How did you get into bikes

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 12:24 pm

Funnily, no one in my family ever had bikes while I was alive, and those that did weren't fanatics, so never talked about them to me. But as soon as I could, I got a 125! None of my friends had bikes either, so it was just me being the odd one out.

At 17 (2003) I got a Kawasaki BN125 Eliminator. It was heavy and slow, but probably seemed fast to me back then! I run it off the road into the grass verge twice (freezing up in corners as a car came the other way).
Eventually it died (just I pulled into my parents drive) and me and my dad sent it to two garages, but no one knew what was up with it. knowing what I do now, there shouldn't have been oil in the engine case where the generator was......

Next was a Honda Varadero 125. I loved it. It had heated grips and bar muffs and saw me through a couple of winters in comfort. nice little V-Twin too.
I had a CR125 and then a KTM 200EXC while I had the Varadero, and enjoyed a year of enduro riding.
In 2005 I did my full test (my CBT was about to end) on the Honda and passed!

Next came my CB500S. I bought it from a local Triumph dealer with no test ride. I knew I wanted it. One previous owner, a training school, at 12k for just £1100! It saw me through 3 or 4 winters and was used every day. Unfortunatly I wan't very good at looking after it, and after the 4 years I owned it, it was sold for spares.

I had 3 months away from bikes as I was cycling everywhere and obsessed with getting fit. After having a dream about riding my old CB500 (seriously, that happened!), I decide to get a new bike! I was made redundant at about the same time and had some redundancy pay to spend. So spent 4k on a brand new Suzuki Gladius 650. It was a very nice bike.

After about 18months of owning the Suzuki, I went to the dealers for a cup of tea and a chat, and saw a red/silver 12s. I had to have it!

After I had the 12S and an R1150RT, I went on to my K1200GT.

Most people who haven't rode one may not agree, but the GT has the same issue as the blades you've all mentioned. It's a silly fast bike. I'm (i think...) a very calm and natural rider that doesn't take many risks, but the GT has caught me out a few times in the 6 months I've owned it.
I miss the character of V-twins and Boxers, but the GT just sounds awesome!

Unfortunatly, after the 12GT has had it's day, I think I'll be moving away from BMWs. The 12S was fine, but the RT and GT have been nothing but hastle from the start.

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:28 pm

Steve1200S wrote:Funnily, no one in my family ever had bikes while I was alive, <snip>

Sorry to hear that Steve, hadn't realised you'd croaked

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 3:08 pm

slparry wrote:
Steve1200S wrote:Funnily, no one in my family ever had bikes while I've been alive, <snip>
Sorry to hear that Steve, hadn't realised you'd croaked

Better? bloody grammar police!

(please don't start pulling my grammar to bits now, I cant spell!)

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 3:29 pm

Steve1200S wrote:
slparry wrote:
Steve1200S wrote:Funnily, no one in my family ever had bikes while I've been alive, <snip>
Sorry to hear that Steve, hadn't realised you'd croaked
Better? bloody grammar police!

(please don't start pulling my grammar to bits now, I cant spell!)

Much .. phew thought we'd lost you for a moment there, I was going to try and crib your GT for parts

Stevie · Post by **Stevie** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 3:31 pm

1976, fourteen year old Stevie was walking along the Renfrew Road when Dad passed on his CB250G5. Dad stopped and offered a lift the remaining half mile to the house - nae helmet, nae jacket.

Hooked for life.

My mother never forgave Dad.

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 3:45 pm

slparry wrote:
Steve1200S wrote:
slparry wrote: Sorry to hear that Steve, hadn't realised you'd croaked
Better? bloody grammar police!

(please don't start pulling my grammar to bits now, I cant spell!)
Much .. phew thought we'd lost you for a moment there, I was going to try and crib your GT for parts

Their all faulty.....

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 3:48 pm

Steve1200S wrote:
slparry wrote:
Steve1200S wrote: Better? bloody grammar police!

(please don't start pulling my grammar to bits now, I cant spell!)
Much .. phew thought we'd lost you for a moment there, I was going to try and crib your GT for parts
Their all faulty.....

<FX: bites tongue> m-u-s-t r-e-s-i-s-t

adrianw · Post by **adrianw** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:45 pm

London Traffic.

Tubes in hot sunny days and too many people using too little deoderant.

Oh, and I saw a Black K1 in Hyde Park once and thought - got to get me one of those.

