How old, how much and what kind?

44 years old

24 years experience with motorcycle liscence (this does not include growing up on dirt bikes)

Current ride  K8 Hayabusa.  

34 years old

18 years

Current Ducati 600ss  
Broom Brooomm

This forum is a little slow, ya think?  

25 years old

6 months experience

2004 Kawasaki Ninja 250  

70 years old

55 years experience  Dirt and pavement.  Dirt was Desert racing at the end.

05 ZX-10, with z-1000 handle bars, Scotts damper, Race Tech total internals conversion for the rough roads, steeper forks for quicker/sharper moves.

I'm trying Metzeler Interact Z6's and...super impressed so far.  Pirelli Diablo Corsa III's were the tire before.

I live in the California Sierra at the base of Ebbetts pass (Eat your hearts out   )  

57/40

Almost all pavement, still learning.  Some dirt lately.

'73Norton750, '79 DT400, '86GSXR1100, '08CBR1000RR

Little Tujunga is 5 minutes from home/work.  

Wow, a lot of experienced riders here.

I too live in California!  

This is to all riders, but in particular to LOUEMC.

This rider will have a wealth of knowledge and experience.  Please share.



What was your first motorcycle?

How was it different from todays bikes?  

First bike was a Triumph 650 Thunderbird (that was the lowest performance 650 Triumph made).

The biggest problems were all of the times. No one wore a Helmet on the public road riding.  No one (I ever had contact with) Knew how to ride a bike, so it was all, do the best that you can, to figure it out for yourself.

The Professional instruction, VIA MSF is one of the best things that has happened for bikers
And the current tires would be there as well.

All bikes were kick start, (Triumphs started real good though).

I lived in small isolated towns. No dealerships, no shops of any kind.  You had a bike you worked on every part of it yourself.

Todays bikes are...Reliable...no reason anyone should think twice about riding from one coast to the other. (just do the usual check your bikes vitals)

Todays bikes...(Like Race Replica's) are street legal race quality bikes, that no one could even hope to dream of riding, back when all bikes were standards.  (only racers had race bikes).

One of the greatest treasures (besides managing to stay alive, through it) that the past provided, was... the freedom of dirt riding. No off road parks and that regulation, just toss a dirt bike in a pickup, go to BLM land or Logging land, and ride your brains out.  Oregon was Heaven, steep climbs (and decents) cut between logging roads on (more often then not) slick/wet red clay. Or the high Desert East of Bend Oregon, old (just desert soil) Two tracks (made by a truck or jeep) winding through Juniper forests, and open desert.

That was just having fun..but.. it turned out to be the best school for riding pavement, Evah    

My first bike was an 84 Suzuki, GS650G.  This was a great bike.  I bought it used, rode it for about 4 years and logged about 25-30,000 miles on it, bike had close to 60,000 iles when I traded it.  Whne I was shopping for my first bike I looked at a Parallel twin 650 Yamaha (I think it was a parallel twin).  It had a kick start, the suzuki had an electric start which was why I chose it.  I had kicked started plenty of dirt bikes, and never liked this.

This was and still is  the oldest street bike I have owned.  I have owned approximately 8-10 bikes since this and you are right about the reliability, any bike I have owned I would not have been afraid to ride from coast to coast.  

Age: 32

Rode dirt bikes since age of 6, got motorcycle license about 2 years ago.

Current bike is a 2006 Yamaha R6  

Age: 51

Rode dirt bikes at about 10 yrs old thru to early 20's. Stopped for a long time then started again at 32 with a Yamaha XV1000 Midnight Special. Stopped again after kids (and the ex wife nagging me)until 43. Bought a tricked up 1996 GSXR 750 with Ohlins suspension, titanium exhaust and lots of other good bits.

Had a slow speed get off (my fault) and the insurance company wrote it off! It's now my track bike and my daily rider is a 1999 VFR800 (in yellow). Great reliable bike with 140,000kms on it. (I'm in OZ).  

Bloody Good on Ya Mate    

57 years old
34 years riding experience
9 years as a MSF instructor

Today's sport bikes are so well balanced and have so much power that they inspire so much confidence. I also love riding the older bikes too. It gives me an appreciation for how much the technology has changed motorcycling for the better.  

My first bike was a brand new 1976 Honda CB360T. It was great bike to learn on and rode that bike for 8 years. I wish I still owned that bike.
Currently own 23 motorcycles including 15 training bikes for the MSF Basic Rider Course.

I ride 12 months a year in N.E. It is very challenging to stay upright in the winter months. I had only one minor get off when I hit a patch of ice December of 2005.

Love to do track days at my local track at New Hampshire International Raceway. I also give private lessons to riders that want to improve their cornering skills.

I love riding and I am truly a motorcycle addict. I have many interests but this sport is #1 for me.

My wife is quickly getting addicted to this as well.  


Currently own:
2006 Honda CBR1000RR 60,000 miles
2002 Ducati 748      24,000 miles
2006 Kawasaki KLX 110 Dirt bike
2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250 3,800 miles
1988 Honda Hurricane 600 mileage unknown
1972 Suzuki T350 Two stroke 11,000 miles
1970 Honda Scrambler CL100   8,000 miles
1999 Honda Nighthawk 250
2001 Honda Rebel 250
1999 Honda Rebel 250
2004 Suzuki GZ 250 (I have 12 of these bikes)
Pit bike 50cc two stroke  

:
Currently own:
2006 Honda CBR1000RR 60,000 miles
2002 Ducati 748      24,000 miles
2006 Kawasaki KLX 110 Dirt bike
2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250 3,800 miles
1988 Honda Hurricane 600 mileage unknown
1972 Suzuki T350 Two stroke 11,000 miles
1970 Honda Scrambler CL100   8,000 miles
1999 Honda Nighthawk 250
2001 Honda Rebel 250
1999 Honda Rebel 250
2004 Suzuki GZ 250 (I have 12 of these bikes)
Pit bike 50cc two stroke  


Do you use the Suzuki GZ250s for the MSF course as training bikes?