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Why get a motorcycle?
- Thread starter Don'tPanic
- Start date
What a great thread.
My eldest brother had a Japanese bike (a Kawasaki 250 I think), then when I was about 13 another brother bought an old Enfield. Chassis flexed like there was no tomorrow but it was fun to be on in the paddocks. He followed this up with a Harley mini bike.
My first bike wasn't until I had my motorcycle licence so about 18. A Benelli 125 Trail, a bike you could putter around on or ride full stick all day without complaint. Then came the Tornado 650S. Rode it home and parked it in the garage as it scared the life out of me. Couple of weeks later decided I was going to master this beast so started going up and down the mountains getting a good feel for how it behaved. What a magic bike, italian handling and all the mid range performance I could want. Went to many events and travelled some long distances with the Pressley panniers and top box fully loaded. The Benellis were my only mode of transport for years. Riding always cleared my head and settled my mood and I loved the forced air induction. All I had to do on the Tornado was twist the throttle slightly and the adrenaline would start pumping, then it was game on.
Had a Montesa Cota 123 that I rode comp trials (not very well) on (I was much lighter then), was swinger riding comp sidecar trials on a Yamaha TY250 for a few years and we did quite well, then marriage and the kids started arriving so substantial gaps not riding anything. Suzuki TS185 a Sachs Mad Ass and couple of quads so haven't had many bikes. Still plan to restore the Tornado.
Don't have the blind confidence I did in the early days and trucks and buses spilling diesel around our way got me looking at 3 wheels.
Could not see myself liking traditional trikes so Spyder/Ryker were the way to go and I loved the looks.
Now have the 2014 ST-S and it is magic. I still have a lot to learn but these really are a delight to ride. The sound it makes is wonderful and man does it get up and boogie when you want it to.
The ST is a commuter bike mostly at the moment running from home to the station (20 miles) and back however I am looking forward to retirement or at least semi retirement where I can simply get up in the morning and say "I think I will go for a ride" and it not be to work!
Apologies for the rambling...........
My eldest brother had a Japanese bike (a Kawasaki 250 I think), then when I was about 13 another brother bought an old Enfield. Chassis flexed like there was no tomorrow but it was fun to be on in the paddocks. He followed this up with a Harley mini bike.
My first bike wasn't until I had my motorcycle licence so about 18. A Benelli 125 Trail, a bike you could putter around on or ride full stick all day without complaint. Then came the Tornado 650S. Rode it home and parked it in the garage as it scared the life out of me. Couple of weeks later decided I was going to master this beast so started going up and down the mountains getting a good feel for how it behaved. What a magic bike, italian handling and all the mid range performance I could want. Went to many events and travelled some long distances with the Pressley panniers and top box fully loaded. The Benellis were my only mode of transport for years. Riding always cleared my head and settled my mood and I loved the forced air induction. All I had to do on the Tornado was twist the throttle slightly and the adrenaline would start pumping, then it was game on.
Had a Montesa Cota 123 that I rode comp trials (not very well) on (I was much lighter then), was swinger riding comp sidecar trials on a Yamaha TY250 for a few years and we did quite well, then marriage and the kids started arriving so substantial gaps not riding anything. Suzuki TS185 a Sachs Mad Ass and couple of quads so haven't had many bikes. Still plan to restore the Tornado.
Don't have the blind confidence I did in the early days and trucks and buses spilling diesel around our way got me looking at 3 wheels.
Could not see myself liking traditional trikes so Spyder/Ryker were the way to go and I loved the looks.
Now have the 2014 ST-S and it is magic. I still have a lot to learn but these really are a delight to ride. The sound it makes is wonderful and man does it get up and boogie when you want it to.
The ST is a commuter bike mostly at the moment running from home to the station (20 miles) and back however I am looking forward to retirement or at least semi retirement where I can simply get up in the morning and say "I think I will go for a ride" and it not be to work!
Apologies for the rambling...........
acdcking12
Member
I have always loved bikes, but either my parents said no as a teenager, or after I got married, my wife would say no. I fought with my wife for 25 years over a bike. I never got one. I am now 47, got divorced 2 years ago, currently engaged to an awesome woman, and I have my first bike. My 2016 F3-T. And she loves it too. So I guess what that means is I got divorced so I could finally have my bike.
And I ride that thing as much as I can. Winter be damned.
And I ride that thing as much as I can. Winter be damned.
krakum1967
New member
I am with bushrat. When I had my widow maker, I lost my sense of purpose. Even though I still had bikes in the shed, I could not ride them. I had my heart attack on two wheels, and it really ****ed me up. I started to ride again last year, but I could never trust myself enough to go anywhere alone. My wife and I have worked that out now where she follows in the pickup, and I get my freedom, this way if it gets too rainy or weird at, I have the trailer for shelter and for the trike. We are buying a toy hauler RV for it.
