Standup Zone Forum
General => Random => Topic started by: Easy Rider on June 27, 2015, 04:09:09 PM
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I had thought there was an old thread about who among us ride - but can't find it - so here's a new one.
What bikes do you currently ride / own?
I'll start
2012 Yamaha Super Tenere (adventure touring)
2015 KTM 350 EXC-F (street legal dirt bike)
1971 Honda CT70 (first bike I ever rode - purchased one a couple years back with only 291 miles on it - just cause).
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I don't own one and you will laugh but I actually like Vespas. I like motorcycle too, especially the retro cafe racers that have become pretty popular lately.
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I used to ride when i lived in VT. I had two Ninja 600Rs. Quick buggers. Riding 100+ mph down highway or country roads was an everyday thing with the boys. I topped out at 157. The bike had plenty juice left and could prob have seen 180-185 or so. I used to love ripping up the twisting mountain roads too. Never owned a piece of leather. Now i like bikes without engines. Still no leather.
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Did you really need to get my bro started....this could take hours.
My wife made me promise before we married....and made me re-promise after having kids, to give up motorcycles. I grew up watching both my bro's wrench bikes. It's always been a siren song to me but I understand why she made me do it. Being a single Mom has to be real tough. Almost no question I'd be dead by now. I made the mistake of taking her for a ride when we were just dating on a friends KZ-1000 that I was pin striping. I think I still have 4 small scars on each rib cage from where her nails dug in. My 650 BSA was the beginning and end of my bikes.
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Everybody I knew in the day had so many scary experiences, I never wanted to go on a motorcycle. One roommate had his shoe torn off by some jagged metal on a car that came too close, and several close calls. He was a bit of a sociopath, and his brother, too, bat shit crazy. His brother fell off his motorcycle while riding standing on the seat at freeway speeds, got bounced along and in the hospital.
My hippie roommate in Venice had an absolutely stunning "easy rider" type bike and a complete set of shop tools that he kept under a tarp, I never saw him ride it. He said he stopped riding after being thrown over the hoods of cars twice at intersections. He hadn't decided if he would ever ride again.
My roommate took me one morning to the VA to draw blood before school, which I did to make extra money. I rode on the back of his bike in a rain storm. Scared the living crap out of me. That was the first and I would gather last time ever on a motorcycle.
One of my clients, a really nice guy, used to review motorcycles for a magazine. He was an expert and raced. He quit after spilling a couple with injuries, and he also got several tickets in the 100mph plus range. I think his serious girlfriend made him quit.
The small electric bikes look OK, I might try one of those sometime, my neighbor has one and it seems to do the trick.
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Kawasaki KLR 650 for me. Had it 6 years now and drive it mostly as a commuter everyday I can back and forth to work. Super reliable and cheap bike to own.
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Hmmm. Well, OK.
BMW 1972 R60/5 cafe racer
1962 Honda CA95 (150 dream)
1959 BSA Goldstar Clubman DBD34
1960 BSA Goldstar Catalina
1976 Yamaha 360MX
1950 Vincent Black Shadow
2007 Vincent Black Eagle Prototype (Honda RC51 motor, chassis by Rousch Engineering)
2003 MV Agusta F4 750 Senna
2006 Yamaha FJR 1300
2000 Honda XR650L
1999 Honda XR600R
Kenny Dreer Norton VR880 Commando Sprint Special
1999 Yamaha XT350
and a bunch of little honda dirt bikes for the grandkids.
Probably missed some. Unfortunately I don't ride much anymore since my best friend died on his bike. I didn't think it would affect my riding, but somehow the air kind of went out of it. I'm hoping to get it back sometime soon. I need to at least wash and tune up the poor things, and thin the herd a bit. I'm down about seven bikes from my all time high. I don't collect them, I just kind of accumulated them. A lot of the old ones I've had since they were new, or close to it.
And yes, I used to stand up on the seat of my bikes. It's a super scary looking thing that really anyone can do. I did it on the access road to the Trojan Nuclear Plant one night to prove I could. Unfortunately my forks were a bit tweaked and the bike when right while I went straight. No real injury other than pride.
