Author Topic: What was your very first bike? (Read 4346 times)

gp911 · « **Reply #30 on:** December 17, 2008, 10:11:22 AM »

First ridden was my brother's Rupp 80, which wasn't a minibike, but an actual dirt bike with a Sachs engine.

First owned was a '78 GS400, followed by a '73 CB350, then a '94 FZR600R. Sold the FZR last year, thinking about a little dirt bike for fun and maybe eventually another street bike, but my tastes for the street change almost daily. I should just split the difference and get a dual-sport, that way it'll suck in both conditions!

gp911

Slufoot · « **Reply #31 on:** December 17, 2008, 02:31:09 PM »

Quote from: glanceblamm on December 17, 2008, 04:59:48 AM

had a 125 benneli (spelling) as my first. It had a handy tube on the underside of the gas cap to measure out the correct amount of the 2 cycle oil to be added to the fuel.
The guys that I really envied were just a few blocks away and they had three 250cc Hodaka Super Rat's going on a daily basis...sounded like chainsaws on steroids!

Hey glanceblamm, I remember seeing the Super Rats in the Hodaka shop when I would go in to buy parts for my Wombat. I remember thinking how they must have been an awsome ride, they sure looked mean!

Slufoot

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #32 on:** December 17, 2008, 05:19:43 PM »

Slufoot, One of the guys that had the Hodaka is still in the area. He is 68 and can barely walk per fused ankles but rides his 400cc Husky a couple three times a day in good weather. He really likes having an electric start as this is his first!

1911crazy · « **Reply #33 on:** December 20, 2008, 02:49:12 PM »

1st bike '72 suzuki TS-185 street legal & registered
2nd Bike '77 suzuki TS-185 awesome could stay with harleys for 3 gears off the line.
3rd Bike '78 Husqvarna 390cr this baby was fast in all 6 gears. If you wicked it in 6th gear she would wheelie no problem it had 45hp at the rear wheel.
4th Bike '79 Husqvarna 250or (or means off road) It had a special tranny with a wide ratio 1st, 2nd, 3rd, with a close ratio 4th, 5th 6th gear. Can you say desert racer? Flying thru the woods and seeing the green blurr (its the trees your passing)

1st streetbike '80 suzuki GS750
2nd streetbike '81 kawie 650

Last streetbike 99 suzuki 1200 bandit. had to give it up i just went faster and faster on it. This bike was just too smooth at 150mph. I'm lucky to be still alive but it was a rush. I miss those days......

I spanked alot of youngings on there rockets, somebody old had to do it!!!

Cheesehead · « **Reply #34 on:** December 20, 2008, 06:59:28 PM »

1911,

That is a very interesting assortment of motorcycles. Do you have one now. What about your next bike?

Cheese

BNoz01 · « **Reply #35 on:** December 21, 2008, 04:02:44 PM »

My first road bike was an early 70's CB-350 Honda. This was in terrible shape but it was all I could afford. I bought mine at age 16 without consulting my parents (better to ask forgiveness aftwards).

My father (to this day) is all about buying/selling cars. He was so upset that I didn't consult with him about a vehicle purchase that he showed me a brand new Yamaha RD-250 that he repossed and told me I could have owned it for the same price as my junk CB-350. I'm now 47 and still consult him on every vehicle purchase!

B. Noz.

1911crazy · « **Reply #36 on:** December 22, 2008, 10:59:49 AM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on December 20, 2008, 06:59:28 PM

1911,

That is a very interesting assortment of motorcycles. Do you have one now. What about your next bike?

Cheese

Due to my health i had to give it up but i been thinking of getting a new suzuki "G" it has the body style of a 1200 bandit and the engine from a 1300cc hyabusa. This way i can go faster.......

It oughta be against the law making a bike so smooth when you can't tell how fast your going.

I really wish i saved the 77 suzuki 185 i could ride all day on a tank of gas. For around town it would be great.

Totenkopf · « **Reply #37 on:** December 27, 2008, 04:26:14 AM »

A shwinn. Sorry couldn't resist.
First was an Indian Chief. %&$% thing was wired backwards when I got it. Threw me over the handlebars first time I tried to start it. Didn't keep it long. Big boat is worth some money today. Can't remeber much about it being good besides top end in third. And the stick shift.

oldyardog · « **Reply #38 on:** December 28, 2008, 05:30:47 AM »

