SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> The Cafe >> Your first motorcycle?
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1338573030

Message started by TheSavagePJ on 06/01/12 at 10:50:30

Title: Your first motorcycle?
Post by TheSavagePJ on 06/01/12 at 10:50:30

Just a general "What was your first motorcycle?" post. Curiosity is getting the best of me and I want to know what some of you guys started off on. What did you like about it? What didn't you like about it? Pics if you have any?

I'll start this thing off.

My first bike was (and still is) a black 2004 Savage. I picked it out because it seemed to be a good size for me and didnt look and sound like the other Japanese cruisers I looked at. It had a nice, clean and old school look, and the previous owner took the decals off and it just added to the clean look.

So what's your story? 8-)

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by 2stroketim on 06/01/12 at 11:07:18

I'll play along, and only count the bikes I had for a year or more:

1st was a YZ Zinger 50 when I was 7 or 8. Then, multiple mx bikes, up, and including the 5 that are still in my shop. YZ125, 1979 IT250E, 06 YZ250, 06 RM85, 05 CRF50, 08 PW50.

Street?
First ever street ride was a Honda Moped. I was THE MAN at 12- or 13 with that thing.

In high school it was a 1975 XS650, rode that for a while then went to a 92 HD 883.
90 Seca II
Aonther XS650 Hack job build
94 CBR600
92 GSF400
86 Savage 650 (Which, I gave to my Uncle so he could learn to ride, which, is now BACK in my garage after 10 years, so that me and my brother can chop it up - it's come full circle)
03 Vstar 1100
07 V-Strom DL650 (Still have)
2000 Savage hack job (Still have)

I like bikes.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by splash07 on 06/01/12 at 11:11:39

First bike is my current bike. Bought a 2000 Suzuki savage 10 years ago, still have it today. I will never get rid of my savage but at some point when I am making millions of dollars I will buy dozens of other bikes that I have always wanted like the Ducati monster and the triumph triple and, regrettably, a Harley sportster. One day I will have one of every bike that RYCA produces as well.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by ALfromN.H. on 06/01/12 at 11:38:10

I started out on various mini-bikes and dirt bikes but my first street bik was a 77 yamaha rd400. http://p1.bikepics.com/2010/04/30/bikepics-1964368-full.jpg
Loved that bike sold it after a couple years to a guy that cafe'd it. Then a few years after that I got a 78? honda 440four. That was a fun bike but had alot of problems. Then in 2006 I bought my 05 S40. Now I have that and the 2009 C50 that I bought last year

AL

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by rl153 on 06/01/12 at 11:47:52

Had a rupp mini bike when I was 13 in the 60s. My first motorcycle was a yamaha 250 enduro around 1972. then I bought a 250 suzuki enduro around 1974,Both were 2 cycle motors. Later around 1980 I bought a 1975 550 Yamaha with 2 cylinders .That was decent. I sold that in 1988 or so. Bought the 2005 savage in 2009.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by bill67 on 06/01/12 at 11:56:16

Started in 1972 with a Yamaha RD200 I like the looks,Had one summer and 1200 miles in the fall bought Suzuki GT550.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Doug on 06/01/12 at 11:56:53

At 16 yrs. old - Kazuma Cheetah 200 duel purpose. I learned a lot for the two weeks I had it. Then, my step-dad decides he wants to take it out for a spin after drinkin' a little... didn't even make it all the way out of the driveway before he got hit by a truck. Totaled the front end... Then he takes my title and papers, goes to the pawn shop and I never see it again. Now I have myself an '87 savage to help rid me of the painful memories. She's a lot of fun.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Savage_Rob on 06/01/12 at 12:20:45

Looked almost identical to this one...

http://p1.bikepics.com/2007/12/13/bikepics-1114782-full.jpg

Edit: If mini-bikes count, first one was a mini-bike frame with a Brigs & Stratton 5HP engine cobbed into it.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by weracerc on 06/01/12 at 12:35:17

1st bike ride was on the back of a 175 dirt bike 16yr old 1979 - rode it an hour later for about 10 minutes before i drove it up the back of a parked car.....did not ride again until 48yr old when i got my first bike 96 LS650P - rode it for 2yr and traded up for a 03 Honda Shadow 750.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by arteacher on 06/01/12 at 14:00:09

