Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict

I am Hans Petter Strifeldt, also known as HansP, while my friends simply call me HP.

I live in Norway, just south of Oslo. That's the capital of this magnificent motorcycling country.

I was born in 1969 far up in the North of Noway. 1969 was a great year in many ways they say. E.g. Moto Guzzi launched the V7 Ambassador.

Oh, and I believe they landed someone on the Moon as well that year.

The lady to the left in the picture is my wife, Sølvi. Together we have a son Magnus (b. '93) and a daughter Oda (b. '96).

Did I say I can't live without bikes? Bikes, or motorcycles if you prefer, is something that has had a huge place in my life for years and years. I took my motorcycle license (compulsory in Norway) in 1992, but couldn't afford my own bike until 1999. Since then, I've had a number of them. My wife rides too, so does our daughter Oda, who is going to ride 125 RR this year. Our son Magnus thinks bikes are not fun at all, so he sticks to his computers.

Photo: Pål Andreassen
copyright 2008

I used to be President of the Norwegian Motorcyclists' Union (NMCU) and The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA). Today I'm neither, but I still have a burning will to fight for riders' rights.

 People often ask me what this fascination of, or rather addiction to, motorcycles is all about. But I always find it hard to explain. I guess you have to know how it feels riding a bike to understand. E.g. only motorcyclists understands why a dog sticks its head out of the window while riding in a car. I think maybe this guy is somewhat close in his article in Motorcycle Daily.

But anyhow: This is who I am and what I do. Please sign the guestbook! Maybe we'll see each other on the road somewhere.