8 minute read
LONDON CALLING
from MMM #002
Pull up a stool and join us for a chat with our London store supremo, Saffron.
For those of you who have taken a trip down to the big smoke to visit us, there’s a 99.99% chance you’ll have already met our incredible London Store Manager, Saffron. This is someone who not only knows everything about Mutts, but is also a fountain of knowledge when it comes to London bike scene, the pushbike life, East London haunts and everything you’ll need to know to hit the road in safety and style, no matter what experience you already have under your belt.
So we grabbed a stool at the Bethnal Green Store and proper natter with the lady in charge.
HOW’S EVERYTHING GOING AT THE MUTT LONDON STORE?
“Things are going really well! Especially considering I had to be closed for several months during the lockdown both last year and the year before. I think many people decided to get a motorbike to avoid having to use public transport, so Mutts have been in high demand. I’ve really enjoyed helping set the shop up and running it. There’s something so joyful about new riders collecting their bikes; they are filled with so much excitement to be on two wheels. It really does make me smile. I love working at Mutt because it’s not like working for a company - it’s like working with friends. Everyone is super cool and gets on; we are a family - sometimes a bit of a mad family, but a family nonetheless.”
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR, AND WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTERESTED IN THEM?
“I’ve only been riding motorcycles for just under six years; I did my CBT in September 2016 and got my full licence in April 2017. My father was a mod in his youth, and both my grandfather and great grandfather rode bikes, so maybe it
has always been in my blood. It wasn’t until I rode pillion on a Harley with an ex-boyfriend that I thought about learning to ride myself. I enjoyed the feeling of being on the bike - that combination of fear and excitement was addictive; plus, I don’t have a car licence, so the thought of being able to go wherever I wanted was appealing. Learning to ride has given me so much freedom and opened up my life in ways I’d never have imagined. I’ve made amazing friends, done some cool stuff, travelled, and even met my husband because of it!”
WHAT WAS THE FIRST BIKE YOU OWNED? AND WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT COLLECTION LIKE?
“My first bike was a 1979 Honda CG with a kickstart, which I got because it was all I could afford at the time, and I wasn’t super aware of what was on the market and available to me as a new rider.
The Honda was a total pain in the arse: it was refusing to start one day, so I posted on a Facebook group asking if anyone knew a decent mechanic in my area. I got the usual ridiculous comments asking if I had petrol in it and so on. A very kind man offered to come and help me bump-start the bike and let me know where to take it to get looked at, and that’s how I met my husband!
When I passed my test, I got a 1989 Kawasaki GT550; it was beautiful, big and heavy and taught me to ride properly. My current collection is a Honda Hornet 600c, a CBR900rr FireBlade, a Suzuki SV650s track bike and we recently bought a Kawasaki Ninja ZXR4 400cc, which my husband and I are doing up. Of course I have a host of Mutts at my disposal that I can ride whenever I want. In all we have seven motorbikes between us, and ride all sorts of bikes all the time.”
MOTORCYCLING CAN BE QUITE MALE-DOMINATED; WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS, AND HOW CAN WE GET MORE WOMEN INTERESTED?
“Motorcycling has been male-dominated for a long time, but there is a growing trend in women learning to ride. I think this rise in women getting a bike has been massively helped by women on social media posting about their riding experience, showing how accessible it really is and how many women are actually into motorcycles. There are women-only events happening, women’s motorcycle groups on Facebook where you can ask for advice and give each other encouragement to learn or progress without any pressure!
There are also some amazing women who compete in races, both track and off-road, against men, proving that it’s not just a boys club. I think many women may find it daunting to go into a bike shop as, usually, it’s men that work in them. Running the Mutt London store puts me in an excellent position to help and advise any ladies looking to get into riding or buying their first motorcycle.
Personally, I never felt being a woman was an obstacle or that it was a “man thing”; I wanted to ride, so I went out and did it.”
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO START OUT RIDING?
“Completing your CBT then getting yourself a 125cc to ride is a good way to start; it enables you the time to learn, gain confidence and on-road experience before thinking about going for your full licence.
Take your time and don’t try to rush it; enjoy the experience. It’s also beneficial to learn basic maintenance and how to care for your bike - it’s pretty fulfilling to know how your bike works and what to do if you have an issue.
There is an incredible online Mutt community, and in London, there is a riders group that organises ride outs and meetups. Going for rides with others is one of the best ways to help boost your confidence, plus you get to spend quality time with good people!”
WHAT IS IT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT MUTT BIKES?
“I love the simplicity and un-fussy beauty of a Mutt. They are easy to clean, maintain and fun to ride! A Mutt is a great first bike for anyone starting out or getting back into bikes after some time off. They are lightweight and not intimidating at all, plus they always turn heads. Whenever I take a Mutt out I have a real blast, they are just so much fun!”
WHEN WE’RE NEXT DOWN VISITING THE BETHNAL GREEN MUTT STORE WHERE ELSE SHOULD WE CHECK OUT? ANY GOOD BOOZERS, PIZZAS, LONDON RIDE-OUTS?
“Ooooh did you say pizza! I love pizza. There is Yard Sale Pizza on Hackney Road, which does the best pizza; they also do an amazing Marmite and cheese garlic bread. Behind the shop in the railway arches is Sodo Pizza which is also really good and very close to Mutt London.
Booze wise, we have Satan’s Whiskers cocktail bar along the street, and The Hare is further along towards Hackey - it’s a proper old boozer.
My favourite pub is the Lord Morpeth, it’s around a 20-minute walk from the shop, in Bow, but it’s well worth it. They do delicious sour dough pizza, so you can get beer and pizza in one place, which is always a winner in my book. I often go there on summer evenings after work.
I prefer to ride out of London, rather than into it (the traffic is hideous!), so the roads out around Essex and Sussex are my go-to - they’re just lovely. I’m quite partial to stopping at the Tea Hut in Epping Forest for a sausage sandwich, it’s been there for years and years, and you will always find loads of bikes there.”
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE ROAD TRIPS AND RIDING EXPERIENCES?
“I have already done so many things in the years I’ve been riding, so it’s hard to pick a favourite, but riding in France through the Pyrenees mountains while at Wheels and Waves was pretty amazing. The scenery was spectacular, we even encountered mountain bulls and cows that were just hanging out in the middle of the road, and we had to go around them. It was a bit terrifying as I had only had my full licence for about a month, but it was an unforgettable experience. Doing my first track day on my own bike is pretty high on my list as well, learning what my bike is capable of in a safe environment and being able to push myself that little bit further along my motorcycle journey. It’s safe to say I’ve now got the track bug! I finished building my own track bike last year, which I’ve enjoyed putting to the test!
I’m looking forward to more track days and some longer trips, including riding around Spain later this year hopefully.”
Londoners - get yourself down to Mutt London to meet Saffron yourself; she’ll have you captivated and chomping at the bit to get your butt on a Mutt.