In 1957 I bought a Harley 45 for $80 and kept it on my friends farm. I kept it about 5 mouths and rode it maybe 6 times. I worked on it a lot! My Dad found out about it and that was the end of that, I was 14 years old at the time. A year later I got a Cushman Eagle that he ok-ed. After that came Hondas, Yamahas,and Triumphs. In 1972 I bought a 750 BMW new and have had airheads to this day. I keep 4 of them now but stopped restoring them and working on them last year. My hands are not as good as they should be. I only ride and do routine maintenance on ours now. I have had several Honda and Yamahas in the past also. Can't remember riding a motorcycle I didn't like. We have been talking about getting a pair of cruisers for Sunday riding now that we seldom do long rides ( over 400 miles a day). We still hit 3-4 of the BMWMOA rallies a year and will do the National this year. I will ride the sidecar rig and the wife will use her 1971 R75. Having ridden and worked on bikes for so long I am really impressed with some of the new cycles of all makes. I might even consider a Harley again.

Oldyardog

varmintman · « **Reply #39 on:** December 28, 2008, 01:03:46 PM »

first motorcycle was 67 triumph 650 customized t-110, prior to that and in my younger years a 57 cushman eagle, after the triumph a 73 750 yamaha then a 72 650 yamaha then a 67 harley sportster then a 78 1/2 harley superglide 80ci then 2002 lowrider and now a 2000 roadking classic which I really like and can't wait until spring to get back on.

ken-wv. · « **Reply #40 on:** January 09, 2009, 01:09:50 PM »

mine was a rototiller with a bicycle front half weled to it by my dad when i was about 7 years old,you had to sit way up by the handel bars or it would willie and flip,wasnt very fast at all,i guess not a motorcycle,but a three wheeler,then i found a old honda scooter in a trash dump,had dad haul it home,got it running using a old dry cell 6volt batt.that was a lot more fun. then he got me a 1973 yamaha 80,man i rode that thing non stop.what a great dad,he didnt have any extra money,but he went ahead and went indebt bought me that 80.i love him for that.had a lot of differant jap bikes over the years. got a old 76 honda xl 350
and a 2000 hd.eletra glide now.i really never thought how much he went out of his way bach then to bring me that much joy,till i got older.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #41 on:** January 09, 2009, 01:35:14 PM »

'82 Honda CX650
Now 98 super glide .03 over, thunderheader, otherwise stock.

jcn59 · « **Reply #42 on:** January 17, 2009, 07:42:39 PM »

First a '57 Cushman Eagle, then a 250 Zundapp, followed by a bunch of Jap bikes. Still ride the 82 Honda 650 sometimes.

Had a chance to buy a 80" (?) Harley in about '61 for 100 bucks but it didn't run & I didn't think I could fix it then.

Hank08 · « **Reply #43 on:** January 23, 2009, 05:02:55 AM »

Bought my 1st one new in 1952. Was a 52 BSA 650 Golden Flash. There were a few Nortons, AJAs, Matchless and an occasional Vincent back then but the BSA and Triumphs were the hot setup. Always wished I'd bought the Vincent Black Shadow and kept it, they're worth a fortune now.
H08

giturgun · « **Reply #44 on:** January 24, 2009, 02:45:29 AM »

I had a qa 50 in the early 70s Honda made that one . First road bike was a 500 Kaw triple 2 stroker .
I worked as a bike mechanic from 79 to early 87 . We sold and repaired any English, Jap. Italian, German, bike made . Have worked on 1918 Indian model O , there are only a few even known and that mostly in the Indian mc owners clubs. Just about any English turnipe , Beezer , Snorton Norton , and a few Enfields . Moto Guzzies , Bmw's . Lots of Harlies.
Right now I have a 77 Goldwing salvaged from the scrap heap.
I have owned Honda , Kaw., Yamaha bikes and don't know how many miles I have put on through the years , but it is considerable.
We used to go to the big Cincinatti mc show every year . I have sat on several of Steve Mcqueens bikes . Matchless , Scott flying squirrels, Areal, Indians . Have ridden Urals with the cool 2 wheel drive side car on . Ah the memories this post brings back.

Curtis · « **Reply #45 on:** January 24, 2009, 11:40:41 AM »

'75 Gold Wing from about '85 to about '88.

Curtis

ruger204 · « **Reply #46 on:** January 24, 2009, 05:22:02 PM »

1942 EL + sidehack. Bought in 1966 for $600.00. I will post photo later.

Found picture. It was taken in I think 1966 I was 18 yrs old. Boy does time fly !

AtlLaw · « **Reply #47 on:** January 24, 2009, 05:47:04 PM »

Quote from: ruger204 on January 24, 2009, 05:22:02 PM

1966 I was 18 yrs old. Boy does time fly !

I was 19!

Spent all of '66 in the playground of the orient! Sold my HD "Hummer" before I left for flight school in '65... Time sure DOES fly!

Cheesehead · « **Reply #48 on:** January 24, 2009, 06:28:47 PM »

Ruger204,

That is a great photo.

Cheese

giturgun · « **Reply #49 on:** January 25, 2009, 08:51:14 AM »

All good memories, I had the last RD 400 Yamaha made in the 70's , a 79 RD 400 Datona special. Little 2 stroke would move on down theroad. Had been ported and polished with 34 mm aftermarket Mikunies , a pair of Tookie pipes with the cans gutted , Tomisellie condor lowset bars , and rearsets to get the pegs off the ground. I bought the first set of Dunlop sport elites probably sold around here. Man that thing was quick . Wouldn't idle below around 1200 and then it sounded like popcorn poppin . When you pulled out and tried to ease through town on it it would jerk and jump till it got to just about 5 grand and then it smothed out and started to pull . At 7500 to about 10 000 it would make a sort of zing sound and if you twisted the wrist at 5 g it would come up like a big 500 cc thumper. Darn thing liked the box to be rowed . It was not for someone that didn't know what a 6 speed was made for . You had to keep in on the pipe to ride it .

Sometimes I think it would be fun to have that little terror back.
I did go out and check the old wing today . She is still out there under the carport. I measured for my rack today . maby I can get on that this week and fab something up.

Skunk · « **Reply #50 on:** January 25, 2009, 09:01:25 AM »

This thread brings back many great memories. I was mostly a dirt bike fan. The list below is in order of purchase, but I had most of the dirt bikes in my garage at the same time - never got rid of them until I was much older.

1. Mini Bike - forgot the make and model
2. Honda 305 Big Bear Scrambler
3. Hodaka 100
4. Yamaha 175 Enduro
5. Yamaha 250 MX
6. Bultaco 250 Pursang
7. Bultaco 250 Frontera
8. Hodaka 125 Combat Wombat
9. Yamaha 750 - first year with spoke wheels, drive shaft, and front & rear disc brakes
10. Bultaco 350 Sherpa T trials bike
11. Bultaco 200 Pursang

buckweet · « **Reply #51 on:** March 23, 2009, 04:44:19 AM »

YAMAHA 80 TWO STROKE early 70's ?

then a suzuki 750 water cooled ..''water buffalo'' ... 72 ? 73 ?
.......

then a suzuki gs1100 .. 80's....

montessa trials bike, ''wishes i had of kept that one''

several harleys and goldwings.. ridin a 00' ultra now..
weet

Swampman · « **Reply #52 on:** March 30, 2009, 03:41:55 PM »

I found a Honda CL90 exactly like my first bike at the Barber Motorsports Museum today.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #53 on:** March 30, 2009, 03:58:39 PM »

Honda Dream 305. I think it was a 1965. Rode it about a year, then got a dirt bike. It had no mufflers, no registration either....

Pic below is the bike I built a couple years ago

Larry

jumpsteady · « **Reply #54 on:** April 03, 2009, 04:54:11 PM »

'96 Kawasaki Ninja 250, Got it for nothing. Needed the carb rebuilt, and tires.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #55 on:** April 03, 2009, 05:30:39 PM »

Wanted a bike from the first time I saw one go down the road. Guess it was 1960. Dad said Nope, no cosign, no buy, no nuttin. His words were "I'll go pick you up off the road but I wont be responsible for you being there" So in 75 when I could afford it, I bought a 73 AMF superglide! Things fell off of it. It leaked oil so bad that I had to carry oil in cans in the saddle bags and put some in when I stopped for gas and in between sometimes! Never had to change oil in the dang thing. Well actually I changed it daily

The guys I rode with made me ride in the back so when stuff fell off of it, they wouldn't get hit! Once when I stopped A guy rode up and handed me my kick stand and said "you may need this now"
It was kick start and threw me on the handle bars more than once!

I've had some nice Harleys since then but none I loved more than that old oil leakin, bad (aluminum) wired, parts fallin off AMF HARLEY DAVIDSON Superglide.

gofish · « **Reply #56 on:** April 04, 2009, 03:02:45 AM »

1953 Whizzer sportsman motor bike. Mowed grass all sumer to get it frome a guy next door. Was a basket case and engene was in a cardboard box.
Tag on the engine read made in Minneapolis MN.(late 50s or early 60s)

can't spell very well but shoot OK!

gofish

If you do a search on net you can find pictures.

diesel instructor · « **Reply #57 on:** April 06, 2009, 08:30:14 PM »

new 1948 CZ 125, $350. lot of money for a 16 year old. new Ford, $900. still ridden, 2000 Goldwing trike now.