Member Focus – Allan Coverdale
Member Focus – Allan Coverdale
As part of what we hope will become a regular feature, we’re shining the spotlight on one of our club members. First up is long-standing club and committee member, Allan Coverdale.
Allan is well liked, quietly spoken, unassuming, passionate about bikes, dedicated to the club and the man who diligently leads the Sunday rides. I sat down with him to talk about how he first got into motorcycles, his favourite bikes over the years, his most expensive purchase, and what seemed like a simple question but turned out to be one of the hardest to answer: just how many bikes has he owned?
First Bike
“When I was at school, a friend who was a year above me would ride past me on his way home for dinner on a James 197. I remember thinking, ‘That’ll do for me.’”
That friend was Peter Robinson of Tillstons in Stockton-on-Tees, who appears again later in Allan’s story.
Not long afterwards, Allan had saved enough money to buy his first motorcycle, a Norman 197 Trials bike, powered by the same Villiers engine as Peter’s James.
“That means I’ve been riding for 62 years,” Allan says with a smile.
Today, his current machine is a Kawasaki Z900 SE.
When asked about the best bike he has ever owned, Allan found it difficult to choose.
“There are so many I could list, but the Honda VFR800 and the Pan European are definitely my top two.”
Allan on Peter Robinson’s James 197
The VFR clearly holds a special place in his heart.
“I had VFRs from 1997 until 2017. I still wish I had one sitting in the garage.”
How Many Bikes?
This question proved to be even more challenging.
“That’s a difficult one to answer.”
The reason is Allan’s long-standing friendship with Peter Robinson at Tillstons. Over the years, Allan has become something of an unofficial road tester for the dealership, regularly riding new models.
“For example, last year I had 12 different bikes and the year before that, 10.”
His most expensive motorcycle to date was a Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE Performance Tourer, costing £16,250.
Touring Adventures
The conversation then turned to touring and some of the places Allan has explored on two wheels.
“There have been lots of trips abroad.”
Ireland has featured heavily, with around 25 visits over the years. Closer to home, Allan has also enjoyed many rides through Scotland and Wales, while continental tours have taken him through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Monaco, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
One of his most memorable journeys was a tour into Tuscany, Italy, including a visit to Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower.
“That’s probably the furthest I’ve been on a bike.”
The return journey, however, didn’t quite go according to plan.
The group intended to load the bikes onto a train bound for ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands before catching the overnight ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle.
Unfortunately, fate had other ideas.
“The train was delayed leaving because of a technical fault and then broke down again in the Alps.”
While the surroundings were spectacular, it wasn’t quite the Alpine experience Allan had envisaged.
“It was lovely standing beside the train and admiring the scenery, but it wasn’t the way I expected to see it.”
The delays meant the group missed their ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle and instead had to make alternative arrangements, sailing from Hook of Holland to Harwich.
“Not ideal,” Allan laughs.
After more than six decades of motorcycling, countless bikes and thousands of miles across Britain and Europe, Allan’s enthusiasm remains as strong as ever. Whether leading Sunday rides or testing the latest models, his passion for bikes continues to quietly inspire those around him.
Fancy a Day Out at Motorcycle Live? Join Us! 
Coach leaves Yarm at 6:30am on Thursday 26th November 
Expected return: 7:30pm
