A LAWYER and keen biker died after losing control of a new machine he had bought to replace another he had judged too powerful, an inquest heard.

North Yorkshire East coroner Michael Oakley was told 50-year-old John Ridley, of Main Street, Wombleton, North Yorkshire, decided to sell his 1100cc motorcycle, even though he had only had it a few weeks. But, tragedy struck when he was returning home on a 650cc Honda he had bought to replace it.

The hearing was told Mr Ridley lost control of the motorcycle while braking and was involved in a collision with a car near Hovingham on July 12 this year.

In a statement to the inquest, Mr Ridley's wife, Sheila - a former Kirbymoorside town councillor and deputy mayor - said she and her husband drove to Colchester to collect the less powerful machine.

Mr Ridley decided to ride it home while she drove the couple's car. But she became concerned when, after several hours, her husband failed to return.

When she called his mobile telephone it was answered by a policeman who told her that Mr Ridley had been involved in an accident.

Car driver Charles Field, of Castle Hill, Hunmanby, said he was travelling from Hovingham towards Malton when he first saw the motorcycle as he approached a bend in the road.

"It started to wobble. It was either on the centre line or just over it," he said.

Traffic Constable David Foster emphasised there was no evidence to suggest Mr Ridley was speeding, but a reconstruction of the accident appeared to suggest he had braked so firmly the front wheel of his machine had locked.

Another contributory factor may have been a small pot-hole, found near the apex of the bend, which may have caused the motorcycle to wobble, prompting Mr Ridley to brake harshly.

Mr Ridley was the 13th motorcyclist to die on North Yorkshire's roads this year; another 15 have lost their lives since. More than 50 have died since January last year.

Mr Oakley recorded a verdict of accidental death.