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PS I do take issue with the “It’s not if you’ll have a crash, but when” wiseology. I know several current old road motorcyclists who have clocked up over a million miles each without crashing, more than one over 2 million. I’m on a bit over 1 1/2 million. Skills, training, observation...

There are certainly live issues here. “Born-again bikers” feature appallingly in the death and injury stats for motorcyclists. However, I fully intend to mirror my grandfather, who was still riding a motorcycle on the roads at age 95; though I have a couple of decades to get to that age, I...

In my view you’re thinking along the right lines. I’d caution against buying a small-wheeled twist and go scooter; a small motorbike would be better, at whatever engine size fits the licence structure you describe.

PS the red ones are the fast ones…

Yes, I am certain that all the NZ 3500Ss were imported CBU. A friend of mine was in charge of the Nelson plant at the time and confirmed it to me some years ago,

PM’d you. Thanks.

No, I would not suggest for an instant that a classic bike would handle like a modern. But interesting that you mention the GT550 and RD400. My touring bike when I first production raced an RD350 was a GT550K. The latter’s cornering ground clearance was even worse than a Triumph Trident’s, but...

Just in case anyone is wondering. If Jacqui and I did not like our British cars and motorcycles - present total 3 each of cars and bikes - we wouldn’t continue to own them. Being clear-eyed about their deficiencies, however, is all part of our fun of ownership.

A couple of observations on the handling characteristics of old Japanese bikes cf Britbikes (1950s/60s/70s ones…): 1. Modern tyres make an unbelievable difference. Ride an H2 Kawasaki (750 triple) nowadays, and you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about. As for TZ750 Yamahas, that I still see...

My 1974 3500S has the same steering wheel. Brit-assembled, like all NZ 3500Ss. I doubt very much that mine was not OEM.

You would be wise to follow the trajectory of a younger rider, even if not constrained by cost - that is, start with something smaller before going for more power (ie more weight - and it’s weight that overcomes new riders…). I’ll pop in a couple of suggestions that swim against your current...

My wife and I try to get to the Revival from our home in New Zealand every couple of years, and this year is one of those. Obviously, we’re not going to ship our own Rover to England, but we would love to attend in a classic rather than a modern borrowed from family; and equally obviously if we...

Practising for the Goodwood Revival; and in fact we’re in England right now, having brought separate sets of clothes for each of the 3 days. Obsessed? Us? Naaaaahhh.

Jacqui and I doing Dress-Up Friday at home in Russell a couple of weeks ago.

Bert, have you done your road trip back to Wanaka yet? And if so, how did it all go? On the topic of colours, I am guessing that the cars for export CBU to this country would have the same colour choices as the cars assembled here. I had a ‘71 MGB that was Saffron. It had a mismatched patch...

Cobraboy, that’s a good variety of bolides to turn up in. One of Jacqui’s cousins has marshalled there often, and his Bentley 3 1/2 and Wolseley Hornet have been both on display and transport to and fro. As for the time Rolls-Royce was the car brand sponsor, and Jacqui was their guest: they...

Being a pair of poseurs from way back, Jacqui and I try to get from home in New Zealand to the Revival every couple of years. (As proof of poseur status, here’s us with the 3500S, posing as 1970s old persons - my avatar on this forum, I realise...: ) Jacqui's Mum in England has a birthday...

I’ve lived in Russell a long time myself (obviously not back to your time, since I knew I was no pioneer when I started surfing at Long Beach). One old-school local mechanic wants nothing to do with other people’s cars in his retirement; the other’s a mate of mine and was my next-door neighbour...

Yes, you're correct, certainly as far as my car is concerned. The chassis number says mine's an export RHD car, not export RHD CKD kit (number starts 482, not 483). So that's today's new learning. Thank you.

Bert posted a pic on my thread in this subforum: “3500S Owner in New Zealand”. His is the ‘73 model with the red-on-white numberplate reading “73RVRS”. That’s a personalised plate; mine still has the rego it was given when new. These cars were assembled in NZ from CKD kits; and the...

And I saw yours on TradeMe; thought, “Yup, that’ll be a goodie.”

PS you will definitely find it a long comfortable drive home. Our open roads are just made for the P6B.

Hiya, Bert. Mine was a Tapanui area car all its life before me; sold new by Beck Motors in Gore (still has the key tag). Yours could well have been sold new by the same firm’s Invercargill branch the year before. I stored mine with a friend at Cardrona until we could get down to collect it...

Hi, All I live in the Bay of Islands in the Far North of NZ. My 1974 3500S lived all its life at the other end of the country, inland salt-free and garaged, all its life with 2 owners, until I bought it last year and drove it 2,000 kilometres home. It is totally unrestored and original, apart...