I actually had a lot of fun on scooters, but they're really dangerous. I had two Lambretta 175TVs back about forty years ago. Sheesh, I guess it was fifty. The two bikes I'd like to have back are my 1958 BSA A10R and the Yamaha twin Jet 100 parts runner/beer fetching bike we called "Little Jeeter". Little Jeeter used to get the drained gas from bikes I was working on that had been stored too long, and we used ordinary oil instead of two stroke oil. Never turned off the key--just held the brakes till it stopped and "paddled" with our feet to get it started. Battery was totally dead but apparently there was enough residual magnetism to make the generator work. It shouldn't have, but it did. Fantastic piece of machinery that just wouldn't die. One of my customers borrowed it to teach his girlfriend to ride, and wound up loving the bike so much that he totally restored it, down to the last rubber bit and proper washer. I couldn't ask for it back, so I just gave him the title.
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Two wheels intrigued me from the time I saw my first bicycle. I pestered the paperboy to teach me to ride a two wheeler when I was probably about 5 years old. I'd gotten my dad to take off the training wheels and I was bound and determined to ride that bike. What followed was pretty much a life-long love with two wheels, motorized and nonmotorized. I rode motorcycles off and on for nearly 40 years. And lived to tell. For years, I had at least one, often two and sometimes even three parked in my garage. Dual sports, enduro's, sport tourers, even a couple cruisers (those always came and went pretty fast).
It is a miracle that I never had a serious crash on a motorcycle. I had some low-speed tip overs and plenty of dirt bike crashes (scrapes and bruises, I always wore gear) but on the street, I just was extremely fortunate. I had some freaking close calls though, nearly all because of my bad judgement, but I escaped the serious consequences. I rode as if every car on the road was out to kill me and my defensive posture saved my bacon and kept me mostly out of trouble. I wore all the protection I could stand, full face helmet, boots, leathers, clear head, every time I got on the bike and took riding safety courses regularly. I had a good sense of how to stay out of trouble and was even asked to be an MSF instructor for Team Oregon (the state safety program). But, when I thought the coast was clear, I took some dumb chances.
I loved every motorcycle I owned. But I had a pretty long relationship with an old Honda CB 750-four that stands out, mainly because I could have died on that old girl on numerous occasions. I had more than a few tank slappers on that old, restored, somewhat cafe'd Honda. That thing would head-shake under heavy throttle right about 55 to 60 mph and then smooth out like a kitty. Too dumb, I guess, to know better, I just gassed it and rode right through the looseness in the front end. Then she'd shake when you slowed back through that speed again, but not as bad as when the front was light.
I double downshifted once going over 60 and lifted the front end right up at that speed. Oh the jack-assery. I also almost became road pizza on that bike accelerating hard through a banked right hander and having the back end let go. Stupidly, I chopped the throttle and she stood right up - that's the recipe for a high side fall by the way, one of the worst kinds of crashes - but I think the corner banking allowed me to cheat the emergency room on that one. Amazingly, I had that Honda for about 5 years when I was in my late 30's/early 40's. It was a beautiful machine, jet black, and I sold it to a local high school teacher back in Hood River. He'd just retired and he had walked past my garage for years lusting after that bike. He finally got it and rode it safely for years himself. Sadly, he passed away from cancer and knowing how he bought that bike for himself and how happy it made him still makes me feel good to this day.
After the big CB, I had many more bikes. I loved older bikes and predictably, I got into BMW's eventually. I loved bikes that I could wrench on and understand from top to bottom. I couldn't really afford the time and money involved in the really cool, really old ones so I got into /5's and /6's for a while. Those are the classic boxer air-cooled's with big 5+ gallon gas tanks and lockable hard luggage. I swear those old Beemers had real personalities. I still miss Gerdie, my blue 1974 900 roadster. What a great bike. My wife even has fond memories of riding that bike through the Oregon countryside. Of course, the front disc brake felt wooden, no matter how many times I rebuilt every part of it. I finally gave up on those 70's era bikes because of the crappy brakes.
By the time I was in my 50's, I realized how short life really is and that my reactions aren't what they once were. In my mid 50's, just a few years ago, I sold my last bike, a beautiful BMW K bike, 1000 cc's. I owned it for 7 years and it was a rocket ship, especially out on the open road. I miss it all, riding them, looking at them, wrenching them, feeling them, listening to them. I still love motorcycles. Maui is a dangerous place to ride. I'd rather surf and paddle. Time is short and I don't need to make it any shorter. There is enough scary shit with every passing year that aging brings with it. But, I'll always miss it. And, when I see an old Beemer, or some guy riding his Ural with a hack or the guy here on island that I see riding his authentic 1940's era Indian, I wonder if a day will ever come round where I'll be a motorcyclist again.
