How long have you been riding?

    • 202 posts
    February 5, 2011 12:08 AM PST
    Just thought i would throw a topic out there... *being trapped inside is kinda boring! 

    how long have you been riding?  what was your first bike? 

    I started riding in 1977.   We had a custom chopper in California, back when there were no helmet laws!  Remember that!  huh!  Never thought i would see the day that California imposed helmet laws, but anyway...

    After that were a series harleys.  I don't think i ever went a summer without riding since 1977. 

    In 1992, i bought my own bike ,  it was a 79 sportster.  I never felt comfortable it.  It always felt awkward.  I thought it was because i was riding solo rather than just vegging out on the back.  Perhaps that was part of it, but about 5 years ago i bought  a 2000  Honda Shadow.  Man she fits like a freakiin' glove... so comfortable!    I wouldn't trade her for anything!  Looking forward to a new summer with LOTS of miles with 'er!





     
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    • 19007 posts
    February 5, 2011 12:20 AM PST
    Started out in 1967 (I think) with a Honda C200 (90cc) bought for cheap second vehicle transportation.
  • February 5, 2011 12:37 AM PST
    1966 On a Suzuki T10 250cc smoker two cycle. I have done off road mud and long distance freeway since.
  • February 5, 2011 4:21 AM PST
    1973 on a Yamaha YL100 was my first bike. My first streetbike was in 1981 and it was a 400cc Kawasaki. I also had a Peugeuot 103 Moped when i was 14 and 15 but i don't like to admit that to often but it sure was alot of fun I remember.
  • February 5, 2011 2:30 PM PST
    1985 on a Kawasaki Spectre - black w/ bronze trim, no chrome. Loved the way that bike looked but not a great ride. Took a ten year hiatus while real life intervened and I had to sell the bike and couldn't afford another one. Now on an '08 H-D Fatboy. I wish my dad were still alive - he would have absolutely *loved* this bike...
  • February 5, 2011 2:40 PM PST
    i started riding when i was about 7and it all started on a little mini bike my Dad built...from then on, it's all history. Been riding ever since.....let's just say over 40 years.....wow, how the years have gone by and im still exploring this awesome world we live in.
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    • 16795 posts
    February 5, 2011 8:39 PM PST
    I was quite young riding Rupp and Benelli mini bikes, the first bike of my own was a 1942 Harley WLA (military surplus) I was 14 and working at a Kendal service station.
    • 9 posts
    February 5, 2011 9:26 PM PST
    1965 on the Island of Okinawa, I used to "borrow" my dads Vespa while he was away on trips, then in 1966 in Calif. I got a Honda 305 dream,,,, Been riding eversense.
    • 567 posts
    February 5, 2011 9:36 PM PST
    I started out in my high school years (circa 1964) with an old Allstate Cruisair scooter. After that came a Yamaha 125cc, a couple of Honda 350s, a Yamaha Virago 500, a Suzuki 800 and now my Kawasaki 1700 Nomad.
  • February 6, 2011 2:10 PM PST
    early 70s...Honda 250cc I think. Had an accident and left them alone for a while, then I got back on a ways back and have been riding again ever since.
  • February 6, 2011 11:25 PM PST
    Started in the late 60's with a 200 Honda Dream, next came a Honda 305 Scrambler and then the Triumph Bonneville years.
  • February 7, 2011 12:26 AM PST
    1975 on a Honda XL 100.

    Moved up to what I think was a CB400 before moving on to a '77 Sportster in about 1981.
    • 846 posts
    February 7, 2011 12:35 AM PST
    Started out on a 72 Honda CL100 dirt riding and then to street (my first license was a bike license the car came later). Then move to 77 Honda CB360 for a while. Took the riding sabbatical (didn’t really knowing do it is just happened) due to life for a while. Then got a hold of a 76 Sportster which was a basket case rebuilt it and rode that for awhile. Now the 09 Road King that I will never let go of.
  • February 7, 2011 12:37 AM PST
    First bike I rode was a Honda 50 in about 1968, on to a 1965, 305 Honda Dream - then didn't ride for a bit - then picked up a '78 KZ 650, which I still have, several KZ 1000s,over the years, Along with the KZ 650, I have a 1973 Z1 in the stable to get finished, a few Yamaha XS 650s ( 4 or 5 in different stages of reconstruction). Our main rides now are a 1982 Kaw Spectre with a Velorex sidecar for when my wife goes along, and a 2002 Honda Shadow Spirit for riding solo. Kinda looking for another KZ 1000 to build a bobber from.
    • 580 posts
    February 7, 2011 2:58 AM PST
    I started riding in 1998 on a Yamaha SR 125 - aged 40. Now ride Suzuki GS500K called Ethel. I always wanted to ride but my ex-husband wouldn't let me and then had several years two up with my last partner before I saved enough to get my SR and lessons. However, until last year I only rode around 1500 miles a year - and all of that during summer months. Ethel got parked away Sept till April so never got chance to gain much experience.

