Your first bike and the one that got away.

[Red07]

My first ride was actually a Montgomery Ward mini-bike with a 5hp Tecumseh.  I was 4yrs old when my dad taught me how to ride it.  About a year later I graduated to my brother and sister's '71 Benelli 65cc mini bike.  

The one that got away?.. My '92 Gixxer 1100. (Red and black tiger stripe).  It was my first ever "brand new" vehicle.  Man, what a powerhouse.  Sold it to an old boss of mine around 03.  I needed the money for a car project at the time.  He still has it, and I remind him every time I see him, "If you ever decide to sell it, please let me know".

Randy

[Aaron D.]

One I should have bought-a Metralla 250, all original, decent and running, I offered $500, seller said no but called me a week later-and I turned him down.

He called me a week later to brag how he sold it for $1500. About 2 years later it was worth $4000, should be a bit more now

[fotoguzzi]

1972 Trail 90.. still have but she's been neglected the past few years..




my Dad bought it thinking motorcycles were a passing fad for me, boy did he read that wrong... enabler!

[maquette]

First bike: Early '50's Whizzer

The one that got away:  '65 Panhead This was listed on local Craigslist for $4K. I was the second caller!!!

[Arizona Wayne]

First bike, looking for economical transportation and knew diddly squat about mechanical abilities....so bought a new Yamaha 250 TD1 twin, 4 spd in 1962?  Now extremely rare but at the time that was the last thing on my mind.  It was black/chrome and looked like a small HD dresser.  Top speed was 85 mph, pre mix, and the thing was bullet proof!   Back then I thought all new bikes were bullet proof.   But I was 20 and had a need for more speed and lived with my parents in soCal and when I got an apartment a few months later to be on my own, the last thing on my mind was to keep any transportation for longer than using it to get around.  :'(   Hindsight now...........Yamah a would probably pay me a bundle to get it it's so rare.   Even if they didn't it would still be worth riding around.  :'(   Rode Yamahas for 20 years before I got hooked on Guzzis.

[radguzzi]

My first real motorcycle after the mini bikes and trail type stuff was a 1966 Yamaha YDS3 250 two-smoke...  a steady succession of a dozen Triumphs followed, Pre-Units and Pre-'70 Units.

The one that I should never, never, never have left my possession was a '76 Triumph Trident T-160.  I will never forget that motorcycle, I truly loved that rig and I mourn that Trident every time the subject comes up. 

I will find another...

[56Pan]

1956 T110 Triumph, and had been "chopped".  Traded a Minolta camera for it to a Marine buddy right before I got out, '72.  Only thing it would run on without pinging bad was Sunoco 260.  Tore it down a couple years later and it had high dome 12 to1 C.R. pistons.  Always had to kick start it like I meant it, but it ran like stink.

[jetmechmarty]

First bike: Early '50's Whizzer

The one that got away:  '65 Panhead This was listed on local Craigslist for $4K. I was the second caller!!!

[SED]

First was 441 Victor (BSA) - Yikes!

One that got away was a $300 V65 in the local Craigslist.  I wanted it but had no room in the 1 car garage.  I still want a V65 drivetrain to swap into my Monza!

[trippah]

First was a Honda S-90, the one that got away?  Well, had a Vincent  (it wasn't  a Lightening)still in its crate offered to me for $3500. back in 1970 but we replaced my wife's car instead. (We got her a Sunbeam Alpine Coupe Grey with Red leather) Oh well.

[Park Ridge Phil]

73 Honda 450 bought brand new in the middle of winter. Rode it home in the snow without ever riding a real motorcycle before. A miracle in itself. One that got away, 75 BMW 750/6. Bought new for just over $3000. Rode it everywhere. Full windjammer with the ol cycle sound along with a CB radio. Had it for 10 years.  Best money I ever spent. 😤

[Gliderjohn]

My first one was a 77 Suzuki GS400 which I bought in 1979 with 5K miles for $800. Rode it until I bought the T-3. It was a hoot in the Ozarks  after improving the suspension. It was good till the end when I sold it to a jerk boss that fired me a few weeks later because he offered me to much to turn down and the motor then let loose on him shortly after firing me. ;D
GliderJohn

[jas67]

One that got away: '89 Honda Hawk 650 GT (RC31) with only 6K on the clock.

While not particularly common, at least he Hawk GT can be still be found in nice condition for $3k-ish (unlike the round-case Ducatis).

I had one briefly last year.    They're cool bikes, but, after reading all the hype, I was underwhelmed.

[jas67]

... But the bike that I had a just about done deal on that I regret it getting away was a Ducati ST4s ABS .....  I still look for those bikes online - maybe if there's a perfect one cheap...

I like those, especially the 'S' with Ohlins!

They do show up every now and then.   I have a friend with an ST3s -- also a fantastic bike.      Both are on my "would like to own" list.

[will-t]

First bike 1965 Honda Dream 305.

The one that got away 2001 Suzuki Volusia, my first and only new bike.

[sarg]

i was 4 when my parents bought a 1968 z50. it was 1973 and i still remember going to get the bike with my mom. one of my earliest memories. it was stolen from us in 1977 while we were on a trip to disneyland. it would be the bike i would like to have back.

[Ronkom]

First 2 wheels '57 Cushman Super Eagle, first motorcycle Yamaha 180cc twin.
THE one that got away, my first Guzzi, a '72 Ambo dressed w/ Wixom bags, trunk & a Windjammer, highly modified, Eldo 5spd tranny, rear end, 4 shoe front brake. External oil filter, etc. etc. loved that bike. had to go when I got divorced...... along with: a John Deere "A", 7 Ducati singles, 2 Renault R-16s, a VW camper bus, the "supertruck" ('65 Dodge crewcab, slant-6, 4 speed & rear frame extended to mount an 8 ft. utility bed.
ronkom

[lucydad]

Honda MT 50 and Scrambler 175.

