How old were you?

[Duke girl]

Interested to know how old you where when you got into Motorcycles and Motorcycle Riding/Racing.
I myself was born into Motorcycles thanks to my Grandfather who raced Solo Speedway and my Father who Road Raced.
At the age of 17 I had my 1st bike TS 125 Suzuki which l learned to ride on at a friends farm on weekends and it wasn't long after that l was old enough to go for my licence in Australia i might add which you had to be 18yrs of age to be able to do so.
Once l got my licence and l had been riding for a while l decided to give Racing a go. Back in those days (80's) there wasn't alot of girls Racing compared to today which is so great to see.
After 25yrs break from bikes its been great to be back into them both on the Road as well as the Race Track.

[4AGE]

Born into bikes through my Dad. Memories of old taupo track pushing the TZ down the pits getting it to start.

[avgas]

I had a love hate relationship with bikes since conception.
Sometimes I liked the sound of Dad's XS850, other times I hated it.
When I was about 8 I discovered an Old TS185 sitting in the corner of dads shed, and I pretended to ride it. When I turned about 12 dad and I rebuilt it. And I learn't to ride it.
I crashed it a few times and hated it - so it stayed in the shed for few years. Then I got right back into bikes when dad rebuilt the XS850 and took me on my first (proper) road ride with a group of bikes (Which *was* the now defunct Bayride Suzuki group). It was through Coro loop.
I immediately got back into it after that, and got my first road bike (RG150) after proving myself on a friends RZ250.
Still wish I had that TS185 though.

[Hitcher]

When I was young, motorcycles hadn't been invented. However the more I ride, the younger I get. A Benjamin Button phenomenon.

[Mully]

Who fixed the title?

[Arrowolf]

Well,that`s long time ago. I was 16 and got my first Moped. 1978 in Germany, a Kreidler RMC. 50cc road legal 40k/h. After buying all the racing parts, i made about 125km/h. Great time. when i got my full licence at 18 years of age,i took my mother`s 750four for some time. I meet my wife and stopped riding. Till 2008,in NZ i bought my Shadow,and i love every minute on it. So far i did about 40k km.

[jaffaonajappa]

13, Mothers bike - occasional rides along the footpath in 1st gear....
14, Subluki GS 400. Crashed it twice before I reached 15.
15. Got my learners licence.....had to take one spark plug out during the test. Still failed the test. Never looked back. :D

[Old Steve]

Started motorbike riding last year at 61, had never ridden a motorbike before then.
Have been riding for 16 months now, first 12 months were on my Learners and Restricted licenses.
I'm 62 now.

And having a ball!!!!

[Gremlin]

Not counting toy motorcycles and plastic moulded bikes as a kid, I got my license at 21. Fast forward 6 and a bit years, 200,000km ish later, and my mileage is accelerating :innocent:

[Desert Eagle]

20, start of this year. I was going to buy a car down here in chch, but then I saw a motorbike and figured it would be a way better way of getting around.

When I first sat on a bike, i wasnt even sure what way I was supposed to twist the throttle..:shit: that was about 6 months ago...:facepalm:

[CHOPPA]

I got my first bike when I was 2! Olds have regret the day ever since....

[bogan]

The perfect thread for a poll, and it doesn't have one :cry:

edit, and 14 with off road bikes

[Gone Burger]

25 - was never interested in bikes much before that but always did want a ride on a Harley. So, at a fund raising event they were giving kids Harley rides for $2. So at 25 I lined up and got on the back. The old bugger riding started off down the road. Instead of going round the block like he did on all the other rides he headed toward to highway. He grabbed my hands and put them on his moobs and said "hold on love". hahahaha so moobs made me fall in love with bikes. The next day I booked in for my BHS. Went through it all at the same time as the ex partner. We were trying to do something together, find something we had in common. Once we got through out licensing it couldn't have push us further apart. I was in it for the right reason, the sheer love of riding that was becoming a passion, he wanted the image only. Best thing I ever did and it was only 2 years ago. Rock on!

[MIXONE]

It's in my blood so from the moment of conception.

[Ricardo S]

13y/o, dad's bike, the bike was something like that:


<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://www.caldas.com.br/30anos/agrale_elefant_dakar.jpgfeat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://www.caldas.com.br/30anos/agrale_elefant_dakar.jpg" height="200" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://www.caldas.com.br/30anos/agrale_elefant_dakar.jpg">test</a></td></tr></table>

[DrunkenMistake]

Had a wee 50cc Honda trial bike when I was 6 then got another one with 3 gears when I was 8 and hussed about on it untill I was like 11 or 12,
then sold it on for some pocket money and that was that, Had a car learners for ages but couldnt be fucked getting my license and a car, and eventually when I was 17 got myself a 50cc scooter, that lasted a month and I Brought a CBR 250 and got my license, now I have just turned 20 and am riding about on my NC30

[Ender EnZed]

I got my first bike when I was 2! Olds have regret the day ever since....

You deliberately ripped out the "off" in "offroad" didn't you?

To answer OP; 11 offroad and 15 with a licence.

[orangeback]

grew up with them, the old man had a waterbus and a couple other yamaha 500 and gt250, black piper, till in 1981 he had a accident on one and broke his spine, on the GT, & spent 3 years in and out of hospital, it didnt stop me,
From 7 I had a ct90 on the uncles farm, ag100 on granddads farm, and used the my best friends Yamaha 50 and pw50 as kids. i got sick of my wee farm bikes so always use to pinch the xt250 and XR to ride on till i got a road leagel DR200 then XR250re then IT465 - tt600 and then at 16 i got my full licence and bought a near new GSX750SF Katana to ride to school & and then it went on and on and on 34 bikes later here i am. I blame DAD

[slofox]

Ermmmmm...lessee..that was just after Noah's "post diluvial" sale IIRC...

"Needed transport". Haha. Just wanted a bike in fact.

I was, IIRC (again) some 19 years old.

Best thing I ever did. Despite busting my arse several times over the years. And spending megabucks as well.

[JimO]

i was 15 (1975) and went and saw "on any sunday" went out and bought a ts185 suzuki

[Blackshear]

Think I was 7 when my dad bought me the PW50.

[rachprice]

23?

High school friends have always been into them and one good friend raced, so being someone who loves adrenaline I thought it would be perfect, which it is!!

[Headbanger]

Born to Ride.

Bikes have been in the family for generations before I was born, I was allowed to ride em as soon as I could climb on the bike.

Got a paper run when I was 11 and bought me a mother fuckin motorcycle of my own, Only been one period since then when I didn't have at least one bike in the shed, and I felt the wrongness of that situation.

[Headbanger]

i was 15 (1975) and went and saw "on any sundayi

I just watched that earlier tonight.........

Downloaded it in 10 minute segments from youtube...

[lostinflyz]

was about 20, a hardcore car nut and got into bikes to prove cars were better.

Took about 2 years before i sold my alfa for tyres for nationals and a shitty old van to make it.

Only time in my life i've ever been wrong........

[pete376403]

Interested to know how old you where when you got into Motorcycles and Motorcycle Riding/Racing.
I myself was born into Motorcycles thanks to my Grandfather who raced Solo Speedway and my Father who Road Raced..

Where did your grandfather ride the skids?

[Kornholio]

Have been on a bike since i was 2 or so... rode solo when I was 7 which was on a SL100 Honda farmbike... 1st time by myself and I couldn't stop laughing...ended up in a drain but meh, that was the start... :D

[240]

I was 17 ,there was a bloke I was working with who said to me "i am moving to oz i can't sell my bike you can take it just keep the payments up."
At the end of that day after work (I was an apprentice mechanic) I hopped on it (never even had sat on one before) kick started it ( a mighty honda xl175) and rode home.I remember having to hit the kill switch at every intersection because I had no fucken idea about hand/clutch co ordination.I got home and had a few beers and thought "that was fucken outstanding"
After that I was fucked forever and never have been able to get bikes out of the blood (not that iv'e tried :Punk:)

[Brett]

I have loved bikes since I was a small child, bought my first one when I was 19. Doubt I will ever not have bikes, whether they be dirt, road or race.

[ducatilover]

Cannot remember the first "I love bikes" moment.
I have memories of me being lifted onto the seat of uncle Bob's immaculate GB500 TT and me sitting there barely reaching the bars making silly noises and I would always stay on there for a loooong time imagine riding my way somewhere :love: Have always been a mad bike and car nut. Got my first bike at 15, rode anything I could before then, scooters....quads...more scooters....the GB500 I have always been in love with. I'd have to say bikes are my biggest passion and I can never get enough of them.

[baptist]

My dad always had Triumphs on the road, raced an AJS with a bucket fairing, at 11 or 12 had a go on a Honda Melody 50cc moped... crashed it badly, thought it was fun :facepalm: might have banged my head because I have enjoyed both cars and bikes ever since... never raced a bike, never had the guts to be honest, my racing was on four wheels, tarmac not dirt.

[BurningPlastic]

I must have been around 4 or 5 when I first rode solo, and did my first ton on the back of my Dad's bike when I was a couple of years older...

I got my first road going bike (Honda 125) when I was 16 and then have had various since...

[nerrrd]

At 17 taught myself to ride a trusty Suzuki GP125 as none of my friends were into bikes. It was shiny, and I could afford it. 28 years later still riding solo and the older I get, the more I love it. Now if only I could get the hang of those gear changes...:facepalm:

[jazfender]

About 13 when I got the bug, first proper bike at 16.

[ellipsis]

...40 years ago my mum said i couldn't buy a James with a 197 Villiers motor in it, as long as i lived under her roof...my older brother had done big damage a few years earlier when a dog had run in front of him and the subsequent avoidance caused him a whole lot of grief in hospital, etc, he rode a Francis Barnett, a 225 cc thing called a Dove ...i was 14 and got kicked out of school, got an apprenticeship, left home and bought a T250 Hustler, upswept black pipes...yeefuknhaaaa...survived this far and can only report that its only ever been heart-breaking. bone breaking fun...every fukn bit of it.......

[Grumph]

[QUOTE=Duke girl;1130102718]Interested to know how old you where when you got into Motorcycles and Motorcycle Riding/Racing.
I myself was born into Motorcycles thanks to my Grandfather who raced Solo Speedway and my Father who Road Raced.


God god, are you sure you're not a daughter I don't know about ?
My old man was an A grade at Monica Park in ChCh pre war and was involved in restarting racing post war too so i can't remember a time we weren't involved with bikes. Been a bumpy ride but still fun....
My brother was forbidden by Mum to ride at Cust but once she'd pissed off the racing world was mine to explore. Can't say I've never looked back as there's money to be made from nostalgia now.

[riffer]

Dad had bikes; his dad had bikes.

Not much choice really.

[dogsnbikes]

It was around 35 years ago when we did the transission between a dog tucker galding and some two wheeled contraption with wheel barrow wheels and what seemed to be a masport lawn mower engine,it was either full throttle or stop, dangerous as hell but a lot of fun.:woohoo:......guess you could call it a Dual purpose adventure bike.

Then on to a CT90 until a brought my first bike a SL100 and its onwards and upwards since

[Edbear]

It's sobering to read many posts and realise just how old you are! :shutup:

I started riding my Mother's BSA Bantam 125 when I was 12. She and I are/were the only bikers in the family. Mum turns 80 next Feb, and while still a biker at heart, cannot ride now. She used to borrow my T500 Suzuki to go and visit her Mum and loved the power!

I got my first bike, a BSA B31 350 when I was 15 and got my full licence then using a friend's Honda C50. Now at 53 I have to quit riding, :crybaby: due to breaking my back in a car accident, of all things! :bye:

[Swoop]

Dad had old British oil-leaks which he rode*.
For some reason no words needed to be said and I had the licence at 15.
Posters on the bedroom walls of Giacomo in full race mode and speedway on Sat. nights.:woohoo:












*Note to self. Must get 35mm slides scanned from his photo collection.

