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What did you start on? What do you ride?

you guys are lucky - I learned to ride motorcycles using my uncle's tricycle in the Philipppines when I was 10. :rofl

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I learned on honda passport 50 that i bought for $175 at an estate sale. Still have it actually. I was so big and heavy on that little yellow weasel that the rear shock bottom out completely at stand still. Flat out at 35 mph!!! A friend's Honda cr125 taught me how to shift back in 1995 on his ranch in Oregon. Bought a Kawk 1989 ex500 ninja last summer and took MSF this winter so now I'm legal. Next bike is either a Monster S4R or an Aprilia Tuono 1000 R!
 
Started on a 4 year old '82 Yamaha XJ650J Maxim, completely stock with the exception of the blue Mr. Zog's Sex Wax stickers.

25 years later, I'm on my dozenth bike, a GS500, and a 750 Virago.

Between those I had an '87 Yamaha SRX250 for 14 years, and wish I still had it; original owner.
 
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Started on a shiny 1 year old Suzuki RM 80 back when I was 7. MANY bikes later, I'm enjoying the hell out of a 990 Superduke.
 
First bike I learned the very basics of riding [very poorly] was a russian Minsk 125 when I was 16.
First bike owned was s a Virago 250, then Intruder 800, SV650, R6, 929RR [track bike] R1 + DRZSM, and now just my second DRZSM.
Don't know the future, but I would really like a CRF250X for this coming winter. And maybe another liter sportbike with an LSL handelbar conversion.
 
Aside from some years tinkering with a Junk Yamaha XZ550 Vision, I got going on a 1981 Honda CB400 Hawk. 500lbs of pure parallel twin cylinder awesome. Spent some time with a couple CBR 600's and a VT550 Shadow, but now I'm back to where shit is the best, on a standard. 2002 CB900 Hornet.
 
Started out learning to ride our friend's Honda up in the Big Bear mountains. Honda Trail 125 or something like it. I can't remember exactly anymore.

Occasional riding in Jr High on my friend's XR100.

When I got my own dirt bike in 8th or 9th grade it was an XR200. Also farted around the streets a little bit on a Honda Reflex.

No riding after HS.

Fast forward 20+ years and here I am with a DRZSM
 
This thread would be more fun with pictures...

Started riding in the dirt on one of these back in 1989 when I was 14. I think it was a 1968 Honda Trail 90.

1968-Honda-CT90K0-Yellow-0.jpg




As you can see from the promotional materials, it was essentially the Ducati of its day. :rolleyes

honda_ct90_cutout.jpg




After a short (21 year) break from riding, I bought a 2007 Ninja 250 in March of this year, after taking the MSF in February on a Honda Nighthawk 250. The photo is from Ride to Work Day 2011. (I took the scenic route.) :teeth

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I think I'm going to stick with this one for a long time, although the new Ninjettes are appealing. I had always thought that I would get an SV when I finally started riding, but I really like the little Ninjas. Are they perfect bikes? Hardly. But I really enjoy learning to get the most out of mine. :ride
 
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canyonrat said:
OMG all these old folks over 40! Did they even have bikes before 1990?
Click to expand...

They did, I started in 1956. Times were tough then. Tires were suicidal, brakes were a bad joke, suspension was another bad joke...It all worked out fine cause the power was like 35 HP on a bike that was thought to have power.

And no one anywhere I lived knew anything about riding a bike...They only had two gems of wisdom.

1. Never use the front brake (usually followed by, it will throw yu over the handle bars, or make you crash).

2. "had to lay-R-down" was heard a lot.

But we were tough, after walking to school up hill in both directions, through the snow drifts, and in the dark.


Someone might find pictures of guys riding full sized fat tired Harleys on logging roads and the mountain trails..No helmets, nothing but a leather jacket.
No one got off the ground much...the landings were brutal.
 
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The first streetbike I bought was a 72 CB175, IIRC the first streetbike with a redline above 10K. :party

cb175-k5.jpg
 
Ninja EX250 was my first street bike and as a kid I rode random small bore dirtbikes borrowed from friends. After breaking in on the Ninja for 15k miles I switched over to a VTR996 and rode that until it had almost 60k miles...
 
I started on my Dad's 1970's bajaj scooter. Dont even remember how much CC it was. But it was fun :D Now my ride is an SV 650 N
 
First Bike was an Indian Pappoose (Rebadged MotoMorini 50cc w/auto clutch)
Current rides are a 99 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa and a KTM 950 Adventure.
41 years on motorcycles at 44 years old
 
seems like most of the people who are posting here started on "real" starter bikes.

It's kind-a telling that the "bwoha just get a turbo busa 'cause you'll outgrow that girly 250 in no time" has either "lost interest" or crashed and given up.

well, my story:

1984 Nighthawk 650 (for the visibility and handling of an upright, standard bike)
1991 CBR F2
1996 Bandit

... skipping a few

my favourites now:

"fun riding" (including multi day trips over the Sierras): 1999 ZX-9R
"posing": M109R
 
Five years ago I bought a brand-new Vespa LX150 and I'm still riding it. I'm shopping for my first motorcycle....
 
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