My first was a '37 Enfield 500 Bullet Super Sport. I bought it for $50 in 1965 from the original owner, who had stopped driving it in '48 when his wife died. He had plastered it with old motor oil and sawdust, wrapped it up in tarps, and bricked it into it's own little "tomb" with concrete blocks in his back yard. Included in the deal were some spare parts, a complete gasket kit. 8 extra mufflers (they tended to rust out pretty quick so he bought a dozen), the original owner's manual, and two new tires.http://p1.bikepics.com/2011%5C11%5C13%5Cbikepics-2302013-full.jpg He bought it because it was the only bike he could find with a foot shift.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by WD on 06/01/12 at 14:23:20

First bike was a 1936 Harley Davidson EL (61 cubic inch) Knucklehead. 17 inch over springer front end, tank shift/foot clutch with no front brake. Worked as a club apprentice mechanic all summer (1987) rebuilding it, was handed the keys when school started. Not bad for a 15 year old kid's first motorcycle. Bike was stolen out of my shop in 1993 with roughly $250K worth of other vintage toys. Still miss that bike.

Not overly fond of Japanese bikes, most of my bikes have been American or English. Still haven't had a Vincent or a Brough Superior but I'll find one before I hang it up. Childhood neighbor had both in his collection, way too rich for my blood when he died and they were sold off. Hadn't been run since the early 50s and went for over 100K each. >:( To non-riders. >:( >:( >:(

Have a Savage because it was cheaper than the FXR I was going to buy at the time. And I have had a blast basically destroying it (my wife's opinion since it was two weeks old when I started cutting it up).

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Serowbot on 06/01/12 at 14:42:14

That coconut-headed kid is me, age 11... (I was going to be the 6th Beatle)...
Dad was in Nam' but he made sure I had the best Christmas ever... 1969 ... I broke my arm in two places a couple weeks later playing soccer... Spent the next 2 1/2 months just staring at it...
It was a Yamaha Maverick Mini-trail... 2 stroke, 60cc, 4spd w/clutch... I didn't know what a clutch was, so it took some time, and a lot of wheelies, to figure it out... that little sucker was fast... 45 or 50mph top speed...
...no helmet... not even sunglasses... ;D...

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt82/serowbot/maverick.jpg

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by verslagen1 on 06/01/12 at 15:20:18

It's a wonder you're still alive w/2 eyes even.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by youzguyz on 06/01/12 at 15:47:35

Yamaha Trail 90 when I first go my license at 16.

When stationed on Oahu, 1972 Suzuki Savage (as he waits for people to scream about the Savage not being made that early.....). Back then it was the TS250. Enduro type 2 stroke.

And after more than 30 years of no motorcycle, my LS 650 Savages.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Cavi Mike on 06/01/12 at 16:27:23

Technically a 1978 enduro of some sort. Forgot what it was, only remember the year because it was one year older than me. It was blue. Rode it once and decided to try it out off-road. Went over the handlebars. Decided on-road was better suited to me and sold it. Bought a '93 ZX7. I'd more say the ZX7 was my first bike since I actually rode it

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 06/01/12 at 17:14:47

My S40 is my first bike... No reason to upgrade yet. :)

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by LANCER on 06/01/12 at 18:26:48

My first bike when I was 15; worked all summer in the peach orchards of N Calif. at $1/hr to earn $500. This is what I could afford and liked for the price. It was a tough little thing.

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/S32/1966_S32-2_bw_450.jpg
http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/S32/1965_S32_bw_twice_450.jpg

S 32 II 1966
Overall Length: 1 900 mm (74.8 in)
Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in)
Overall Height: 1 000 mm (39.4 in)
Seat Height: 775 mm (30.5 in)
Wheelbase: 1 260 mm (49.6 in)
Ground Clearance: 152 mm (6.0 in)
Dry Weight: 115 kg (252 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 149 cc 2-stroke aluminum twin. 16 hp/ 8,000 rpm, 1,5 kg-m/ 7,000 rpm.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Boule’tard on 06/01/12 at 21:44:16

I saved up some lawn mowing money and got one of these GT80s when I was about 9.

http://www.atlantismotorcorp.com/images/gt80.1..jpg

So much stuff broke on mine, I'm not even nostalgic about them.. I sold mine to a junk dealer for $20 and if I never see one again it'll be too soon.

