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After reading SamanthaMD's story about a girl and a motorcycle and reading the comments, I wonder how many readers rode or still ride motorcycles? I know I mentioned that I ride on several occasions, but I'd like to know other readers that did the same.
I started riding years ago, when I was twenty three years old. My parents hated bikes and didn't allow me to ride so when I married the first time I got my first bike. It was a 500 Triumph non-unit ridged frame which I rode in the dirt. Needless to say every bump went right through the kidneys. My next bike was a 500 Triumph Trophy which I raced for several years. I rode that bike for everything, TT scrambles in the summer and enduros in the winter. The only change would be to put a twenty one inch wheel on in the winter and a nineteen inch in the summer, and the obvious knobby tires in the winter and class C tread in the summer, racing rules.
My next bike was a 360 Yamaha two stroke with a toggle switch engine, I hated that bike and it screwed up the way I rode. Ditched it for my first Bultaco, a 360 and I fell in love with the power and handling. That was in 1974 and the Pursang was the latest model, loved that bike as I did with the 75 and 76 models I bought. In 1977 I bought the enduro model and for some reason it had no power, so I took the engine out of the 75 and installed it in the 77. It worked like a dream.
I had stopped racing TT scrambles when I bought the Yamaha and began riding enduros and cross-country events when I bought the Bultaco and only because cross-country events were like cow trailing, except everyone goes the same direction. The next bike in the stable was the 75 Bultaco modified to take a 350 Honda four stroke engine. A real fun bike, no power, but really fun. Next was the 500 Yamaha four stroke engine in a Dick Mann frame. God that bike was fast and handled really well for a 285 pound beast. I finished my racing career on KTMs, a 420 first then a 495, followed by a watercooled 500 and my last a 350 enduro. I haven't raced for twenty years, but the memories are still there.
For the street I had a 1966 650 Bonniville, which gathers dust in the garage along with my 1983 750 Yamaha Seca and my Sammy MIller Trials Bultaco, but enough about me, I'd love to hear from others that rode and enjoyed the freedom of motorcycles, Arecee
Comments
Motorcycles
I've been riding since around 10 years old, dirt and street.
MC enthusiast?
Hey Arecee,
I listed most of the MCs I had in the comment yesterday. I liked riding various motorcycles when I had them, but when it came to money for repair, twice I decided I could do better things with my money and time. The last time was when my Kow' Vulcan needed some fixing up. Kim had had some problems and was feeling depressed and agoraphobic. She stopped going out to wimyn's bars, bicycling with me or caring to ride with the dyke MC group. I decided it would be better for my health to be bicycling and spending on bicycles. Now, and even more so at the time, we didn't have money to do both. MC riding and bicycling both are a little dangerous, but I thought the injuries from an MC accident could be much worse. I don't worry about such much at all: I mainly wanted more aerobic exercise and to be faster at cycling just to make it more enjoyable.
I had and enjoyed MCs. My longest trips were from Buffalo, NY (suburb, my parents house) to Boston/Cambridge, MA, a trip that took 7 hrs, by car (fewer stops) at 65 mph, on the Triumph then on the Norton. I had fun, but I don't think I was that much of an enthusiast.
Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee
Bikes
I rode for most of my life, but the PTSD has drawn that to a close. Everything from a 49cc Honda moped to a 1200 Yamaha, including 185mph jobs, plus a T110-based Triton. I have never, ever owned a car.
As for the comment about cycling being unsafe, well, I can speak of the UK, and you are statistically more likely to get a head injury walking down the footpath than when cycling. In fact, said injury is more likely if you are in a car...
Been a biker since I left school
I've been a biker since I left school, I got myself an apprenticeship 14miles from home so I bought a Honda 50cc to get there everyday and I was hooked on two wheels and been riding ever since.
Over the years I've had the following:
Honda 50
Honda H100S2
Honda CM125C
Yamaha XS250
Honda VF400F
Honda CB400F2
Suzuki GSX400T
Honda VT250F
Honda CM125C (another one that was fitted with a CD185 engine)
Suzuki GSX400X Impulse
Honda GL400C
Honda ST1100 Pan Euro
and now I currently ride a Honda NTV600M
So, as you can see I have a thing for Honda's and I'm probably gonna stay with the NTV from now on.
Ride Safe everyone
Huggles
Sammi
Bikes
I started with a 50 cc Honda for work. That thing got over 200 MPG (American). Later I had a 250 Yam, and finally a 250 OSSA. The OSSA was the best hill and dirt bike I ever owned. It NEVER failed to get me up a hill. It eventually developed a tendency to shed it's flywheel and I eventually sold it.
I'm an old lady now, but if I was to get feeling Tom Boyish, and had the Money, I'd get a 500 Honda single, (electric start). :) I do not know if they make one but my brother had an old BSA 500 single, and I could not start it.
Gwendolyn
A name I haven't heard for a while
Ossa, damn good bike, and if the BSA was 500cc then it was probably a Goldstar and great care had to be given to start the monster or it would put you over the handlebars, Arecee
Me Too.
