Tim Stiles - Entrant

Born in Birmingham in ’72, I’m a ‘foreigner’ living in South Wales. I had absolutely no interest in motorbikes until in 2003 my father invited me to visit him in America and go touring on two of his three Hondas. I had ridden his Honda Shadow for about 20 minutes in 1999, other than that my motorcycle experience was nil.
"I wound up passing my test for this strangest of reasons (according to the instructor), and then went to America in September of 2003. After a quick familiarisation ride (my dad was trying to make sure I wouldn’t damage his pride & joy, a Honda v65 Sabre), we set off."

We did over 3,000 miles in two weeks, seeing an assortment of the United States, I was the most over-dressed biker about, I was wearing a jacket!
After that I had little chance of not getting hooked on motorbikes, and I bought an old Honda CBX750 of my own within 10 days of arriving home.

I wanted something to do on the bike then in 2004, rather than just going for 'Sunday Sprints' (I do like Sunday Sprints) and discovered the RBR.
I started out intending to just plod on, for £25 entrance fee what had I got to loose if I didn't like it?

Despite mechanical problems I found myself enjoying the rally, even to the point where killing the Honda stone dead after returning from Scotland, I spent a month trying to repair it, then took friends advice and sold it, buying a much newer Suzuki Bandit 600 to finish the rally on.

Even crashing the Bandit on my last RBR weekend trip wasn't allowed to stop me now, I was going to finish come whatever.
Needless to say, I was a little obsessed, especially about Blackrod Folly, and wound up with a 100% award. I'm rather proud of my status as the smallest bike to get a 100%er in 2004 among all the 'wings and BMWs (I know GF did it on a 100cc Chinese cracker in 2003).

My target for 2005, to try and do Scotland in less time, due to Open University study commitments until the end of June. I might even have to settle for a lower award.
I'm also trying to entice my father back to the UK for a visit in 2006 to take part in the RBR.
Tim Stiles.