| Author | Message | ||
     Rick_a |
What were the first bikes to really capture your imagination and got you into motorcycles? I know the first for me were the V-Max and first gen. Ninja 600. For a young boy the V-Max inspired thoughts of raw power, and the Ninja was the first race inspired, wide-tired sportbike I had seen. Later bikes to get my attention were the SRX-600, RZ350, Ducati 851, and 900SS. When the ZX-7R came out, it was the first of the fully-faired sportbikes that really looked appealing, as did the later CBR600F2. The CBR900RR and GSXR1100 of the same era were the first literbikes to inspire awe. Watching the AMA 883 Twin Sports races really made Evo Sportsters look appealing. The first bikes I had an interest in owning were the Ducati Monster 900 and Buell S1. The Buell won me over with it's raw construction and (relatively) more practical powerplant. The only modern bikes since then that have really gotten my attention are the Aprilia Tuono, Ducati Streetfighter, and KTM's 690SM and RC8, the KTM's being bikes I haven't rode. My dream bike is the Bimota Vyrus. I have put a lot of thought into a second motorcycle since I got the first ten years ago. Outright performance and spec sheets still aren't a selling point. I may again go to something simple, soulful, with character in spades...and most importantly...fun. | ||
| Rwven |
I started out about 35 years ago. The Suzuki T500 Titan was my first love. I borrowed a friend's to take my license exam on after learning to ride on my Suzuki TS50 "dual sport" (that's not what they called them back then, enduro's or on/off roads were how we referred to them). Followed by the Honda 750 and Kawasaki Z-1. I never owned any one of them. My first "real" motorcycle (the TS50 was more of a moped without pedals...) was a Yamaha XS650 that I bought new in '77 for $1495.00. I really wanted an XS750T but they were about $1000.00 more and $1495.00 was a stretch financially for me at the time. | ||
| Chauly |
I'm showing my age here: Mike "The Bike" Hailwood on the Honda 250-6 cylinder GP bike  Boy's Life, I think... In Person: Norton 750 Commando. A guy in town and his son had a matching pair. If Norton had ever made a four-cylinder, it sounded like them! At Hand: BMW R27 and a Honda Trail 90, both owned by the headmaster of the school. Ed Norton and I got the R27 running and did (small) hill-climbs with it. On the Street: Yamaha RD-350. Denco expansion chambers, flat bars, Mulholland shocks. Michelin tires. I saw,heard, and bought within 20 minutes; I was Kenny Roberts, Don Vesco, and Kel Carruthers all rolled into one. Likewise, although inspired by the Ducati 851, I bought a Monster 900. Lusted after an ST1100 when they came out, bought one in '91, still have it. Complained about the S-2 after I rode Court's, Erik listened and put out the S-3. Bought it, still have it, but the bloom of the rose is more like a dried flower now... Future? I really haven't seen something to get the juices flowing since the 90's; I'm starting to really enjoy an '86 VFR-700 that arrived in my life recently. Maybe I'm regressing? (Message edited by Chauly on October 09, 2011) | ||
| Hughlysses |
A lot of us who grew up in the 60's can probably relate to this one:  The TV show "Then Came Bronson", back when Sportsters were NOT mini-cruisers but were Harley's effort to build a bike to compete against the British. | ||
| Chauly |
Aside from the Masonic Eye on his tank, the only memorable thing about that show was Bronson kicking in a cager's door while on the bike. I have since realized how awkward, ineffective, and dangerous that maneuver is! | ||
| Cowboy |
Norton manx--matchles--AJS I loved them better than sex. he he he | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
2006 Buell Ulysses. First street bike I've owned. But then again, I'm new to motorcycles and got a late start. | ||
| Buellkowski |
It was a Baretta Magnum that transformed my thinking from "Motorcycles = death" to "I really need something that goes faster..."  | ||
| Aschem |
Can Am dirt bikes from the 70's and the KAW KZ 1000r. In the 80's it was all the turbo bikes but I had no credit, along with my no cash. | ||
| Brumbear |
 wasn't just the bike it was EVEL | ||
| Dfishman |
QA50-KZ900.Then I got my first streetbike a Suzuki GT550 2 stroke.It was fast,quick,and handled & stopped like s#*t,but I was bitten by speed.I have since changed my tune to less power & better suspension. | ||
| Dennis_c |
A 200cc Triumph cub a single | ||
| Danger_dave |
 | ||
| Danger_dave |
 | ||
| Bob_thompson |
"What were the first bikes to really capture your imagination and got you into motorcycles?" AND TO BUELL inparticular. First my age will evidently appear, but I grew up in Chicago as an ACE cafe and Brit bike enthusiast as it was happening in GB. Tried the HD & Honda crowd and even bought a nice 86 cu. in Sportster Frisco Bay lowrider after a nice Honda 305 Sraambler and a really nice '66 BSA Hornet scrambler but that faded quickly. So I built what you see in the picture below from that Sporty, I.E. Cafe styled, 86 cu.in. oil in frame, 3 disc brakes, mag wheels, good H.P. but handled like S***. Doing that bike in 1975, two years before HD's CR1000 is what eventually brought me to Buell with my first 2002 M2 Cyclone. I tried to do what Erik has done but failed with limited resourses then. There have been many bikes since those first ones and I am now on the very best street bike available to us mere mortals. My 1125R. Too old to change now so I'll just ride it until we're both gone. Thanks much Erik for giving me what I always wanted, a TRUE AMERICAN sport bike.  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Honda Xr 75, I wish I still had that bike. It was my first 'real' ride after the Z-50. | ||