I started in the early 70's racing motocross on a 250 CZ, quick, agile, and damn near bulletproof and I rode Trials with a 250 Ossa "Mick Andrews" trials iron. At one point, I used a 125 Hodaka Combat Wombat for just general boonie bashing in the Rockies. I never had the urge for flat track racing but I had a girlfriend who did. She rode a 500 but I don't remember what brand and would regularly embarrass the young men. She was tough and fearless not to mention petite and quite lovely.For the street, I rode a 350 Yamaha long frame customized by and for the owner of the local yammy dealer, Sweet bike. Then I had 500 Kawasaki which I bought at an auction for $50.00 US because it didn't run. Until I dropped in a new battery - then it was fine. Loved that bike.Colorado is a wonderful state for motorcycles.
Ah yes, I remember it well.
Ossa trials bikes ...
... were developed by Mick Andrews in the late 1960s in competition with Sammy Miller's Bultacos. I knew Mick and his father slightly when I was involved in trials myself at the time. They lived not too far from us.
I was a motor cyclist as soon as I was old enough to get a licence in 1956. I enjoyed trials and touring both solo and sidecar. The sidecar being particularly useful in the winter and are great fun on ice. At one time I had a 1949 ex-works trials outfit I used for both sport and transport - very lively ridden without a passenger as it was so light and narrow. Had loads of bikes ranging form the 98cc Excelsior I learned on through BSA (singles and twins), Triumphs, a lot of pre-war Ariel singles, an old Scott TT Replica and eventually a Yamaha XT500 trail bike and the fastest I ever rode - a lightweight Suzuki GS500e.
I had to give up after, of all things, a pedal cycle accident which put paid to many of passions.
Robi
I currently have a Russian sidecar rig
I currently have a Russian two wheel drive sidecar-motorcycle rig, you're right, they are gobs of fun, specially in the winter!
When I was a kid I had a minibike but my first real motorcycle was a '56 BSA Gold-star 500 that came with a log that indicated that it was factory prepared for the Isle of Man TT. I got it by trading a reel to reel tape recorder for it. It was scary fast.
Later I had a Yamaha TX750, but I didn't ride for years until I got the Russian rig.
Mr. Ram
Hyper Masculine Behavior ?
From my own very biased point of view, I think that riding big bikes is hyper masculine. I did other things that now sort of freak me out, but I will spare you the self aggrandizement.
Years later, with my Testosterone tumors removed ... It just makes me wonder how we would be if we never had any Testosterone until time to have children?
Personaly
I like two fifty two strokes like the Ossa and if i was to start riding again I'd do it on a KTM, love those bikes, Peace, Arecee
I wonder what riding would be like?
I never had the courage to actually hot shoe it, but the hills and trails were fun. Out here in the west, there is lots of room where there aren't people. Of course, now I won't wear pants. I wonder how that would work?
Bikers would just laugh at riding Jodhpurs or a riding habit.
g
not any more
I live in California and land closers have ruined riding. I could ride from one point to another, gas up and ride back, but no more. My favorite was from Tahoe City to Pollack Pines and back, around one hundred fifty miles over the Rubicon Jeep road and various logging trails, ah memories, Can't do it anymore, the Feds won't let you, bummer, Arecee
Twice have I ridden...
...holding on to the driver's waist; both in another century and once without a helmet.
My brother-in-law was cut off last Saturday by a driver who passed him at a green light and then stopped to give another driver right of way on a left hand turn!!!! Imbecile. Well, Bil is recovering from arm to arm abrasions on his back as well as a huge one on his right shoulder. Bike reportedly is doing better than brother-in-law, who also sustained a bruised rib-cage and a partially collapsed lung. He's 'okay' now, but we're all shaking our heads and sending up prayers of thanks that the driver turning left stopped just short of running him over. Jeez!
P.S. Despite the on the scene testimony about the other driver's idiot move, a police officer was kind enough to stop by brother-in-law's home the other day informing him that he would be cited for reckless driving, even though he's the only one who actually followed right-of-way regulations. To say that he's angry would be a gross understatement!
Love, Andrea Lena
I have been motorcycling most of my life
I got a 250 Yamaha when I was 17. I rode a lot with my brother and mother both of whom had their own motorcycles. My dad thought they were death traps and refused to ride with us. I didn't own a car until I was 22. I upgraded to a 350 Yamaha and then eventually to Honda Goldwings. My first date with my S.O. was on the 350 and we drove over most of the eastern half of the United States on the Goldwings. I like riding but finally sold my last Goldwing recently after I left it in a garage for a year without riding it. It just was not as much fun after the S.O. died, and so, I have given it up. It's funny, I first loved the bike because it got me out and away from everyone and everything. But, later is was the connection with someone I loved that made my time on two wheels special. Once she was gone, I couldn't go back to enjoying the solitude, so---.
I always thought that the Irish blessing was a motorcyclist's prayer. So I send it out to you:
“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
Have a good ride all motorcyclists out there.
Troubadour
Music is the language of the soul.
