Four years.

Four Buells.

35,000 miles.

Some amazing memories.

And it ended today.

Brett (the guy who had his STT stolen) collected my Uly-STT hybrid today and I officially entered the world of ex-Buell ownership. And ex-bike ownership. It feels a bit weird, to be honest, but it had to happen. Having averaged close to 10,000 miles over each of the ten years after I passed my test, I managed a cool 1600 miles in the 18 months since fatherhood became an issue. That's not right.

So whether it's a break from biking, I don't know, but I'm an ex-biker right now.

I won't try to do justice to how much love and pride I feel for Buell and the honour of having been a tiny part of UKBEG and Buells in England. I've banged on about my big trip often enough, but there are a billion other memories: being told I should be in the fast group at a Brands Track day (that STT was fast!), getting kicked off the Nurburgring in '08 (that STT was loud!), getting my knee down for the first time on my Ss, dicing with 911 GT3 RSs at the Ring in '06, getting the keys to a Uly for my 40th (and the bike to go with them!), riding flat-out (and I mean flat out!) on some amazing back-roads in Germany with Phil the Drill. All brilliant. As were various Buell events, and meeting some top bloke UKBEGers (and Whitey ). Riding with Yoffi on that awful day was another privilege. And doing business with the unbelievable team at Black Bear made the whole ownership experience a pleasure. Steve, Harley doesn't deserve you: you're way too classy for them.

Nothing, of course, will ever live up to Alaska-Argentina and those amazing six months in 2007: from the Arctic Circle to Buenos Aires that Ulysses was god-like, even if sometimes my riding wasn't. (There's a tunnel somewhere on the Pacific coast of El Salvador that will forever have a piece of Raiderfan smeared all over it!) And anyone who doubts the Ulysses is a proper touring weapon can kiss my non-biker arse.

Brett, enjoy your new bike. I miss it, and Buell and UKBEG (however quiet I've been for the last year or so, I've continued to lurk and laugh).

Maz, I know you hate them, but keep those XBs on the road if you can mate: for some of us they have changed lives. In a good way!

Take care one and all. I'll miss you.

Al

No need to miss us, stick around.......

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Spencer Racing... www.spencerracing.co.uk

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

stick around , the pisstaking is still free

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Feros Ferio

I'm not going to hang around. Without a bike of my own, I really would just be lurking around an internet forum full of portly men who like to wear tight leather...

...and there are other sites for that stuff.

No, I'm going to make a clean break of it...or I'll end up buying a CR and that's not quite the point!

Hang around and buy that CR ..................................bikes and kids do mix

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2001 X1 2009 1125CR 2006 Uly X3 2010 Uly a fully Maz'd S1 and a 1991 RS1200 Westwind.

Best wishes to you pal, in time ... you'll be back

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

Hotel California...."You can check out anytime you want , but you can never leave"

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Feros Ferio

Keep in touch, Al or if you don't then at least make sure Jane has my mobile number Proud to have had you as a customer and hope to still be able to call you a mate Your Pan American Uly is still being cared for by Nobby and still going strong at 45k.

Never understood this fatherhood thing but people who have tried it seem to insist that it is a good thing. I'm sure you're being a great Dad

Steve

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Back on the road again!

Alistair - this is like reading an obituary ....

But if you must sign off and go, it was an absolute pleasure to have you along for the Mosel Valley, German weekend in 2008. During this, and numerous other UKBEG events, we will remember your sense of humour and all the laughs we shared.

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Chris & Jane Jessop
Founders of UKBEG April 1998

www.ukbuellgroup.co.uk

When you get back into bikes once little un grown up all the Buells will be such classics that you'll not be able to afford one so get one again now just in case
With all the great experiences you've had it'll be blooody hard to just turn your back on it all.
Lovely parting words tho, much more eloquent than Att's

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I'm a Hornithologist, I get excited by exotic birds.........

Wot CJ said

You'll be back, you know it Al.

Not sure about the CR bit but as Kev says bikes and kids do mix.

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I don't own a car.

I wish you and your family all the best for the future,and I know you Will return to bikes one day

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Drinking Rum before noon makes you a Pirate ! Not an alchoholic.

I think you've got to do what you think is right, and I wish you all the best. I never met you, but I really enjoyed reading your parting words, and with such fond memories I reckon you will be back with a Buell in no time. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to buy a half decent tuber in the meantime, as a bit of a project?

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In a purple fug