Anyway, the Can Am gave me a new mechanical system to learn ( I service everything I own), and it gave me belief in myself, and my abilities again. The Can Am is a Huge part of ending the "walking around expecting to die at any moment" feeling I used to have. I am way more active, and my heart doc is happier than a pig in **** that I am out doing things. He told me point blank, you wanna live, GET UP!!! The Can Am gives me purpose again, and its awesome. It may be ugly, it may not be the newest, but its paid for and its mine. Yes its fast, and no you can't ride it.....lol
I have owned over 220 bikes lifetime. I used to own a service and sales shop. I rebuilt and restored barn finds and sold them at affordable prices so people could affordably enjoy the sport. Many of those 220 were stripped and sold on eBay, but I did technically own them. I still own two 2-wheelers, but I have them up for sale. I also ride a 2013 Triumph Thruxton LE, and the 1997 BMW F650 Funduro for my Mountain trail exploring. I want a Ryker Rally to replace that.
Anyway, the Can Am gave me a new mechanical system to learn ( I service everything I own), and it gave me belief in myself, and my abilities again. The Can Am is a Huge part of ending the "walking around expecting to die at any moment" feeling I used to have. I am way more active, and my heart doc is happier than a pig in **** that I am out doing things. He told me point blank, you wanna live, GET UP!!! The Can Am gives me purpose again, and its awesome. It may be ugly, it may not be the newest, but its paid for and its mine. Yes its fast, and no you can't ride it.....lol
I have owned over 220 bikes lifetime. I used to own a service and sales shop. I rebuilt and restored barn finds and sold them at affordable prices so people could affordably enjoy the sport. Many of those 220 were stripped and sold on eBay, but I did technically own them. I still own two 2-wheelers, but I have them up for sale. I also ride a 2013 Triumph Thruxton LE, and the 1997 BMW F650 Funduro for my Mountain trail exploring. I want a Ryker Rally to replace that.
007james
Member
I just turned 78, and still ride my Harley Heritage Classic. I also ride my 2016 Spyder RT. Of course, I am much less tired after a hundred mile cruise on the Spyder than on the Harley, but the Harley brings a bigger adrenaline rush. But what’s strange is,......I have an extreme Vertigo balance problem,.....walking. I am sitting in my recliner dozing off after lunch, when I start having visions of the open road, and hearing the thumping of my Harley pipes. So, I stagger out of the apartment, suit and helmet up, fire up the 1600CC V-Twin Beast,.....after I struggle getting it off the side stand, then back it out of the garage, drop it in 1st,.....with a loud CLUNK,.......and before I shift it in to 2nd, my Vertigo is completely gone, and I revert back to being a Teen Aged Bad To The Bone Biker Dude. My Spyder does not expose those old Primal memories. But the Spyder still beats riding a Motorized Wheel Chair! I am hoping to be able to keep riding the Harley at 80, but plan to keep riding my Spyder until as long as I am still able to mount it, and still have my Driver’s License. My 1st Bike was a 72 BSA 650,....followed by a 73 Harley Sportster XLCH 1000, . That beast would shake the fillings out of my teeth, and Vibrated so bad, that parts would fall off it on the highway! Then, I had a 76, KAWASAKI 500 Triple 2 Stroke, a 50 CC Honda, a new 78 Yamaha XS1100,....a Honda 550,...another 82 Yamaha XS1100, an 88 Kawi 1500 Classic, a new 2002 Kawi 1500 Classic, and my last and present 2009 Harley Heritage Classic. I had a new 2012 Spyder RT, and my present 2016 Spyder RT that I have ridden 44,500 miles so far. I also bought a 2017 Chev. CAMARO 2SS last Summer , so it still gives me great pleasure, and motivates me to get my butt off the recliner, and go out and take a cruise on one of my Toys every day that it isn’t snowing, raining, or the Temp is above 40 Degrees F. Speaking of my Spyder,....my Magic Mirror Magnet Set was just delivered by FEDX from Lamonster’s Garage! Looks like I have a little project ahead of me.
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ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Nice to see the revival of this great thread. :yes:
My first taste of freedom came atop a 3hp Briggs & Stratton with two 8" wheels, handlebars and a seat attached to it. I cruised the trails dirt roads and ally ways as far and wide as it had fuel to carry me. I must have been 10 or 12 at the time and when i hit high school i latched onto a Honda 50. It's the sense and feeling of freedom i guess and i can't give it up. The cops nor the taxman can ever catch me while i'm ride'n. All too often though i have to come back to reality as life today requires it, but i still ride for the peace of mind and feeling of freedom it gives me.
acdcking12
Member
After riding a Spyder, driving a car is not exciting at all.
Bfromla
Well-known member
:2thumbs: with that thought
hyea:
favorite patch :firstplace:& shirt found on trip to southern most point in key west (along with the assortment of things collected on the trip)
Appropriate Memes 
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Bike-O-Din
New member
Ryding is my favorite thing to do with clothes on.
Big Juice
Member
In 1969, my friend bought a new Triumph Trident 750. I didn't ride motorcycles, I was into hot rods (I had a 1941 Chevy pickup with a Blue Flame 6 cylinder, headers, duals exhaust, and glass packs, well, it was MY hot rod). He hounded me for a couple of months to ride his bike, no way I said. Finally, I said I would ride it around the block (maybe 5 minutes) if he would shut up about harassing me, he said it was a deal. I came back about an hour and a half later, he was getting in his car to look for me and ready to call the PD as I must have had an accident, and that was the start of my motorcycling life. I sold the truck, bought a new Honda CB450! Now 12 bikes and 50 yrs later, while traveling to 28 states, Canada and Mexico, I'm still at it! Hopefully with no end in sight.........
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