What is your motorcycle history?

[junior varsity]

i fell off a crapton of honda and kawasaki dirtbikes before trying the street and Ducati.

[Howellerman]

Man, some of you guys have really gone through the bikes (and I envy those with the room to have more than one)! I guess I have one benefit: all my bikes have been purchased new (love the smell of cosmoline).

1972 Honda CB500F - I rode the wheels off of this one
1982 Honda CB900F - a good well balanced bike, but warped two sets of rotors
1983 V45 Interceptor - saw it at the Cycle World show, put a deposit on it the next day. It was an ... interesting bike.
1987 Kawasaki GPz900R Ninja - great bike - amazing grunt from a 900cc engine - the one I wish I still had
1994 Ducati 900 SS/SP - beautiful machine (red), great fun on the open road, not a very good commuter. Wife was bummed when I sold it.
2001 Kawasaki ZRX1200R - no more racer boy for me - just a standard with a big honkin' engine! FOR SALE.
2009 Ducati Monster 1100S - wanted something light, torquey, and FUN. Makes me feel like a 57 year-old hooligan!

That's it for now!

PS: Has anybody realized that the DMF spell-checker has a problem with Ducati? Or is it just me...

[Mr Earl]

Wow, I've never owned anything but used bikes.  Maybe I should rectify that...

Anyway:

Home-made 3.5-HP B&S-powered mini-bike, governor removed, bigger carb w/custom carb adapter, customized high pipe made from 1/2-inch black iron nipples and elbows.  Sting-ray bars, friction rear brake that flipped me off the bike (1st and only high-side!) when I leaned it over on a dirt track one afternoon.

1964 Honda 90.  This bad boy would hit 45 mph down the abandoned orchard road we ran it on.  Learned to clutch and shift a bike.

1966 Ducati 250 Monza.  When considering what bike to buy after a 20-year hiatus from riding, this is the memory that pushed me irrevocably to a Monster.  This moto always surprised and impressed me with the sense of power that it transmitted to the rider.

1971 Yamaha 125 Enduro.  Did my first real mechanical work on this bike.  Zippy and fun to ride.  Still have it.

1975 Yamaha RD-350.  HOLY CRAP.  An unimaginably quick motorcycle.  Needed a velcro-covered seat to keep this bike from riding out from under you!

1975 Norton 850 Commando.  Why oh why did I ever sell this bike?  I bought it as a 2nd choice, was looking for a 650 Bonneville but the Norton came along.  Rode it til about 1983.  Really a unique riding experience.  I'd pay to have just a 10-minute ride on it again.

-------------20 years of bikelessness-------------

2003 Monster 800 Dark.  I'm an old(er) guy now but am really enjoying this motorcycle.  To be stopped at a light, look over at the Subaru station wagon next to me and catch the hot young mom gazing longingly at me and the bike... sweet for a 53 year-old!

[orangelion03]

Some new, some used...

1978 RD400  Bought nearly new and stock from a coworker in 1980, less than 1000 miles on it.  Lots of mods in the few months I owned it.  Loved the quickness, but it had no "legs".

1979 GS550  Bought new in the crate in 1981 when I decided that I really needed a 4 stroke.  Lots of mods, mainly to the motor, intake, and exhaust.  My way of compensating for not being willing to pay the extortionate  dealer's fees tacked on to the then new GPz550.  Had ridden the KZ550A1s that Keith Code used for his first Cali SB Schools and really liked the balance and power.

1982 GPz750  Bought new within a week of arriving at the dealer, no extra fees, rode it until 1990. Great bike for the era, but a friend bought an Interceptor when they came out in 1983 and I knew it was the shape of things to come and my UJM was rendered obsolete.  Same friend owned the Norton in the pic.

2006 S2R 800  Bought used in 2009 for my return to motorbikes.

[Billyzoom]

three Honda CB400 t's...78, 80, and 81 if I recall.  Honda Hawks were great little bikes. Then a Kawi LTD 550, 83 I believe.  Then, about 9 years ago, THIS.  86 Yamaha SRX-6, highly modded.  Loved it, but it quickly deteriorated and I had no cash to fix it.  Wouldlove to get another.  Just beautiful.  After being bikeless for 7-8 years, got my first Duc...a 07S4Rs.

Joel

[lifeinohio]

Let's see...a Bridgestone Chibi(60cc mini), a 100cc Hodaka motor in a VanTech frame, Hodaka Wombat, Bultaco Matador(250), Bultaco Pursang(370), Honda XR 350, Husqvarna WR250, Husqvarna 510, Husqvarna 610(a real blast in the Michigan woods), and then I moved to Ohio and I started riding street...therefore a Ducati Monster oh, and a Honda Super Hawk. Wow I'm old.

[matmcd78]

Started back when I was 16 with a Honda my uncle brought home from Vietnam. Broke my back on it when I was 17. Fast forward to me being 27 and inheriting a Tomos LX A35. (read little moped). Now have a '09 Monster 696 and just bought a '10 Suzuki TU250X. Things are looking up. Next is going to be either an 1100 or a Streetfighter.

[jsd2]

Started on a Suzuki TS 50 when I was maybe 12.  I then had a Rupp dirtbike.  I went through a ATV (we are talking 3-wheelers) phase for a while.  I moved onto a YZ 125 which was pretty fun.  I decided to move to the street and had a 1986 Kawasaki Ninja 600.  The red, white, and blue model.  I had a friend that had a serious accident so I got out of the motorcycle business for around 15 years.  Last summer I rode a co-workers gsxr 600 and was bitten by the bug again.  In July I got my Monster 696.

Jim 

[kman0077]

My friend bought an R6 which prompted me to finally go out an purchase a motorcycle which I had been wanting to get one since I was as a kid.

1.) 97 Suzuki Katana 600 (1 year), Candy Pharaoh Yellow, Whoo hoo, first bike, pretty darn slow and heavy
2.) 02 Suzuki TL1000R (2 years), Blue/White, Awesome motorcycle, V-twin, fast but not fast enough, attention grabbing
3.) 05 Suzuki GSXR 1000 (5 years), Blue/White, Oh dear god fast (Too fast!!), lightweight, fast, fast..., did I mention this bike was too fast. Why in the world do I need to go 100mph in first gear and do 130mph in 9 seconds?
4.) 07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 (Just bought last month), Red. -It's been fun. I like it so far. I only have a few moments of missing the power of my GSXR 1000, but the comfort is so much better. Insurance is half the price. Parts are double the price ><. I love the skinny feel to the Duc as well. My race bike feels fat and long now.

--Side note: I own a 2002 GSXR 1000 as well - Race bike, prepped for track and track only.

[eyeboy]

long and colourful...

first there was the littlest honda


then the just a bit less little honda



then a real motorcycle



broke that one, got one of these



crashed it, got one of these next



sold that one, moved across the country, eventually got this



got rear-ended in downtown traffic, after a bit of a break I got this



next??? multi 1200 touring???

[arai_speed]

Mine is really short:

1997 TL1000S



2000 Yamaha R1



2001 Yamaha R1



And last but not least: