Name and where you live

Hi my name is Noel Robertson and my fiancée is Ann Kirkbride (no not the one from the soaps) and we live in Lyneham near Wootton Bassett.

What’s your day job?

Ann has her own business as a Contract Trainer to the Banking Industry and I am a qualified Electrician who has worked in the Electrical Manufacturing Industry as a Project Support Engineer for too many years to think about.

How long have you been riding?

Being born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, I have been riding motorbikes since I was old enough to get onto my older brother’s motorbike at around the age of 10. I got my first motorbike at 15 which was a Yamaha RT 50cc and stuck with the off road type bikes, going from this to a Yamaha 125DT then a Honda 200R before getting married and having a family, and we all know where this leads.

Tell us about your current bike

I bought my first bike in the UK in 2008, which was a 1200RT and proceeded to join the Southern Section, followed by a second bike in 2009 which was an 800GS with a view of doing a bit of off roading. The trade-in of these 2 bikes led to my first 1200GSA in 2011. Whilst my bike was having new tyres one Saturday morning at Dick Lovett Motorrad showroom Bristol on a Saturday in November 2016, I spotted the new 1200GSA LC and decided that it was time to upgrade.

Can you share a favourite route that you’ve ridden or a memorable trip you’ve made?

Ann & I met in 2012 and did our first 2 week European tour to Lake Garda in 2014. Since then we have done a couple of tours around sunny Wales with friends from the Southern Section.

In 2016 we did the Northern Spain tour with new friends from the Oxford Section and in 2018 we have a trip booked to visit the Isle of Man.

For you, what’s the best thing about being a motorcyclist?

We enjoy being able to switch off from the daily grind of the working week, to enjoy time spent riding together with friends or just the 2 of us getting away to places that have great roads and lovely countryside views, whether that be in the UK or abroad.

And are there any downsides?

Not that I can think of…….

If money and/or time weren’t an issue, what would be your ideal trip or what would be your perfect bike?

We would like to do a tour across America, around South Africa and in New Zealand and these would be on my current bike, which is that perfect bike.

Apart from motorcycling, what are your other interests?

I have 3 daughters and Ann has a son, and so between us we have 8 grandchildren and that is all of the outside interest needed…….

Originally posted 2017-12-15 09:46:45.