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The Street Riding Years: Despatching through 80s London
Chris Scott is best known for his acclaimed travel bibles including the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook and Sahara Overland. It’s less well known that by the end of the 1980s he’d had many more motorcycles than birthdays.
Set in the late 70s and the following decade, this is the story of his start on bikes and subsequent years as an urban motorcycle mercenary. It was an era when badly behaved messengers capitalised on London’s economic revival, squatting was easy, Thatcherism polarised the nation and rioting was a frequent response to it.
Despatch riding on everything from classic Brit twins to thundering Italian street racers, demented dirt missiles and nitrox-injected dinosaurs, his story includes a brush with Class War and regular spells in hospital. The Street Riding Years was originally titled 'Adventures in Motorcycling'. The contents are the same.
Set in the late 70s and the following decade, this is the story of his start on bikes and subsequent years as an urban motorcycle mercenary. It was an era when badly behaved messengers capitalised on London’s economic revival, squatting was easy, Thatcherism polarised the nation and rioting was a frequent response to it.
Despatch riding on everything from classic Brit twins to thundering Italian street racers, demented dirt missiles and nitrox-injected dinosaurs, his story includes a brush with Class War and regular spells in hospital. The Street Riding Years was originally titled 'Adventures in Motorcycling'. The contents are the same.
367 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2014
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17 people want to read
About the author
Chris Scott
17 books9 followersAfter exploring the Sahara in 1980s, I wrote Desert Biking in 1993. That evolved into today's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, now in its 6th edition. I also co-wrote several editions of Australia for Rough Guides and worked on other RG titles. Desert Travels, a Saharan travelogue came next, then Sahara Overland, Overlanders Handbook, and Morocco Overland, all for Trailblazer Guides. I also enjoy updating Trailblazer's British walking guides once in a while.
I recently reprinted Desert Travels alongside a new book: Adventures in Motorcycling, an urban motobiography paralleling the DT era of the 1980s, but telling a quite different story.
I recently reprinted Desert Travels alongside a new book: Adventures in Motorcycling, an urban motobiography paralleling the DT era of the 1980s, but telling a quite different story.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 24, 2021
If you're a biker of a certain age, and you used to enjoy reading The Used Motorcycle Guide - in particular the tales of despatch riders' antics in the capital - then you will definitely like this.
April 29, 2024
Adventures in Motorcycling by Chris Scott is a captivating journey through the gritty streets of London and beyond, from the saddle of a motorcycle courier. The book is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who lived through the 1980s, especially within the dispatch riding community.
Have the internet at hand, so you can Google images of the bikes Scott ‘dabbled’ with.
This is an enjoyable light read, Scott's style is witty and engaging, drawing readers into his world of two-wheeled adventures. The book is not just about motorcycles; it's a reflection of a bygone era, set against the backdrop of Thatcher-era politics and the capitalistic fervour of London. It's a story of survival, of finding freedom on the open road, and of the camaraderie that comes with being part of the biking community.
In essence, Adventures in Motorcycling is more than a book about bikes; it's a cultural snapshot of a time when life was lived at full throttle, and every ride could be an adventure. It's a must-read for motorcycle enthusiasts and anyone interested in the subculture of London's streets during a transformative period of history.
It would be interesting to get Scott’s opinion on today’s London sanitised roads, he might find a stark contrast to the world he navigated. The maelstrom of food delivery mopeds, serving the gig economy, presents a new kind of chaos. These riders face the pressures of quick deliveries, often at the expense of their safety and amidst the threat of vehicle theft and crime. Scott might see these riders as the modern-day dispatch riders, albeit in a changed landscape where the freedom of the road is tempered by the urgency of the digital age and the precariousness of gig work.
London commuting before congestion charge, speed cameras, ahhh bliss.
Have the internet at hand, so you can Google images of the bikes Scott ‘dabbled’ with.
This is an enjoyable light read, Scott's style is witty and engaging, drawing readers into his world of two-wheeled adventures. The book is not just about motorcycles; it's a reflection of a bygone era, set against the backdrop of Thatcher-era politics and the capitalistic fervour of London. It's a story of survival, of finding freedom on the open road, and of the camaraderie that comes with being part of the biking community.
In essence, Adventures in Motorcycling is more than a book about bikes; it's a cultural snapshot of a time when life was lived at full throttle, and every ride could be an adventure. It's a must-read for motorcycle enthusiasts and anyone interested in the subculture of London's streets during a transformative period of history.
It would be interesting to get Scott’s opinion on today’s London sanitised roads, he might find a stark contrast to the world he navigated. The maelstrom of food delivery mopeds, serving the gig economy, presents a new kind of chaos. These riders face the pressures of quick deliveries, often at the expense of their safety and amidst the threat of vehicle theft and crime. Scott might see these riders as the modern-day dispatch riders, albeit in a changed landscape where the freedom of the road is tempered by the urgency of the digital age and the precariousness of gig work.
London commuting before congestion charge, speed cameras, ahhh bliss.
June 20, 2019
Slice of life 80s London
Mr. Scott is an engaging writer. I had sampled this book of Motorcycle Messengers 2 (also recommended) and purchased immediately. Recommended for motorcycle enthusiasts and anyone who likes a good story.
Mr. Scott is an engaging writer. I had sampled this book of Motorcycle Messengers 2 (also recommended) and purchased immediately. Recommended for motorcycle enthusiasts and anyone who likes a good story.
August 25, 2021
Started off as a five star read - when it concentrated on despatching. However the descent into squatting and desert trips (not necessarily related) took the shine off. However, Chris is clearly a natural story teller and well worth a read.
January 9, 2024
despatching despatched
Enjoyed his references to obscure motorcycle history.
Got a little too bogged down in learning exactly what got delivered to what addresses, especially as one not in the least familiar with London’s streets.
Enjoyed his references to obscure motorcycle history.
Got a little too bogged down in learning exactly what got delivered to what addresses, especially as one not in the least familiar with London’s streets.
March 15, 2024
The genuine article
I was around at the same time and this
conjures up exactly the mood of the time. The bikes,the music,cultural references -all spot on. Easy writing style and a great read. As it happens I've also read his books about his Sahara trips - I'd recommend them too.
I was around at the same time and this
conjures up exactly the mood of the time. The bikes,the music,cultural references -all spot on. Easy writing style and a great read. As it happens I've also read his books about his Sahara trips - I'd recommend them too.
February 2, 2021
Really enjoyed this book, well written with some great stories.
Probably best for riders (or ex riders) of a certain age that will remember the (many) bikes mentioned.
I was sorry when it ended!
Probably best for riders (or ex riders) of a certain age that will remember the (many) bikes mentioned.
I was sorry when it ended!
December 24, 2022
trip down memory Lane
Enjoyed this immensely. I spent from the mid 80s to early 90s despatching and squatting in Hackney so much was recognisable. Great fun 😁
Enjoyed this immensely. I spent from the mid 80s to early 90s despatching and squatting in Hackney so much was recognisable. Great fun 😁
November 20, 2014
Chris Scott's adventures in London as a despatch rider. If you know your CB400/4 from your RS100 it's a good book for you. Motorcyclist, squatting and cultural references from the time hit the right note with me (rock climbing, stonehenge, and bikes are a shared passion). If you're not into bikes, you won't appreciate the book... the end is very abrupt - a bit like his career in despatching...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews