Some riders are happy finding one bike they love and sticking with it.
Not Verina Daly.
Every motorcycle she's owned has taught her something about the kind of rider she is, taking her from her first Honda Hornet to one of the most powerful sports tourers on the road today. Along the way she's developed a passion for advanced riding, track training and solo touring across Europe.
From pillion to full licence
"I used to ride pillion on my ex-husband's bike. I loved it and always knew I wanted to ride my own. Once I was in a financial position and able to give it the time, I cracked on and took my full bike licence in 2015."
Her first bike was a Honda Hornet 650cc - the same bike model she had learnt on. But it didn't take long before she was looking for something different.
"I quickly escalated to a Honda 750cc tourer because I always wanted to tour abroad. However, this bike just did not have the power I needed."
That led to a Suzuki GSX-S750.
"I outgrew this one and got the GSX-R1000. I absolutely loved throwing that sports bike around. I knew then that I was into sports bikes and speed."
There was just one problem. She still wanted to tour. After plenty of thought, there was only one bike that ticked every box.
"So what could I swap this speedy superbike for that would accommodate luggage? That left me with the Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX."
Producing around 200bhp and capable of extraordinary performance, it's a bike that attracts attention wherever it goes.
"I get attention everywhere. Women admire the glitter on the tank, young men love the bike and its reputation, and guys from the racing community always want to come and chat."
Riding is a journey
Although Verina has plenty of hands on experience, she believes learning never stops.
"I don't often get asked for advice, but if I did, I'd say:
Take as many courses as you can afford.
Don't listen too much to other people about how you should ride. Do you. Ride in the way you're comfortable with.
Choosing a bike is like picking a partner - nobody else can choose for you.
Riding is a lifestyle and a journey. It's up to you to do it as safely as possible, and you never stop learning."
That philosophy has led her into advanced rider training with Rapid Training Ltd.
"I liked what they had to say and completed Level 1 last year. That was three days on the road with an instructor. I'm now in the middle of Level 2, which is one day on track and two days on the road. After that I'll do Level 3, which is two days on track and one day on the road."
For Verina, the track element isn't about becoming a racer.
"People often ask why I'd want to ride on track.
You get an instructor teaching you body position, braking, throttle control, speed and vision. You learn how your bike behaves right at the limits, but in a safe environment without traffic or distractions.
How could that not make you a better road rider when today's roads are so busy? If you're going to ride a powerful motorcycle, you want to become a master of it."
Once she has completed Level 3, she plans to spend a day with IAM to gain her Advanced Rider qualification.
Retirement is also opening another door.
"I'd love to become a Blood Biker for the hospitals. It would be a great way to use everything I've learnt."
The trip that tested everything
Soon after buying her H2 SX in 2024, Verina planned the tour she'd always dreamed about.
Eighteen days.
Solo.
From Portsmouth to Caen, through France, over the Pyrenees and into northern Spain. She rode the Picos, explored country roads through national parks and continued all the way down to Almería.
Then everything changed. Whilst she was in Almería, Spain suffered its nationwide electrical blackout. She first became aware that something was wrong when she pulled into a petrol station with only about 40 kilometres of fuel left.
There was no fuel.
She didn't think too much of it and rode to another petrol station. That one had no fuel either. Cars had been abandoned on the forecourt and a Spaniard was sitting there having a beer and a smoke.
"I asked him what was going on.
He said, 'The cyber attack.'
I said, 'What cyber attack?'
He told me all of Europe had lost electricity."
Suddenly nothing worked.
No petrol pumps. No traffic lights. No card machines. No sat nav.
"It was surreal.
People were running home to find cash before rushing back to the shops. They were buying water and toilet roll. Water I understood because lots of apartment blocks needed electric pumps for the toilets to flush.
The toilet roll... who knows!" she laughs.
With nowhere to go, Verina parked on the seafront to wait for power to return. It was hot, she was in leathers and her bike was loaded, not an easy predicament to be in, but things were about to escalate yet further...
"Within about ten minutes two Algerian men tried taking the bags off my bike.
I shouted and they left.
Then another two came over.
At that point I realised I couldn't leave my bike. I was going to have to stay with it."
For the next seven and a half hours she kept watch. As daylight faded, the atmosphere changed.
"An Argentinian guy was looking into car windows. I thought he was waiting for it to get darker.
Then a gang turned up and had a conversation amongst themselves.
One of them walked over and asked me, 'Is this bike new?'
I just replied, 'I don't know what you mean, but this bike and I are leaving.'
That was the moment I genuinely felt in danger."
Leaving wasn't exactly straightforward.
Verina was hot, tired, dehydrated and hungry. She had no sat nav, was worryingly low on fuel, with no idea where to find more, and, it was getting dark. She set off in what she knew was the approximate right direction.
"I got to a roundabout and had two choices - a country lane or the motorway.
I didn't want the motorway. If I ran out of fuel there I'd be sleeping beside the bike in the dark.
I took the country road instead."
At another roundabout she drove round it three or four times trying to decide what to do.
"It was after 11pm by then.
I was scared.
I remember asking my angels for help."
Then she spotted lights.
"Out of the corner of my eye I could see lights in the distance. I thought if that's a large hotel, it'll probably have its own generator because everything else is dark.
Thankfully I made it."
The hotel staff couldn't process card payments but immediately found her a room.
"I told them I only had a card that obviously wasn't working and that I was a woman travelling on my own.
They said, 'Of course.'
I said I was starving and desperate for a drink. The receptionist told me to head straight to the restaurant before it closed.
I don't think I've ever drunk a large glass of water so quickly... followed very closely by a large glass of wine!"
Electricity returned around midday the following day and the adventure continued.
She headed back through central Spain, returned to ride the Picos once more, crossed the Pyrenees into France and eventually made it home.
Looking back, it remains one of the most rewarding things she's ever done.
"It was amazing to do it solo. It was an incredible confidence booster on every level. Beautiful scenery, amazing roads, mountain passes, hairpin bends...
I'd do it all again tomorrow."
Already planning the next adventure
Verina certainly hasn't lost the touring bug. She's already planning her next trip.
"Next is Italy, and this time it'll probably be four weeks. The route will include Belgium, Switzerland and Slovenia."
Closer to home, she's also hoping to spend more time on track.
"I'd really love to encourage more women to try it. NMC are hoping to organise a ladies' track day and I think it'll be a brilliant way to introduce more women to riding on track in a supportive environment."
As for what gets in the way of riding?
Her answer couldn't be simpler.
"Work."
And what brings her back?
"My days off."
Sometimes, that's all the excuse a rider needs.
