AS A young boy, John Mathebula from Alexandra used to cut pictures of bikes out of magazines and paste them on the cover and inside his books.
“I told myself that when I was old enough and could afford a bike, I would buy one.
“My love was strong, so here I am living up to the promise I made as a child.”
John rides a 2010 Honda VFR1200.
Q: When did you buy your bike?
A: 2014
Q: When did you start riding?
A: In 2013.
Q: How many bikes do you own now?
A: I own two bikes but I am planning to buy a third Honda.
Q: Would you let anyone else ride your bike?
A: Yes, my best friend Sello Lekgotshwane can ride my bikes because he is very cautious and I trust him.
Q: How often do you ride?
A: Mostly on weekends. During the week, I travel to work and back in my car.
Q: Have you taken any long-distance trips?
A: Yes, I have been on many but the longest I have ridden was to Cape Town in 2016.
Q: How often do you get traffic fines?
A: I have none. Who wants tickets? They’re not worth the hassle. It’s better to behave on the road.
As long as I ride safely and respect the rules of the road, I don’t get tickets.
Q: Can you tell us about your bike’s colour?
A: It’s black and red. I liked those colours immediately when I saw them on my bike in the showroom.
Q: Can you tell us about your outfit?
A: I only ride dressed in a full set of riding gear because my safety is most important.
Q: What do you think about other Mzansi road users?
A: Motorists are especially annoyed by bikers. People in cars don’t give us bikers the respect we deserve on the road.
Q: Do you belong to any biking clubs?
A: Yes, I’m a member of the Rebel Troops MCC.
