In 1978 my ride to school was an H2750, I was riding to my girlfriend Jennys house and poped a wheely at the St Ives lights and as it clicked 4th on the back wheel an XB Cop car came out on the other side of the street. So what does a dumb 17yo do in this case? After a few minutes of trying to out run said yellow XB cop car and speeds in excess of 85 miles an hour I just couldnt shake him and got held up in traffic out front of the St Ives show grounds so I decided to give it up and pull over.
When the cops got out they basicaly arrested me and locked me up at Pymble Police station, did the finger print thing, threats, even had the pink pages on standby - to say I was shitting myself was an understatement. I was charged with unlicenced, unrego, failing to stop, manner dangerous. It took untill about 8pm that night for Mum to come and bail me out, the old Man was O/S at the time.
Off to court we went and before the Judge had a chance to say a word the Old Man jumped up and suggested that he had no concerns about whatever penality that was applied but suggested that the sale of the bike and the money received would be a good financial package and the Judge agreed so it was a court order that I sell the bike and the money went in the fine. All $380.00 I got for it - I shit you not. Also 18 months loss of licence in the mix.
The upshot of it all was it took me years to really realise how short my life expectations were if I had have kept the thing so the Old Man really did me a favour and we still have a laugh about today, I think at 47 I am sensible enough to have an H2750 now but cant buy one for less than 10k.
It was a mad mad world in the 70s in Sydney. Really amoungst it all I think I lament the loss of that time - feel - vibe when you could get away so lightly and live to tell the tail!!!
