The last bike I owned (for a 40 mile per day commute) in 1990 was an ex-police BMW. Funnily enough very few cars pulled out in front of me etc!

However, the roads were policed to a greater degree then - Im not sure as to how much it would register on the 'automatic pilot' type drivers now!

I sometimes look at bikes on the net - but they seem awfuly expensive....

its not only nutters in cars you have to watch out for! http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9619d09634

I got myself one of these almost two years ago, having decided I couldn't stand London's creaking public transport system any longer.

It's great - I commute 18 miles each way, year-round, it costs me around a tenner a week in petrol, and 99% of the time I thoroughly enjoy my journey to work.

Came off it once, when a drunk American tourist walked in front of me coming down Haymarket. He flew about 10 feet through the air, landed on his 4rse and thought it was hilarious.

That comment about the ex police bike makes me smile.

When you see BMWs/Pan Europeans with white body panels, normal riders in black leather, WHITE helmet and a green Hi-Visibilty jacket, especially on the motorways, soooooo many drivers think its a police vehicle and slow down - makes me laugh.

my dad used to work for the rac on the bikes they used trumphs trophys that was when they where the white colour and with the yellow beacon on it look more like a police bike than most needless to say he never had a problem getting though traffic untill they changed the colour to orange