| Author | Message | ||
     Sportyeric |
Ah. Bullit asks why? and what training? Economy. Nothing more glamorous. My Scottish blood. Better gas mileage than a car and still some performance. Self taught. God knows how I survived it. Don't even remember how I got it home! | ||
| Peter |
PPiA | ||
| Hans |
First and only riding lesson I got at the age of 14 from my nephew on a DKW 98 cc (model 1939. No helmets and his instruction was yelled when throttle was down. At an T crossing our plans to wich direction were opposed. The result was a straight line wich ended in a full stop just before the fench in front. That was marked as end of the very short lesson in which I did learn for life: Passengers are dangerous, beware. Several years later I bought myself exact the same model for a price of 50 cts per Lbs as first bike and had to split my time between wrenching and learning to ride. Hans. | ||
| Jmartz |
It was a 1957 French VeloSolex. Later on I transfrred the motor to the rear of a 10 speed since the VeloSolex had a rather hefty frame and was quite heavy. Top speed odtheoriginal bike was about 20 mph but on the 10 speed frame it could do 35... | ||
| Rocketman |
balllllllllllllls | ||
| Rocketman |
First off was a Bantam 175. It had a spark and fuel, but never ran. I was about 12 and had a bit of a clue, but ignition timing was beyond me. My dad gave it to a "rag 'n' bone" man. I can still see him now lifting it on to the horse 'n' cart. Rode a few Honda 50 track bikes through my teens, and a Garelli Tiger Cross. Once at the legal age of 16 I rode a Honda PC50 moped, then a C50 stepthru, both of which were owned by the bloke I worked for. When I hit 17 I financed up and got me a Honda SL 125. This was the first bike I owned outright. After that I graduated to a Suzuki GT250L, then to a GT250A. I'd also bought me a non running BSA A10 chop. I never got it running, but the seed was sewn. Next came a basket case Triumph T110 chop, which I built up to running order with all the pre-unit Triumph goodies including the 750 Morgo conversion. I still have this beast in a basket somewhere.........one day !!!!!!! Then, through my days working as a bike mechanic, I bought several Jap bikes over a period. KH400, GT380, GT550, XS650 Special, CB550 Four (the one I bust my leg on real bad), YZ125 crosser, Triumph T140D US Special, 1973 XLCH1000 (the first with a disc brake), 1988 XL1200 4 speed evo with a 1220 Wiseco set-up (and a fairly quick Sporty back then)......................... But now I've got one of these   Aint I a lucky bastardio ????????? Rocket in England | ||
| Bullitt |
This has really turned out to be a great thread. It totally fascinates me to hear these stories from you guys. There are names of marques I haven't heard in a long time written in above. Don't forget to include WHY you threw your leg over that first bike. You knew it was risky. You knew you might fall off. But you did it anyway. I'm still blaming my addiction on Bruce Brown and Steve McQueen. | ||
| Mikej |
I didn't know it was risky, just fun. And the thought of falling off never entered my mind, even if I did hit the dirt many times. I also remember taking that little Yamaha over to the church parking lot next door and dragging the footpegs while doing figure-8's around the lamp posts, don't recall dragging a knee though. You ask why? If you're smiling when you're done, then there's no reason to ask why.  | ||
| S2pengy |
The year was 1965. Heath Kit (The electronics kit company) sold a mini-bike kit. The Boonie Bike... Everything but the engine was in pieces and you put it together.... 5hp Brigg and Stranton engine, two speed trany, no rear suspension, 18 inch rear wheel and one spring as the front suspension..... Why??? Got tired of peddling... Todd | ||
| Djkaplan |
Why? For the same reason I want to have sex with women. It's just natural. I've never thought about it or questioned it. It just is. It's implanted in my genetic structure. | ||
| Blake |
Until my first accident (old fart in a car pulled out right in front of me on barely wetted street), I had never REALLY thought about the risk. It was too much fun. Though, now, I do often think about the risk. For me, being on a motorcycle, sans fairing, made/makes me feel a part of the world, free, one with the road, the wind, the air, the sun, the rain, event the damn bugs. Riding a motorcycle evokes a sense of total freedom and awakens my senses to all the elements rather than making me feel like I'm in a protective bubble viewing the world remotely, confined, insulated, caged. | ||
