG125, Suzuki X7 and a Maico 490 to name but a few.

When My wife and I got our first house we couldnt afford a TV let alone a motorcycle and with a house to run and a young family a bike wasn't a priority. Then in 2003 my neighbour bought a brand new Yamaha XJR1300 and took me out for a ride. That was it.......I had to get a bike.

I took my direct access test and got a small loan to by a Yamaha Thundercat. My wife and I spent that summer out and about on the cat (when we could get baby sitters) and made a lot of new friends. I then upgraded to my dream bike, a Yamaha R6. I lasted 6 months with the R6 but it was just so uncomfortable it had to go.

The R6 was replaced with a Triumph Sprint RS which was a fantastic bike and truth be told I still miss it. Then my wife suggested that I got a new bike for my 40th, who was I to argue? I decided to go for something a little less powerfull so as to keep my licence safe as I need it for my job.

I tried out a Triumph Scrambler and quite liked it but found it ran out of steam a little to soon for my liking. I tried the Bonneville 120 and loved it but my wife found the pillion uncomfortable. Next we took a trip down to Motosport in Dorset and had a go on the Griso 1100. WOW! It was fantastic I loved the torque, the odd ball looks and of course that Guzzi sound. My wife loved it too, saying that she found it nice and comfortable.

With the new 1200 due to come out in a few months time Motosport were offering the Griso at the great price of £5999. We discussed part exchanging my Triumph and the Deal was done. I picked up my new bike a week later, she was fitted with a Skidmarx hugger, a Guzzi fly screen and a Mistral Carbon can.



Family and work commitments (not to mention the british weather) mean I haven't put many miles on the Griso yet but I plan to get out more this Summer. I look forward to meeting up with Guzzista on ride outs!

Ride Safe

Andy

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