What made you want to be a motorcyclist?
- Thread starter russell664
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Soldato
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Wanted a Sports as a kid with all the fancy dash stuff .
Growing up, rock music went hand in hand with the leather, hair and Cruisers, so wanted one of those instead.
Come time when I could afford it, a Cruiser was the only one I found that actually fit me.
Stayed with those until I discovered the FJ and been in love ever since.
Been driving large cars and small vans for a while since but aside from the comforts (heater, roof, music), not really found the same enjoyment. However, cars have a different kind of pleasure for me, which is along the same lines as driving a tank does.
Growing up, rock music went hand in hand with the leather, hair and Cruisers, so wanted one of those instead.
Come time when I could afford it, a Cruiser was the only one I found that actually fit me.
Stayed with those until I discovered the FJ and been in love ever since.
Been driving large cars and small vans for a while since but aside from the comforts (heater, roof, music), not really found the same enjoyment. However, cars have a different kind of pleasure for me, which is along the same lines as driving a tank does.
Same here!Loved since I first saw them as a toddler, much to my parents frustration
Although, from time to time... you do get a smile or a wave from a female.
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I seem to spend a lot more time with sweaty men in leather these days. Am I doing it wrong?
My Grandad was quite well know with a couple of dealers in Wiltshire, Taylors in (I think) Chippenham, and the old old old George White in Swindon; for testing bikes to the limits - on a couple of occasions he purchased a bike because of the reported top speed, only to take it back sortly after, when he discovered it wouldn't do 100
My Dad was into bikes too, used to race my Grandad from Chippenham to Bradford-On-Avon, and told me countless stories about his biking, when growing up.
When I was younger the family used to go all over the place to watch motorcross, I used to want one of those, I recall seeing the old 90s GSXRs and thinking 'that looks nice' - but I passed my car test first, and never gave bikes a second thought really.
6 years of driving later, I was seeing a lass from work, who was keen on getting a Gixxer, and I just had a spark moment - and asked myself "why haven't I bothered with bikes?". At the time I was also driving around in a 3k Mondeo ST24... with a 13K loan in the background
The joys of easy access to loans, and a desire to keep changing up!
I decided to go for it, and took a consolodation load out - with repayments of over £700 a month - I cycled to work, and cleared my loan off in two years, I then saved for and completed DAS in 2007.
So I blamde the genes - but in the 9 years of riding, and through three accidents, I can honestly say it's one of the best things I have done.
My Dad was into bikes too, used to race my Grandad from Chippenham to Bradford-On-Avon, and told me countless stories about his biking, when growing up.
When I was younger the family used to go all over the place to watch motorcross, I used to want one of those, I recall seeing the old 90s GSXRs and thinking 'that looks nice' - but I passed my car test first, and never gave bikes a second thought really.
6 years of driving later, I was seeing a lass from work, who was keen on getting a Gixxer, and I just had a spark moment - and asked myself "why haven't I bothered with bikes?". At the time I was also driving around in a 3k Mondeo ST24... with a 13K loan in the background
The joys of easy access to loans, and a desire to keep changing up!I decided to go for it, and took a consolodation load out - with repayments of over £700 a month - I cycled to work, and cleared my loan off in two years, I then saved for and completed DAS in 2007.
So I blamde the genes - but in the 9 years of riding, and through three accidents, I can honestly say it's one of the best things I have done.
Associate
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Not really sure! I started a new job last year, a lot of the guys there were bikers. They talked about doing a CBT, I was curious, so I booked up on one.
A few days after the CBT, I went to a bike shop to have a look around, I left having been suckered into buying a bike.
I've ridden pretty much every day since then!
A few days after the CBT, I went to a bike shop to have a look around, I left having been suckered into buying a bike
. I've ridden pretty much every day since then!
The usual reasons, I had ridden mopeds at 16, I passed my car test in 1970 at 18, I could not afford a decent car. A 250cc Suzuki super six came along from Bob Golbornes shop in Hampshire for about £1/cc. It was a decent fast bike and once or twice nearly killed me on L-plates.
Anyway I graduated to a 650 twin Tribsa but eventually needed a car for work etc. etc. Reluctantly i gave up on the two wheels and so far I have not gone back. I have ridden mates bikes occasionally.