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From friends mini bikes in parking lots to trail rides on a borrowed Dalesman 125 my first street bike was a 1974 Honda 360CB. I later moved on to a
1979 Yamaha 750 Special which I rode for a couple of years till I scared myself off of it doing 30 minute Bronx to Long Beach commutes.
But the riding hooks you. I ride slower now as an occasional Harley renter.
There is the constant dream to be a custom V-Rod owner.
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Sold my 98 Harley Softail a few years ago to fund my SUP addiction.
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If you want to get comfortable with primitive disc brakes, try stopping a Vincent with it's inadequate drum brakes. Basically a big motor with wheels strapped on and stopping is an afterthought.
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My brother had a Honda CB-something in our teens (crashed it). We each bought new Honda Magna's in 1996 (sold one, crashed the other). Recently bought and sold a vintage Vespa 150PX (shifted the 4-speed manual transmission by clutching and twisting with left hand, rear brake with right foot on the floor board). Now on a Vespa GTS250ie. The scooters work well for around town in Miami. Wouldn't think of taking them on the highway. Still have a cross continental ride on my bucket list.
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survived many bikes as ateen into my early 20's--luckily--yamahas: IT 400, RD 400; kawasaki z900. all were seriously mod'ed and fast.
my wife asked why i never bought the vespa i said i would for brooklyn life. told her that i want to surf ski climb etc for the precious remaining years of my life. a wipeout on a vespa (easy to do given their shitty rake, wheel size etc) could end all that, or leave me with painful repairs pt etc. not for me anymore.
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and pb--those mv augusta's are nice--my bro in law was US rep for them for a couple of years--theyve been slow to get traction in us market--where ducati is a household name at this point
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I understand. My uses of the Vespa rarely go above 40mph, and they're easy to park on or around the beach but, again, not for serious riding. Once a year I'll join some friends and we'll go cycling in the high mountains in Europe. There I often find myself following a serious motorcycle down a mountain pass, riding a 16lb carbon bicycle at speeds I wouldn't dare go on the Vespa.
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first bike i had was a honda street 90--early 70's--total beater--rode it around millbrook ny for a summer, dodging tim leary hippies, no license, etc.
was flying around on the country club golf course when the front wheel dissappeared into a hidden hole. bike flipped twice, throwing me over the handlebars, which were found broken/bent by both grips. luckily, i walked away from a "nice lie" on the fairway. game over for that bike!
as we age, injury avoidance becomes critical. rather be injured engaging a sport i care about--a sport that makes me feel alive. tooling around brooklyn on a vespa aint worth the risk to me.
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I have ridden m/c regularly since I was 13. My first experience was around 8 when we had a track to race.
I still have 2 big bikes. An electra glide anniversary model and a night train with ape hangers and a wicked sissy bar.
Around 10 years ago riding thru Eureka I had a rv hauler (peter built) run a red light on me. I was in control to prevent him from t boning me but still got slammed. Lucky to be here. Time heals. But the next ride I was testing my repaired bike and anticipated a car cutting me off emerging on the freeway. He did and because I was expecting the move he missed my front tire by inches.
Lately my lower back hates to ride. I should look into a seat back. My trip to Dead Wood SD and having buffalo surround me riding thru yellowstone will always be with me. That was just after the 4 grizzly encounter. Kinda of scary having 20 buf completely surround you with a big male tossing his head with his tounge dangling just a few feet away. I just flowed with them until they passed.
It would be nice to do a zoner bike run. It would have to be on the coast and Beasho may need to make us some board racks. I can't go anywhere without my board.
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I wrote what I own today, not what kind of bike freak I am, though in some ways the collection speaks for itself. I've been riding since I could get a license, and being broke but owning a 1958 BSA A10 (a 650cc British vertical twin) meant I need to learn to fix it myself. It was a rolling basket case, meaning it was together but shouldn't have been. I spent more time working on it than riding it, but I learned a certain fearlessness when it came to working on my own stuff. You just keep going until the job is done, even if you have to do it ten times because you did it wrong the first nine.