| 01x1buell |
the first bike i rode was a xr 50 that did it for me. | ||
| Xb1200rick |
it was all down hill after that  | ||
| Preybird1 |
I had one of those mini bikes Danger dave! Wow that brings back memories. We got ours from the salvation army thrift store for $5.00 back in the early 80's, But ours had the throttle between the legs and it was the idle control lever off the mower it had the rabbit and the turtle. But we soon found out that you could reach under cover and pull the governor more and it would go faster!! Then we got a honda 50cc trail bike 3 speed auto clutch. That little machine was the coolest bike around. | ||
| Danger_dave |
| ||
| Svh |
I saw the then brand new Kawasaki ZX-11 on the cover of Cycle World in highschool. Bought the issue and fell in love with motorcycles. Still hope to own one of those someday. (Message edited by svh on October 10, 2011) | ||
| Brumbear |
I still got one of those minibikes   | ||
| Brumbear |
Ya know there is a lot of truth in that minibike song   | ||
| Malott442 |
several pieces of wood to build the fire: 1936 ariel 350.... sat in the living room for a long time, drove many a mile in my mind on that girl. 1984 Honda atc110. Mom bought me a 3 wheeler because she thought dirt bikes were too dangerous. I learned to balance 2 wheels on it pretty quick though. Rear two or one side, all day  1986 sportster. First bike I did 90 on. Was 14. SCARED THE PISS out of me. 2000 Buell Millenium x1 #40. I went from riding for the wind to riding to ride. What a dream of a bike that was. I miss her so much! The Buell changed my life!!! | ||
| Strokizator |
Same experience as Svh but set the way-back machine to the summer of 1967.Cycle magazine had a picture of Kawasaki Samuri 350 Twin two stroke. I wanted one so bad. Two years later a 500 cc H1 was the object of my desire. I'm still lusting after my next bike. | ||
| Dynasport |
I got my first dirt bike when I was 8 or 9. I was hooked from the moment I got on it. I had a couple of street bikes that were nothing exciting, but were what I could afford, till a friend wrecked my Honda CX500 in 1982 and I was without a bike for MANY years. Then one day about ten years ago I saw an unknown Triumph parked outside. I thought it was beautiful. I hadn't looked at bikes for years and didn't know a thing about them. It took me another three years to finally get a bike, but things will have to be pretty tough for me to be without one now. I'm still not positive what that Triumph was back in 2000 that I saw on the street, maybe a Thunderbird with some custom touchs, but whatever it was, it was beautiful to me. Funny that I ended up with a Harley instead. Credit it to marketing and patriotism. (Message edited by DynaSport on October 10, 2011) | ||
| Thumper74 |
Honda CB750 ('69-'78) and the Buell XB... | ||
| Cyclonedon |
When I was a kid growing up, I wanted a 650cc Triumph Bonnieville. My brother had a 1964 500cc Triumph and that was the first real motorcycle I drove. My first m/otorcycle was a Bridgestone 60cc ik got when I was 12. | ||
| 86129squids |
Grew up with hooligan buddies as Suzuki kids. Best buddy had an RM80, '81-82ish, his big brudder had a '78 RM125, then later an RS175- which I'd still like to have. PE frame, RM motor, perfect for hooligans. My first motorized 2wheeler was a Moto Morini 2speed moped, pedals and all- I used to go looking for Honda Expresses to run off the road... First real MC was an '81 TS125. Eventually took it purely street, replaced the 21" front with a 19", put a cafe fairing on it, bored, jetted, ported/polished the motor, added Boyesen reeds and proceeded to raise hell with that thru my 16th year- then wadded it. Some douche pulled a late left in front of me in an old Gran Torino, then ran- I got the description of the car as I was flying through the air, then tried to get up and chase him... Grandad got me a '73 VW Superbeetle to try and keep me alive a little longer. He succeeded- I grew to love the 80's tech, especially the turbo's- my dream is to own an XN85, a '78 GS1000S, a pristine RZ350 (KR edition) and a grey market RZ500, along with that RS175 (or 250). Add in a GTS1000 for some LD sport touring. Oh yeah- can't forget the Beemers- I'll take a R80RS, properly farkled, like the one I saw last month out in Tellico Plains, blue plhleeze... And, a vintage '75-82 GL Goldwing, with the fancy manifold this old dude used to make in central FL, allowing a Holley/Dellorto 2bbl carb to replace the stock setup. And mebbe, just for shits and giggles, an old XR200R to practice wheelies through all 6 gears. Oh yeah- my other hooligan buddy's dad had a boss who was into bikes, had a barely street legal Segale: Italian frame, hotted GS1100 motor... I sat on it once. Without the proper punctuation, does anyone else remember a Segale racer? (Message edited by 86129squids on October 10, 2011) | ||
| Pwnzor |
 |