BleeeeEEEHHHHH bleh blehh blehh.. bleeEEHHHHH bleh bleh... It sounded like bleh.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by thumperclone on 06/01/12 at 23:11:28

my 1st solo ride was dads honda 55
1st i owned was a 75 suzuki gt550

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by PerrydaSavage on 06/02/12 at 02:07:46

1985 Honda CMX250 Rebel ... bought in Aug. 2002 for $1K, sold Aug. 2003 for $1.1K!

http://p1.bikepics.com/2008/09/17/bikepics-1420757-full.jpg

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Dead Fish on 06/02/12 at 06:02:45

http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7087/7320016584_7b3ed07de5_s.jpg

In rememberence of my Father, this is his first motorcycle, a well used Indian that took him all summer to get running. The picture was taken outside of Yakama Washington in 1941. He was 15. Ride on Dad.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Boofer on 06/02/12 at 15:28:50

A white 1969 Kawasaki H-1 500. Bored with expansion chambers. Good thing for me, my cousins and friends had shared motorcycles with me since I was 12. A couple of years later I got a blue 1972 Kawasaki H-2 750. Had various dirt and street for a while. Quit riding around 1978 and started back with the Savage 3-10-10. 13,000 miles since. :)

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Skid Mark on 06/02/12 at 21:15:21

1970 Kawasaki 90. The best summer of my life. Dad agreed to go 1/2
Worked my butt off to get my 1/2. Thanks for the positive life lesson and giving a 14 yr old some awesome freedom dad. :)

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by 360k+ on 06/03/12 at 11:04:14

Honda P50 exactly like the one shown here. You peddled to get it started and from then on it was automatic (no tranny). It would do about 35mph on flat road, and was a super fun little scoot! I paid $125 brand new in 1968 in SE Asia. I think it got about 500 mpg - lol.

http://1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj534/gary95329/Honda50/Honda50.jpg

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Southpaw on 06/03/12 at 17:07:42

First one "I" owned was a 1968 Honda CB450, but I cut my teeth on a TS125 Trailhopper at my neighbor's farm! I have no idea how I survived for the stupid things we used to do on that thing!

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by BuckRYCA on 06/03/12 at 17:18:14

1966 Honda S65 (engine displacement was one-tenth that of the Savage). Hit 55 mph lying down on the gas tank. About 120 mpg. Fire engine red with an upswept pipe. I paid for it working a summer job at a pipeline valve factory. It was so much fun.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Uno-Lung on 06/03/12 at 21:49:31

This thread has lead me to a revelation that I never realized and why I love my savage. Let me explain.

Go-carts when I first became able to walk. Mini-bikes when I could ride on two wheels. From there, Sears was having a sale on 106 cc motor-bikes for 106 dollars plus tax. Armed with my life’s savings earned from lawn work, weeding the family garden and picking potato bugs, I’d leave the big ones, Dad drove me to Sears and loaded it on the pickup truck. It was a great bike until the plastic gear fell off the cam.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/tartard/searsprofileleft.jpg

Soon after, driver’s license in hand, I bought what I believe was a bike before its time – a Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler. With the stinger baffles removed, my 305 Honda buds only laughed when I would brand the inside of my legs with the heat shields. College expenses and freshman not being able to have motor conveyances was her demise.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/tartard/sears106-1.jpg

As soon as I could afford it, and here’s where I start seeing the pattern, I bought a Matchless 500. Reliving the 106 Sears days with bugs in my teeth and a silly grin, I was in heaven. I wish it was as nice as the one below, but it was a single cylinder not a multi thus the pattern. Family coming and a wife that wanted a live husband was the bike’s demise.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/tartard/matchless.jpg

Raised two boys then a empty nest and peer pressure produced another multi – 2002 Triumph Trophy 1200. Great sport touring motorcycle that put Goldwings and H-Ds in their place, the rearview mirror.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/tartard/tt1200.jpg

The wife started having health problems and two up rides were out of the question so the Trophy was sold and the silly grin and buggy teeth of a twelve year old returned along with a large deposit to the bank with the purchase of a used 2001 Savage. Returning to my roots, that 106 Sears, and the realization that one lung is all a motorcycle needs, and that I am like a dog returning to his own vomit is something that I have learned through this post.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/tartard/savage.jpg

Truly simple things are great – thump – thump – thump.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by sjaskow on 06/04/12 at 10:56:35

The first bike I've actually owned is my '06 S40. When I was in high school, I learned to ride around the neighborhood on a Honda CT70, Suzuki XL185, Kawasaki KE100, Suzuki GS450 and a Suzuki GS750 (all of which were owned by high school friends).

