Topic: What started you on the world of the motorcycle?

[huntman58]

Always like bikes and got hooked when dad built me Minnie bike. then when older and I finally got some money working I bought a Suzuki 200 twin two stroke bike this was when I was around 13 from then on have almost always had a bike .

[Carbine]

.......the neighbor kids.........and watching Steve McQueen ride that Triumph Trophy in the Great Escape..........

[grumburg]

W

[grumburg]

When I was 12, my brother's college roommate took my for a ride on his 305 Ya-ma-ha. I was hooked. They are Ya-ma-has in 1967.

[clarkjh]

My sisters boyfriend on a CR-80 if I remember right.  Mom was a nurse and wouldn't let dad get me a bike, so he got me a plywood 3HP go-cart.  If mom had only known I could get 40MPH out of it   Got a 75 CB550F given to me, (reads - helped out a couple of kids with a flat, they parked the bike in my yard and never came back for it.)  Ran it for 3 years without a clue about maintenance, needed some money and sold it.  Kicked my own ass ever since then, picked up my 74 CB550 last summer, and now know too much about maintenance .

James

[hawkeye]

Wish I had a great story about how I caught the bug but the plain and simple truth is economics and the need to get my butt from one place to the other. First it was a skateboard, then a bicycle, then a Moped, and finally, when I was 17, my first car, a '67 caddy for $700. Being 17 I thought that all you had to do was buy the car and the rest was just gas money. Then came mandatory insurance(grossly inflated for young males), Smog certificates and the costs of fixing the vehicle to pass, registration,speeding tickets, parking tickets,vehicle upkeep, tow fees,etc... Not all of us can boast of making $50,000+ yearly or having a nice pension to retire on, for some of us(like me) choices have to be made based strictly on "what can I afford". My first Honda(550/4) cost $250 and $26 to register $64 to insure(liability) and the rest was just gas. I learned to work on it to keep costs down.

 That was over 15 years ago and that bike is long gone. I picked up my first "dead" cb750 5 years ago because I wanted to try my hand at repairing something besides the machinery at the job. Always wanted to take apart an engine and see how it worked. And I found out I really like doing this. Oh, and riding too

count me in as another convert due to economics.  cars are too expensive for me and after a big **** up driving without insurance a bike was what I needed to get around town cheap and easy.  I originally looked at a moped but decided that I might as well save some money and get a motorcycle and avoid looking like a chump at the same time.  I picked up my F2 for a song from a guy that thought it needed major carb work done.  I had it towed home by AAA (thanks for the membership, dad! ), re-timed it, set the valves, and it was good to go.  gotta say if I didn't have the bug before I bought my ride I caught it right afterward. 

[needswork]

It was my dad's fault too!
Back around '76 he became a sales rep for Kawasaki. Back then, the sales rep's got 2 demonstrators (insurance,gas,maintenace paid- sweeeeet and 2 snowmobilesand a jet ski too!). He immediately got his license and started small with a KE175. I was 13 years old. Then he got a KE100 for me and bought a Honda XR75 for my little brother and the 3 of us went dirt biking together alot. A lot of laughs. Dad graduated to a KZ1000R and I had a few bikes after that...then there were the "bad years"- 15 years without a bike until I bought this one last summer.
Geez, I hadn't thought about biking with dad and brother in a long time. My dad died 4 years ago and brother can't afford a bike and lives 3 hours away.   

[bill440cars]

                needswork,  Sure am sorry to hear about your Dad, my Mom died just about 4 yrs ago also.
         Too bad your brother lives so far away. Sometimes working on a project bike can kind of give
         you some kind of peace. My Grandfather's been gone now for about 38 years now and with the
         relationship we had, it was almost like losing an older brother. Even now, when I'm messing
         around with one of my projects, I can feel his presence. He and my Dad (he'll be 81 this July)
         were such an inspiration to me that was so awesome. It's really great to hear about these kinds
         of families when there's so much neglect is this world today.   Later on,   Bill

[martini]

The parking spot that I used to have at an old apartment had a bike parked across the top of it. When I moved in I ask the manager whose bike it was and why it was in my spot. Apparently a previous tenant was storing it there and I was told it would be moved soon. Two years later the bike was still there and I was beginning to like it. I managed to get the previous tenants number from the manager and offered the guy $300 for it. He jumped at it, I think he forgot he even owned it. It was a Kawi 440 Ltd. Fired up right away, saw me through the next fews years, and firmly planted the bike bug in me.

