How bad did your first bike look?

[Jorja]

Drove to matamata last night to pick up my new baby. This is the first bike I have ever owned and didn't have much to spend. The plan is to tidy it up, get a w.o.f. (reg is on hold) and reg. Then once I have some confidence I will get something a bit better.

But to tell you the truth I took one look and fell in love. It is covered in green slime, has some surface rust and a few minnor things with the starter switch. Needs a throttle cable etc. All that just didn't matter. This is the start of something I have wanted to do for several years. :love:

It is a Yamaha YB125. One of the first with an electric start. Silver and blue (well under the grime it is). Madducks comment this morning when she saw it was 'what creek did you pull this out of?'

have taken some pics of it as it looks now. Have not touched anything. Gonna start cleaning it in a few minutes. Figured I would do some before, during and after shots.
last pic is 'snoopy' next to his big sis 'the lady in red'.

By the time I am finished it will look awesome. :done:

So what did your first bike look like? Would love to hear what other people had to do to get their first bike.

[Ivan]

Great man,

Owning ya bike is awsome and when you hear it run itbrings a smile to your dial,


I got my bucket racer running and had a big smile when I saw how fast it went

[YLWDUC]

My baby FXR in its ugly colour scheme.


http://jacksonsandco.blogspot.com/2006/02/born-to-be-mild.html (http://jacksonsandco.blogspot.com/2006/02/born-to-be-mild.html)
It wasn't that bad a first bike, reliable etc. But the speedo over-read by 10km/hr, meaning that caning it down the motorway at 120 was never gonna get me a speeding ticket. The fairing was a little broken, but my first run in with an unlicensed cage driver took care of that, and I got the wee girl repainted back to her original colours (see later in the blog). Still, the love affair never lasts with a little bike, and once the full came along it was bye bye fxr:bye:

[Goblin]

A good friend of mine was given his first bike at about the age of 10. His dad gave it to him in boxes and he had to put it together before he could ride it. Taught him well though, he's now one of the best mechanics/engineers I know.

[Jorja]

A good friend of mine was given his first bike at about the age of 10. His dad gave it to him in boxes and he had to put it together before he could ride it. Taught him well though, he's now one of the best mechanics/engineers I know.

I am no mechanic and doubt I ever will be. But Tony has promised it won't take much to get it going and I have learn't alot in the last few months. Could do an oil and filter change.

But am really glad I don't have to put it together :shit:

[Goblin]

I am no mechanic and doubt I ever will be. But Tony has promised it won't take much to get it going and I have learn't alot in the last few months. Could do an oil and filter change.

But am really glad I don't have to put it together :shit:
Yeah I know what ya mean, I'll never be a mechanic either but it has been fun learning to do most of my own maintenance. It's really sastisfying when you do it yourself.:yes:

[Maha]

My first bike was brand new so it looked stunning....:scooter:
My 2nd bike was 2nd hand and it looked stunning....:second:
My 3rd bike was 2nd hand and it still looks stunning...:third:

[McJim]

My first bike was a Puch Maxi in 1984 - found it in an old barn while on holiday on the Ayrshire coast - asked the barn owner about it - he said it used to be his daughter's but didn't work any more so she didn't want it.

Me and my dad stripped the 50cc 2 stroke engine, cleaned it, got a new spark plug and re-assembled it - looked like shit but was good for 50mph (80kph) across newly harvested potato fields!

Looked like this except rusty and covered in shit.

[Hans]

Congratulations. And welcome. You'll find that bikies are a good alternative to mankind in general.

[The Pastor]

I had a zx2r, It was utter rubbish, carbs needed replacing - anytime the wheels stopped moving it stalled and couldnt start again untill I bump started that beast. Had a bent frame too, no brakes no indicators, no wof or rego. Still did 160km/hr before the speed wobbles kicked in. Also did wheelies.

