Suzuki Grasstracker Bigboy 2003

2003 Suzuki Grasstracker Bigboy. Japan only, never sold here, so this one came over as a grey import years before I found it on Gumtree. The bloke in Lewisham who sold it had kept it as a garden ornament for two winters. New battery, carb clean, a pair of tyres, and it started on the third kick.

249cc air-cooled single, about 20 horsepower on a good day, which is more than you can use between London Bridge and the Elephant at eight in the morning. The big spoked wheels take the potholes and the cobbles round Borough without any fuss, and the long flat seat fits a second person if they don't mind being friends with you.

Parts are the fun bit. The engine shares a lot with the TU250, the rest comes from Japan on eBay with a two week wait. Photo is the bike bay round the back of work, it lives there Monday to Friday.