loisontheloose.com
What with embarking on the life of a struggling writer, the Honda had to go for financial reasons. But as soon as I received the first advance for my book of Lois On The Loose, I decided I needed to make life harder for myself and splashed out on this beast, a 1978 Yamaha XT500. It took me a while (and a few bruises) to get the hang of starting it, but once I got the knack I absolutely LOVE it. It pulls away like a wild horse and the vibration turns internal organs to a pulp - but it's taken the top spot as my all-time favourite bike! If you own an XT500 and are looking for someone to work on it, restore it or just find parts, I can highly recommend Dave Newitt in Hinckley. He is the UK's leading XT500 specialist and knows everything there is to know about these wonderful bikes. His website is http://www.motorcycle-restorations.co.uk
