Returning to ones motorcycling roots

[Triple Jim]

This market segment is growing a log:

Honda CB300F (naked, more upright than the CBR300R, new last year)

Announced at EICMA:
BMW G310GS
Kawsaki Versys 300
Suzuki GSX250R
Suzuki DL250


The two Suzuki models, sadly have the under performing (for the 250-300 class) GW250 engine and weight (~410#, so, as heavy as a the Honda 500cc twins).

Right jas, lots of choices coming along.  I purposely left out the underperformers.  The ones I listed and other like them can serve as main transportation or touring machines.  I rode a KTM 390 this spring, and it's a huge performer in every way.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Yebbut, now you still have a cool car (a Mercedes), lots of cool motorcycles including Loops and a Morini, a good job working on motorcycles, and YOU decide when you ride!

Considerably different now. Mercedes is boring as batcrap and slow (diesel, automatic). If I want to make a decent living, it's "nose to the grindstone" working on customer bikes, which leaves very little time (Sunday only usually) to ride. While working at NGS I had paid vacation and sick-days, plus a 4 day weekend every 4th week. Not to mention, health insurance and dental insurance. Lots of time to ride and a lot more "play money".

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Considerably different now. Mercedes is boring as batcrap and slow (diesel, automatic). If I want to make a decent living, it's "nose to the grindstone" working on customer bikes, which leaves very little time (Sunday only usually) to ride. While working at NGS I had paid vacation and sick-days, plus a 4 day weekend every 4th week. Not to mention, health insurance and dental insurance. Lots of time to ride and a lot more "play money".

Some work days I do get to ride, like today for instance. Needed a tool I didn't have, decided a quick trip into Hagerstown was in order. Plus I needed to put more break-in miles on this:





Two birds one stone and all that. Tough job but somebody has to do it. 

[Gliderjohn]

I learned the basics of riding through cousins' bikes. Started on a 64 Honda Trail 90 at 10 yrs. old. Then a Honda 70 "scrambler", followed by a Honda 175 scrambler. My first owned bike was a Suzuki 1977 GS400 at age 22. Rode it for 11 years and around 40,000 miles. For about the last 10K miles it was modified with a big bore kit, cammed, bigger carbs and better & lighter exhaust along with upgrades suspension front and back. Was a lot of fun in the Ozarks!
GliderJohn

[Muzz]

1948 G3L Matchless 350. 12 snorting neddies.

Many miles done on that beast and it's subsequent upgrades.

[Sheepdog]

My first bike was a Honda CL-70 Scrambler, also. I lied about my age, joined a laborer's union, and worked refinery shutdowns during Christmas break. I bought my bike in 1970...I was fourteen. Mine was just like the one below, but had no indicators: