London Dispatch

[tentangkitabv]

@raikosiems on Jul 5, 2008 : "since the advent of the internet and other technologies, the need for these drivers has significantly disappeared".. ??? I don't agree with you, sorry.. The fact is conversely. Actually, the internet is significantly increasing the need for dispatch by motorcycle courier since ebay, kaskus, facebook, twiter, and other "via internet selling & purchasing".

[jmagicfingers]

Just been pointed at this, brings back a load of memories. I was only working for a couple of years late 80's but this really makes me remember them fondly.

[muswellmike]

Was a London courier on various bikes from the faithful maggot to the Fazer 6 for a total period of 20 years from 1991 to 2011. One fairly bad rearender but otherwise intact. Couldnt wait to get out of it and move to an easy life in Somerset pottering around in my van doing a bit of west country courier work.

Turns out I'm actually missing it. Never thought I would. It's like a drug. Doesn't even pay well anymore and hasn't for years,but when you finally try to convince yourself that it's time

[kingharryannis]

CX500 HONDA a great motorbike.

[radiocrash]

This is great when was it filmed ? i just returned to couriering from working in an office people say are you mad! but really i just love being out there being your own boss battling your way through the traffic not having to answer to some wanker called your boss you really don't respect and to the people who moan and winge about the weather man up for gods sake :)

[tubemech]

Nice little film.

Particularly like the way it ends on a positive note......!

[kenboonie]

Bloody hell i've got back into it..2 months now and no problems.Money is ok too.Some days i love it and have a big grin on my face whilst other days i can't wait to get home.

[alex931]

I'm A motorcycle courier, although i work in the south west, Plymouth, Cornwall and the surrounding area. I love my job and i love looking up London bike couriers so as to relate to things. I had a car pull out on me just 3 weeks ago now, went into the side of it, his fault. A dangerous business but it pays well :)

[kenboonie]

I used my old Honda Africa Twin back in the mid 90's......some bad days but some buzzing days too.Only 1 accident...minor...in 3 years.I am thinking about getting back into it if i return to the UK.Heard its not so good as it used to be though.Any comments on that?

[kenboonie]

Nice film...brings back some memories

[bikerestore]

I miss it too! CX No1 managed 220,000 miles on same rings and bores.

Cant get away from a love of bar muffs, screens and three pairs of summer gloves...

Did some great jobs. Took seeds to the British space programs medical officer's house one night. These were for Helen Sharman to take in to space. Surgical instruments straight in to operating theatre side door whilst op happening. Plenty other things to get a buzz about.

CX's do handle, ground my pegs to half there width in the summer.

[IAmDanIAmNotSam]

I miss those days. Flying around on my battered XJ550 then CBR6 - I new where their limits lay & I was fast and immortal, my own boss, up to £1,200 a week (in the good old days), partying hard all weekend with big bags of coke and E's and cash. Heading off to India etc for months when it got to cold or boring. I'm grateful I was in the right time and place for despatchings' heyday. Now it's sh*t pay, police, speed-cameras, 5 day week, 'official' hours and a 'proper job' kind of ethos.

[itsthemechanic]

Former 'spatcher here, great vid, does a good job at making me feel nostalgic... shame the Brazilians have ruined the industry or I'd still be out there doing it. No other job like it in the world.

[RickJM67]

.....what about all the learners? They seem to be all over London - particularly working for a couple of major companies.

[hardginocore]

total true. i`am a brazilian myself. European citizen though... done the job for many,many years...always respecting the laws and letting you brits go first. What i`ve seen immigrants doing (NOT ONLY BRAZILIANS!) ruined the business for those in it prior. ..Refusal to pay taxes and ensurance, led way to many good people out of the circuit for not being able to keep up with those with no expenses.

[oonyack]

GIZ yir a fanny

Jock MacLoon

[Gizmatron77]

@oonyack thanks for that word of confidence mcloon

[Gizmatron77]

@oonyack thanks for that word of confidence mcloon

[evermau]

Thanks for that video!

Its a crazy job but , somebody has to do it.

And its still dificult to find something that pays the same money.

Lima 35.

[Despatch20]

Enjoyed the clip; Reminds me of my days as a courier. Sure, you get carved up in the traffic from time to time, but I can't remember being stressed out by it. That depends on your personality. A motorbike really brings a big city down to size.

[Julian123123123]

Yeah we did our best to kill a few!

Long live the London Maggot.

[Conneyfogle]

I didn't know they maggots were still alive, I tried killing a few off, managed about 4 or 5 with some help from Joolz

[matttomasi]

kudos to the director, awesome movie.

[freddy77777]

Just another job mind you not many people have raced around piccadilly circus lol

[human1333]

Hello guys! I've been there too, its like a war. But, like some of u guys i loved it and miss this job so bad (and fellow riders). I remember moments like 3or 4 days of rain when every morning i had to jump into wet leather, wet boots and gloves - it was a horror.

[courier88]

i was a courier from 1983 till 2003 ,broke my neck and back in two separate accidents,lost 18 good friends,i work in a office now for Nissan,but you know something i still miss the job ! crazy i know,it was a total way of life, bikes mates good money freedom bet theres never a job like it again.

pete 88

[raikosiems]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[bikersrule07]

oh btw awesome vid,shows what its like out on the grind!! well done.

[raikosiems]

Thanks - I appreciate the feedback

[grassmoustache]

hey! its meep meep here, the original 6969. Fuck! sometimes i miss that job. Fuck knows how i got away after 8 years of it with just a broken leg - i remember why i left - too many nights crying into my helmet coming home from stinking paddock wood! NOTHING is waterproof. One of the few jobs where the wages go down while the costs go up! Youre all mental ha ha! keep it up guys. love to you all.

[bikersrule07]

nothing is water proof, tell me about it, if somone says there gloves are water proof there lieing,esp if there leather!!

The only glove that is water proof is a rubber glove!!

[grassmoustache]

actually.. there are always seal skins - waterproof socks that work...

[dec149]

No one ever called Giz killer I always remember him as jabber,the boy could TALK

[raikosiems]

Did you know Giz? Does anyone know if he is still in the business?

[Gizmatron77]

@raikosiems In answer to the filmer's question I stayed full time in the game for 12 years till about may 1999 when I finally moved to my farm in France.end of '99 saw the hurricane in France demolish my house so back in London for 5 more years part time during the winter.Despatching was the most fun EVER! I was as much a nutter at the end as I ever was but despite every cold wet dangerous day it was a blast... and I bet I'm still faster than any of the youngsters doing it today.

[raikosiems]

@Gizmatron77

Giz!!! Is that you! How the hell are you?  Send me an e-mail to me at Raiko321@yahoo.com.

[IMAXGT]

Yep did it 87 to 91 bets job ive ever had, even now im in upper management and i miss that job, the people the buzz, working on my own out on my bike, i miss it so much, but im married now with 3 great kids.

still one day i might go back

[jmjlane]

I was a London DR from 1983 to 1990,I never got a scratch,I miss the adrenaline buzz tho...

[carbonxr]

Cool I managed 93 till 2001 until my head crumbled from too much London. Hidden away in the countyside these days (sectetly wishing I could do it all again!!)

[itsthemechanic]

Haha I'm in the same boat mate, greetings from the tepid German countryside ;)

[Saffabiker]

Strewth that brings back a flood of memories. It's one of those things you wouldn't mind going back to for a few days for the camaraderie & good times, but know you'd remember why you got out of it after all those years. Great piece of work dude.

[raikosiems]

Thanks for posting your comment and thanks for your kind words about the doc. I think you guys are really cool doing what you do.

[mogalboy]

Thanks, I'd have put it earlier from the bikes, I was despatching in London in the late 80's, interesting times :)

[mogalboy]

Brilliant!, when was it made?

[raikosiems]

I made this in 1995 for a summer film film project. Had a blast - I liked your page - seems your a fan a messengers. The guy Giz who appeared in my video is a legend in his industry - they call him "Killer 36" Amazing bunch of guys.