The team
Meet the riders
Find out more about the police bikers you'll meet at our Rider Skills Days in north and south London - the officers who'll share their riding skills with you.
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After following in the footsteps of his rally driver father, Paul was a late starter on two wheels. But his garage has since been home to everything from a best-forgotten MZ250etz to a bulletproof Kawasaki GT550. Paul recently traded in his BMW R1200GS for a Honda Blackbird. "The jury's still out on whether that was the right decision," he says.
Best biking destination: the awesome Alps - hairpins, views, and 1,000ft drops
North Team
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A Yamaha FS1E rescued from a shed gave Paul a love of bikes that would eventually see him spend six years astride a Honda Blackbird. Now riding a BMW R1200 GS, Paul travels abroad whenever he can and has left his tyre tracks everywhere from Holland to Spain.
Best ride: Switzerland (great curves and fantastic food)
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Bored with cars, Andy kick-started his biking career seven years ago and hasn't looked back. He's loyal to his Honda CBF 1000 - comfortable and quick, he says - but admits the new VFR looks tasty. When he's not at work, you'll find Andy astride his Honda in the Lake District. His dream ride? It's hard to beat Southern Italy, he reckons.
Best biking moment: passing my test
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When Colin's not commuting to work on his immaculate Triumph Sprint ST 1050cc, he's riding around Europe. Belgium and Switzerland are two current favourites. "If you have haven't gone abroad on your bike, put it on your list of things to do," he says.
Favourite UK ride: Bikers' Retreat, Wales
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Brady got his love of motorcycles from his dad, and started out riding a Yamaha YZ125 'crosser. It's a passion that he now puts into his collection of classic British bikes. With a total of 11, including a few BSA Bantams, it's clear he's a bike nut.
Favourite memory: off-road mud on a Sunday
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A former international speedway rider, Adrian quit racing after three friends were killed on the track. He does around 40,000 miles every year on his five bikes, riding everywhere from South America to Australia. Adrian's top travel tip: "Ride in Eastern Europe now before it gets too westernised."
Main bike: 1150 GS
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Phil's biking career started on a muck brown Yamaha SR125 - a bike he says was a lot like riding a lawnmower, only with without the handling. After enduring an 18-year-old FJ1200 which always broke down, and a SV1000 which survived an off at the Nürburgring, Phil now rides a Triumph Tiger. "An excellent road bike," he says.
First big bike: Suzuki GS500
South Team
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You'll find Mick on his 954 Fireblade, VFR400 NC30 or, when it's not raining,his ZXR400L9. But he wasn't always so lucky. Mick started riding on a CZ175 trail bike, bought on HP over two years at £12 per month. "It was rubbish," he says. "The bike died long before I finished paying for it."
Riding experience: 35 years
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After passing his test on a Honda CB175 in 1972, Ian still has a soft spot for this particular make of bike. He currently owns a Honda Hornet 600 as well as a BMW K1100LT. Ian's worst biking moment? "It has to be falling off in the snow and ice outside the school gates at nine o'clock in the morning, right there, in front of all the kids," he says.
Favourite bike: Honda CB400
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After passing his test on a Yamaha RD250D, Wayne moved up a few cubes to a Suzuki GS850G - a bike he's still got. Also in his garage are a Triumph Tiger 1050 and a BMW R1200RT. Wayne can't get enough of touring abroad and once rode to Geneva and back in three days to run in his CB500.
Riding experience: 33 years
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Rob didn't ride a motorcycle until he was 33 years old. Within seven years he was riding police bikes for the Diplomatic Protection Group. Outside of work he soon discovered the joys of touring, even though one trip involved four hundred miles of clutchless gear changes after a master cylinder dumped its fluid in France.
Current bike: BMW R1150RT
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Ian started riding in 1975 on a used example of the infamous 'Fizzie' (Yamaha FS1E). An enthusiasm for British motorcycles guaranteed that his early mileage was low, but his bike maintenance skills developed rapidly. Despite marriage, mortgage and children he always managed to keep a motorcycle in the garage. And today he enjoys all types of motorcycling - particularly touring and occasional knee-down track days.
Traffic division experience: 20 years
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A traffic officer for the past six years, Matt is an advanced car driver and police motorcyclist. As keen on riding bikes as he is on polishing them, he organises foreign trips for friends and colleagues. He's also into track days and recently bought himself a shiny new track bike.
Current bike: GSXR1000
