posted July 29, 2007 07:29 AM
What Was Your First Bike Thought I'd try to wrangle some fond memories out of a few brain cells and ask what was your first bike. Got my first, a new 1971 Honda CB100, when I was 16. My dream bike at the time was the Kawasaki Mach III 500cc 2-stroke. But Texas law at the time limited the engine size and power class that a 16 year old could legally ride on the street. The CB100 was at the limit. I kept it for 2 years until I could go on to bigger and better things. I was a Yamaha and Suzuki type over the remaining years. Never owned another Honda and never had a Kawasaki until the ZX14. I love my 14.
FUNNIEST MEMORY: Actually happened to my buddies, not me. I don't remember the brand of bike, but it was a 1971 200cc 2-stroke, red in color. My small Texas town was surrounded by ranches and we liked to ride through the pastures. My buddy Forrest was out riding by himself one day on his red bike and attracted the attention of a bull, which either didn't like the red bike, the noise of the 2-stroke, or both. So the bull went after him. This was not an off-road bike and it didn't have that much power. It could barely outrun the bull. Forrest eventually made it to a fence, dropped the bike, climbed over the fence, and walked back to town. He got my buddy Dean to go with him to pick the bike up. Dean had to park about a mile away from the bike so when they walked to it, they looked around, didn't see the bull, and decided to ride 2-up back to the car. As it turns out, the bull was not that far away and came after them again. Forrest could barely outrun the bull with one person on the bike. There's no way with two on it. The bull is gaining on them and they are both looking over their shoulders rather than where they are going. Next thing that happens is they broadside a cow, go flying over the cow, and sliding through the dirt. They aren't really hurt bad (just some scratches and gravel imbedded under their skin). The cow walks away and the bull stomps the bike to pieces and then leaves. I got called to the hospital to see them while they were getting the gravel picked out. Then we all three went out to retrieve the bike. The bull was still standing near it looking all proud for destroying the thing.
posted July 29, 2007 09:36 AM
Early 50s I think, Triumph 600 speed twin. Had been modified to 650. Kick start and Lucas electrics. Had a set of old Harley leather bags. I remember fitting an old car radio in the top of one of the bags, tube type of course. Dont think it would go 100 miles without viberating a muffler loose. Thought it was super, LOL. This was around 58, also rode an Indian 4 some, and it was a bear. Things have come along ways since then....TB
posted July 29, 2007 10:04 AM
First bike was a Fox minibike around 1971.
First streetbike? Was a 75 Suzuki TS250 enduro then a 82' GS1100e and to many to count since then.
posted July 29, 2007 10:34 AM
First was a 78' Yamaha 7502D in 82', then a 83' GPZ 550, also a 85' 900 with a grafted 1000R jugs and lower-end that was bored and stroked just for fun(I still have this one). As soon as I'm able to sell the house (divorce) I'll pick up a ZX14.
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85' 900 (1039) Ninja
quote:Thought I'd try to wrangle some fond memories out of a few brain cells and ask what was your first bike. Got my first, a new 1971 Honda CB100, when I was 16. My dream bike at the time was the Kawasaki Mach III 500cc 2-stroke. But Texas law at the time limited the engine size and power class that a 16 year old could legally ride on the street. The CB100 was at the limit. I kept it for 2 years until I could go on to bigger and better things. I was a Yamaha and Suzuki type over the remaining years. Never owned another Honda and never had a Kawasaki until the ZX14. I love my 14.
FUNNIEST MEMORY: Actually happened to my buddies, not me. I don't remember the brand of bike, but it was a 1971 200cc 2-stroke, red in color. My small Texas town was surrounded by ranches and we liked to ride through the pastures. My buddy Forrest was out riding by himself one day on his red bike and attracted the attention of a bull, which either didn't like the red bike, the noise of the 2-stroke, or both. So the bull went after him. This was not an off-road bike and it didn't have that much power. It could barely outrun the bull. Forrest eventually made it to a fence, dropped the bike, climbed over the fence, and walked back to town. He got my buddy Dean to go with him to pick the bike up. Dean had to park about a mile away from the bike so when they walked to it, they looked around, didn't see the bull, and decided to ride 2-up back to the car. As it turns out, the bull was not that far away and came after them again. Forrest could barely outrun the bull with one person on the bike. There's no way with two on it. The bull is gaining on them and they are both looking over their shoulders rather than where they are going. Next thing that happens is they broadside a cow, go flying over the cow, and sliding through the dirt. They aren't really hurt bad (just some scratches and gravel imbedded under their skin). The cow walks away and the bull stomps the bike to pieces and then leaves. I got called to the hospital to see them while they were getting the gravel picked out. Then we all three went out to retrieve the bike. The bull was still standing near it looking all proud for destroying the thing.
I to was living in TX when i got my first street bike a 1971 honda CB100 ... I had the same limit on my DL for a 100cc or under motorcycle .....That didn't stop me because a short time after buying the CB100 i got an RD 350 ...Cops never gave me trouble over it.... The CB100 was a cool bike , it put a big bore kit in it along with a hooker header...I burned the motor up going from Austin to Brownsville , i held that thing wide open ( 70mph) for the hole 200+ mile trip.. ____________
Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
posted July 29, 2007 03:19 PM
First Street bike was a 74 Honda CL 360 Scrambler
Got home late one nt and didn't put it in the garage.
Next morning it was gone never to be seen again.........
Wish I still had it.
____________
Bob
posted July 29, 2007 04:59 PM
first bike was '74 kv75 trail mini- man that thing could take a beating
first street bike '83 xj750 seca- drove it non-stop from Dallas to Orlando in 20 hours, thought i would never get feeling back in my arms and legs
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"never drive faster than you can see, besides it's all in the reflexes"
Needs a job
spell chequer is bustimicated
Posts: 2909
posted July 29, 2007 05:09 PM
Edited By: thekaz on 29 Jul 2007 18:11
First street bike was a 1969 Yamaha YCS-1 ( great grand father of the RD & RZ bikes )
posted July 29, 2007 08:46 PM
First bike was a Fox mini-bike, second was a QA-50 Honda... 3rd was a Yamaha 80 2 stroke... Harley Davidson 250 enduro plus many more in between... First street bike was a 1973 Honda 360. Paid $350 for it. It was in perfect shape. Then turned to 76 Sportster, 1980 Wide Glide... and then rode a friends 1985 gs1150e... bought one the next day...add another 30 or so bikes from then until now... Including 97 Zx11, 99 1100xx, 2001 zx12, 2002 Busa, 2002 zx6r, etc... My V65 (83) was a great bike... memories... I wish I had half of them back. I blew so much money on bikes... Now the wife will kill me if I do too much changing. Cool thread by the way!!
posted July 29, 2007 09:31 PM
i bought a new 1974 850 red norton commando roadster.2200.00.that bike had so much class.i was in 12th grade installing 8 tracks after school.i had alot of girl friends.yummy!