In a series, reporter Shawn McAvinue talks to members of Dunedin motoring clubs. For this instalment he speaks to Otago Classic Japanese Motorcycle Group president Ian Lormans.
Q: What is your group about?
We are a loose band of motorcyclists who have an interest and enthusiasm for riding, restoring and maintaining Japanese motorbikes manufactured in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Q: Are all engine sizes welcome?
Yup. We don’t care, as long as its Japanese.
Q: What is the appeal of Japanese bikes?
I’ve owned them all They’re well engineered, reasonably reliable and they were quite cheap to buy but now they are commanding quite a price. I restored a 1975 Honda GL1000 Gold Wing – it;s 45 years old, travelled more than 100,000km and continues to do the job it was designed to do. I’ve just finished restoring a 1973 Honda CB125. I own six Japanese motorbikes.
Q: How do you afford the registration cost?
If a bike is 40 years or older, it costs less than $50 a year to register.
Q: When was the group formed?
At a meeting in the Mornington Tavern on March 27, 2013. Dunedin motorcyclist Kevin Hislop and his wife, Nadine, posted notices in motorcycle shops seeking interest from like-minded people with an interest in older Japanese motorcycles to form a bit of a club.
The Hislops left Dunedin to go beekeeping in Murchison and in 2015, Kevin shoulder-tapped me keep it going.
From the first meeting in 2013, we have a monthly meeting on the third Wednesday of each month at the tavern and most weekends after the meeting we try to have a ride, if weather permits. Recently, we rode to Waihola for a cup of coffee. We try to do an overnight run every year – we’ve been to Te Anau, Clyde and Christchurch.
Q: How many members do you have?
About 40.
Q: Age of your youngest and old members?
Chris Harkness (25) to Steve Nesbitt (73).
Q: The newest bike in the group?
A 2018 Kawasaki 400.
Q: The oldest and rarest bike?
Dave George’s 1970 Kawasaki A1 Samurai.
Q: Do your members exhibit their bikes?
We have exhibited at the Auto Spectacular in the Edgar Centre for the past six years and won best motorcycle in show for five out of the past six years. My Gold Wing won it about two years ago.
Shawn McAvinue, The Star