My dad still owns a 1964 Ducati Monza 250. This is the first bike I ever rode on a street with more than 2 lanes. I still remember being scared sh!tless at how fast the cars went past me. :)

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Rogue_Cheddar on 06/04/12 at 12:26:37

My '95 Savage I got in 2006, started riding at age 52. Currently on a Vstar 1300

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by prechermike on 06/04/12 at 13:09:17

4C767270714B6A7979586A661F0 wrote:

My S40 is my first bike... No reason to upgrade yet. :)

Me too! Sorta. A friend had an 87 savage that he wanted to sell. I wanted a bike, so I bought it, really not knowing much about motorcycles. Even a blind sow finds an acorn once in a while. Recently "upgraded" to an 06.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by ZAR on 06/06/12 at 20:29:07

My first scoot was a 1972 Harley Sprint SS350 single. I've had a few others between (even rode a few BSA 441 and old Triumph twins and singles)but I've always been fond of big singles. Was riding a Kawasaki KZ440 twin until I got the Savage this past weekend.

Big engines are ok but there's more fun thrashing a big single on the backroads!

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by LANCER on 06/07/12 at 04:24:00

6259581A7B425950370 wrote:

Nice looking Matchless dude !

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/tartard/matchless.jpg

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by mpescatori on 06/07/12 at 07:37:35

6E525F695B4C5B5D5F6A703A0 wrote:

Malaguti Fifty (that was the name) with a 50cc 2-stroke boasting a whopping ONE full HP ! :o

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7075/1296392346.jpg

Actually, mine was black, had wire wheels and a front drum brake.

The standard 2-stroke was a tuned-down version of the "Export" model which boasted a much more impressive 6.5 bhp...

Guess where my allowance went... ;)

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by lch2 on 06/08/12 at 14:12:23

My first motorcycle was a Honda DAX 70cc, from 1975 or something like that, bought it with my first money when I was around 15 or 16.
It was a blast, 70cc, with manual tranny, clutch operated by the shifter, don't remember how many times I keep the throttle twist while downgrading a gear, and the bike just slide below me, and let me on the paviment!

here's a picture of one like it!

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by wambr on 06/09/12 at 11:24:49

because I'm from Russia, all my bikes are Russian.
My first bike was Voskhod 2 http://im5-tub-ru.yandex.net/i?id=286054913-63-72&n=16, which got me father. I was drive it 2 years. then there was izh-Planeta-5 http://im6-tub-ru.yandex.net/i?id=297092508-46-72&n=16. has served me for about 4 years. and then died in a fire, then I bought Ural "74 . at first he was in very poor condition. I had to restore it almost from scratch.
in 2010, I bought savage400 '95. It took me quite like it. simple, reliable, fairly dynamic. I think it's only some small for my growth (183 cm).

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/09/12 at 11:41:17

You had some cool bikes, sorry about the fire.Thats a bad thing, fire,,
Did the bike catch on fire or was it in a place that burned down?

Youre 6 feet tall,,if youre a long legged guy, yea,youre kind of pushing
it on the edge of the comfort zone. YOu can get a forward control kit or maybe make your own,

Did you sell the Ural?

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Greg on 06/09/12 at 12:08:32

My first bike was a minibike. My dad and I used to buy, build, and sell them. The one I kept the longest was a green Rupp. The one I miss the most was my home-made chopper. I can't remember if my first bike with gears was the Honda Trail 90

http://bythecycle.bythewhere.com/index/multimedia/our_bikes_img/ct200.jpg

or my one and only HD

http://www.bikez.com/pictures/harley-davidson/1977/14456_0_1_2_sx%20175_Image%20credits%20-%20coops%20leicester.jpg

I had various off road/motocross/enduro bikes growing up. Also had go karts and snowmobiles. I wasn't allowed to get a street bike. My parents figured I would kill myself. My first street bike that I purchased when I was around 35 years old was a Kawasaki LTD750 from the 80's.

http://www.bikez.com/pictures/kawasaki/1983/18274_0_1_2_z%20750%20ltd_Submitted%20by%20anonymous%20user..jpg

Sold it to pay some bills. Years later I purchased my existing 2002 Savage.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/09/12 at 12:50:54

http://www.bikez.com/pictures/kawasaki/1983/18274_0_1_2_z%20750%20ltd_Submitted%20by%20anonymous%20user..jpg

I had one of those. I totaled it to create some bills., It was red. I had a ton of fun on it,

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Sam7.62 on 06/09/12 at 19:44:01