After the navy I became a motorcycle mechanic because I didn't want to work as a nuke. Did that for about ten years until the better pay of working in a nuke plant control room overcame my aversion to the amount of study required to maintain a license. I accumulated a few great bikes when I was wrenching, and I kept riding and working on my own bikes up to the present. I suspect I'll be back into riding fairly soon--perhaps this year. I'm pretty good at avoiding accidents except for ones I cause myself. I consider that every driver is either moronic or stupid. I look at my mirrors before I hit the brakes--even in a car, which has my wife screaming at me more than a few times. I always have alternate paths in mind. I split traffic in SoCal and NoCal for years without a scratch. I watch the hands, head and front wheel of the drivers I'm passing. I assume the person stopping in an intersection is going to turn left in front of me. I expect people to run stop signs.
I tell people who are having their midlife crisis and want a Harley that they're going to die if they do that. They don't have the odd reflex behavior and techniques from many years of riding while healing was fast and feasible. And they inevitably want a Harley, with poor handling, mediocre brakes, and no performance. And then they want to ride it in decorative leathers with a minimal or no helmet. I think that's all OK as long as you sign up to be an organ donor and you have a nice life insurance policy for the wife and kids.
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I think I have a solution....wait to get a bike until diagnosed with whatever is going to kill me. It won't be a Harley... :)
Coolest bike I ever rode was Bills old 500cc Matchless single that he had me using when I lived with him for a short stint in the 70's....I swear the bike lifted a couple inches with each piston stroke.
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First bike was a Yamaha RD250 I bought for $40. I got a manual, a frame, a seat, two wheels and two boxes of parts. What else would a 16 year old ever need?!? Much to the consternation of my parents I did get it back together and rode it for a time before selling it off.
Second bike, Yamaha FJ600 rode this one much longer, 3 years. Had a few friends go down during this time and sold it on before I joined them. During this time I also rode friends other bikes a lot, GSXR1100, RZ350(runaway chainsaw), Honda CBR. Still have never ridden anything V-twin (other than a honda interceptor 500 but that does not count.)
Reading PB's *Assumptions* regarding other drivers behavior I think we were thinking the same thing and yes, those assumptions saved me more than once.
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Mid seventies Honda cb-500\550, never really knew. Went in on it in my early 20's with room mates. Learned to ride on that thing, luckily it was a complete marshmallow.
78 Kawasaki kz 650 with a broken petcock. Too stupid to track miles or keep it full, I ran out of gas on late after work rides on many a back road. Many a Samaritan stopped with gas cans to get me to the closest station.
84? Kawasaki Gpz turbo, but was probably a conversion from a non-turbo. Exhaust glowed red on long rides. Had my first serious accident on that thing run off the road by a drunk. Bounced out of the saddle above the windscreen and landed on my feet, doubt I could pull it off again at my current age.
My last bike was a 2000 Triumph Sprint RS, bought it new and constantly parking lot dropped it for some reason my first season. Painted the lower fairing matt black and called it good. Had a ton of fun on that bike, lived in a blue collar city and people seemed to give bikes more space there. Was also not too far from Vermont and blazed around that state quite quickly. Passing on the double yellow being legal and leo few and far between. By that point had good gear and had got some training. Was also pre-texting craze.
Loved to ride but went through a messy breakup and spent a lot of time at the bar, never mixed anything with riding. Decided to part ways with the bike and go back to school. School didn't take but looking to replace riding got into sea kayaking, that took me on an interesting journey for a few years, lately been suping now I split my time between the two.
Still itch for a bike but with a wife and toddler, and the moronic state of people phoning while happening to be in the driver's seat, I shrug it off.
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I meant to say Moronic or homicidal, but the department of redundancy department edited my post.
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I'm sure I'm not supposed to be on one. When I was a chemist working at a gov lab before professional school, saw a guy speeding up behind me in the rear view weaving on a motorcycle at high speed. No helmet, got brushed by a car, took a terrible spill skidding, which mercifully, I didn't see except the primary event because he was lost in the rear view at highway speeds. Never found out what happened to him, no internet in those days and I couldn't find anything in the papers.
I was at UCLA when and up and coming TV star took a spill on his motorcycle on the 405, killing his girlfriend and him losing a leg and arm. They brought him into UCLA emergency.