One that got away was CB 500 four.  Man I wanted that sucker.  Could not raise the funds as I was off to college and being very poor for years.

[tusong200]

Honda S-90.

Two that 'got away'....84 Yamaha RZ350 w/milled heads and Toomey pipes (wheely city).....and my Monza w/Bub pipes, 32mm Mikuni flat slides, Works Performance shocks, custom made Corbin saddle, Dyna ignition and coils, powder-coated wheels...... Sorry, I can't continue thru the tears....sob, sob, sob.

[maquette]

"Crazy low price for that bike. That had to be a mistake?"

Young guy inherited it from his grandad and didn't know what it was. First guy showed up without the cash and then some of the young guy's friends told him he wasn't asking enough. Once he understood what it was, he decided to get an MC license and keep it in his family which is fine. Had I been there first, it would be in my garage.

Tom

[pmillar]

First motorcycle:  1972 Kawasaki H2, bought used in 1978, still ride it.
One that got away:  None, I seldom sell anything   :D

clean 1972 Kawasaki H2 purchased in 1982 for $400. It's also the one that got away.  I sold it for $200 the next year to a friend to get him on a bike while I  "upgraded" to a Yamaha Special. (pig of a bike that was more civilized than the H2 and tolerable once I binned the stock pullback bars for a superbike bend.) Adding insult to injury, my buddy only ever paid me $100 of the $200 he owed me. At least I had someone to ride with I guess.

[Testarossa]

First bike I owned was an Aermacchi 350SS aka Harley Sprint.


One I wish I still had: Honda 500/4, which I tricked out with the full Dunstall kit in 1973. I don't think there was another cafe racer in New York at the time. Rode that thing on every twisty two-lane from West Virginia to Montreal to Rochester to Cape Cod.

[injundave]

First - 1941 Indian 741B, 500cc v-twin, bought it in 1975, still got it.
Got away - 1929 Indian 101 Scout, had to sell it to buy a house, shoulda kept the bike and lived in a cardboard box!

[radguzzi]

While not particularly common, at least he Hawk GT can be still be found in nice condition for $3k-ish (unlike the round-case Ducatis).

I had one briefly last year.    They're cool bikes, but, after reading all the hype, I was underwhelmed.

They are still available at good prices.  I have owned four of them, still have one and my Daughter still has the first one I owned and gave to her years ago. 

Just a nice handling mid sized, back road burner. 

Some folks prefer the SVs but to me it is a Honda thing, I started with them and actually had an SV for a bit but sold it and remain loyal to the RC31.

We like 'em.

Best,
Rob

[blackcat]

Nice bikes, always loved the sound of those Trident's

[Lannis]

One that got away, 75 BMW 750/6. Bought new for just over $3000. Rode it everywhere. Full windjammer with the ol cycle sound along with a CB radio. Had it for 10 years.  Best money I ever spent. 😤

All I can say is it gave you a damn good fight before it "got away"!!

Lannis

[thevin70]

1st 1991- 1984 Honda 500 ascot

One that got away/never should have sold (bought $2500 and sold $6000 in 2008) 1975 Norton Commando with 4200 miles in showroom condition...

[radguzzi]

One I wish I still had: Honda 500/4, which I tricked out with the full Dunstall kit in 1973. I don't think there was another cafe racer in New York at the time. Rode that thing on every twisty two-lane from West Virginia to Montreal to Rochester to Cape Cod.

Seth,
Where did you own this Dunstall Honda...?  

A friend back in Maine, Mark bought a Dunstall 500/4 from a local fellow replete in that gorgeous Dunstall Red bodywork, I am not certain whether he took it down to restore or the person he bought it from did.  

Mark lost interest in the project and then sold the Dunstall to another friend, Eric in a town fifty miles away in pieces and then the new owner asked if I would put it back together.  Sure thing but I needed a few parts and Dunstall parts were hard to come by.  The seat and rear cowl were there as was the fairing and tank, the fender needed repair and the seat hinges, mounts, side covers and fairing screen did not exist.  

Over the course of a few months I collected some items to proceed with the restoration and the new owner was a little Time dragged on and the Honda left my place without the project progressing very far, Eric did not want to invest much into the Dunstall. so he sold it unfinished..

Another person in Portland ended up with it and I lost track of it.  At an Owls Head Transportation Museum M/C Show yet another fellow rider in the area, Bill, asked if I knew where the thing was as he had owned in so many years ago and wanted it back... crazy.

As far as I know, Bill has it back and is making an attempt at reassembly.

Eric tells that the locals call the Dunstall the Ping Pong Honda as so many people, more than I cite here had owned it... LOL

I'll see if I can get an update on it...

The Dunstalls of the time were and are very distinctive lookers.

Best,
Rob

[Waterbottle]

First was a Honda S-90, the one that got away?  Well, had a Vincent  (it wasn't  a Lightening)still in its crate offered to me for $3500. back in 1970 but we replaced my wife's car instead. (We got her a Sunbeam Alpine Coupe Grey with Red leather) Oh well.

Hey Trippah, I let a Vincent go in Sydney back in the 80's, asking price was 12k then. Vincent's sell for 80 to 100 K here at the moment  ::)
1st bike was a Honda 500/4 Black with Gold pin striping. It had a 4 into 1 pipe, turned petrol into noise and didn't go that fast, but it was a great learners bike  :)

[Buckturgidson]

A Suzuki 2 stroke, a 280? Never registered, no title, rode it around my college town then sold it.
Sold the SRX-6 I bought new and always regretted it, found a nice one 5 years later but had to drive 1200 miles to get it.