First Motorbike

Hello List--

We have a first car thread. Let's have a first motorbike/motorcycle/moped/minibike/trike/quad thread.

My first engine bike was a '73 Harley Davidson X-90. Made by the old AMF in Italy I believe. HD had two X90 models. One set up for street with larger wheels and a smaller trail version with 12" wheels. This is what I had.It was a 2 stroke with a tank for the 2 stroke oil which would automatically mix with the gas. I was 12 or 13yrs old

Mine was a kawasaki G90 5 speed street bike it was I think a '75 shortly followed by a kawasaki
F-9 350 enduro and a '68 honda CB450

1986 Yamaha BW80. Got it Dec. 7,1985 ... I'll never forget it! I must've put 1,000 miles on the thing. I loved that bike more than anything! My parents knew that & used it at will for blackmail ...

Cost $750 brand new. When my parents got me this, it was as if they bought me a Bentley .... I couldn't believe it was mine! I'd never been happier at any point in my life! I was completely overwhelmed! 3 years later, I grew about a foot-and-a-half & gained about 50lbs, & was tired of getting smoked by my buddies .... so I sold it for $150! It was pretty beat by then ..

I'm now the proud owner of 10, in various stages of running conditions.

Honda 750 , 1970

1977 Suzuki JR 50 I was 4 years old. My dad would kick start it with his hand.

Honda 90, 1966

First one, a 70's Honda Trail 90.

Had a few others over the years.
'73 Honda CB500 (Four)
'78 Suzuki GT360
'97 Yamaha TW200 (Dual Sport)
'95 Yamaha KLR650 (Dual Sport)
'78 Yamaha XS1100 (Current Street)

First off road 1970? Honda PA-50
First road bike 1970 Honda CB-350

I also had/have:
Kawasaki KX 400 motorcross. 2 stroke ( quickest bike to 60 )
Honda CB550 4 cyl
Honda CB750 4 cyl
Suzuki DL1000--fastest bike ( too powerful for my skills, I'm not afraid to admit it )
Kawasaki KLR650
Current
Suzuki DL650
BMW F650

I've owned a few myself ...

After the BW, came a '87 CR125R
Then the mighty TRX250R Fourtrax not a bike ... but sort of fits in.
a '92 WR200
'84 XL350R - still own, not street legal ... off-road only for now ...
'01 KDX220R - still own
'02 DRZ400S on/off
And the '05 Polaris Sportsman 800 - also still own. Again not a bike ....
Then, my 10 BW80's

For the street, my first bike was a '84 KZ700A1
then a '94 CBR600F2 - first motorized vehicle I ever bought brand new. Had for 8 years & 36,000 miles.
Then I bought the on/off above, which I then sold for a '03 Harley-Davidson FXSTB Night Train with the Twin-Cam 88B (1,450cc)
and my latest passion: 1975 Yamaha RD350A (have a '74 parts one too)
& I picked up a '75 RD200 for the wifey -- needs extensive repairs before becoming road ready.



Many pics:
The XL getting rebuiltl

RD running after much wiring & cleaning

RD200

The CBR in action in Northern AZ

WR200 in action

Me & my KZ at Quabbin Reservior circa 1991 Note the GIGANTIC radar-detector on the gas tank!! Gotta love progress!

Me & the CR back in the day '90 or '91 ... I don't miss the hair!!

Smitty, you are a ham!