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Re: How many people have not ridden a motorcycle

S

SparepartsTN

Member
Took a while to find some pictures. Started with a 1967 Honda 305 Scrambler fresh from VietNam in 1972. Did a couple of dirt bikes, then the 1972 Honda 450, modified it a bit, rode it from southern NH to Austin, Texas in 1977(the 1st picture). Then a 1976 Kawasaki 900, then the blue 1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 from 1978 through 2003. and last is the modified Harley Panhead from 1998 to present, my 1967 Ford F-100 behind it. If I did it correctly.
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I rode a motorcycle for a while until they made it a law you had to wear a helmet. At the time I couldn't find a half shell helmet that wouldn't cover your ears. The helmet I got made it so dangerous to drive in traffic I quit. You couldn't hear the traffic around you and after a couple close calls I just gave up. Then the motorcycle sat for so long the gas in it went bad and I couldn't find anyone that could get it running right again. It's been sitting now for 20 years now.
 
Had dirt bikes, stayed off the road and really enjoyed riding through the woods. Preferred running into trees to running into cars. Took my FIL's 87 Nighthawk 700 for one ride up to the Dairy Queen. Hit a patch of gravel in front and nearly dumped it in traffic. That was enough for me.
 
I was an avid rider when young in the 60s and early 70s but havn't owned a bike since 1972 when I sold my 1 year old Honda CB750.

The last time I rode a bike was in the late 1980s when I rode a friends HD chopper. Managing the very long springer front end at low speed was quite a learning experience for one who had not ridden one before.

Dean
 
Bingo!

I lost interest in riding when IN instituted their helmet law.

Aside from the loss of a bit of independence, the helment seriously interfered with with hearing.

Dean
 
If you take the ABATE riding course and have a valid motorcycle endorsement no helmet is required.
 
Dean I have noticed how often you use the term Bingo. Not in any way criticizing , just wonder if you were involved in some group that played the game often. Just wondering , so don't take as a negative as the game seems to give some groups great pleasure .
 
Started with a 1945 -- 45 Harley. Clutch pedal, gear shift , great old machine. Rode in younger years till wife had couple of kids.Period of years later got a change to ride friend new bike. Took to out on straight highway and opened it up . Great to ride again, felt like the old days till looked down at speedometer , though should be about 60 or 70. In reality I was traveling at 120 and above. Scared me , slowed down rode back and haven't been on one since .
 
About 1987/6 it started life as a 69 electra glide. You are not cool if your chrome don't shine 8) Back in the 70's you could not buy all the neat doodads you can today then you had to make it.
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A few years ago I was at a scooter show and there were a whole lot of custom motor scooters there, Ness stuff and so that I don't care for. Was this old fella, I'm guessing about 80 or so rode up on his maroon 45 incher with gravity fed oil and original hand tank pump, foot clutch, jockey shifter. One really had to be a rider in those days. Dings, dents, scrapes, leather duct taped seat in my opinion the best looking motor scooter there. It really was. I think the HD went to a mechanical oil pump in 1936 or maybe 1946, not sure, but that's how old that motor scooter was. None of my motor scooters is gravity fed. I remember before Michigan repealed their helmet law a few years ago, I was up there one Sunday riding around, no helmet, riding all over the place. I stopped at a red light and happened to be a cop pulled up next to me and he asks, "You know Michigan requires that helmets be worn, don't you?". Huh? Helmet? Really? The light went green and he grinned and turned and drove away, and I scooted off on my way.

Mark
 
I mainly rode dirt in the late 60's and through the seventies. Came home stiff and sore from many a trail ride but it was a good way to work off my aggressions and frustrations at that time. Had a vibrating Triumph 'prince of darkness' that shook parts off on the road and made my butt itch for awhile but farming and family with two little kids was more important than wasting money and jeopardizing my life on two wheels so I gave it up. I still have the carcass of a 250 Honda in the barn though. Wish I still had that Triumph, though. My son rode locally for awhile till he hit a deer one night. The deer was killed but he somehow kept the bike upright and was able to limp it home. The next few days he himself limped around on a bruised leg. His wife laid down the law and the bike went away. There is just too much at stake in their young lives to take risks and I certainly don't want to lose another one.
 
Now I'm getting confused, are we talking motorcycles or motor scooters?? Years ago some teenagers had Cushman scooters but were rather slow compared to a motorcycle.
 
My neighbor had a Vespa his son brought home from college in the early 60's. It is probably a collector's item now.
 
Guess of all those who replied, I have the closest qualification.
Brother in law had an old Harley , foot clutch, tank shift. Somewhere around 1970 or so he rolled it out of garage, fired it up & told me to take a spin. I reluctantly threw my leg over & took off. About 50 yards later it died. I kicked that starter about 10 times, gave up, parked it, & walked back to his place. He went down the hill, kicked the starter 20 or 30 times, gave up & walked back too. Took my car & towed him home.
Half hour later he remembered to try turning on the gas valve. Fired on first kick.
That is the only time I ever touched a motorcycle.

Willie
 
first bike when i was 15 was a 1947 Indian scout---then went to a 1962 Honda dream---72 honda cb 350==76 honda cb 360---1980 hopnda cx 500 which i still ride and a 1985 honda super hawk which i ride also
 
About the same story as mine, early 60s neighbor was about 15 and I was a couple years younger, he had a nasty old bent up lime green Harley he worked on all the time and kept flying up and down the gravel road. He gave me a ride out across the fields and back and I was cured, noisy, stinkin thing, I seen enough.
 
Thanks to all the people who replied.

I taught myself to ride on the Honda 305 riding in the woods, then road. I don't think I ever wore out a front tire on the dirt bikes, I kept them in the air. I was sick of wearing helmets by 1976 so parked the bike in the shed. When I moved to Texas they didn't require them so I hitched back and rode the bike to Texas, I was leaving when the picture was taken. I've not worn a helmet since then until I moved to TN., now I remember why I don't like them. I don't ride much anymore, I may have to move to a different state.

Hobo, nice looking scoot, I think your rear shocks fell off. ;-)

A lot of nice bikes guys, good memories of younger days.
 
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