Hello! Just wanted to say hi. I've been biking since age 7 (offroad), so 20 years on and off! Skipped the little bikes and went straight onto a ZZR600 (restricted to 30bhp initially) then Yamaha TDM850, and then a BSA B40WD.

Trips so far have been restricted to the UK, with myself and my other half doing a far few miles with the camping gear on the back.

Hair-raising moments - approaching a slow right angled bend on the ZZR at speed and getting a false neutral, decided to go down rather than up and simply slid the back end round the corner - more luck than skill!! Hardknot and Wrynose passes in the rain on the TDM with a weeks worth of camping gear on...going up was great, going down was scary! Then just generally riding the BSA B40WD around - with such poor brakes on the back lanes (never really ride on big roads) it was always exciting.

Unfortunately I don't have a bike at present, but thinking about a 'smaller' trailee/enduro type bike for weekends away but also the odd longer jaunt to europe...or further afield one day maybe...you never know! Not after speed (I'm getting more and more cautious as being the only one of my biking mates who still hasn't come off yet!) - but it has to be good upright ride position (I'm 6ft 4 with a bad back!), excellent mpg ~60mpg+ (tempted by a 250 at the moment although I hear that the tenere does 60+mpg) - and good reliability (not adverse to fixing bikes but prefer riding them!). I would like a shaft drive for the simplicity but can't find a suitable model with the above requirements - but any suggestions are welcomed!

Currently thinking about a Tenere...but have a question going into the Yam Tech section now...so hopefully see you there too!

you don't have to be MAD to come here.....but it helps!