When Linda Pilbeam finally swung a leg over her own Kawasaki Z650 as a fully licensed rider, she joined a family tradition that had surrounded her for decades. The surprising part isn’t that she earned her full motorcycle licence, it’s that she did it at 71.
Motorcycles have been a constant in Linda’s life. Her husband has been riding for more than forty years, her children and their partners all ride, and the younger generation is already showing interest. Yet Linda was the exception. She’d completed CBT years ago but never moved on. That changed thanks to a challenge issued in the family kitchen.
Her daughter announced she was going for her full licence. In a moment of encouragement, Linda told her she’d do the same if she passed. The comment was meant as moral support, nothing more. Then her daughter passed, and reminded her of the promise.
Taking on that promise wasn’t straightforward. Linda was conscious of an old injury and the physical demands of handling a larger training bike. She knew she would need instruction that recognised those hurdles rather than glossed over them.
A meeting with Mark Jaffe from Phoenix Motorcycle Training set things in motion. Linda contacted the team at Phoenix’s Foots Cray centre, where instructors drew up an eleven-month programme designed around her pace and ability. She started with an introductory “Getting on a Bigger Bike” session before moving to weekly lessons that prioritised confidence and stamina.
To make things easier, she trained on a lowered Kawasaki Z650. The reduced height and manageable weight helped her focus on technique rather than wrestling with the machine.
“The instructors were brilliant,” Linda says. “They paid attention to what I needed and kept nudging me forward. Their support made all the difference.”
That patience paid off. She now has her full licence and a Z650 of her own, the same bike she got to know during training. She says she feels steadier on the bike, more at ease on the road, and keen to take on journeys she wouldn’t have considered before.
The family’s riding story looks set to continue. Her granddaughter Maize has booked a Try Ride with Phoenix, a programme that gives 16-24 year olds their first taste of motorcycling. If all goes well, she’ll become the latest rider in a growing line.
For Mark Jaffe, Linda’s experience sums up what Phoenix aims to do. “Her story shows that you’re never too old to start,” he says. “With the right training and the right mindset, anyone can learn to ride and enjoy it.”
Phoenix Motorcycle Training operates more than twenty centres across the UK, offering courses ranging from CBTs to advanced rider training. Their mission is simple: to help riders of all ages and backgrounds get the skills and confidence they need to enjoy life on two wheels.