| Tbolt834 |
First bike was an H-D Rapido 125 in 1969. My Dad raced H-D sidecars after WWII and thought H-D was the way to go. Learned to ride by myself though it always seemed natural, from bicycles to bikes. Bought it to get to job and back, plus high school. Sold it three years later and bought a Honda 305 Scrambler (used). My brother owned a 1968 Yamaha 650. Many friends with bikes to borrow were 1970 Yamaha 250 Trail, 1971 CB350, 1972 CB450, 1970 Bridgestone 175. For 27 years I told the wife I would one day ride again. Bought the S2 in 2000. Always determined that the dangers were worth the rewards. | ||
| Rick_A |
In Aug, 2001, I purchased a 1996 S1 Lightning...because it is a bad ass machine and I wanted nothing else. I had never owned anything else, and never rode a streetbike...but had some offroad experience. I crashed it two months later playing superbike racer with some friends...and I've gotten a slew of tickets on it. Despite all this we're both still alive and going strong...hahaha. I love the simplicity and character of it. | ||
| Reepicheep |
50cc Garelli two stroke moped when I was 14. Don't know how I survived two years on the street on a bike with a top speed of 22 mph. I was a perpetual rolling chicane. Was then out of bikes from 16 through 33 or so, then got a Yamaha 600cc Radian (good cheap practical standard bike). Rode it for two years, and was looking hard at a ZR7 or and SV-650. The ZR7 failed to stir me, and the SV-650 would not allow me to sit comfortably and lacked character somehow. I really wanted to like it, but could not get excited. Then somebody at work sent me a link describing her new bike that she was about to pick up... a sportster. I looked at the specs and was reasonably impressed, but had no interest in a cruiser. Then the light went off and I remember Buell. Looked at the specs for a Cyclone, and was absolutely blown away... it was the perfect street bike, and something about it got under my skin (in a good way) like every other bike (that was remotely affordable) ever did. I was hooked. Found a used one for sale DIRT cheap (dead of winter, middle of no where) and bought it. The Yamaha 600cc sat in the garage for most of a year until I sold it... there were times when I had a choice of either working on the Buell or riding the Yammy, and I got more satisfaction out of working on the Buell. Riding wise, there is no comparison, the Buell speaks to me like no other bike (I have tried anyway). Now my NEXT bike (I will be keeping the Cyclone) will hopefully be about a 200 cc enduro. When the first year firebolts (before the big power jump I expect them to get in the next couple years) start showing up used for reasonable prices (maybe), I will have a delimma... I want one, but I don't know if I would be able to part with the Cyclone... | ||
| Newfie_Buell |
Hmmmmmm, Let me think. The first one was a Sundowner and I am not sure of the engine size. Rode that thing for a few years until I got a Suzuki RV90. That thing was a beast-had real wide tires and weighed almost as much as my S1 (OK I am exagerating but when your 10 may as well be). After that was a Suzuki DS 185, Yamaha Tri-moto 125 (scary experience-three wheels, lack of any suspension and real bad brakes), Suzuki LT-125, Honda Ascot 500cc Single, Honda 750 Shadow and a Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo (that was a fun ride until I blew up the turbo). I then had a Suzuki 230 Quadsport (barrels of fun on that) and a 1992 KLR 650 (Sorry I sold that one). I currently own a 1971 Honda CB 450T (can't get the damm thing running, lots of spark and gas, no go-any help is appreciated) and back in June I bought a 1975 Honda CB-500T which is sort of running (have a new electronic ignition for that one). I was planning on using the 500T until I found the 98 S1. Now I can't see past this thing. Why I ride, something I can't explain. I enjoy it too much, I have logged 1000km days on the S1 and have not been tired afterwards and I just love the comments I get. There are only about 2 of them here in Newfoundland. Every time I ride I can't stop smiling and all other things going on in my world are gone. Now the problem is that there is black ice on the roads and very unsafe to ride. Also hard to ride in Sub-Zero Temperatures. Damm Newfoundland weather-Can't wait until April |
