Who or What Inspired You to Ride

[DaveMc]

When I was probably about 6 years old, my uncle came by our house one day on his bike -- don't even know what kind it was (circa 1966). But he let me sit on it, and I was hooked. Then my cousin had a mini bike that we got to ride around the yard. Plus I've always been fascinated with mechanical things. It took a while (school, started a family) but I finally made the plunge. Only regret is that I didn't do it much sooner.

[kbsnow]

CHiPS
&
Speed

I also know that my son who is only 14mo is already hooked. He loves to sit on Emma for as long as I will let him. Will take him on a ride soon. Everytime he walks past her he has to touch the front tire. Pisses the wife of since he gets dirty. I already have a 16th birtday motorcycle fund started. If he is anything like me he will blow college off anyway.

[bonesnews]

What got me to ride was strangely enough the Hells Angels..... Being from a small town on the east coast of Canada I was at the most impressional age of 8 when through our small and sleepy town came rolling thunder... There were about 50 angels that day all on hogs and the sight and smells and the look of freedom in the parade passing that day is what got me interested in Bikes and I have been hooked ever since......

[papasmith]

wow, if i could look @ one particular person who has inspired me to ride it would have to be my grandmother. see, she started to ride when i was about 5 or 6 (she was 50), and she rode for about 4 years. Everyone in her neighborhood called her Mad Max (her name is Maxine). well she took me for one ride on her bike (it was a small stadard, i think) it lasted all of about 5 min. and i was hooked. from that day forward i have wanted a bike. since then it has been finances that have kept me from getting one. almost there now.


this is the same women who went skydiving for her 60th b-day.

[92Notch]

Originally Posted by drgibson

I was thinking about this the other day, why do I feel compelled to ride and be a part of the Motorcycle community?

I saw some dudes riding down the parkway doing 120+ pop'n wheelies and doing stopies while weaving in and out of traffic while driving home one day, I knew then I wanted a bike.

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by 92Notch

I saw some dudes riding down the parkway doing 120+ pop'n wheelies and doing stopies while weaving in and out of traffic while driving home one day, I knew then I wanted a bike.

Well...............Look who's back!

Damn...we're havin' a reunion around here.

Pretty soon, tlwisner will be back too.

[vhmike73]

I never considered riding until my Motor Pool buddy Glenn implored me to get my license so he'd have someone to ride with. I finally decided to give it a go and took the MSF Basic Course at a local Community College even though I wasn't sure I'd 'get it' or like it. Turns out I enjoyed it a ton, so I took Glenn's '81 XS 650 to get riding. I went a year bombing around with my buddies Glenn ('82 Virago 920) and Phil ('79 Suzuki GS 800) on that bike my first year licensed, then got an '80 KZ650 for a year before buying my M50 Black last March.

So now Phil and I have moved up to '05 M50s (Phil has the blue, bought it after his GS finally gave up the ghost in August '05) and last April Glenn finally bought himself a brand new HD Dyna Wide Glide...now there isn't a worry about who's bike might not start back up on a rest stop!

The 2007 plan is for a vacation to Sturgis this summer...and as much riding as I can manage. According to Punxsutawney Phil we're in for an early spring this year. Too bad we got 2 feet of snow last week... At least I don't live in Oswego (over 85" last week!)!!

[92Notch]

Originally Posted by intimid8er

Well...............Look who's back!

Damn...we're havin' a reunion around here.

Pretty soon, tlwisner will be back too.

The weather will be warming up soon ... I've got the itch ... can't wait to get the bike out of the shed!!!!!

