Dan J

Post by **Dan J** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:12 am

I'm Dan and I live in Chelmsford, Essex (UK).

As a teenager, I had various old bikes which I rode around the dairy farm I lived on - a Suzuki FR80 and Honda C70 being notable favourites. I always wished for something that would run on diesel - mainly because we had gallons of the stuff. But I also couldn't help notice the compact engine on our cement mixer with massive torque and thinking it might go well in a bike or go-kart. My stepfather didn't agree...

After a ten year break from biking, in 2004 I had enough spare pennies to do my full UK licence which I enjoyed immensely - regaining that sense of freedom only a bike can give you. I bought a Suzuki 600 Bandit but got very tired of both having to scream the engine to enjoy any torque at all and also the obsession my flatmate (and anyone else on a similar or more "sporty" bike) had with going as fast as possible, getting knees down, scrubbing tyres off etc. I wanted to enjoy the ride and scenery.

The Bandit went (through a roundabout process was converted into an engagement ring) and I didn't live somewhere that keeping a bike was practical. I discovered this website in 2006 having searched 'diesel motorbikes' on bored hour at work and was hooked. A year or so later and... I have a garage!!!

Busy with work and new family, I didn't have the time to build my own bike (something I regret and may well do something about one day), so I thought I'd get one built. Henry Price seemed the most likely contender (CMC had disappeared, F2 don't do diesel conversions anymore and I sadly didn't have the spare cash for a Sommer) and after popping down to the 2008 rally I parted with my deposit.

So, I now own an Enfield converted using Henry's parts and fitted with a 406cc Yanmar clone engine. For me it is a work in progress - mainly because I want the bike "just so" - but I absolutely love it. It's great to ride and so simple to work on. I'm hooked.

I'll be at future UK rallies (and some of the DE ones too if I can negotiate permission!) so see you there.

Dan