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
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.
.... 