How long have you been riding? How many bikes have you had?

[kerrfunk]

I bought my first motorcycle fourteen years ago, on this day in 2008, a 1982 GS 550 L.
I was 36 years old and had never ridden a motorcycle, but I had just been bitten by the bug, I guess.
First time I rode it a few miles I described it like "kissing for the first time" and that really hasn't changed in 14 years.
I've had four GSes and now a 99 Triumph (which I love), and I know there were years I rode 5,000 miles or so.

[trevor]

I had bikes since I was 10 years old until I was 18 the last bike was a new 83 gs750ed (which I have another one now)....I went 27 years with no bike...bought my 1980 GS750E ten years ago last month...I currently have 7 bikes in the garage and bought and sold around another 12 bikes in that time.
Not sure how many kms I've ridden in that time....but this year alone I'm well over 30,000kms......23,000kms on my new GT that I got in May.
I'm making up for lost time

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Got my first bike for my 12th birthday (1983), a very used 1972 Yamaha DT 250 Trials. Pic not my actual bike but exactly the same, and is in much better shape than my beater. I learned to ride and crash (a lot) on this bike.


Sold the bike and got my first 3-wheeler at age 13 or 14. Yamaha Tri-Moto 200. Paid for w/ paper-route money. No rear suspension, fun times. Me in pic (not very smart, no helmet): The 1976 Scout Traveler in the background was the vehicle I learned to drive/took licence test in. It was a tank, and I miss it.


Sold that a couple years later and w/ more paper-route money bought a 1986 Brand New Honda 200X. Also me in pic.


Went away to college in Boston, and sold the 200X. Had a long break from riding in the 12 yrs I lived there. A buddy and I did take the MSF course at Hanscom AFB, but at that time, licence endorsement was not part of the deal. So I didn't ride again until I moved back to central PA in 2002, took the MSF here and got my M stamp, and my Brother-In-Law gave me an early '80s Honda CB125. Looked something like this:


Around 2004, a friend really needed this non-running 1982 GS750T gone from his property, so gave it to me. This is the only pic I have of the bike in the state in which I received it:


Today, its a real runner, and I think it's looking pretty swell, with a giant thanks to all the help I've gotten from the terrific folks at thegsresources.com

[Gorminrider]

oh no_ a Regret Thread. WHY don't I still have this:
1974 honda cb350 four.jpg Brand new...I can almost smell it still...

[GS1150Pilot]

Since I was 12, when I got a YZ80. My best guesstimate is listed below.

1977 YZ80A
1979 YZ125
1980 YZ250
1982 GPz 550
1986 VF1000R
1985 GPz750 Turbo
1980 XS11
1984 & 85 RZ350s
2003 FZ1
1999 VMax
1998 R1100R
2016 Sportster
82 CB900f
85 GS1150ES
99 Bandit 1200
70 Trail 90
92 GS500e

I'm missing a few but that will do for now.

[rphillips]

Interesting story. My parents wouldn't even let me look at or talk about motorcycles... Spring of 1978, I was 25, a buddy dumped his 125 Yammy dirt bike in a creek and couldn't get it out. Told me I could have it if I went and got it. With his help we hauled it out in my truck, cleaned everything out, pulled it down rd. with a rope till got it running. Rode it a couple of wks. within 20 mi. of my house, constantly holding the shifter up to keep it in 5th gear. Then I was hooked. Another buddy had bought a new "77" GS750 and was having trouble paying for it, said if I took over pymts. it was mine. I bought it and rode it home and my father came out and said you ain't parking that thing in this driveway, I rode it to my brothers house, appx. 1 1/2 mi. down the road and walked back home. The next morning got up and my mother said, Rick your daddy and I had a talk last night, 1/2 of that driveway is mine and you can park it in my half. That kind'f broke the ice, within a little while he'd say get on that old motorcycle and go to town and get me an oil filter or get on that old bike and go to town and get me some tomato seeds. From then on all was good. I thought the 750 was too big for me until I got us'ta it, then in "79" traded it for a "78" GS1000 C, then in "80" traded for a new GS1000 G at the same another buddy bought a "80" GS1100E. The next yr. he traded the 1100E for a Kawa. GPZ1100 and I traded for his old GS1100E. That old bike and me were the fastest stock bike around for about 3 yrs. During that time I got to working on my own bikes, bought a few barn finds and got them running. A lot of other bike stuff. buy, sell, trade , got a "79" GS1000 S, back in appx. "86", when they were cheap, and put a GS1100 eng. in it, then totaled it and quit riding for appx. 10 or 12 yrs. Got stirred up again again and bought a Honda CB1100 F that got me fired up even more and I bought a KZ1300 with a Mr. Turbo turbo on it, sold it because of shrunken testicles, Stable now has "83" Honda CB1100F, "83" GS1100E, "91" Suzuki GSX1100G, "99" Kawa. ZRX 1100,then the "99" Bandit 1200, and a "2005" Bandit 1200. Oh yeah, the wife's old "96" Kawa. ZL 600 Eliminator is still out there to. Hate to get rid of them...Guess they will be in the estate sale one of these days....OOhhh thank goodness for the memories.