'08 Savage. no pics yet.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by wambr on 06/10/12 at 08:37:58

322D2B2C31360737073F2D216A580 wrote:

Yes I'm sorry burnt a motorcycle. He was pretty quick and easy. but apparently I liked the voshod-2 and of course the Ural. Miantenece Ural was difficult because there was a qualitative spare parts. parts that are marked "made in Russia" of poor quality and are often made in China. :)a really good parts "made in USSR" but they've nearly depleted.
My Ural alive, but he now has a different owner. are you interested Ural? i can show some photos about it, but i can't to replay on this forum :(

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/10/12 at 08:56:00

No,, IM not interested in another bike. Im selling mine off,just not gonna ride any more,

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by wambr on 06/10/12 at 08:59:07

this is one of first photo of my Ural
http://img3.content.foto.mail.ru/community/motoros/303/p-543.jpg

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/10/12 at 09:06:59

Pretty popular as sidecar rigs, Good bikes,.Nice pic, thanks

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Pine on 06/11/12 at 07:41:14

Man it took forever to find what my old bike was. I guess it was a big but not so much to me at the time:

http://https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0oRDi9VBxaI/T9X7ds-gFzI/AAAAAAAABSQ/FaNZ9S9VGno/s500/Yamaha%2520400%2520Special.jpg

This is not MY bike, I just found it one the web, but mine was just like it. I enjoyed the bike, but only kept it a short while, as it was old and needed too much work. I then got a rather new Yamaha DT175, when I rode around for several years. Great little bike, but I hated that the oil injection cable kept breaking and ruining the engine, so I gave it away (after the second time).

I never owned the Yamaha that I most loved, but I borrowed one from a good friend and rode it from Cocoa beach FL to Jackson Ms in one day ... 11 hours.

http://https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r7f2NJDnIRU/T9X_lPDU_pI/AAAAAAAABS0/ni7Im5O5gwM/s800/Yamaha%252520XJ550%252520Maxim%252520%2525201.jpg

Again not my bike...

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Nick Z on 06/11/12 at 12:56:55

My 87 Savage is my first and still my only bike.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Tocsik on 11/24/21 at 14:50:58

Found this nostalgic thread and thought I'd bring it back to life.
My first bike was a 70's Cushman mini bike. It had a just a single brake for the rear wheel only which was a foot operated steel plate that rubbed against the rear tire.
When I was 15 I bought a 1975 Yamaha RD200B. She was a looker and had a crazy power band at the higher RPM's. Two stroke twin.
Then I bought a /77 Yamaha XS400 that I "cafe'd out" in my 16 y/o pea brain. Well, I put on drop bars and a quarter fairing and cut the pipes short with a hacksaw, then drilled holes in the baffle plate.
The pic below isn't mine, but just like my RD200.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Tocsik on 11/24/21 at 14:51:17

Here's the XS400. I eventually put on those glass pack slash cut shorty tips.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by youzguyz on 11/24/21 at 15:26:40

Not my first motorcycle, but the first one I have a picture of.. and, it is a Suzuki.. Savage. TS250

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by ohiomoto on 11/24/21 at 17:32:41

First off-road bike.

http://https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fb/93/50/fb935016d46c663524d9fa9e8590ecef.jpg

First street bike.

http://https://i.pinimg.com/originals/40/72/dc/4072dc6cc4543b008bda6315f123d13a.jpg

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by SoC on 11/26/21 at 09:01:22

Mine was a 1972 Yamaha LT2 100cc Enduro. Got it brand new, a combo of saved my pennies and parents and Grandmother chipped in the rest for my Christmas present. Too young for a drivers license it was modified to a backwoods trail/motocross machine. Sorry but no pictures.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/26/21 at 09:50:49

That Suzuki500 is Pretty!

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by MMRanch on 11/26/21 at 20:25:48

Well it wasn't the 650 bonnie I wanted ... but it did have the numerals 065 in the description . ;D

Mom , saved me from self destruction when she got me a Honda S65 when I was 15 years old. I got my driving permit a few months later. and 2 years and 12,000 miles later the transmission broke . so I moved on to a twin jet 100cc yamaha.

She won a honda 50cc in a raffle then gave a few extra bucks to up to the S65

That was back when : " YOU COULD MEET THE NICES PEOPLE ON A HONDA " ;D

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by ohiomoto on 11/27/21 at 05:02:42

485751564B4C7D4D7D45575B10220 wrote:

That Suzuki500 is Pretty!

