I am Martyn Hanson and I have been a biker since I was 14.
My dad bought me a BSA C15 250 to mess around in the fields behind his work, after it nearly broke my shin kicking it over, I fell in love with two wheels.

I left school at 16 and messed about for a year on a Yamaha FS1e, after which I was given an ultimatum, get a job or get out! I joined the Army on my 17th birthday and never looked back. Over the years I’ve owned every make and most models on two wheels, from superbikes to plodders, trials to enduro.

I've travelled the world on two wheels, Africa, America, Asia, Iceland and most countries in Europe, you name it, I’ve been there, and it’s so much better on two wheels!

In addition to being a RoSPA Group Tutor I hold an IAM National Observer qualification as teaching motorcycling gives me such a buzz, watching people find that ‘lightbulb’ moment is what makes tutoring such a joy.

I have had a lifelong interest in motorcycles thanks to riding pillion with my Dad when I was in short trousers. I enjoys every aspect of motorcycles & motorcycling including restoring, riding vintage bikes, track days, group ride outs and touring.

For more than 50 years I have owned & ridden a huge range of machines but my current whim is a KTM 1290 SAS which ticks all the boxes.

I am a member of the VMCC, ROSPA & IAM and tutor advanced riding for both of the latter two organisations.

I started riding motorcycles around my school playing fields at the age of 15 with initial training from a local ACU group who were keen to set young people on the route to safer riding.

I was in and out of motorcycling through life whenever time allowed, mainly on Triumphs.

I moved to Cumbria from Rutland in 2020 and joined this group to meet like-minded people, to improve my riding and to become a Blood Biker.

RoSPA test passed in May 2022 after many Covid interruptions to training.

I am Membership Secretary for the group. A lifelong cyclist, I recently added powered 2 wheelers to my stable. Starting riding motorbikes in the US in March 2017, having passed their ‘test’, my learning curve has been steep and rewarding.

Having taken the standard UK test in 2020, I knew that I needed a lot more training and time on the bike; so, I did the IAM Advanced Rider training and then continued with RoSPA, passing the test in November 2021.

I see motorbiking as a great opportunity to continue learning not only about riding but also myself.

I rode bikes from my teens into my mid-thirties and had a gap until 2016. I passed my test on a Suzuki TS125X and also rode, among others, a Honda CB250RS, a Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo and a Yamaha FZ600. The most unusual bike I rode was a Honda CBR400RR that had been fitted with a CBR600F engine by a mate who used to be a mechanic for Honda Racing. I now ride a KTM1290SAS.

I passed my IAM advanced test with a F1rst in 2017 and became an IAM Observer in 2019 and a National Observer in 2021. I also ride for North West Blood Bikes Lakes and Lancs and I am a rider assessor for them as well.

I joined RoSPA as I wanted to continue to challenge myself and I gained a Gold pass and am now an Advanced Group Tutor.