My daily commute for eleven years between Sunol and Fremont was highway 84, a twisty, windy two lane that was favored by bikers. It seemed a regular thing to hear about 50 somethings biting the dust there on their bikes. I had the misfortune to witness one. I came around a corner, saw an SUV with a big dent in its nose stopped in the opposite lane, and an older biker was flailing like a broken robot on the side of the road with a woman and some cohorts standing around him. I later heard that he died.
I was browsing craigslist about two weeks later for sunglasses, and just happened to fall upon several ads by the deceased guy's wife, selling all of his motorcycle clothes and paraphernalia.
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I don't own one and you will laugh but I actually like Vespas. I like motorcycle too, especially the retro cafe racers that have become pretty popular lately.
Rode a vespa for 7 years and about 18k miles. Work location changed and I sold it, but it was fun while it lasted. No real interest in getting another bike, because my board budget now absorbs that portion of my income.
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I grew-up riding on the weekends with my Dad, my Uncle and my older brother. We'd load the trailer up and head to the Anza Borrego desert, Baja or a motorcycle park (Saddleback or Escape Country). At first, I would ride on the tank of my dads bike. When I was about 5 yrs old, I could just barely reach the ground enough to ride a modified 1960's Honda 50 Cub. The back fender was cut-off to allow for a knobby tire and a big hill climbing sprocket. One day out of the blue, my dad supersized me with a brand new 1969 Yamaha mini enduro 60. I beat the hell out of that thing. I seized the engine in the desert. I got my next dream bike, a Honda XR75 (4-stroke) J&B racer. I loved that bike. We moved to the beach, and surfing took over. We could ride in the hills of San Clemente, but about 1974 they made most of Orange County off-limits. We had a 1968 Suzuki TS185 that I rode to high school. I would still hop the curb when I saw a dirt berm that needed to be ridden on:)
I've only ridden a 750 Ninja around Big Bear Lake once about 28 years ago. It scared the hell out of me. I don't like the feeling of having to lean ahead of time to make a corner. There is almost no steering, the front wheel moves about 2" either way. Anyway, I haven't ridden a motorcycle for about 28 yrs. My wife used to ride and we've talked about getting some dual sports to play with in the mountains someday. I've always liked thumpers ever since my first 4-stroke.
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Every driveway, alley and other intersection is a potential wreck. You have to be covering your front brake and clutch and expecting your ROW to get violated. If you ride like everyone is trying to kill you, you have better odds of avoiding the ones that actually will.
Even if you're not moving they're going try and kill you. Riding to work one day at least 15 or more years ago, waiting at a red light, on the very far edges of the city, had some moron almost kill me from behind. Fortunately, I was watching my mirrors and got the f*&# outta the way before he blew through the intersection going at least 45 mph. I bet if you'd peeled off my helmet, I was probably white as a ghost.
Going home to Hood River on I84 in Portland, I had some sociopathic lunatic start harassing me. He was a middle aged weenie in a silver Mazda Miata. I hadn't cut him off, wasn't riding like a jerk and had done absolutely nothing to provoke him. He just starts cussing at me and literally trying to hit me. I dropped back into the heavy traffic and let him continue ranting and carrying on, maybe at someone better protected than me. At the time, my daughter was about 2 years old. Really shook me up.
Kept most of my riding confined to the less populated areas and that helps some. Still, the number of potential hazards on any given ride is mind boggling. The faster you go, the more that multiplies as your ability to deal with stuff decreases kind of exponentially. Dogs, deer, tractors, diesel fuel, gravel, sun in your eyes, unseen driveways, drunks, and much more. Every single one of those things I just named has been an actual hazard that I encountered on various rides. It's all about risk management but the feeling of piloting a great bike on a great road is pretty much one of the best things in the world.
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Wow - wan't expecting so many "you're all going to die" posts.
I started riding on a Honda CT70 when I was 10. Then rode / raced dirt bikes up until about age 18.
Got into cars / girls / work / marriage / kids / house / etc.
About 14 years ago was in Florida with a buddy to wakeboard for a few days. First day I get there he says "lets go to the dirt bike track tonight". I few hours later after coming off the back on a set of doubles - I had broken my back.
Made it back home to Canada and spent the next year rehabbing it.
Did a major home reno for the wife 4 years ago - and when finished I got my big ADV bike for myself.
Took a couple courses and got my street license. Have almost 18,000km on it in 2 summers - 90% of it on gravel roads.
