Feature: Born again bikers

They are the generation who watched the cult movie Easy Rider but could only dream of owning the kind of motorbikes they admired on the screen.

At best they could afford a scooter, moped or low powered motorbike.

Now many middle-aged men are using their new affluence and becoming "born again bikers".

But for some the thrill of riding the powerful machine they'd always wanted is leading to death.

Safety campaigners around the country are becoming increasingly worried that some men in their 40s and 50s are taking up biking on machines they cannot fully master.

In West Sussex so far this year nine men, mainly middle-aged, have been killed, compared with seven fatalities in the whole of 2000. In East Sussex at least three motorcylists have died in 2001.

The vast majority of the accidents happened at weekends or on bank holidays, but in most cases the cause of the accidents is still being investigated and inquests have yet to be held.

Nationally, while the number of road deaths has decreased in recent years, motorbike deaths went up by11% last year to 605 and the number seriously injured rose by 6% to 6,769.

The increase in accidents is worrying West Sussex Cabinet member Tex Pemberton, who has issued a series of recent warnings to riders to take more care and cut their speed.

He said: "I do believe there are men who dreamed of having a powerful motorbike when they were young and now there is more money about they are fulfilling their ambitions but may not have the ability to ride these machines."

Councillor Pemberton, whose portfolio includes road safety, was prompted to issue a warning to bikers to cut their speed after three deaths over the August bank holiday weekend. Since then two more riders, both in their 40s, have died in West Sussex.

Company director Clive Curtis, 48, is a born-again biker, able to ride his 1100cc Yamaha Virago thanks to what he describes as a "ridiculously easy" test he took more than 30 years ago on a much less powerful bike.

He said: "When I first got this bike I would weave in and out of traffic and when you are in your leathers, boots, gloves and helmet, you think you are indestructible.

"But that is not the case. I have become very conscious about safety, particularly when you hear about the number of deaths.

"I now ride the bike in the same sort of way as I drive my car. I am always wary".

Mr Curtis, of Lagness, near Chichester, added: "Modern bikes have masses of power. You can be doing 60mph or 70mph and it doesn't feel as if you are going fast at all.

"But there are hazards that cars do not face, such as slippery manhole covers which always seem to be on corners or crossroads. And if you hit even a small hole in the road it can chuck you off balance."

Mr Curtis believes bikers should be tested at regular intervals.

"I know people will probably complain, but the serious biker would be able to pass," he said.

Barry Andrews, who runs the Bognor-based Bike School, is also worried about the growing number of born-again bikers involved in accidents.

But he believes the increased number of deaths and accidents should be seen in the context of the current motorbiking boom, with many more machines on the roads.

Mr Andrews said he would like to see more bikers taking refresher courses before returning to the roads on more powerful machines than they had as youngsters.

He said: "My big concern is that people can buy a bike, take it round the block and think that is enough. But I have been riding bikes for more than 33 years and I've never stopped learning.

"You have to be very self-disciplined when you are riding a bike. They can be phenomenally quick and it is easy to get into situations you don't really want to be in.

"Actually riding the bike and changing gears is just a small part of it. What you also need is awareness so you always know what is around you and ahead."

Mr Andrews is strongly in favour of restrictive licenses. He explained: "Restrictive licenses mean people can still go out and buy a Harley or a Ducati, but the bike is fitted with a restricter keeping it to 33 brake horsepower for two years instead of 60-70bhp.

"The bike can still go fast but does not have the same power and it helps to give people time to get used to its handling and weight."

Sussex Police are also concerned at the growing number of motorcyclist fatalities and are planning a high profile safety operation this autumn.

Traffic Division Commander Nick Bennett said: "The worrying trend of inexperienced but older motor cyclists upgrading to powerful noisy machines which they just can't handle is causing a danger to themselves and others, particularly pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists.

"They also ride in groups, they race, and whether or not they are speeding they are riding in a way that is often anti-social.

"We are in contact with the magazines which appear to condone this type of riding, motoring organisations and riders themselves in the hope they will see sense."

Meanwhile Coun Pemberton is hoping the tragic spate of motorbike-related deaths has ended.

He pledged the county council would look at what could be done if road conditions rather than riding were to blame for any of the accidents.

He added: "I'm aware of the sensitivity of families, but after the recent deaths on our roads I could not sit back without warning people about the dangers".