[Vmass]

My first bike was a Ducati Marcelino, I will never forget the sound of that bad boy firing up with a swift kick of the pedal! When I moved back to the states I had a 1974 Yamaha MX175, man that thing hit the ground like it weighed a ton.

When I was fourteen I took a job at a local gas station and a few months later I bought a 1976 Honda 550 from a nurse for $600 bucks. I rode this bike to work and school in good weather and sold it in my senior year to buy a brand new 1983 Honda CB1100F, just about $3,600 out the door. Put 14k miles on that bike during the summer and then my best friend was killed so I hung up riding for many years and got in to boating.

After several years went by I found another 1100f and I have had many, many bikes since then and even more stories..........

[Rob S.]

First bike in 1975, second in '79 (Z1, woo-hoo!). Starting in '89, a 24 year absence, like so many other members here.

11EZ in 2013, 2016 a brand new Sportster (after lusting for one for 45 years).

Phil - new paragraph! It's called the return key. Or the enter key. Try it - it's a good thing.

[Big Block]

march 74.jpg
Yeah: 50 years on the pavement anyway.
First bike was a new 1973 GT250.
250 Yamaha Enduro
V65 Honda, (worst riding bike I've owned)
VMAX
GS1000
4X1150's
GS750
Bandit 1250
Some others but these are the ones I put the most miles on.
Kind of been Suzuki heavy. I'd like to buy a CBX, a ZRX1200, probably another VMAX if I can find one that is like new. Then probably an original GSXR. And then.......

Whoa! I finally got to add a fullsize photo on this forum! Yahoo. I rode that 2 stroker from March til November, taught me alot watching for ice, riding in snow etc. Early skills learned add tons to chances of survival I think.

I rode a lot this year, like every day and I must say I think I may be into an Adventure bike for my main ride. I didn't get it before but the car drivers are just getting worse and worse it seems and I am thinking chances of survival look a lot better on dirt roads and trails than trying to share pavement with these freaks. We'll see what I do next year.

[GS1150Pilot]

Ah $hit! Big Block's post just reminded me of two more.

1985 GS1150ES
1999 Bandit 1200

[Suzukian]

My first bike I purchased new in 1975, a Honda CB400F. 2 years later, through a mutual friend, Kazio Yoshima turned my CB400F into a CB458cc race bike, he made smooth bores out of my stock carbs, and flow benched the carbs matched with a hand bent Yoshima exhaust system. It has Gold anodized D.I.D. rims, Koni aluminum body shocks, and is now pickled in my Barn. I purchased a 1983 GS750ES new, still have that too. I started working for many motorcycle dealerships for around 6 or 7 years, and always had a bike as a fringe benefit, so I got to ride many bikes without having to wrack up miles on my own. Last Summer I purchased a Kawi ZZR1200 with only 4385 miles on it for $2400 dollars. A real barn find. It's a beast.

I am modifying the a bit, "Soupy's" suspension kit lowered it one inch, and I made my own exhaust cans for it removing the huge 50 lb. ones that were on there. I also have mounted a pair of NISSIN disc brake calipers, and Galfer Steel Braided Lines on it (the brand Ferrari uses). I have around 300K miles on bikes total. I started riding in 1973, old dirt bikes, and am 65 years old now.

[marvinsc]

72 Yamaha DT250, tried to kill me but didn't, 76 Yamaha YZ250, tried harder to kill me but didn't. First street bike, 1976 Suzuki T500 Titan 2 stroker. I tried to kill myself on it, didn't succeed. 1979 Suzuki GS1000, What a bike!........21 year break to raise kids and be a responsible adult. 2005, the nest was empty. Bought a 1980 GS850G, went to my first couple of rally's and I was hooked again. Next up, 1991 Suzuki GS1100G, what a torque monster. High sided on it at the Brown County rally 2008. Patched it and me up and rode it another year until the Tranny locked up. Next up, 2007 SV650, perfect power to weight ratio, kept it for a few years and over 30,000 miles. Got into dual sport riding, current stable, a 2001 and 2002 KLR650. One trail oriented and one street oriented.

[rphillips]

marv, you say a 93 Suzuki GS1100G, are you talking the "GSX"1100G? I'd always wanted a GSX till I got one, now think I liked my old "80" GS1000G better. Nothing wrong with a GSX, just think you feel the weight on it more than on the older ones.

[dorkburger]

First street bike was a Kawasaki LTD550 in 1992. That gave way to a much abused 83 1100e and an ongoing love for big old GSs. There were some previous sketchy off road / dual sports including a Honda XL350 that gave me my first of several shoulder dislocations. An ATC 200x like Rich shared, and an absolutely awesome ATC 250r the stroke rig. The ATC 250r is an epic rig to this day. Pics may or may not follow.

My current GS 1150es was purchased in 1999. Mileage is embarrassing low at 30k, purchased with just 1,200 on the clocks. Back in the day I rode 6-7k miles per season with time shared with a couple of big block ElCaminos.

Per Funk’s original post, I’m at or near the anniversary of buying my 1150es.

[marvinsc]

marv, you say a 93 Suzuki GS1100G, are you talking the "GSX"1100G? I'd always wanted a GSX till I got one, now think I liked my old "80" GS1000G better. Nothing wrong with a GSX, just think you feel the weight on it more than on the older ones.

Yes I left out the X, it was a beast,.