Topic: how did you get into riding motorcycles?

[Hinomaru]

Got my start as a kid on a no name-bare bones mini bike which looked very similar to the one in the photo. Had the standard features of the day: briggs & stratton engine, hardtail frame, centrifugal clutch and rear tire scrub brake. 
 
Those were so much fun to ride ...
     

[donpark1086]

Started my automotive motoring with an 1966 VW Beetle 1300cc, and started my motorcycling on a 1966 BSA Lightning.  The performance difference helped me decide the favored form of transport.  I still buy slow cars and fast motorcycles 45 years later.

[sixthwisconsin]

are you the kid in this advert sixthwisconsin?

Yeah, that was me...
I was a totally late 60's punk kid.

I remember that Wham-o wheely bar.
Only in my dreams.

That is a great ad. It really captures a 13 yr old dream. (Well, one of them anyway)

[catsoup]

A friend and I were hanging around one summer and out of the blue she said, 'we should get motorcycles.' I said, 'okay - let's do it.'
We are both pretty avid cyclists, so it seemed like a plausibly fun idea.

We got our licenses and motorcycles on the same day (82cm450 for her 78 cb750f for me) and have been riding since. I miss pedaling, but if i really missed it, I would just do it more. Really I just like riding more.

[heffay]

really, i just like peddling my ass around a lot less.   

[VoodooChild]

I'm not sure I can pick out one specific event that got me into motorcycles, but I remember seeing my 2nd cousins' dirt bikes and wanting to be just like them. After I saw a motocross race for the first time, I became a big Jeremy McGrath fan, and I made a point of it to beg my parents for a bike. At that time, we lived within city limits, so my parents wouldn't go for it.

A few years later, we moved back out into the country, and my dad picked up an old Honda 110 3-wheeler with no brakes. Dad fixed them a couple of times, but they kept crapping out and we just learned to ride without them. More of a thrill that way, right? lol

As far as bikes go, I got a brand new xr80 for my 12th birthday. Best birthday present I have gotten in my entire life! Since then, it's been a kx100, crf250, and back to more wheels with a trx450. This summer finally brought be to street bikes when I got my cb550f. I didn't bother telling the guy when I took it for a test drive that I didn't have a motorcycle license and that was about to be the first time I had piloted a street bike. lol It only lasted a few weeks before it ended up dying and I got too busy with other things to mess with it. It makes me sad, but it'll be like brand new by summertime...I hope. haha

Anyways, that's the somewhat short version. There's plenty of stories to go along with it, but I'll save them for another time.

[Rigid]

are you the kid in this advert sixthwisconsin?

Yeah, that was me...
I was a totally late 60's punk kid.

I remember that Wham-o wheely bar.
Only in my dreams.

That is a great ad. It really captures a 13 yr old dream. (Well, one of them anyway)

Nope, it was me, circa 1973.............

[Retro Rocket]

really, i just like peddling my ass around a lot less.   

Peddling your ass will get you locked up around here.....

[bcart82]

Rode a bicycle everywhere. Always wished I had a motor to help with hills...

Also, I always thought fonzie, his bike, and his ability to fix motors was awesome.

I was always mechanically inclined, so at the age of 16, when a family friend offered me a non-running cb550 for $50, I jumped on the deal. 2 days later I was riding it, 2 months later it looked as good as new.

Then when I got further along in life and could afford nice things, I started getting new sport bikes for the reliability and canned speed. Nice mix of new and old tech in the garage. It's a great Saturday when I get take the long way to the parts store on my new ducati so I can buy things for my old Honda.

[heffay]

lol... pedaling