What event was it that got you into motorcycles?

Was having a chat with a long time friend that I hadn't seen in quite a while yesterday, she saw the post where my son had videoed me and stuck it on facebook and asked, so you are still riding those machines huh? What is it that got you into those fool hardy machines? That question raised an eye brow, had me go way back. I could only nail it down to two things that stuck. One was my dad had these two wheeled things with tiller tires on em called Tote goats, kind of a all terrain mini bike, I was riding them around all the time, seem fun so why not right. kinda like right up there with riding the lawn mower that gramps had. just felt good. IIRC That was around when I was 6 or so. Second time that nailed it for life was I was playing baseball, the game ended, my parents either forgot or didn't mind I walked home. it was only a couple miles. no biggie back them. It wasn't but a few minutes after everyone was gone that I recall a friends older brother swung by on a glimmering Honda super sport 90 in black and chrome, he asked if I needed a ride, I said sure , threw a leg over, helmetless and off we went. That did it, I want one. Mind you at the time I was maybe 10, it stuck, by the time I was 13 I had saved up enough money to get a Yamaha 90 enduro. Two years later with the same bike I had my drivers permit, then shortly there after I became an endorsed legal driver, woot woot! The rest is history.

Your turn..........

 

I had a Puch moped while in the early years of high school.. Ride the living BeJesus out of that thing. Hooked ever since.

 

I think my affliction was a side affect of traveling through the birth canal. Always loved e'm.

 

Me. All started when I stopped commuting 100 miles a day round trip with three others for work to doing the same all by myself. Lets see. Is it cheaper to drive a big fonkin honkin duramax truck or would a bike be cheaper. Went to the local Honda dealer in August 2006 and bought my then brand new in the crate white beauty. Had never ever ridden a bike prior to this and did not even have a learners permit so the salesman rode it to my house. Rest is recent history.

 

^ and O what the history has been huh ?

 

That it has. Met many very fine people because of this bike. Been received in many homes for hot cocoa, tea and beer in many different states and provinces.

 

My affliction started around probably 8-10 years old. Dad bought gokart and old monkey wards briggs and stratton minibike. Neither worked very well and ugly but I rode them both. Then the toys just got bigger....Honda 50 to Honda XR80 to Yamaha YZ125 to Yamaha XT175 to Honda Interceptor 500 to VFR 800. Of course, there were some in-between I rode but never owned. I probably see a Goldwing in my future at some point but not yet.

Edit: Dad also had Goldwings here and there that I rode on back of. That definitely contributed to my vice.

 

Early summer of 1969 found me happily occupied with British sports cars. Had already owned a 1957 MGA roadster, 1957 Triumph Tr3 smallmouth, and a 1960 Austin Healey 3000.
Friend showed up on his brand new Kawasaki F4 Sidewinder. I'd never been on a motorcycle before so I declined taking it for a ride. He finally talked me into it. By the end of the street, I was hooked.
Year later, plunked down $1465 for a brand new 1970 Triumph Bonneville.
Been going ever since...

 

Sheesh Toe, how fast did you go through? Did you shoot across the room?

I was watching motocross, hrm maybe 2013? I turned to my wife and said, "I need to do that." It just looked ridiculously fun all of a sudden. I had never looked at motorcycles before. I recall seeing chromed Harleys, which were the best looking bikes, and thinking, "that's beautiful." Then the thought processes just ended. So this was a karmic moment. I suspect that I need to understand how they work in order to fulfill some upcoming invention or technology. Still wondering the reason for all of this.

Went to the MSF, passed, and got an endorsement. Boy was that exciting.

Fast forward to 2014. Needless to say after studying the heck out of dirt riding and looking at dual sports, I realized that being in the cement jungle with no dirt around me, it was natural to instead get a road bike. I was almost ready to go look at a used 2002 or so FZ1. Then a friend pointed out that Honda had the highest quality, best balanced bikes. He informed me that they made V4's. Really? I started reading online about the VFRs and was influenced to look at 5th gens. Only two weeks after my buddy's lesson I saw the 5th gen on Craigslist. Had to have it.