Bought a KTM enduro bike this winter for myself as I was finding myself on trails way to tight for a 1200cc / 600+ lb. ADV bike.
Only ride on the street on my way to or from dirt.
After the large gap of not riding bikes - I can not imagine not riding anymore. It is such a release for me.
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Back in the 70's, I rode a Bull Taco 250 Enduro. My favorite place to ride was on the Cleveland National Forest roads, where Santiago Peak is located. I knew the road to Santiago Peak. I had the Forest map and loved to take different roads also.
This one time I was riding downhill on a small road/trail. It connected with a regular size dirt road at an angle. The problem was that they had graded the connecting road. It was several feet lower than the road I was on. Plus, the other side was a steep slope.
I managed to slow down enough not to fly off the other side. But, the bike stopped completely once the front wheel hit the lower road, sending me over the handle bars. Being young and flexible, I just rolled out of it.
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Wow - wan't expecting so many "you're all going to die" posts.
I started riding on a Honda CT70 when I was 10. Then rode / raced dirt bikes up until about age 18.
Got into cars / girls / work / marriage / kids / house / etc.
About 14 years ago was in Florida with a buddy to wakeboard for a few days. First day I get there he says "lets go to the dirt bike track tonight". I few hours later after coming off the back on a set of doubles - I had broken my back.
Made it back home to Canada and spent the next year rehabbing it.
Did a major home reno for the wife 4 years ago - and when finished I got my big ADV bike for myself.
Took a couple courses and got my street license. Have almost 18,000km on it in 2 summers - 90% of it on gravel roads.
Bought a KTM enduro bike this winter for myself as I was finding myself on trails way to tight for a 1200cc / 600+ lb. ADV bike.
Only ride on the street on my way to or from dirt.
After the large gap of not riding bikes - I can not imagine not riding anymore. It is such a release for me.
Dying is not an issue. It's just living the injuries that create bummers. My brother laid our bike down in the sand once with me on the back. Leg was trapped under the muffler, sizzling my calf. Of course it infected and almost lost my leg... in Bali. Saw so many hamburger scenes on the road to Uluwatu, all on motos. Loved bikes before that but never got the thrill after even tho it was my brother's screw up and my screw up for getting on the same bike as him. Kind of a metaphor for my life with him.
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Dying is not an issue. It's just living the injuries that create bummers.
That is absolutely the issue. There's things worse than dying.
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Here's an old article I wrote about starting to ride bikes later in life. http://www.xgeez.com/2011/01/motorcycles-for-geezers/
It repeats a lot of the things said here. Motorcycles are dangerous, so is everything else that's good about life. You have to add up the balance for yourself. I tend to come down on the "ignore the sharks, surf on" side of the equation, but sometimes the balance tips.
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Dying is always the end game. It is how you play in the middle that counts.
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I imagine defensive driving helps a lot, but I think the problem becomes the intoxication and exhilaration suspending judgment. The bikes generate a high, which seems to be the point.
In the emergency rooms, they called them donor cycles because they supplied a regular stream of organs and eyes. I watched the organ harvesting procedures a few times. Also watched scrubbing out of road rash and imbedded asphalt on survivors. Saw consequences ever since I volunteered in the emergency room at Highland Hospital when I was in college.
I suppose that I was exposed to myriad consequences and remembered them. Sorry to be a bummer, just sharing what I have seen and heard. There were guys who broke their legs just falling over on them sitting still.
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Part of my wifes aversion to bikes was knowing how I drive. The other part was us losing a few friends on bikes and one that lost his leg. You can be a safe as possible and it still doesn't matter. One who was a very experienced and safe/defensive rider was coming around the corner going to his folks house for a family party, hit a small patch of sand left behind by street sweepers, lost control and hit a power pole.
Of course the scars all over my bro only confirm her concerns......an old rider usually just means they've been lucky the grim reaper decided it wasn't time yet. I've heard enough of Bill's stories to know how lucky he is to still be here.
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Maybe it's foolish to be on a board full of thrill seeking risk takers and talk about the downside. Everybody has their own risk:injury vs. reward acceptance ratio.
It does tend to be Darwinian. The only ones talking who are still out there are the ones who haven't been flushed.
For SUP, it is tolerable for me. Also, the longer on the ocean, the more micro reflexes develop and you get a bit safer. I think the first year is the riskiest, that's why I tried to be careful.