[FoxyRoxie]

Since I was old enough to realize what I was looking at Ive had an obsession with Motorcycles. Their curves, their sound, their performance, everything about them. I developed this love on my own & now have a great guy to share my 3 Katana's with

[Louis]

Originally Posted by FoxyRoxie

Since I was old enough to realize what I was looking at Ive had an obsession with Motorcycles. Their curves, their sound, their performance, everything about them. I developed this love on my own & now have a great guy to share my 3 Katana's with

If you remove the last part in italic, and replace Motorcycles with women, then I agree 100%

[kstateskier]

Got a wild hair in college to borrow my friend's 250 Honda... Rolled to the gas station on a beautiful day! Got bit by the bug and rode it a lot after that! Then one day came into the gravel driveway a bit quick, almost laid it down and scared the piss out of myself! Then didn't ride for 3-4 years... Then my best friend's Dad bought a V Star 1100 and I just drooled over his bike forever! Finally got up the nerve to take the MSF Course and got my license! Been saving up for my own V Star ever since and finally last Friday bought my first ever bike! 2006 Classic 650! So far I've logged 16 miles and enjoyed every minute! Really trying to work hard on all the things I learned in my riding/safety course! Don't want to develop bad habits... Just wishing it would warm up and stay lighter later in the evening!

[Rae]

I have it in my blood to ride. My dad rode when he was alive and my mom rides. I have always loved bikes. Also, I'm no ones %%%%% and I don't ride that way either..... After going to Bike Week and Biketober Fest I saw a lot of women riding and thought to myself, "hell, if she can ride, I can ride." So I took the class and kicked ass.

[Gixxerboy]

Well my story isn't really a heritage thing and over here we aren't allowed on the road until we're 16 and then we're only allowed a 50cc. lol but I used to to downhill mountain biking from 14 and worked from 10yrs old so spent all the money I earnt on montain bikes until I was about 16/17

Then started watchin moto gp and seeing what bikes were like 3 years ago. They looked awesome so I convinced my dad not to freak out if I bought a bike.

So the journey started with an Aprilia RS 125 (had it for 2yrs and 26,000miles! then the engine blew up lol!)
So I bought a Honda CBF250. Had that 5months but got bored so part exchanged her for my first baby, a Gixxer600 k6.
Unfortunately 5 months later when winter returned I had an accident and she was written off. So I bought a 125 auto while I was on crutches LOL (that was a sight!!!) until 2 weeks later I bought my 2nd baby...another gixxer600 k6. and that's pretty much my story. sorry it's a bit longer than the rest

[battypup]

I only had gotten a ride on a motorcycle once when I was about 12. My parents were dead set against bikes growing up so I never even considered it. At about 20 I started thinking again of getting a bike. It wasn't until I was 33 and my wife father kept coming over on his VTX 1800 that I decided I'd waited enough. I took the TEAM Oregon course and got my first bike a week later.

[Atlas68]

Teenage daughters






...How else does a father maintain his sanity.

[palanon]

Originally Posted by Atlas68

Teenage daughters






...How else does a father maintain his sanity.

A true form of escapism !!

[baum604]

I always wanted a bike that I can go ride and know that it will run. Growing up I had a 125 Suzuki Street/trail motorcycle that wasn't road worthy, so I rode in the fields. Had to repair it almost every time I took it out. Great bike tho to learn to ride.

Anyway, Once I was in the military, and could afford a bike, I bought my 750 Shadow Spirit.

[Jammer]

For me it was the movie Evel Knievel with George Hamilton. He pulled wheelies..and jumped..and got a girl by riding his bike though their dorm house and crashed through the bedroom door. So I ended up with a Honda CT70 and it all began.

[eb77k]

I was always interested and loved the racing coverage in the cycle magazines, just to date myself they cost between 99 cents and a $1.25 back then. Kenny Roberts was #80. They had quite a bit of coverage about the Grand national Championship racing series and I loved Jim Rice and Gene Romero. It wasn't long before the front fender on my J.C. Higgins 24" bicycle disappered.

Then Evel Knievel came to the Minnesota Dragway for a show. My dad piled all the neighborhood kids in the station wagon and took us there. Over the next several weeks every kid in the neighborhood was full of scrapes, cuts, and roadrash trying to do stand on the seat wheelies. All the Dad's were busy truing wheels from the jumps.

It's been a giant part of my life since then. Despite the risks it's good for kids. It's pretty hard to steal something or smoke crack with your hands on a set of handlebars.

[S83]

Who in there right mind wouldn't be interested in motorcycles? Beware of all those mentally ill on the roads that aren't riding motorcycles!