The first motorcycle I ever road belong to my grandfather. He was the foreman of a large ranch. The actual owner lived in California and would fly in from time to time, but in my childhood brain, the entire ranch was my Grandpa's and therefore mine by association. My brothers, sister and I would often spend time their as children. Anyway, the motorcycle I first learned to ride on was a Honda Trail 50.
I conquered many a dirt road and trails as a wee lad on this trustee machine. Perhaps this was the origins of my love for the two wheels. It was at about this time that four wheelers become popular and as I got bigger I began riding more four wheelers than bikes.
Next when I was 15, I had a crush on a girl from the next town over, about 15 miles away by legal roads, and about 20 miles by the back roads. It was at this time, that my entire world turned upside down, I discovered that girls did not in fact have cooties, but could be quite enjoyable. Alas, with no drivers license how could I indulge my desires? At this time a friend of mine, most well known for breaking both of his arms, at the same time, while playing basketball, introduced me to the benefits of an enduro. He owned a Yamaha Trailway,
which we would often ride to the neighboring town, to visit my girlfriend and her friends. The benefit was that we could entirely avoid the highways and freeway with the dirt road alternatives, and as long as we obeyed traffic laws, we did not get stopped by the local small town police force, even though the bike was not registered.
Finally, a driver's license. While in high school I generally drove a car, do in large part to the fact that Supe seldom had the use of a car, and had to compete with his older brother, and our other friend, LP had no car, I usually had more than one person to drive around, I did however, ride at times, my brother's Suzuki GS425
this is not an actual picture, as the one my brother owned had a WindJammer Vetter fairing, which probably explains my hatred of fairings and love of all naked bikes.
This was really the beginning of street motorcycles for me. I used to ride it all over town, in fact it is the bike I first took my riding test on, and failed, due in most part to the fact that the clutch would have been just as effective if you had replaced the lever with a toggle switch, there was no ability to feather the clutch.
It is important to note at this time that my brother was instrumental in my motorcycle life, this bike as well as the next actually belonged to him, but he was kind hearted enough to feed my addiction.
After a few years, I once again took advantage of my brother's kindness and borrowed for an extended time his Suzuki SV650.
While I have always enjoyed motorcycles, it was not until riding this bike that I truly understood, and fell in love with riding. While not the most powerful bike in the world, which becomes clear once you get to freeway speeds, for sheer riding enjoyment this bike was top notch. The short wheel base combined with good geometry and the V-twin motor, always made me smile. Not you average, I am slightly amused smile, but the face bending, shit eating, time of my life smile. That is why I classify this bike as the most "fun" bike I have had the opportunity to throw a leg over.
You could not get two different bike than the SV650 and my next bike a Yamaha Raider.
This bike was very different than any I had ridden before, long wheel base, high degree rake angle, but it was truly enjoyable to ride. Good suspension, amazing motor, which as my brother once stated. "There is no tach, so I was wondering what gear I should be in, but then I realized with this torque it does not really matter."
Finally, what I currently own, the fabulous Kawasaki Z1000.
This bike is getting close to perfection for me, the essences of motorcycles. I can ride all day, with a decent seating position, and do not hesitate to take the fun roads at speeds sufficient to take care of those pesky chicken strips. Motorcycles are and should be as unique as their riders, this bike will not be perfect for everyone, not comfortable enough for some, too small, too big, too green, but all of the bikes we have ridden in our life, help to clarify our wants and needs, and we eventually come to an understanding of what bike is best for each of us.
Until such time as I have the means to have multiple motorcycles the Cafe Racer, Super Standard, Naked Sportbike, will be the kind of bike taking up space in my garage. You know other than size, there is not a whole lot different from the early Honda Trail 50, and the Z1000.
