How different was taking your motorbike test in 1988 compared with 2026?

Well, quite a lot!

This week we're comparing our very different experiences of getting our motorbike licences. From Dazza heading out on the road at 16 with no training whatsoever, to Liz navigating CBTs, theory tests, Mod 1 and Mod 2 nearly 40 years later.

And despite all those differences, there's one thing we have in common. We both failed part of it first time! Dazza in a slightly more spectacular way than Liz maybe.

Dazza also shares the story of his most serious accident just 10 days after his 17th birthday, which raises the question: Does today's more extensive training make us safer riders?

Plus, Dazza gets nerdy about countersteering, Liz shares what she's learnt about riding in the rain, and we discuss what we wish car drivers understood about motorcyclists.

A Special Mention – Iron Nomad

We've added a little extra to this episode after hearing from one of our listeners, Carl.

Carl founded Iron Nomad, a motorcycle-inspired clothing brand, in memory of his close friend Kevin, who sadly passed away in 2024, aged just 39.

Their friendship began at university in 2005 and took them on adventures around the world. Iron Nomad is Carl's way of keeping Kevin's memory and their shared spirit of adventure alive, and one we wanted to share with the biking community. Thank you, Carl, for getting in touch.

Liz also mentions the most amazing artist and biker Drawn Studio who does the most amazing drawing of motorbikes. In fact Liz has one of them in her living room. You should definitely check them out.

We'd love to hear from you! When did you take your bike test, and do you think you'd pass today's version?

And if you've got an event, a story or something you'd like us to share, get in touch!

This week we're joined by Lou and Paul from Mad About Bikes & Adventures for a conversation that goes from finding a love of biking later in life to one of the things currently dividing some issues at bike meets - rev bombing. Love it or hate it, it's here and we talk about it.

We start where we normally do asking Lou and Paul why they ride, and what they ride. Paul was super excited about picking up his new bike the following day. You'll be able to hear his smile!

Then we got onto bike meets.

Rev bombing. Burnouts. Wheelies. Showing off. And whether some of the behaviour we're seeing at bike meets could ultimately put the future of those meets at risk.

Paul and Dazza admit they weren't exactly angels in their younger biking days either - including one spectacular burnout that ended with a policeman emerging from the smoke.

We also discover:

🏍️ Why Paul is swapping his huge VFR1200 Crosstourer for a Honda Transalp
🏍️ How biking gave Lou a new adventure when her children grew up
🏍️ The trials and tribulations of parking your bike
🏍️ The difference between today's rev bombing and the showing off of the 80s and 90s
🏍️ Dazza's experience with some particularly questionable Ducati side stands
🏍️ And why Paul has somehow become YouTube's unofficial motorcycle weather forecaster.

It's bikes, friendship, questionable behaviour and plenty of laughs.

Thanks to Lou and Paul from Mad About Bikes & Adventures for joining us.

🎧 Listen/watch and let us know: what do you think about rev bombing at bike meets?

You can find Lou and Paul on:

YouTube, Insta and Facebook

And if you've got a question for Liz and Dazza, or a biking story, send it over to us on Instagram - it might make it into a future episode.

Ride safe,

Liz & Dazza
The Untypical Bikers Podcast

How do you choose the right motorbike?

For Dazza, that answer has changed quite a bit over nearly 40 years of riding. From what he could afford, to sports bikes, speed, racing and the bikes he wishes he'd never sold.

For Liz, with just over a year of riding under her belt, the process has been rather different. There was a green Harley Sportster she was convinced she wanted… until she actually sat on one. And eventually, a Triumph Scrambler 900 that turned out to be pretty much her perfect bike.

We also get into some of Dazza's favourite bikes from over the years, including his late-90s Ducati 900 SS that seemed to object to leaving the country, and the Harley that's become a bit like Trigger's broom.

Then it's time for Dazza's Nerdy Minute, with possibly one of the more unusual explanations of torque vs horsepower involving Tyson Fury, Bruce Lee and a brick.

And in Liz's Learning, Liz shares what happened when she accidentally found herself leading her first group ride… just as the heavens opened.

Plus, we chat about finding your biking community and why sometimes it's just nice to have someone else decide where you're riding.

And we want to hear from you…

Have you got – or did you used to have – a late-90s Ducati 900 SS? Dazza would love to see it, so send us a photo.

Or perhaps you've got a black and red Yamaha RD350 YPVS F2 like the one he owned back in the day. We'd definitely like to see that too.

And what's the bike YOU wish you'd never sold?

If you've got a biking question you'd like us to tackle, or something happening in the biking community you'd like us to give a shout-out to, send it our way.

Safe riding!

Liz & Dazza
The Untypical Bikers