Inspector Mick Dunn

1982, Mick’s first bike was a Honda XL100 on which he pulled his first ‘wheelie’. Anyone familiar with the awesome power of the XL100 will realise that this was no mean feat however a heavy pillion helped no end. The XL was soon traded for a Honda CB250, the old Super Dream, on which Mick passed the bike test and consigned the ‘L’ plates to the bin. This was at the time that Kawasaki first released the GPZ series. Asking friends and colleagues for their recommendations as to which bike he should now buy, having passed his test, everyone said ‘go for the GPZ 750’.

Mick duly went to the dealers but couldn’t remember what he’d been told to buy so became the proud owner of a Kawasaki Z750L2 by mistake.

The following years saw a steady stream of bikes come and go ranging from a 6 cylinder Honda CBX1000 to a CX500EC. The maggot was a real workhorse, taking Mick, and his soon to be wife, across Europe during one great summer. Great that is apart from the occasional spat over a misread map (she really is useless at map reading) followed by the sound of the Sonic intercom being unplugged.

During this time a Suzuki GSX 750 stood out as being notable for an undiagnosed fault that meant the battery would never charge. Numerous dealers tried and failed to work out what was wrong and the bike was eventually swapped for a role of carpet. Apart from helping to furnish his first home the other benefit gained was that Mick became spectacularly adept at changing batteries. If it had been an Olympic sport he would have been a household name alongside Daly Thompson and Seb Coe. But it wasn’t and he isn’t.

Eventually Mick remembered that he had been advised to buy a GPZ and several years after first setting off to the dealers to buy one he became the proud owner of a GPZ 550. Great commuting bike with a belt drive that was only parted with when the first Honda CBR600 arrived on these shores.

The CBR600. What a revolution that bike was. People stopped and stared, old men shook their heads, babies cried and ladies became ….. Well, that may be wish-full thinking but the bike was a giant step forward and is easily the best Mick has ever ridden, bar none. A couple of years later the CBR 600 was traded for a CBR 1000. A change of address and 30 miles of motorway to and from home suited the bigger bike but the 600 was more fun (no, really).

August the 26th 1995. Mick’s first-born child arrived and all was joy and exaltation. 12 months later the CBR 1000 was no more, a second child bearing vehicle becoming a necessity. For the first time in 14 years Mick’s garage was devoid of a motorcycle. Three years later and a combination of Mick’s constant moping about the house reminiscing of the good old glory days and strategic placing of various Bike magazines, led to permission being granted for the purchase of another bike. However, a strict budget was imposed which led to a choice between a brand new MZ (I’m sorry, I really don’t see why they come with two wheels when they’re mainly used for powering conveyor belts in eastern Europe) or a VFR 750 that was an insurance write-off. The VFR won. Visits to a number of breakers yielded sufficient plastic to rebuild the fairing and a spot of welding sorted out the foot-pegs. Mick was back on the road on possibly the ugliest multi-coloured VFR ever to grace the Queens highway. But, as anyone who has met Mick will testify, looks aren’t everything.

Today Mick rides a second hand ZZR 1100 (a lot of bike for the money). He is still married to the girl who can’t map read and now has two children. He is a Class One Advanced Police Driver and newly promoted to the rank of Inspector. With responsibility for the Motor Cycle Tasking Team incorporating BikeSafe-London, he recognises that he is a lucky man, doing a job he loves with great people.

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Sarah Kell (BikeSafe-London Team Office Manager)

Sarah, being a bit of a late starter in Life, spent all of the early years racing around Britain and Europe – Rowing, and being scared to death on the back of a Laverda Jota. Finally started the bike thing at the age of 23 for herself, a GSX600 was the first bike but not for all that long.

Having owned a bike licence for 18 months and daring to be different, felt it time to get into the world of all things V Twin, Italian, and unreliable, a Ducati 900ss was the first of a string of them. Riding many of the UK tracks (yep…. very slowly!!) coached, encouraged and being lapped by a commuter type on a Triumph, complete with top box and hard panniers (oh the shame of it). A week before riding her first trip abroad to a Le Mans 24 Hour race, got her knee down for the first time…. this was promptly followed by her shoulder and then her head, all trying to avoid a car (surprisingly enough).

Not to be beaten, had the bike fixed and rode to France. Not wanting to have a crash damaged bike, quickly changed it for Ducati 900sl, did some more track days and now had become involved with the Ducati Importers.

9 months later, Sarah took delivery of a Ducati 748sp, now she had the press attention, it was loaned out to many of the bike press and in return got more track time, Race schools and an endless supply of tyres and fame!!! She has done green lane riding and also competed on a ZX6r in a six hour endurance race in and all girl team for charity, (enough said about that!!)

Sarah worked within the Motorcycle Industry for years, and rode most of the bikes out there. Until recently working with Honda, and has also owned a Kawasaki ZX6r, a Suzuki DR350, a Laverda Monjuic, an XR400 and the CBR600rr that she currently rides.

Best biking moment to date was going back to the Brands Indy circuit on the 748sp scrubbing in the very edges of both sides of the tyres and lapping some of the riders in the “ACU licence holders” group. The Triumph rider still in the “touring” group stopped talking to her.

Worst Biking moment so far was being informed that her 748sp had been “knocked over” (in a car park by a woman in an automatic Mercedes estate). Apparently had reversed and hit the accelerator instead of the brake and propelled the car into the Ducati. The bike was written off, as was the Merc. Sarah bought the salvage and rebuilt the bike with a mate, who then went on to race it and win many 600cc and open titles on it. It was tracked to death, everyone rode it and many fell off, but it was such a mess you couldn’t tell who had caused what damage!!!!

Sarah’s new choice of toys would be the new Aprilia SXV450 supermoto and a Land Rover Defender 90 (Mmm!!!!) and would love to have back the 748sp.

Hobbies include mountain biking and staying alive on the Capital’s roads, fast roping out of helicopters and shouting at Police Officers.

She currently works in the Motorcycle Tasking Team and BikeSafe-London Office and has a 1st class honours degree in Hindsight.