 

Elementary school, think 5th grade, a friend won a mini bike on a show called Mr. Wishbone...that was it for me, back then the San Fernando Valley was horse ranches and orange groves, huge field right across the st from my house....rode every day rain or shine.
Thanks Craig

 

When I was in my early teens I thought it would help me get laid.

 

My older brother got me into it. He brought a Cushman scooter back to life and that was his first. Then he bought a new Trail 70. He taught me how to ride on that. I use to ride him on the back and he'd beat on me to take it down some hairy trails near where we lived. It's funny, one time on a school playground I suffered target fixation. Headed straight toward a tether ball pole. He grab the bar just before we hit it and averted catastrophe.

He then bought a like new 73 RD 350 which he raced at SIR. I bought it from him when I was 16, my first bike. I raced it in '94 and seized it on the straight away at Bremerton while getting my license. Only made three laps but they gave me my license anyway. I restored most of it when I had time during the recession. I'm starting to put the engine back together. It's sitting on my desk.

RD 350. My first love...

 

Thanks Jaymon, good thread. .....

 

when kids, my older neighbor had go karts, mini bikes, Honda 90 stepthough? then in '65? a screamin' new CB160 Honda. Always had access to stuff. Still too young for licence, riding an RD350 nearly pulled my arms outta the sockets.

Fast forward a few years, now legal, i did brakes on a VW bug for someone...in leiu of payment (a whoppin' $30) we agreed... I took possession of his CB160! That was it...streeted it, got my permit then licence.

Sold for a profit...bought a Yamaha DT175, '72 Triumph 500 Daytona, '65 BMW R27, '56 BMW R69...many more...on and on. Nowadays a Ducati 900SS/SP and '98 VFR800 scratch my itch.

 

When I figured oot that long walks on the beach or anywhere else sucked.

 

EVIL KENEIVL!!! Got a SL70 made ramps and would jump over anything or crash most of the time!! CB100 when I got my 1st permit, Rm250, Huskys and motocrossed, RD400, XS650, FT500 and so on now on VFR750. What a ride would not change a thing.

 

I was 15, living in NJ, went to visit my cousin in El Toro, CA. They had a Moped, which I rode down to Newport Beach all the time. Got me hooked, it took about 10 years before I got a real bike, a Honda 305 scrambler.

 

If I may digress just a moment. Here's an older pic...briefly met Evel at Daytona in 2002. He appeared at a Yamaha Legends sit/Q&A/meet and greet. The Legends ended up meeting and greeting HIM!

A true luminary. Had the ladies in a concession stand guarding his Harley for him. I noticed his name in freehand, painted on tank....lady says "don't you touch that bike, thats Evels!" I'd never touch, but sure did give it a looksee.

 

Started dirt riding at 7 years old, a mid-70's Honda XR75. Fast forward to 13, a crazy weekend spent with a friend dumb enough to let me ride his Honda Shadow up and down his street until the neighbours complained too much and that's where it really started. For the next 15 years, I'd ride a few times when a bike was available and the opportunity presented itself but didn't really take it seriously until about 4 years ago when a co-worker talked me into trying a learner's license to see if it would stick and stick it has! A CBR600F2 was the learner and I enjoyed her immensely. I ended up finding my current ride, an '04 VFR800 about a year ago and haven't looked back since. Not sure if I'll rack up the miles like some of you hard core guys (and gals!) - I got a ways to go to catch up to Randy but not much beats the thrill of twisting that throttle open on a beautiful sunny day!

 

What an interesting thread. I blame my slightly older friend Andrew and his big sister. Andrew and I used to bicycle everywhere together, then he left school and bought himself a CB250RS, which I envied a lot. His older sister had a CG125 and she taught me to ride that around the family front lawn. When I left school and went to university, I was hell bent on getting a bike, but my parents were against that, naturally. Then they figured that if they didn't get on board with a purchase, I would buy something big/dangerous and unsuitable, so they relented and agreed to pay half, and limit me to a 125, so we bought a CB125T in 1982, and I have been riding road bikes ever since. When I was at uni I joined the motorcycle club and realised just how much fun bikes were. 6 months on the 125, then I bought a 250, then a 400, then....