staff

We've gotta find that bike! Oh the stories is could tell, the asses it's seen, I wonder how many virgin riders it spoiled along the way. Great story mike... -fonzie

Loki22302

Ahh, the first bike memories...



1986 Honda V30 Magna. I bought her at an auction back in 1987 for $395. There was $400 cash in my pocket when I arrived that Saturday morning. She was black, had 3000 miles on the clock, and a salvage title. Some cretin had stolen her from the original owner and wrecked. Before she became mine, she was being parted out by the used parts business that held the auction. After spending roughly $400 more, and with the help of a friendly and sympathetic local motorcycle repair shop, that bike was running well. She was rough around the edges, but ran just fine. Still remember that V4 scream.



You see, at that time, I was a junior in college and earning about a $150 a week at a pizza joint. Money was a little tight back then. I really couldn't afford to own a car, but a motorcycle was relatively cheap to run. And way more cool. A tank of gas was $3. A set of Chin Shin tires was $80 mounted and balanced.

After three years, countless road trips both long and short, I sold her to my brother for $400. She had almost 30000 on the clock.



Last year, I almost bought an '85 Magna from a co-worker.

Holy_Kaw

Rode on a guys H1 with Denco Pipes, ported, "cafe" bars, etc. Pulled like a weak 125 until it HIT. Evil handling motorcycle. To think the 500 was considered better handling than the H2...



Friends brother had a Denco piped H2, that I traded "tuneups" for rides. It was a blast in a straight line but I don't think it ever even occurred to me to take it on "The Pass Road".



I rode a full dress, first year, 'Wing on that road regularly.

Holy_Kaw

Kept thinking my '75 Kawasaki KS125, my first new bike... Wooda Stomped that Jawa!



I think it would still be fun to ride today.



Fun stuff there Mr. mscuddy, thanks.

longride

First bike I ever riode was a Hodaka Super Rat. I knew sarnali had something there. First road bike was a 72 Triumph Bonnie. Went from the Bonnie to a CBX. Can you say 'Holy Crap'? I did!

__________________
I'm a knucklehead

VonCrumb

Great story, entertaining to the point that I almost want an old Jawa to tinker on..but, not qiute.

My dad crashed his panhead when I was twelve, and mom announced that "there would be no motorcycles in the house hold." Of course, I took this to mean that a bike could be purchased and, um, stored at another household. At sixteen, I was building up a Buick powered Ford coupe, but had a half interest in a little red Allstate..a 125, I think. I paid my half of the beat up little bike by getting her running. Back then you could ride up past Steven's Creek Dam, slide the bike under a cable `gate,' onto a number of fire roads, and no one cared.

One afternoon, I was rolling down a narrow muddy road at a fair clip, hit a tree root, and the handle bars rolled in the clamps, opening the throttle to the stop. I'd been bounced into the prone position on the seat and holding on came easier than loosening my grip. I lucked out to the max because I was only a hundred or so feet from rather deep creek crossing the road. Charging into a couple feet of water killed the engine and cushioned my landing after launching over the bars.

Fenton

My first bike was a 1980 CX500 Custom. Paid $1000 in '89 and sold it for $1000 about 4000 miles later. I think I've missed the learning curve and the innocence more than the bike.

One small tip; don't buy a 1985 ZL900 Eliminator as your second bike.

Fenton

Yea, I just posted above about going from a CX500 to a ZL900. Nothing like the ninja 900 motor, 50% bigger than kps btw, with shaft drive. Any time I read about "throttle jack" on the new BMWs or Guzzis I just laugh.

You could "bunny hop" that bike by whacking on the gas.

ksquid

A beautiful Yellow [b]Ninja

Buzglyd

Great post! Excellent use of facts/data.