[eldar]

I started cause I lived on a farm and had nothing better to do. Had a beat up trail 70 then moved to a yamaha enduro. Then did not ride for like 10 years practically and then got my 750 and jumped right on it and off I went. Feels natural and I dont have to look when I want to put down the kickstand!

[meanboyjr]

I started in with bikes to be rebellious, of course.

My mom said I could NEVER have a motorcycle, which meant as soon as I was legally and financially able, I bought my first scoot - a 1981 Kawasaki KZ750E.

It was still very trick for the time - circa 1985 - and it was bored over, with a Kerker 4-into-1 pipe and those nifty K&N pod filters, with a low bar and custom rearsets...looking back, it was not the best ride for a beginner, but I was the envy of most of my friends (except the guy with the new Ninja 900).

20 years later, I still grin thinking about it. And 20 years later, I'm still riding...although I've given up on the low bars and rearsets.

[Chris Schneiter]

Mid '60s. An older neighbor kid got a Honda 50..I just loved all the plastic! I was 9 and obsessed...If I saw bike tire tracks, I'd walk on them and pretend I was riding...at about 10, after intense badgering, I hooked a ride on a guys Bonneville...I couldn't believe the acceleration! Then, I think later that year, I actually rode a real motorcycle by myself..a Honda Dream...ah, the squareness of it all! At 11, I got my first minibike, a Fox Doodlebug..I rode that thing through two engines, had a helmet that my Mom made me buy, but I NEVER wore it (I rode so much that I remember taking showers at the end of a week of riding, and there would be gravel in the bottom of the tub from my hair!)...went on to a second minibike and almost bought a Harley 45 military bike at 13, and rode all my friends Honda Mini Trails, mini bikes and motorcycles...I didn't really have a motorcycle until I was about 25 (after my first divorce)...an obnoxious Yamaha 250 Enduro...riding knobbies on the street improves  your riding technique...Then I got married again...wanted a trailer hitch for the car..she (who hated anything I liked) goes "sell your motorcycle and you can get a trailer hitch"....Yeeessss Deeeaaarr....(wasn't as big a loss as you might think..that thing was a pain to ride...knobbies, geared down so the top end was about 60)....eventually, she got fired too, and within about  2 years, found my '76 CB750 and have nursed her back to vibrant health, and who knows, she may have siblings someday! No real influences, more like a genetic pre-disposition....no one else in my family has ever even been remotely interested in bikes.....

[cb650]

DADS fault!!!!!!    Now its my fault!!!!!!!!     I'll post a pic in my album (that is so cool thanks Glenn and anyone else responsible).  My son on his 80 xr 80 with training wheels well outriggers really.  They didnt stay long he just needed some confidence.



                    Terry


P.S.   He also got this mopar bug going to.  I think its passing on too.

[Toenail]

It was my bro,he had a cl70 in late 60's.He would let me ride it around in the yard.Then mom bought me a Qa50 and man i tore up the yard and and then blasted down through the feilds on cow trails.It was better than fooling with any ole gals.Damn sure got to get help to upload pics.Later on guys

[meanboyjr]

Oh no! Not the MOPAR bug!! That's a deadly ($$$$) one! 

[bill440cars]

DADS fault!!!!!!    Now its my fault!!!!!!!!     I'll post a pic in my album (that is so cool thanks Glenn and anyone else responsible).  My son on his 80 xr 80 with training wheels well outriggers really.  They didn't stay long he just needed some confidence.

                     Terry

P.S.   He also got this mopar bug going to.  I think its passing on too.

           Terry, Sounds like he is his father's son all right an headed in the right direction.

                                                Later on, Bill

[cb650]

Have to include my uncle Lyndy too.   He even had a 750 when I was growing up. 



                Terry

[bill440cars]

                 When I was growing up, around my Grandfather's shop, some of the younger guys (older that me, obviously) would come over to our house and I'd get to ride with one of them on their bike.
Between that and the fact that when ever my Dad and I went anywhere, we went on his motorcycle, from when I was small enough to ride on his lap on his Indian Brave and graduated to the back of the seat on his Indian Warrior. Only thing I wish was different would have been for me to be able to ride with them on my own bike(at that time.). I did enjoy being there though amongst all those bikes of back then. There were the Indians, BSAs, Triumphs, Harleys, Nortons and all. I wish I had some pictures. But, that's history, huh.    Bill

[needswork]

My daughter's gonna say "it was Dad's fault" too.
She's 12 and would be perfectly happy to spend the entire day on the back of my bike (she's got the bug bad). she has no problem with going fast or leaning in the corners.  Now she's saying things like "when I get a bike..." or asking about cost of bikes and insurance I bought her a full face helmet, leather jacket and gloves and last night I found her some boots for cheap and we just HAD to try out the new boots  . We're going on our first rally tomorrow only because she begged me to take her (about an 1 1/2 drive return).

Mom's just thrilled with her daughter's new found hobby  especially since a biker was killed in town here last week. She hasn't been on the bike yet and I've had it for almost a year. My other daughter (14 yrs. old) doesn't even know what colour my bike is. 

[huntman58]

this is to funny as I get blamed for making my step sons like bikes and the youngest one now is dreaming of when he gets his . the older one wants mine ( not ready to give it up yet ) my daughter likes bikes from when i lived with her but also my story's of drag racing my old kaw kz400 triple bit her also as now I hear she is racing a camaro for a friend at the local drag strip. dam I would love to see that but she is 700 miles away living with a mother that hates me 

[8 Track]

The old man on his brand new '73 h2 with chambers.  I can still remember the smell.

[needswork]

The old man on his brand new '73 h2 with chambers.  I can still remember the smell.

Not meaning to highjack the thread but I saw a beautiful example of an original H2 last weekend, 2500 original miles, had everything but the motor, even the pipes, tank and seat looked new I asked the kid in the shop if they had the motor and he didn't know. Pop the motor in that puppy and you got an all original classic, i couldn't believe it. What a waste 

[BobbyR]

I was taking a College Prep course with a guy named Mario. A guy he knew had to come up with fast cash since he had an "accident" his girlfriend. I bought the guys bike for $200. It was a 250cc Ducati, the guy was trying to make it some sort of mini Harley clone. It was butchered pertty bad. No Key, no horn or turn signals.  I went and bought some Insurance, Plates and Helmet. I did get a Learners Permit. Mario and I and some of his friends rode up to a concert call Woodstock.  I rode that funny looking bike for years. I later bought a 80 KZ440 for $200 and got her roadworthy. Then a guy offered me a 78 Cb750K that had only been ridden for 2 years and parked for 20 in a dry basement. I bought it for $200 also. there is a pattern here. My 750 is stock and I refresh it every two years. I love it and hate it at the same time. The wife just plain hates it. Tooooooooooo Baddddddddddddd.

[Ernie]

my best freind at age10 got a minni bike next year i was sporting a brand new honda mini trail with custom purple paint 49 cc 3speed w/ automatic clutch.in 1970 our police werent too interested in little bikers so i ran that thing everywhere feilds woods even on the street from time to time then i got an 125cc,350 was my fist street legal bike@17i put way too many sets of turn signals on that old 350

[Uncle Ernie]

A gosling will follow the first thing it sees right after being hatched. About 3 or 4 years old, I had a little friend who had a big sister who had a boyfriend who had a BIG bike. Either a Harley or Indian. I used to stand next to it in awe. I don't think I even knew what it was.
When I was around 12 or 13 (1966 or '67?), a friends neighbor took me for a ride on the back of his R60. I was hooked. I've had Beemers all my riding life, and I'm on my 3rd and last Indian.