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rode for years and years used to race district 37 desert vet class. never won or anything . funny thing though I started on a honda ct 70, then went to a suzuzki 90, then didn't right for awhile college and crap, later bought several bikes . I also bought a ct-70" just cause. wanted one" I had an IT 200 yamaha, ktm 360, honda 400, honda 600, and an atk 604. upon which I broke my foot in 7 places. For years I had partially ruptured achilles tendons, t looked like snake eating a gopher... finally after that last break, sold all the bikes but now I am think a honda ct90 or 110 would be sweet hook a trailer and tow my board to the beach..
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1962 Honda CB 92 125
1966 Honda CB 160 160
1967 Triumph Daytona,500
1967 Triton Bonneville 750 Grenade Motor Norton Atlas Frame Dunstall,Bits
1969 Royal Enfield series II Interceptor
1971 Indian Enfield RE Motor Tartarini Frame
1979 Triumph Bonneville D Model Special
Crazy misspent youth. Almost death experience number one was when my ex-wife (three months pregnant!!) and I were run over by a semi..
The 79 Bonnie was my last attempt. Way too many txters, drunks, and old people
with wrap around shades for me. All of my crazy companions gone or damaged.
No Mas!!
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Honda CRF 230 is my ride at the moment. It's a great bike for getting around our dirt roads. Not the most powerful nor the most state of the art bike around but I do enjoy plodding along with her.
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
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My little run around bike...
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^^^^ Awesome bike.
I guess for me it is all about weighing the risks versus the rewards.
The enjoyment I get from riding bikes - outweighs the risk.
That and I had a friend slip on the ice in winter - hit his head and pass away.
He was an ultra cautious person - did no sports - and was very safety conscious in everything he did.
I guess when it's your time - it's your time - I figure you might as well enjoy it while you are here.
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and pb--those mv augusta's are nice--my bro in law was US rep for them for a couple of years--theyve been slow to get traction in us market--where ducati is a household name at this point
Speaking of which. Bill you forgot your Ducati.
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Sold them, both the 916 and the 900 SS SP. I didn't bother Liston the stuff that I don't still have. Mainly because I can't remember them. Anything past Tuesday is aincient history.
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Chronological order:
1963 Honda 250 Scrambler
1963 Ducati 250 Scrambler
1969 Bultaco 250 Sherpa T
1970 Bultaco Pursang 250
1971 CZ 250
1984 Honda 250R (briefly)
I rode the first Honda and Ducati on the street like a crazed teenager does. Spent some time riding trials until the Sherpa T was stolen. MC and desert on the Pursang and CZ until a bad crash in 1974. I was living in the mountains in 1984 and decided to try and ride again so I bought the Honda; I'd lost the desire so I sold it a few days later. I took up mountain biking and it was my passion for many years, but I quit a couple of years ago; my body doesn't heal like it used to.
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I'm rebuilding the differential for Peyote, but I was walking by my Vincent and got a strong urge to get the minor work it needs done and get back to riding it. It's such a wicked looking old buggah:
(http://www.ponostyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_1840.jpeg)
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I was 16 when the Beach Boys were singing 'Hey Little Honda" ( or was it Jan & Dean). I got a small bike and soon had a crash which kept me from playing football that year, got the bike fixed, got out of the cast, and had another accident. Never rode a bike again.
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I'm rebuilding the differential for Peyote, but I was walking by my Vincent and got a strong urge to get the minor work it needs done and get back to riding it. It's such a wicked looking old buggah:
I'm not an expert but I'm still pretty sure that the miss you've been chasing won't be found in the pumpkin.
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The old girl deserves a better picture.
(http://www.ponostyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/vinny.jpg)
And no, the miss isn't in the pumpkin, but the broken axle was.
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That bike is beyond cool. Love the fork and vented drum front brake/hub. It's an interesting design that would be like riding a piece of art. I would love to hear and feel that motor when she's running. The motor must be a torquey little beast - the cylinders and push rod tubes look like they're pretty short.
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It's bored to 1200 CC with lightning cams and two front heads, which means nothing to civilians but to Vincent fans it says Cowabunga. World's fastest motorcycle in 1950, Rollie Free did 150 on one at Bonneville laying down in a bathing suit. He da man.
