David Forster

Well, I think I’ve formulated a good plan for getting back on the road.

Obviously, with two thefts on my 3 year history insuring an R1 is going to be a nightmare, and buying a new R1 just before the winter comes along is also not the greatest idea. Before the R1 got hijacked I was planning on buying a trail/supermoto bike for winter anyway, so I am looking at buying something like a second hand KTM 640 SM, or Suzuki DR-Z400 for the moment. This will get me back on the road, and give me something to commute on, use in bad weather etc. etc. Plus, it will be cheaper to insure and hopefully a lot of fun!

Lot’s of people have said that after getting a supermoto I won’t go back to sports bikes, but I think they underestimate just how much I adored the R1. It was perfect. I can’t even describe what it was about that bike, but there was something. If you ride and love bikes like me, you’ll know what I mean. I can’t quite believe that I actually miss it, but I do, as if it were a live human being. Almost every night I catch myself thinking about what I could have done differently to prevent it from being taken.

Come next spring/summer, I can choose to either upgrade the supermoto to a bigger one if I get hooked on them, or I can keep it and buy another R1 (and keep it locked up too, well away from the city!)

Back at work today after a week off cruising up the Thames from Reading to Oxford, I’ll put some photos up soon. Nice and relaxed, but now I’m back the annoyances of having to deal with the bike theft are rearing their head again. I also have to sort out some kind of transportation for the winter.

It’s my birthday today. On Friday night I nipped home from the Ace Cafe to pick up a bag, and as I was about to leave the house two men attacked me and stole the R1. Here’s the full story as reported on LondonBikers.com.

At around 10.30pm last night, LB member, David was followed home, violently attacked and had his 2005 R1 stolen from outside his house in Greenford, West London. This was just the start of the horrific events that unfolded during the night of Friday 7th October 2005.Out for Friday?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s bike-night, David had to return home unexpectedly to collect something, on the way home, he was aware he was being followed by a bike. He did what any observant rider would do and went the long way round to try and shake them. When it was clear they weren?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t still there, he went home, and then came out a few minutes later to get back on his bike. This was the moment when he was jumped by two males in dark motorcycle clothing, assaulted, held to the ground, choked, and made to hand over the keys to his bike. David struggled and attempted to stop them making off, but succeeded only in lightly injuring one of the aggressors.

Obviously distraught, David phoned the Police, then his friends at the Ace Caf?ɬ©. When the word got round what had happened, a group had formed with the intent of going to the are to look for the bike, as we?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re all too aware the Police have very little success, or motivation with these matters. The group of six, two with pillions, took off in search of their friends bike. They were unable to find it and stopped off in a pub car-park in the Greenford area to make a phone call to find out more information.

It was then that the group was confronted by a gang that came out of the pub and asked the group what their business was in the area, whereupon they immediately attacked the group, without provocation. The attack was fierce, with carving and other long knives being used. All of group was attacked; a few riders were able to escape on foot or bikes, though at least two of the group were unable to get away and were heavily assaulted, with one of them sustaining three stab wounds, facial lacerations, and the other also sustaining significant facial injuries after being attacked with a broken bottle. Bikes were also damaged.

It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s since been found that the two incidents were unrelated, with the possibility of the pub gang confusing the bike group with rival drug-dealers as it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s also come to light that the pub is a known drug-dealers haunt. Obviously we?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re completely shocked that David was victim to such a violent attack and our condolences are with him at this time for the loss of his bike and the ordeal he?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s gone through.

Our thoughts also go out to those involved in the pub attack and wish all the best to the two people seriously injured. One of them was LB member Matt, and the other Sparky from the AWOL group. We strongly recommend that all riders in the London area display vigilance and ensure that they?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re not followed home, especially by other bikes. If you believe someone is following you, do not go straight home, instead head to the nearest Police station and get help.

If anyone spots a graphite-coloured 2005 model Yamaha R1, registration LK05 EWU, please contact us immediately on 07958 707 983, or contact@londonbikers.com. For a picture of David’s R1, click here.

Anyone who reads this blog, please look out for the bike and be careful when you are riding yourselves.