A V65 and a Klik

Hogmonster's Magna

I have suffered with Rheumatoid Arthritis since the age or about 10 years old. I am 35 now. I have ridden bikes since I was 17 years old. This has sometimes been very painful depending on how active my arthritis was at the time. I had hip replacements when I was 21 which gave me my mobility back after having been off work for a year due to a bad "flare up". I also have bad knees which makes riding a motorcycle both painful and uncomfortable I am sure everyone who reads this will know how addictive motorcycles can be and appreciate that it takes a lot to stop us. I always liked my custom style bikes, both for their looks and their comfort. I have owned a CB650 Nighthawk, VF750 Custom and currently I own a VF1100c (V65 Magna) which I have had for 3 years. This is the best bike I have ever owned and I intend keeping it.

 There is only one other bike I lust after but cannot afford and that is the Mighty V Max. They will do no more than the Magna though, and I have been told that the Magna handles better and is more comfortable. The VF does everything I want it to, it is very powerful, comfortable and fast as well. I have spent a lot of time on it and quite a bit of money as well. I have made some changes to suit my needs, I have made a set of highway pegs and moved the rear brake assembly forward by making up a new bracket and getting another master cylinder and making up a longer hose. This has made riding it so much more comfortable. The gearchange assembly was next, I tried to work out how to do this but couldn't come up with a suitable solution. This is where the NABD comes to the rescue. 

I contacted them interested in the Kliktronic System, and Billy sent me a claim form which I filled in and sent back. I waited for about a month, then I received the good news, I was entitled to a Kliktronic. I opted for self fitting because I have been a motorcycle mechanic up until 2000. When I received the Kliktronic it was not going to be a straight forward job because I could not find a place to site the actuator unit. I got back in touch with Billy and he told me to find an engineer and get a quote for the fitting. I got in touch with Keith at Kliktronic as they are only 50 miles from me, he told me it would be about a 5 hour job. We sorted a date that suited us both. I took the machine over in a trailer to Bury St. Edmunds, met Keith and Bob and they gave me a hand to unload. They told me it was going to be 4-5 hrs. I left it with them, and after about 5 hours of getting bored they rang me, it was ready for collection. I went back and was most impressed with the way it had been fitted, it becomes obvious that Keith and Bob take a real pride in their product and the service that the customers receive. 

I took the bike out as soon as I could and after about 20 miles I was getting used to the Kliktronic and I could change up and down with no problems. This adaption has made my riding so much easier, safer and much more enjoyable. I can ride quite long distances now with very little discomfort in my joints.

I would like to thank Wolf, Rick Hulse and Billy of the N.A.B.D. and Keith and Bob of Kliktronic and lastly to the people who have donated money and organised sponsored events, without them none of this would have happened.

This grant of a Kliktronic and £180 fitting cost was sponsored by donations in memory of Ian 'Muz' Murray