Australian Wing Riders Association (Qld) Inc

Member Profile

John and Karen Gilbert

When did it start, this passion for motor cycles? I grow up on a property in Inverell in NSW, after trying to join the NT police force and was told I was to young I joined the Army in 1979 as a Transport driver. Having ridden before on the farm it was a natural move to go on a formal course and get my license, from there during my 22 years in the Army the bike riding passion was always fulfilled with military bikes (Suzuki 400)from dispatch riding in Sydney where I had my first serious accident on a motor bike, the sergeant was not impressed as I happened to take his bike, this day instead of my own, he swore I would never ride a military bike again, next day I was on my way into Sydney on my dispatch run. During my time in the Army I have been on some great rides and ridden in some great places the best ride was from Melbourne to Darwin and return on a Yamaha 650, what a ride, I suppose I was young and stupid.

From there I taught on many motor cycle courses and participated in a lot of riding that today would be considered as too dangerous to undertake due to injury that may occur.( Various trail road bikes that the army had at the time)

As I progressed in the ranks of the Army, it was not in my interest to keep riding due to the possibility of injury, which would mean I would miss promotion courses and career opportunities, so career overtook my immediate passion for riding.

Life took many turns for me, as it does in the Army, posted from one place to the next and many life lessons were learnt along the way.

Whilst posted to Melbourne, I met Karen and another life road was traveled, posted from Melbourne to Sydney and back to Melbourne as the Regimental Sergeant Major of a Logistics unit I found myself being asked if I would like the position of Group Sergeant Major of the peace keeping force in Bougainville.

I was in Bougainville four weeks later contemplating where to from here as I was reaching 21 years in the Army and a decision had to be made to serve to retirement age and become a grumpy old RSM or get out, I decided to get out whilst I was still happy and young enough to give someone else 20 years.

Karen and I bought a house in Glen Waverley and I was asked by one of my old mates if I was interested in starting up his Melbourne office of his logistics training company for the transport industry which I took up and three years later I am still here.

During this time Karen and I found ourselves looking for an outlet, after trying many options it was suggested by me that maybe I buy a touring bike like a Goldwing, (the passion reignited) Karen was a little skeptical to start, and I borrowed one from Reg Jeffrey Honda and we went to Bairnsdale (Karen’s home town) for an overnight ride and Karen was impressed, so started the search for a bike, found the 1500 in Canberra in brilliant condition.

We flew to Canberra to pick the bike up and rode back, leaving Canberra we hit some of the heaviest rain I have ever ridden in so I thought this would be the end to the riding outlet, but Karen was happy (saved by having the right wet weather gear) and we still enjoy the riding and compare wet days to the first trip from Canberra and to date nothing has compared. I consider myself lucky to have someone like Karen, who although does not have a passion for motorcycling like me, still enjoys the rides and is happy to go places on the bike.

In 2003 we went on our first major ride around Tasmania, great ride, see article on this web page.

Where to from here, to grow the riding group and gain more members in Victoria, enjoy riding on the weekends when weather permits, the ride around Australia is on the radar in years to come however have some other goals to complete first. 

Rides that I have owned, Kawasaki 500, 900, 1000(remember when it was in to have a kwaka 1000), Suzuki 250.and I think I am missing one other that I can not remember.

Why the wing, always had an interest in the Goldwing had a poster when I was a kid and you finally reached an age when life presents itself with the opportunity to own one. 

Ride safe and have fun doing it