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 9:17 pm

slparry wrote:
Steve1200S wrote:
slparry wrote: Much .. phew thought we'd lost you for a moment there, I was going to try and crib your GT for parts
Their all faulty.....
<FX> m-u-s-t r-e-s-i-s-t

Oh no! I told you I can't spell!

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 9:44 pm

snigger

boxerscott · Post by **boxerscott** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:36 pm

Selling ice cream from jaco`s on Scarboros foreshore, watching the Scooter lads, bovver girls and realising that the biker (rock chicks) were fitter. That was it. A half caste by the name of Ricky Cardozza with Johhny Depp looks rode a 250 kwak and pulled wheelies everywhere, he wore a Bandanna and kerchief cool as shxt. He decapitated himself on the Seamer Rd. Sad but true. Loved the scooters as well.Most bikers came to Scarbro on the no 43 bus from Leeds in those days. Happy days eh?

Harry Lime · Post by **Harry Lime** » Fri Aug 02, 2013 6:35 pm

boxerscott wrote:Selling ice cream from jaco`s on Scarboros foreshore, watching the Scooter lads, bovver girls and realising that the biker (rock chicks) were fitter. That was it. A half caste by the name of Ricky Cardozza with Johhny Depp looks rode a 250 kwak and pulled wheelies everywhere, he wore a Bandanna and kerchief cool as shxt. He decapitated himself on the Seamer Rd. Sad but true. Loved the scooters as well.Most bikers came to Scarbro on the no 43 bus from Leeds in those days. Happy days eh?

Hmm. That rings a bell. Early / mid seventies?

Whatever. In 1970, at the age of 14, I was fishing in the local brick pit (but nothing was happening, fish-wise). Some lads were fooling around with a C15 and a Bantam.

They gave me a go and that was the start of thousands of pounds expenditure, hundreds of thousands of miles, many different forms of competition and a life long love of motorcycling. Thanks guys.

H.

nab 301 · Post by **nab 301** » Fri Aug 02, 2013 9:59 pm

For me there were no immediate family bikers (apart from my older brother) although I do remember my dad talking about the TT and the yowling Scott two stroke.
I guess I was just an all round petrol head , my pre teenage years were spent "repairing" lawn mowers
My first pillion was on the back of a Velocette Venom , the sound and acceleration seemed out of this world at the time. There was also a Trident and the same friend organised some off roading on a Montesa cota. I was already hooked but in the mid 70's everyone seemed to be" into " bikes mainly because of the petrol and insurance costs of cars.
Same friend organised my first project, a lambretta 150 3 speed , I could just about hook second gear while doing "speedway" around my parents front garden. Bought a couple more small Honda projects and managed to turn a small profit.
Come 16 I insured my brothers little used YG1 Yamaha 80, but while impressed I felt the bike wasn't that impressive. I've always been mechanically sympathetic but it took my brothers encouragement to realise that the little Yam was good for an indicated 60 mph in third gear...
Just as well I never purchased that Elsie when I turned 18.

cornishflat · Post by **cornishflat** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:03 pm

My father ...God rest his soul....had bikes pretty much all his life. He would take me to school sometimes, the wind in my hair at a very young age. Then it was riding my own at bike 11..an old GPO bike. Very soon I was sliding down the fields on my arse, taught me a lot. 20 odd bikes later and still as daft as a brush, still in love with bikes...all of,em.

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 8:28 pm

nab 301 wrote:For me there were no immediate family bikers (apart from my older brother) although I do remember my dad talking about the TT and the yowling Scott two stroke.
I guess I was just an all round petrol head , my pre teenage years were spent "repairing" lawn mowers
My first pillion was on the back of a Velocette Venom , the sound and acceleration seemed out of this world at the time. There was also a Trident and the same friend organised some off roading on a Montesa cota. I was already hooked but in the mid 70's everyone seemed to be" into " bikes mainly because of the petrol and insurance costs of cars.
Same friend organised my first project, a lambretta 150 3 speed , I could just about hook second gear while doing "speedway" around my parents front garden. Bought a couple more small Honda projects and managed to turn a small profit.
Come 16 I insured my brothers little used YG1 Yamaha 80, but while impressed I felt the bike wasn't that impressive. I've always been mechanically sympathetic but it took my brothers encouragement to realise that the little Yam was good for an indicated 60 mph in third gear...
Just as well I never purchased that Elsie when I turned 18.

You've been a pillion! are you mad?

Something I've never done, had a few chances but was too scared....

prefer to be in control.