Author Topic: Remember Your 1st Motorcycle ? (Read 3804 times)

kballowe · « **on:** March 31, 2021, 07:13:22 AM »

I bought my first motorcycle, brand-new in 1971 - at the ripe old age of 13, with money I made from hay work, lawns, or whatever else I could get.

Rode that thing everywhere. I remember putting cardboard in my jacket on the colder days.

This is the exact bike that I had.

Scout63 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2021, 07:31:06 AM »

This was mine. ‘78 Honda 125. I rode the pants off of it. A Hooker Header ensured that the neighbors knew about it.

https://images.app.goo.gl/Fk89M16RyFkm2nK69

JJ · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2021, 07:35:54 AM »

YES! Age 14...a used 1965 Yamaha YG1-K 80cc Rotary Jet that my dad bought me for $125.

This "nut & bolt" restored example, (mine was just like this!!), was seen in SOCAL many years ago, and the owner wanted $6,000 for it!!

- - so of course, I passed.

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2021, 07:40:54 AM »

I had access to several small Hondas when I was young but the first bike that I owned was this 1977 GS400. Put about 40,000 miles on it before getting my T-3.

GliderJohn

bmc5733946 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:00:35 AM »

First bike was 196? Yamaha 50cc step thru, don't know model maybe U5 or something. There was a hill near the house where I could get it up to 47mph. Siezed that engine at least three times on that hill, stripped it down sanded out rough spots in cylinder and on piston, back together and running. I knew nothing about engines or anything mechanical. I was fourteen in 1965, bought it from neighbor for $90.00 sold in 1969 for $100.00. Rode that sob everywhere!

Brian

Alfetta · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:12:24 AM »

i got my start on a Benelli 50. and i could kick any honda 50's arse !

the bike had a crazy rollover transmission. lift up for 1st thru 4th, up again your in neutral, and up again, your back in 1st...!
turns out that's how i killed the bike. too many 1st gear oops at speed...

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:16:22 AM »

Motorcycles were verboten by my parents, therefore I had to wait until the age of independence, 18. I then went out and bought with the help of the bank, a brand new 1974 Honda CB750.

Burkslaw · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:21:48 AM »

CB160, at age 16 in 1969. I note that many here started on small displacement bikes, learning the basics before moving up. We learned caution, conservation of speed, how to stay out of the way of other traffic, how to plan ahead for maneuvers......all of the skills that have allowed us to survive to senior citizen status. Unlike today, when many inexperienced riders go out and buy a 100HP 600cc sportbike as their first.

Calidavid · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:24:42 AM »

Royal Enfield Flying Flea. Found in a farmer's hedge, appropriately close to a wartime SOE airfield, in about 1962.

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:25:13 AM »

1980 in nuclear power school at the base in Orlando FL. I was 19 years old. My buddy let me ride his Honda 400 super sport all over the base to learn how to ride street bikes. He didn't have a car, so I'd loan him my 1978 Mustang fast back. (Best looking Pinto ever made with a V6!) It really became a passion for me so I sold the car and got a minty 78 Honda CX500. That was a pretty amazing bike. I'd even ride it to the beach at Daytona two up on weekends. 41 years later, still riding a bit and love bikes.

wrbix · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:26:10 AM »

Likewise, had to get away from home and the “never while living here” mandate, then in second year of my medicine residency bought a used ‘76 Bonneville.......st ill in my basement, cylinders full of oil (I hope)......someday....

LongRanger · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:33:52 AM »

Bought a new ‘78 CB750F when I turned 18.

roadventure · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:43:09 AM »

MY first REAL motorcycle at age 14. 1971 Kawasaki G4TR Trail Boss.

Prior to this it was Tecumseh powered mini bikes.

bettythebear · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:44:09 AM »

Mine was a KLR650. I had never ever been on a bike before, but knew I wanted to. I drove a few hours with a trailer to see an almost brand new one. I got on it, and drove it around the seller's big property, somehow not stalling or dropping it, and brought it home. After that, I took a riding class, and started riding it.

ohiorider · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2021, 08:56:40 AM »

Remember it? Of course! 1963 BSA Spitfire Scrambler. Unfortunately, this is my only photo of the bike, across the 4 lane boulevard from the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston WV. Feb 1966. Quite a jump from riding my buddy's Whizzer, Motobecane, Allstate (Vespa,) and Mustang.

Bob

Milosh · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2021, 09:05:50 AM »

My first motorcycle was a dirtbike. A Yamaha BW200, the one with the big tires. That thing was fun as hell.