(http://www.ponostyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Rollie.jpg)
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While I was bumping around on the internet looking for the Rollie Free picture I discovered that the whereabouts of 3 of the 4 the modern recreations of the Vincent motorcycle by Bernard Li are known to be in a museum in Australia, but the location of the fourth one, the Vincent Black Eagle ST tourer, is unknown. News to me--I see it every day.
(http://www.ponostyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Blackeagle.jpg)
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In a previous life.... when you could ride off road anywhere on Cape Cod
125 Yamaha dirt
125 Suzuki dirt
175 Honda on/off
other dirt bikes... but I forget
Rode lots of Harleys.... never bought one
450 Hond Street
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This may be slightly off topic but the road bike chase scene in the new Mission Impossible movie makes it worth the price of admission. Super close up hairball stuff ... great filming.
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Just came across this thread and had to join in. Started at about 10 on a little dirt bike. At 20 I found my dream 1969 Triumph Tiger 500. Road it up and down the west coast from California to Canada, and a great trip through Yellowstone. After surviving a few nasty crashes, I realized that I was not smart enough to stay alive riding these things. Most memorable crash was riding on a beautiful summer day on a dirt road through hills and meadows. I crested over a blind hill and came across a deep ravine that used to have a bridge across it. No time or room to stop, turn, or even lay it down; so I just jumped up off the pegs as high as I could. I cleared the ravine and landed in some bushes on the other side while the bike plummeted to the bottom. The one that cost me a hip replacement 35 years later was trying to make a left turn at a yellow light going about 60. Had the bike pegged out (fixed pegs) so I could not miss the oil patch in my line. Me and the bike slid on our sides for about 80 feet threading a line between the two lines of oncoming cars stopping at the light. Sold the bike a year later, though I did ride a little Honda CB 350 around Maui for one summer after that. Tried to do a Steve McQueen in The Great Escape on some rolling grass hills up on Haleakala.
Fast forward 40 years, and I come across this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vksdBSVAM6g (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vksdBSVAM6g).
If that video doesn't get to you, you are either dead, or haven't lived. I went out a week later and bought a new Yamaha street bike that rides just like my old Triumph. I am hoping that at 64 yrs old, I am finally smart enough to ride and stay alive.
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I love that video. Saw it about two years ago. My bikes are gathering some dust, but it's mostly from sanding fiberglass inside my shop, though I haven't ridden yet this year except for a few rides on my XR650 Honda in Maui. As soon as I get Peyote finished and ready to race I'm getting my Vincent back running. It only needs a few little things. My Norton probably just needs fresh gas and a battery charge.
Time to roll.
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This is a ride around where I live.. and a bit boring.
I love to get out and just ride.. :)
http://vimeo.com/31411962
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Amazing skills!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY8bCZ1OFOE&list=PL-gcRvrZoeeOi3U4iWWVNjTMLH97FpMcN&index=3
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hadnt seen where trials has gone--incredible--
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great thread Easy.
Lately ive been braaap more than surf.
2015 KTM 350 EXCF for me-just like Easy
2015 Husky FE 350S for her-pretty much the same bike as mine.
when its flat-i head for the hills-Plated dualsport-only way to fly!
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Yeah, I've got a Honda XR650 in Maui and an XR600R in Hood River with the Baja Designs lighting kit. I street registered it--the DMV in Oregon is actually very helpful and insanely great in Hood River.
I've also got a 1959 BSA Goldstar Catalina that I want to take fire roading. Of course I'm going to need a cell phone--it's British. I looked at getting a BMW GS, but they're so heavy--582 pounds?
What?
I have an old R50/5 bored to 600 CC that could be a cool GS conversion. I'm reasonably sure I could get it under 350 pounds. Wet weight for a stocker is 440. Ditch the electric starter and big battery and its under 400 already. Nobody cares much about the old /5, there were a zillion made, so as long as I do it pretty. it's not really butchering a classic.
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@DavidJohn - u really do well dodging all the cars while driving on the wrong side of the road ;) ;D
nice bike too
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great thread Easy.
Lately ive been braaap more than surf.
2015 KTM 350 EXCF for me-just like Easy
2015 Husky FE 350S for her-pretty much the same bike as mine.
when its flat-i head for the hills-Plated dualsport-only way to fly!
Whoa - - your here and not in Instagram????? ;D