Motorcycles I've owned...
I've own a few over the years. My first was a 1971 H1 Kawasaki 500cc 2 stroke. I traded it to a '57 Chevy dirt track race car after a couple of years though. Funny you should mention a first date with your S.O. was on a bike Arecee, my first date with my first spouse was a ride on that 500cc Kaw too. She later decided to trade me in on a new model like I have my various bikes though. lol
I bought a '74 Yamaha 650cc brand new next, I never cared much for that one since it vibrated worse than a Harley. You could ride it for 30 mins and your hands would be numb when you got off of it. lol I then picked up a '74 Honda 750 K and kept it a few years before selling it. I had a REALLY nasty wreck while riding that 750 too, I'm lucky to still be here from that little bit of excitement.
The next year I bought a '74 Kawasaki Z1 900cc, now THAT was a fast machine! When the engine blew up on the 900 I was without a bike from about 1982 until about 5 years ago when I bought an '85 Honda V65 Magna 1100cc off of Ebay. That's what I have right now. I certainly can't ride as long nor as fast as I used to but it's a fun bike to take out for a spin now and again.
Blossom
Harley Davidson MT350
Ex British military, over-engineered and not exactly the lightweight. Not the most thrilling bike...until the weather gets interesting ;-)
Hypatia
all weather
It's when the back end starts to go you just think 'For Fuc* sake not again'
Nice bike
DWP
Used to ride a 48 Indian Chief
I use to have a 48 Indian Chief that I rode till the parts got too expensive to keep it running. Sold it for a pretty penny to pay bills. Now I stick to 4 wheels.
Paula
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.
The Coda
Chapterhouse: Dune
my best subject
I'm 24 now and have had a grand total of 28 bikes :)
I currently have only 3 insured but I have half built and running but not on the road in my dads garage. My insured ones are a
Er6 for the day in day out stuff. As I only ride a bike the Ers sounded reliable for the days with heavy snow and blizards. I have to ride on the snow bound roads that cars and then when I see only a bit of sludge left I open up to the pathetic 120ish mph it does. Modern bikes are rubish in winter weather, almost every petrol pump seems to die.
Gsxr slabside custom drag racer with NOS (its also 24 years old). This is my fun bike for the summer days when all the sunny day riders come out on prestine R1's etc. and can't ride. So instead of my usual overtaking them all on the corners with a ER6 or T150 then being out done on the straights this comes out. The engine has had a compleat over haul, carbs jetter, air shifter other odds and ends (steering damper, cooling etc) with NOS that I havent been able to use yet because nothing I have come across warents it.
and then my beloved T150. This is a slippery sam replica and has won a few awards for best in show. People laugh at the age but it's only as old as the rider and I can push it to its max. I have balanced the engine and put a few trinkits on it (anti seeping oil valve, gel seat etc.) but its quicker than people think and when taken out I end up leaving most modern bikes behind. But with rideing modern bikes after a distance my wrist starts to give up from the x strong cluch spring in it.
most my other bikes are old british 250s 1 enfield, 2 norton(jubilee)and 1 BSA (I did want to race classic 250s at one time but parts are costly) 1 350 norton.
Then I hit my 600 stage and had tt600 triumph (good value recomended), 600 triumph datona (over priced and more or less tt600), Kawazaki zzr 600 (recomended, honda 650 deauvill (pertol pum died and ramed it into a car), 600 bandit. Just finished doing it up with total respray and car pulled out and bam, me and the bike took a trip under a samll car.
I wont even bother with all the little 2 strokes I had and half the other bikes I built and totaled.
Talking about destroying bikes, I had a T160 when I was 19, now for those of you who havent riden a brithis classic. The gears are on the wrong side and are the wrong way. I was overtaking at high speed then knocked it down, jamming the wheel and sending the bike into a farmers field and I just rolled a bit and skided to a halt. Turns out the batery breather had been neer the chain and caused fractures so the strain had snaped the chain and managed to get it tangled around the wheel. Needles to say I was pissed, I had only owned it for a day. Till this day I havent fully repaird it.
I would go on or use more detail but this isnt a book lol
DWP
Ever thought of changing your initials
to DKW? Arecee
Used to have one
about two years ago I had an 81 Yamaha 750 Seca, loved that bike...pretty blue and silver colors with a windjammer fairing on it. Gave it to someone that needed some transportation worse than I needed the enjoyment it gave me
Honda S90 when I was 16
and now a 1993 Suzuki GS850. (also a stick shift minicooper S)
MC Rider
RC you have brought up a subject close to my heart. MC's have been a central part of my live from the age of 14 with too many to count. If you need input to help with a new story line I would be glad to help.
Here is a pic of how deep MC's are part of my lifestyle.
Charlie O
Oh my, so long ago!
The year was 1966 and I bought a 1955 BSA followed quickly by a 1949 Royal Enfield. In 1967 I upgraded to a 1966 Yamaha big bear scrambler and then life took a twist and in 1968 I was back on four wheels, sigh.
Carol Anne