JoeKirby · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2021, 09:06:15 AM »

Not counting a Garrelli moped with a Honda 50cc engine crammed in it, my first was a 1971 Honda CL175. I wish I had a picture but that was well before digital cameras and film was too expensive for that.

Dirk_S · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2021, 11:22:57 AM »

Bought my first bike 10 years ago, a ‘77 KZ400. Spent way more time wrenching than riding, but lots of learning, too (vacuums, lean/rich, cleaning carbs, sourcing non-Moto bits like radiator hoses as substitutions, points, etc.). Loads more yet to learn.

CWR67 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2021, 11:34:40 AM »

Mine was a KZ1000P assigned to me after motors school.

The first bike I actually bought myself was a '93 BMW K75S. To this day one of the smoothest bikes I ever had under me.

Stretch · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2021, 11:47:13 AM »

Yep. 1975 Honda CB125S. Great bike - I learned a lot on it.

45 years on I still have the itch.

-Stretch

1968 Chang Jiang M1M
1978 Yamaha SR500
1987 BMW K75S
2011 Triumph Rocket III Touring
2015 Triumph Trophy
2017 Moto Guzzi California Touring

craigclu · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2021, 11:48:52 AM »

Before I could have a license, I got a Twin Jet 100 Yamaha. I drove a friend and his Super 90 Honda crazy when we'd race. His older sister was dating (later married) a fellow who ran a speed shop and were tweaking the Honda with overbore, cam, carb, etc and never could better the 100. Fun days! Picture is from the internet as I don't believe I have anything from the mid sixties and as a 14 year old, one doesn't think in the long term or in heritage mode!

jguzzi · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2021, 11:53:22 AM »

Yes...mine was a 1976 Honda 360 twin. Rode that bike to work 50 miles roundtrip most days.

stonelover · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2021, 12:35:21 PM »

Bought my first "real" motorcycle in 1955 when I was old enough to get a license. I went to a dealer in Devon, PA to test ride an Ariel single that I had my eye on. Bike wouldn't start so I went to the HD dealer in Pottstown and became the owner of a used 1946 model EL. Never looked back!!

Huzo · « **Reply #23 on:** March 31, 2021, 12:36:19 PM »

Yep.
First bike with a list of demands and conditions that read like the Magna Carta. I could not conceive of any way that I could have been happier.

image uploading site

First bike after licence, supplied by Dad, I was at Uni doing Engineering.

I left Uni and got a job, Dad took the T500 back and I bought my first bike with my own money.
This.

GeorgiaGuzzi · « **Reply #24 on:** March 31, 2021, 02:05:09 PM »

A Honda 400 twin. A ‘78 I think. Only two years younger than me! My parents would not hear of me having a motorcycle until I was an adult. I first got a non-running Honda 360CL for like $200. I just rode around the pastures with it. The 400 was my first street bike. I enjoyed that bike greatly. Rode all over eastern PA with that bike before moving on to “bigger and better”. Only things was, didn’t find anything quite as enjoyable until my Quota.

add link to picture html

Guzzi Gal · « **Reply #25 on:** March 31, 2021, 02:45:00 PM »

She wasn't the first ridden, but the first I'd owned. This was taken minutes after Anni was delivered.

kballowe · « **Reply #26 on:** March 31, 2021, 02:52:11 PM »

My Dad (initially) forbid me to have a motorcycle, all the while telling me how dangerous a motorcycle is, blah blah blah.

And then..... I found a picture in one of the family photo albums with him sitting on a 1950 Indian. Turns out, wasn't his 1st motorcycle, either. There were more photos in there. I casually slid them over to him at the supper table that night. We went to the motorcycle dealer the next day.

Shorty · « **Reply #27 on:** March 31, 2021, 03:28:11 PM »

Yamaha 175. Bought it at a bike shop in Bradenton, Florida. (file photo)

MGrego · « **Reply #28 on:** March 31, 2021, 03:50:17 PM »

Still have it, and ride it ! 82 Honda Sabre

Huzo · « **Reply #29 on:** March 31, 2021, 03:56:50 PM »

Quote from: Guzzi Gal on March 31, 2021, 02:45:00 PM

She wasn't the first ridden, but the first I'd owned. This was taken minutes after Anni was delivered.

Yours has the nice wheels GG...

You should ride it to this place..

News:

Author Topic: Remember Your 1st Motorcycle ? (Read 3804 times)

GeorgiaGuzzi