[monkey99]

First rides for me was an XR250 all over the farm when I was 10 My older Cuz was riding XR500 and was a MX champ so I saw all sorts of (inspiring) mad stunts... so many days and many miles before I hit the road riding.. first Road bike was a NZD250 that I bought for $600 18 years ago. :whocares:

Went mad after that and bought and NC21, NC24 and an NC30 until I gave up on all of them and bought my dream bike (at the time) RC30... had that for.. maybe 3 months but could not afford to service and keep it :crybaby:

Stopped riding for a woman :facepalm: to spend more time riding with a woman :yes: but then started this mad RVF restoration project..

Only the body work to go.. then I'd like either an SP1 or SP2.. or if I have to settle one of those new CB1000

Its in the blood... never driven cars more than 5 times in my life as far as I can remember

[Duke girl]

i was 15 (1975) and went and saw "on any sunday" went out and bought a ts185 suzuki

I remember my Dad taking me to see On any Sunday and how much l thoroughly enjoyed watching it.......Mmmmm they were the days.

[Duke girl]

[QUOTE=Duke girl;1130102718]Interested to know how old you where when you got into Motorcycles and Motorcycle Riding/Racing.
I myself was born into Motorcycles thanks to my Grandfather who raced Solo Speedway and my Father who Road Raced.


God god, are you sure you're not a daughter I don't know about ?
My old man was an A grade at Monica Park in ChCh pre war and was involved in restarting racing post war too so i can't remember a time we weren't involved with bikes. Been a bumpy ride but still fun....
My brother was forbidden by Mum to ride at Cust but once she'd pissed off the racing world was mine to explore. Can't say I've never looked back as there's money to be made from nostalgia now.

No l'm sure lm not a daughter that you don't know about :blink: as my Father was My World and not only did he get me into this wonderful life of Motorcycling but l also use to go Fishing with him, to the Football and play golf with him up until he passed away 21 yrs ago. I guess you could say l was the son he never had as l am 1 of 5 girls and the only 1 proud enough to say got into Motorcycling.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Started motorbike riding last year at 61, had never ridden a motorbike before then.
Have been riding for 16 months now, first 12 months were on my Learners and Restricted licenses.
I'm 62 now.

And having a ball!!!!

Fuck yeah!

thats fantastic. did you always want to, and never could, or never want to then suddenly the bulb went off? theres an interesting story there, please share it!

as for me, I had this sick fascination since I was 13-14. first bike bought with proceeds of first job age 14, with some money I borrowed from my Dad (when I got six subjects in School C next year he forgave the debt), since then its been all my own money though. I did have a six year stint with no bike (stupid university and being a broke-ass student) but pretty much continuously before and since then.

I can't imagine not having at least one now.

[007XX]

Both my parents had bikes, so pretty much grew up with them.

I got my moped licence at 14, but it was a while before I moved up the cc ladder and got my bike licence aged 26.

I can't imagine life without bikes, even though other choices in said life seem to try and convince me it shouldn't feature at the moment.

[neels]

Started playing around on other people's trail bikes as a young teenager, which led to buying a TC100 at 16, which in turn led to a road bike.

Quarter of a century later I still don't know any better, and my dad still asks me why I want to muck around with motorbikes.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I remember my Dad taking me to see On any Sunday and how much l thoroughly enjoyed watching it.......Mmmmm they were the days.

I still reckon Malcolm Smith is the most stylish rider I've ever seen....

[Banditbandit]

I was 18 when I got my first bike - a BSA Bantam. I had to rebuild it before I could ride it (God, they were so simple) ...

I'd wanted a bike for a long time - but I was also a hunter and I had a pack, rifle and dog when I was 15 - so I needed a car to get to and from the mountains ...

Unlike my biker peers (But I got to carry the alcohol around in my car ... and the odd friend whose bike had died ...)

[shrub]

I came to the faith late in life (well, 20). When I was a lad we were into our V8s, and as far as I was concerned if it wasn't made in Detroit it was not worth owning. When I was in the Air Force the tranny in my beloved Impala shat itself (might have been the burnout I was doing), and I had a date with this rather tasty young woman. I had a mate who was going away for the weekend and had a spare car, and so I asked if I could borrow it. Sadly it was buggered, but he had a bike and asked "can you ride a bike?" I had ridden a farm bike up and down a mates driveway, so the answer was yes.

It was a 1973 RD200 Yammy, and after work on a Friday I set off across Auck. By the time I got to my date's house I had almost got the hang of riding, so I threw her on the back and away we went.

Over the weekend I rode that thing everywhere and when my mate got back from his weekend I made him an offer. I sold my Impala and that was the end of cars for me, I have never owned another V8 and treat cars like frigges and washing machines.

[matdaymon]

Hmm I was about 7 or 8 and got given the chance to ride my cousins little suzuki 50cc around the farm. Even accidentally did a superman after revving it in gear and going over a small jump into an electric fence...
Wanted one ever since, then at 20 after yet another terrifying pillion experience with the old man (who started at 55 I think) I went and booked my BHS and finally got back into bikes.

Here is to many happy years on two wheels :drinkup:

[SWERVE]

My old man had a 49 triumph 3ta in the shed which i would be perched on even before i could walk. Its still in his shed and mine in his will...
First bike was a yamaha fsie at 16.
Series of 250/350 things till about 19.
Got into modding/racing cars for a few years.......... stupid boy.
Bought a cr500 mx at 25 (learnt the meaning of pain)
GSXR 1100 - R1 - Z900 - Duc 916 - YZF1000 - TL1000 - RSV1000....etc etc
Crewed/mechanic for lots of different bike people till i was 30ish (got to test a few..)
Back into it big style in mid thirties wanting to own the latest weapon.
Did a round the world for 2 1/2 yrs starting on foot... but ending up doing Oz on a Guzzi T3.
Came to NZ...... raced a bit..... got my eldest interested in racing at 12........ now work to provide him with all the best toys............ "can i use the bike..son"
Wouldnt change a thing.
Have met all my long term friends and best mates thru bikes.

[Zamiam]

About 12 and a kawasaki 100, Bought a new Yamaha DT100SD a couple of years later - use to do long trail rides just about every weekend. Then new Yamaha DT175F which I sold at 19 when I needed a car for the girls. Jump forward around 20 years bought the bike I should have had 20 years earlier, Kawasaki KDX220 and managed to convince myself that I was no longer young and that I didn't bounce so well. Two years ago bought the Harley and enjoy the slow sedate nature of the beast.

[PrincessBandit]

Started riding - did my BHS in 2006 - in the "older" age bracket. I have katman to thank for my interest in bikes. He tried teaching me to ride his first bike waaaaay back when he started out and he's lucky I didn't drop it.

[pete376403]

My dad was a speedway rider - pre WWII at Kilbirnie. No bike by the time I came along, but I always remember wanting to own one. When I was 14 I had a Royal Enfield 250, managed to keep it hidden in the shed for a week before mum found it, she made me take it back. When I started working at 17 I got a hybrid AJS 350/Velocette thing, then a 500 matchless G9. That was traded on the first new bike, a Kawasaki 350 F9. Various other trailies until speedway started up at Te Marua, bought my first J.A.P, then Jawas and a Weslake that took care of bikes for the next 16 years.


After that bought a CB750F1 for commuting, then the GS1100GK thats still in the shed, and finally the KLR.
That, with various big gaps, more or less covers the past 41 years. Time flies, eh?

[Duke girl]

Where did your grandfather ride the skids?

He raced in Australia and it was actually on grass. Had his own bike shop in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. My 1st love is Road Racing folowed by Speedway as l enjoy watching the World Speedway on TV. l'm hoping to 1 year soon go down Sth to the Burt Munroe. All those Motorcycle events, Awesome.