Mike Wilkinson

I live in Kendal, a stone’s throw from where I was brought up, on a farm in Old Hutton.

As soon as I was 16 yrs old, I stopped riding in the fields and got a 50cc motorcycle. I later moved onto numerous larger motorcycles, too many to recall! I’m currently riding a Suzuki Intruder 1800cc.

In 2000, I was impressed when Cumbria Police started the original ‘Bike Safe 2000’, so gathered a number of groups and took them to the sessions for support. Although my riding skills improved, my naive youthful attitude didn’t. In 2009, riding around too fast, I hit a car head-on, nearly losing my leg. This was the catalyst for me to join IAM; I gained a F1RST, and then a National Observers’ qualification. I am also Deputy Area Manager for North West Blood Bikes, where I meet many MBEAM members.

I love bikes, bike rallies, and biker people. If I’m not riding a bike, I’m doing one of two things…getting on, or getting off!