    Last year did over 8,000 miles on her (I know to some of you guys that's still small change) - most of that on my own - and I plan to do MANY more than that this year. Already had two ride outs this January and am sorted for at least two more this month. Also gonna do some touring round Scotland in May (watch out g - we're on our way lol).

    Feel as though I've finally come into my own with it and simply love it - and the new friends it has found me too

    Big hugs (o:
  • February 7, 2011 4:19 AM PST
    Growing up I lived with a family that owned a motocross track. They did own a track but didn't have running water in their home. We would ride the dirt bikes to the creek to take our baths. My first ride (wreck) on a bike was at the age of 14, it was a 80 Suzuki dirtbike. Over the years I rode on the back of several street bikes. My husband purchased new dirt bikes for our family so we have been riding for several years off road. I just purchased my Low Rider in 2009 and have been a solo rider since.
    • 63 posts
    February 7, 2011 4:46 AM PST
    Well, It started in 1964, with a Rupp minibike, then a Benelli, several Hondas, Yamahas, Kawasaki's, a Husky, an Ossa, a 59' Panhead chopper when I got out of the service, alot of Sportsters, customs and a Gold Wing, and now,,,, an old 1999 Harley Dyna Sport w 44,000 miles on it
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    • 1516 posts
    February 7, 2011 4:54 AM PST
    I started riding before I had kids so it must of been in the early 80s. We had a Harley and a crotch rocket. As I sit here being really blond, I can not remember what kind.. I do know it had a springer front end and a tire that had dips in it so that when you hit a bump just so and the bad part of the tire, we would bounce down the road like a couple of Joeys! OH yeah and if you didn't watch the brake cables, they would shake loose and when you got to the stop sign you had better have an alternate plan!! Those were the days! Obviously the other part of the "we" was not Harleyman at the time!
    • 0 posts
    February 7, 2011 5:03 AM PST
    approx 1970 on a Honda step-through, trail 90
    • 58 posts
    February 7, 2011 5:35 AM PST
    First solo street ride was 1971 or 1972 on my Dad's Honda 305 Dream which he then promptly traded for a Harley. Bought my first bike just before Christmas, '79; Moto Guzzi 750 (1971). Rode that Oklahoma City to Monterey, CA first week of 1980. Now have '05 Road King and in between were a Suzuki GS550, Honda CX500, Honda 500 Ascot (twin version).
    • 5417 posts
    February 7, 2011 5:45 AM PST
    I can't remember ever not riding... I started like a few others on a mini bike when I was 7 years old, then on to dirt bikes and scooters.  Got my first street legal motorcycle at 15 years old in 1974 - a 1970 Honda 350CL.  since then I have ridden just about every type of bike.  Even did a little super bike racing late 70's.  Now I kick back on my Road King and just cruise.

    My first bike looked something like this (a little more worn though)...
    • 202 posts
    February 7, 2011 7:55 AM PST
    Looks like a lot of 'long time' riders! Sweet!
  • February 7, 2011 12:39 PM PST
    LaPhoenix wrote...
    Looks like a lot of 'long time' riders! Sweet!


    Yeah - some us dodged dinosaurs on our first bikes.

    • 2 posts
    February 8, 2011 2:33 AM PST
    Sometime in the late 50's - Kids on a nearby farm had a something, I forget what, they would sometimes let me ride in the fields.
    Later had a Canuck cousin who would ride his Goldstar down to the big city - Occasionally that would get "borrowed" when he was otherwise occupied.
    1st ride owned was a 67, 305 Honda Hawk - Put 15,000 miles on that over 2 years
    Between then & 2009 bunches of Penny Saver specials for commuting.

    After retiring wanted to get back to riding but seems they quit making MOTORCYCLES - They made crotch rockets, cruisers, baggers, . . . , but no motorcycles. - Thought I was going to have to look for a restored, airhead BMW or reverse trick out a Sportster - Then discovered Eric Buell & his Ulysses
  • February 8, 2011 1:32 PM PST
    1965 - a Lambretta scooter.
    1967 - bought a 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead ($200)
    ...next up was a -77 FLHS & now a 1996 Heriatge Softail.