----------

Sole it from my dad! ;D

It sat outside so it wasn't as nice as the one in the picture, but that was back when chrome was still done right so it wasn't that bad either.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by MMRanch on 11/27/21 at 08:55:40

yea I really like the looks of that 500 Titan ! I had a RD250 two cycle twin once and it ran really good , if the 500 ran twice that good it must have been awesome !

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Ruttly on 11/27/21 at 10:14:39

JOG you are a little off

That Suzuki is museum quality

That’s a real motorcycle

Pure Motorcycle Pornography

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by DragBikeMike on 11/27/21 at 12:55:04

Hey Tocsik, I had one of them 200 twins back in the day. It was a sweet little commuter. Only seized her up once. On the freeway. Heavy traffic. High speed. Middle lane. Major scary. :o

Made it to the shoulder, let it cool off, limped home. Those were the days brother.

My first bike was a Kawasaki A7. It was a 350 twin, rotary valve 2-stroke. Then traded up to an H1 500cc triple. Thinking about it now, they were both pretty terrible motorcycles. Fast, but terrible. Real death traps. Kids do the darndest things.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by zipidachimp on 11/28/21 at 13:38:49

Strange, but true: after taking my mini cooper to race drivers school, it was obvious I couldn't afford racing 4 wheels. Buddy took me to a local bike road race. Walking through the paddock (1967 !) and seeing the huge variety of bikes being raced, 100cc to 750s, I thought 'I can do this'. Bought a used Yam YL-1 100cc with a GYT kit, practiced on the street for 2 weeks, signed up for a novice race. Most fun ever! Took it to Mosport, discovered I had more ambition than talent, was 'tail-end charlie' every race. Traded it for a Ducati 250 Mark 3, packed it in after 2 years of being a moving chicane. Best time of my life!
Cheers! 8-)

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Dave on 11/28/21 at 15:50:32

I learned to ride on my dad's 1968 Yamaha YAS1C....a 125cc twin scrambler, and also his 1966 305cc scrambler.

The first bike of my own was a 1970 Kawasaki F6 Enduro. I got it when I was 15 so it spent the first year of it's life off road.

I replaced it when I was 17 with a Suzuki TM125 motocross bike and didn't ride on pavement (legally) anymore.

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Dave on 11/28/21 at 15:53:32

My first road bike I bought when I worked at a Suzuki dealer in 1977.

Suzuki put a $1,000 rebate on the RE-5 Wankel engine Suzuki and I bought a brand new one for $1,700!

I sold it for $ 1,300 with less than 2,000 miles on it when I started college in Cincinnati in 1979. (Sure looks like a mistake now - but I really needed the money).

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by ohiomoto on 11/29/21 at 15:58:38

5F64697E6F63787E656D607F0C0 wrote:

My first road bike I bought when I worked at a Suzuki dealer in 1977.

Suzuki put a $1,000 rebate on the RE-5 Wankel engine Suzuki and I bought a brand new one for $1,700!

-------------

The Rotary Water Buffalo!!

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by springman on 11/30/21 at 21:26:25

My first bike which I bought about 8 years ago is an 06 S40. I still have it but now I have a second bike which I bout last year, a 97 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100. Probably hold on to both bikes for a good while. The addition of an off road capable bike would be nice. We'll see what the future brings. 8-)

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by Dave on 12/01/21 at 02:02:56

525153484F464C404F210 wrote:

Probably hold on to both bikes for a good while. The addition of an off road capable bike would be nice. We'll see what the future brings. 8-)

"Three........It's a Magic Number"!

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by MMRanch on 12/01/21 at 08:33:42

Rotary Water Buffalo!!

That bike looks like it would be a monster to drive.

...........

Yea Springman , a dual sport bike would be a nice complement to an able cruiser. The Yamaha XT250 and the Himalayan both cost about the same when new. :-/

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by springman on 12/01/21 at 21:44:54

I'm guessing it will be a while before I am up to buying another bike. And I really need to do some research to see what would be good. I like the older Hondas the XL and SL in the 175 to 350cc range just on looks. Don't really know if they are good bikes. The Himalayan is very interesting but so is the Versys 300. Maybe I should by a lottery ticket!! 8-)

Title: Re: Your first motorcycle?
Post by SoC on 12/02/21 at 11:21:16

I agree 3 is nice, a couple weeks ago on a beautiful warm afternoon I found myself at the shop with some unexpected free time and actually had all 3 out for short rides on that one day.