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• Info: The bike images below are not Netman's original images but the colour schemes are. images courtesy of google images

Right! In Order

Honda MT50

• This was my first bike. Purchased and paid for by my beloved Grandmother. It was purchased new but screamed for mercy when approaching the 40mph barrier. It was soon evident that it had to go to save a bit of Street Cred. Mind you it did look better than the FS1E, Fizzzzzy or Bee in a Coke Can.

• The XL125 was a fantastic bike to own. I lived in Derbyshire at the time and racing around the country lanes in the Peak District around Ashbourne was a blast. The bike had good pulling power, even with 2 up.

All these bikes were fantastic to ride in their own way. I especially liked the Honda XL125. For a 125cc Trail bike, it could reach speeds of up to 75Mph and 60mph with two up.

There is a fantastic back lane between Ashbourne and Derby called 'Long Lane'

SEE BELOW TO VIEW THE XL125 RUN

So why Long Lane? Well it was more fun than the A52. Also there were the Police on the A52 and without a full bike test and 2 up it could have caused a problem.

• I purchased this bike from new and it was the one that introduced me into the world of credit payments. After 2 years it was mine. This was the bike that started to take me far and wide. I used it to commute between Ashbourne in Derbyshire to Wendover Bucks. I owned this bike for about 3 years and it was the one that I took my test on. I had to get rid of it when I was ripped off with a service and couldn't afford the costs. Oh well such was a students life.

• I purchased this bike from Whitby in Yorkshire. It was a challenge to ride it back to Ashbourne as I was having to fill it up every 20 miles or so. Still a little tinkering with the engine and all was well for the rest of the journey down to Wiltshire. This was a good bike but before I moved to Germany I decided to sell it. Shame really.

• I found this one in a ditch on the side of the road, with the keys still in it. Looked around for the rider. Nowhere to be seen. Asked the Police and the Farmer whose field it was in if I could have it. I rebuilt it and 3 years later I sold it to a motorcycle training school in Weston-Super-Mare. All in all I covered 1000s of miles on this bike and the only real expense was the water pump.

• Now this one was a must. I found it at a American Import Specialists in Harlestone in Norfolk. It sounded fantastic and the noises were all in the right place. I used the bike on several occasions to travel between Ipswich Suffolk and Newquay Cornwall. It was a joy to ride and powerful too. When my boy came along it was impractical and I had to part with it - I bought an old Mini. Ok at first but then a mistake - Another story.

• So you could say that there was a steady progression of bikes. Was that deliberate?

• In some ways it was deliberate, as at the time you could ride a bike up to 250cc before you had to pass your test. Also there is an factor of seeing a few of the guys I went to school with killed on bikes that were too powerful. In my past history I have come off twice. One my fault - Too fast around a corner on the GS250T and second, some idiot over taking me in a built up zone and slamming the brakes on at some temporary traffic lights. Now I have the penultimate bike.

• So what will be the next bike then?

• You'll have to watch this space...

• Does your partner travel on the bike with you?

• She has done on a couple of occasions, but likes to keep her feet firmly on the ground. Still me and my boy scour the countryside and beyond.