Any bikers out there

Funny really,
Your post, plus the prospect of the Donington MotoGP tomorrow brought memories back to me of my Biking days.
In those long-gone days (I wouldn't be able to face the traffic any more, back then Motorists were far fewer and most had progressed to cars via Motor Bikes so were far more aware of, and considerate to, Bikers) the multi-cylindered machines of today were only ever heard on the track.
Aerial had the Square Four, which wasn't really meant for anything but Sidecar use (although some people disregarded this!) and I recall the Vincent Black Lightning was the fastest production bike in the world (not the Black Shadow, as recently claimed on 'Top Gear'!!!) but I think the Triumph Bonneville had later broken the world land speed record for two wheels at the famous salt flats of the same name...but I digress.

The only 'reasonable' Honda then (there was a 125cc and later came the now-famous Fifty) - having made an appearance a little later - was the 250cc Dream, quite an advanced bike for the time - and with a twin cylinder engine! Up to then, if memory serves me right, the only twin was the Aerial Leader and then the 'sports' version - the Arrow...but these were two-strokes, Velocette had a water-cooled horizontally opposed twin machine too, a 200cc engine with water cooling - as used by the Police Force of the day. The famous 'Noddy Bike' it was funny to see a tall Policeman with his regulation Police helmet riding this relatively small bike - hence the name, they did rather resemble the little lad in Enid Blyton's stories!!!

The second time I came to Ireland in the early sixties was on a BSA A7 500cc twin bike, that was some adventure then!

Anyway, sorry after all that waffling I can suggest nothing worth offering to the questioner. I know Limerick Bandit is a Biker, perhaps he might be able to offer some advice.

John