Anyway I graduated to a 650 twin Tribsa but eventually needed a car for work etc. etc. Reluctantly i gave up on the two wheels and so far I have not gone back. I have ridden mates bikes occasionally.
Barry Sheene! (and Kevin Schwantz) Watching him race on TV in the 70/80s as a kid with my Dad (and the Brut adverts), I wanted to be a biker
Thankfully I grew out of the Brut 33 phase by 1983. The following year a mate had a Honda SS50 which he rode around a field and was paid £10 by the farmer for riding round an orchard beeping his horn to scare the birds off. He showed me how to ride and that was it. He couldn't get me off the damn thing, I loved it that much.
Going home to my parents and asking for a motorbike as a 13 year old, well you can imagine their response, especially as my mum was and still is anti bike, Dad was pro bike, but had to side with her to keep the peace. Didn't own a bike myself until 1988 and passed my test in 1989.
TL;DR - So the reason why I got into bikes was.. because GP racers and Brut 33
Thankfully I grew out of the Brut 33 phase by 1983. The following year a mate had a Honda SS50 which he rode around a field and was paid £10 by the farmer for riding round an orchard beeping his horn to scare the birds off. He showed me how to ride and that was it. He couldn't get me off the damn thing, I loved it that much.
Going home to my parents and asking for a motorbike as a 13 year old, well you can imagine their response, especially as my mum was and still is anti bike, Dad was pro bike, but had to side with her to keep the peace. Didn't own a bike myself until 1988 and passed my test in 1989.
TL;DR - So the reason why I got into bikes was.. because GP racers and Brut 33
Soldato
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A friend got me in to motorcycles back in 1974, when he had motorcycle news at school every Wednesday.
It was his OSSA 250 trials bike that was my first ride on a bike, been hooked ever since.
It was his OSSA 250 trials bike that was my first ride on a bike, been hooked ever since.
For me I think it comes from my love of Terminator 2. I have strong memories of watching that film on VHS way back when and seeing that Harley chase down the Honda dirt bike. It's my #1 film to this day. I also remember I used to have a poster on my wall when I was maybe 3 or 4 of a red and white Yamaha, an 80's sport bike no doubt as it was back in 1990 or 91.
So yeah I guess those images at such a young age have influenced me.
So yeah I guess those images at such a young age have influenced me.
Associate
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For me my Dad used to be in Automotive Parts industry so always an interest in cars and motorsport. Then started to follow 500cc/MotoGP, WSB in the 90's but never thought about buying a motorcycle until about 2 years ago during my mid-life crisis.
I was browsing the web as you do and seen of all things a Honda MSX 125 and just liked it's design and simplicity and I thought I had to have one. So did my CBT and bought a MSX125 rode around for over a year on L plates did my full test last September passed with flying colours. Really enjoyed the Honda Hornet on my DAS it was like a rocket ship compared to my MSX125. Maybe get another more powerful bike in the future but me I am happy daft looking 6.1" lump on my MSX125 doing the Gromlife.
I was browsing the web as you do and seen of all things a Honda MSX 125 and just liked it's design and simplicity and I thought I had to have one. So did my CBT and bought a MSX125 rode around for over a year on L plates did my full test last September passed with flying colours. Really enjoyed the Honda Hornet on my DAS it was like a rocket ship compared to my MSX125. Maybe get another more powerful bike in the future but me I am happy daft looking 6.1" lump on my MSX125 doing the Gromlife.
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This has a lot to do with it for me these days. On an average day it takes 30+ minutes to travel four miles in my car, and that's assuming there's no accidents holding up traffic somewhere along the way. I can do the same ride in about 10 or so minutes on the bike just sensibly filtering past the queue.
Other than that, I've been riding on and off since I was a 17, and I do enjoy it much more than driving, when it's not peeing down with rain anyway.
You guys are doing it wrong lol, I know around 6-7 girls age 19-25 that aren't butch and ride bikes.
Yeah, and I bet you own a unicorn too
I rode a 110cc automatic scooter in Thailand and when I got back home decided I was going to get a full licence, buy a touring bike and tour Europe. Eventually, I did just that
Currently though she's more or less relegated to a commuter machine though I did ride down to Marseille in March.