Blimey ...... I`m having trouble keeping up with this lot ........ Going back to Paul`s suggestion of Giacomo Agostini - I`m having second thoughts about this , after originally dismissing it ...... Ago was very popular in Italy , to the extent of appearing in films , and having records recorded about him .... But I`ve tried to avoid well known racers as they`re a bit too " obvious " .......
In the UK , for example , back in the nineteen fifties the man in the street would have been familiar with the name Geoff Duke , in the `sixties Mike Hailwood ( " Mike the Bike " ) , in the `seventies Barry Sheene , in the ` nineties " Foggy " , and so on ...... They became as close to you`ll get to household names ........ they " crossed over " into the mainstream ......
In the list , as well as including the McQueens , Lenos and so on , I`ve tried to feature well known names which the general public would not normally identify as motorcyclists , but who , in fact , actually rode ......
Looking through the recent suggestions , there may well be those who could be included in the list , but some ( to me anyway ) seem to slip into that grey area of "Stars being seen on bikes ", rather than " People who ride bikes who just happen to be Stars " ..........
I`ve yet to see a picture of Sir Ralph Richardson wearing leather jacket and shades , grinning at the camera whilst surrounded by girls or blokes , for example ....... The only pictures of him you`ll see are of him piloting his Bee Emm though a grey London side street ...... That`s the sort of Celeb Motorcyclist I`m more interested in ......
Those Celebs I`ve included seem to be genuine enthusiasts ........ Leno , Cruise for example ....... although I doubt if they are "everyday riders " , but then , nowadays who is ?
Phil Oakey of the Human League is a Pop Star ....... but how many pop stars / film actors , who consider a motorcycle as a prop for a picture to be taken on a nice sunny day , would be interested in , or having the knowledge , to have a Spondon framed Laverda triple built .... Phil would .......
At the end of the day though , if you`re a Celeb , Poseur , Genuine Enthusiast , Rich Collector , Photo Shot Opertunist , ( Hipster ? ) ............. If you sling a leg over a saddle , then you`re a bike rider .............. If that`s what makes you happy , then why give a stuff about what anyone else thinks ? ....... After all , don`t you , as a Laverda rider feel a bit " special" , take a glance at your reflection as you pass by that shop window ? ...... We`re all Poseurs at heart ......
Actually , forget all about that list .......... If you want a true reflection of how many " famous name " motorcyclists there are , then just ask that bloke sat next to you in the pub ........ I doubt if he`ll get past naming four or five , at the most ........
was quite entertaining - he would never be allowed in a bike while playing for Manure 
The hills are alive with the sound of beemers 
