bikermel

Mel's Motorcycle and Companion JT.

Mel bought her bike back in 2002 through a private sale on the Gold Coast. It had 10,000 ks on the clock. It’s a 1997 Truimph Thunderbird Adventurer with a 900 cc triple engine.

The sidecar was fitted by Oz sidecars in Melbourne and was used as one of their demo models. The size car is a size one and a half which fits an adult and child or two children. It has a leading link front end which makes the steering like power steering.

Mel had a rear tire fitted ton the front and tow bar fitted at the back between the bike and chair for towing a trailer. She just clocked over 50,000 klms and never had any trouble mechanically. Mel also had a lease bolted to the floor of the side car to so JT jumping out per Police requirements.

About Mel.

I got to meet Mel out on my journeys at events like the Pink Ribbon and the Ipswich Toy Run a event held each year here for kids that are not as fortunate as many others kids at Christmas time and is there with her bike and sidecar and of course JT to do this run.

JT is Mel's best mate and Companion.

Mel was bought up a country girl whose father was a truck driver and mechanic.

Her father had great expectations of her growing up, marring a farmer and giving him grand children. Luckily for him he had another daughter. Why? Because Mel did not marry.

She could drive anything with an engine and four wheels or more and had to move to the big smoke (city) to find work. She took a job as a courier in a car.

Not being male made a lot more difference with the other driving jobs in those days. She was based in the valley here in Brisbane and delivered around Brisbane CBD.

She took to the job like a duck to water even though at first she did not know the City from the Valley.

One day a delivery had to make a newspaper deadline and it was peak hour plus RNA show time traffic kaos. The motorcycle couriers had left for the day, so here was Mel's chance to show them what this girl from the bush was about. Mel grabbed a step through with an auto clutch and off she went to Queensland Newspapers. It wasn't far but she had to avoid traffic and travel up, over and along footpaths on a ride that would put and roller coaster to shame. But Mel made it there and back in one piece but instantly bitten by the bike bug. She was only then seventeen.

Since then Mel has had a few bikes. A few scars and broken bones, oh and a license. She worked as a motor cycle courier, car, and truck motorcycle instructor and as a postie with a short break to get her enrolled nurse certificate. She also got to know the hospitals pretty well. In a short break in the 60's they were targets with bad reputations.

My first bike was early 1960 Yamaha 180ccthat cost Mel $150 to buy and $12 dollars to register. When Mel turned 21 she bought herself a 1971 Honda 450 DOHC.She owned that bike for 23 years before it was stolen. My bike next was a 10 year old 1983 GSX750 ESD Susuki.Then in 1974 as a driving instructor she rode and ex-police Honda 750/4 Now that Mel is 50 years old and still 5foot 2inches they don't seem anywhere as big as they were then.

Mel then was buying a house and a new bike was out of then question, but since paying it off it had helped her buy a 1997 Truimph Adventurer with the side car now for her and her best mate and companion JT. Mel bought this bike fir herself as a 50th Birthday present. It had taken me over 30 years to get the bike and gear she had always wanted. But over the years Mel said she has seen the companionship of a diverse group of people with the sole interest of motorbikes.

Most wave or nod to each other or when breakdown or accidents occurs you can always count on another motorcyclist to stop and assist you.

Mel has been helped by and outlaw gang member, and a policeman. She said she never saw him again but our common interest was bikes.

Mel only now rides for fun these days and not work. She has also been told twice to Mel after accidents that she would never ride again, but she defied the odds and did.

A Postie Bike finally ended her riding career. She is now a proud member of the Ulysses Motorcycle Club and also of WIMA ( Women's International Motorcycle Association, and even though thanks to many accidents, she cannot travel far before stopping and putting her spine back in to place, she still loves riding and does not own a tin top (car).

In the near future Mel to take her time, her new Truimph and also her Golden Retriever JT and travel all over Australia seeing places she never thought she would. The accidents have taught Mal many lessons especially how to survive, she has missed more tin tops then have hit her.

Is you are unsure after an near miss or accident Mel reckons to remember......It's not the tin tops that's dangerous, it is the person in control.

Always ride to survive and don't trust other drivers- keep a healthy fear of your bike, then you will enjoy most times on your steel steed and being a member of an elite group.

If you get to catch Mel out there on the road some place give her a coeeee!! She is one bloody nice lady, and her dog JT is some hell of a cool K9

Good luck to you Mel and thanks for your time in giving me the opportunity to come spend a day with you and JT.

Jules at Top Gun