[Hans]

Oh yeah, and my first bike was this. Same type at least. Not-quite-so good-condition. But I was 13 and having HUGE amounts of fun!

http://www.motoveteran.cz/jawa-350-kyvacka.htm

[Jorja]

I had a zx2r, It was utter rubbish, carbs needed replacing - anytime the wheels stopped moving it stalled and couldnt start again untill I bump started that beast. Had a bent frame too, no brakes no indicators, no wof or rego. Still did 160km/hr before the speed wobbles kicked in. Also did wheelies.

Hmmm 160 with no brakes and speed wobbles!!!!!!!

[The Pastor]

Hmmm 160 with no brakes and speed wobbles!!!!!!!

Yeah, i had to drop the bike back on to two wheels at 150 km/hr as the traffic was getting pretty heavy on the NW motorway.

[The Pastor]

My first bike was brand new so it looked stunning....:scooter:
My 2nd bike was 2nd hand and it looked stunning....:second:
My 3rd bike was 2nd hand and it still looks stunning...:third:

RUB? 10 chars.

[bmz2]

:rockon: first bike well done,my first bike was old 1975 cr125 dirt bike which i tried to convert to the road , what a bulls up that was, but had fun doing it the bike couldn't even get to 100k , but who needs to do a 100k :gob: when i throught i was going so fast,i throught evey body was speeding when they were passing me. get your bike on the road and have some fun ,be safe dude

[Maha]

RUB? 10 chars.


My thoughts only RM .....oh you have seen the Triumph aye?...at least you didnt stroke it like someone else did....:love:

[The Pastor]

My thoughts only RM .....oh you have seen the Triumph aye?...at least you didnt stroke it like someone else did....:love:

Rich urban biker, and yes I did stroke her sorry.

[Jorja]

:rockon: get your bike on the road and have some fun ,be safe dude

Snoopy (I didn't name it :shutup: ) is sitting in the garage next to his big sister. The lady in red. Will be a week or two before Tony has it going for me I recon. But I am so excited.

Doing a BHS course sat next week so I will be able to start riding it when it is going.

[Macktheknife]

My first bike was bought in 7 boxes, most of the parts were there, it took me about 4 months of work but it was put together and ran really well. Gave it to my brothers kids years later and they did some awesome things to it, I think it ended up in a cart before being retired.

[Ixion]

Nice original bike. It'll clean up well, and an easy restore. Peppy little two stroke too. Excellent bike for a learner. :scooter:

Nice find. :yes:

[scracha]

Ahh..my little blue suzuki GP100. Had been fitted with a GP125 engine and it flew. Hit a whopping 76mph one day through Winchborough (with a tail wind and chin on the tank). Had no indicators and lights that worked if I wiggled the wiring loom enough. The front brake drum was more of a a "slower downer" than a brake and the rear was siezed. Quite a scary introduction to biking riding it 25 miles into Edinburgh in Novemer (it's rather cold & icy in Scotland in November) when I was 16, especially as you can't ride bikes over there till you're 17. Crashed it at 65mph on day two. Slid along a muddy field (I was a lucky barsteward). Unfortunately nobody explained to me that air cooled bike don't really get cooled when they're covered in mud so it siezed a couple of days later.

Other 2 smokes I had were another GP100 (a proper 100cc this time that was very tidy) and a bored out and rather ballsy Suzuki X5 (it @$ckin drunk petrol though).

Needless to say I don't think I'll ever buy another Suzuki or a two stroke ever again.

[Jorja]

Nice original bike. It'll clean up well, and an easy restore. Peppy little two stroke too. Excellent bike for a learner. :scooter:

Nice find. :yes:

Clean up has already begun. Have washed off all the green slim, cobb webs, leaves and spiders (of which there were quite a few). Am about to start sanding back some of the rust. 90% is just surface. Alot of the bike will need to be stripped but will have to wait till I have help for that.

It is looking a heap better already.

[fireliv]

I just got my first bike, and I always thought that I wouldnt get a bandit, cos I don't like the front. But I took one look at her, adn new Jessie was for me! I just hope that I can get her working cos otherwise Jessie might be looking for a new owner.......

[Motu]

You are missing the leg shields.They were a great bike,a new retro in 1988....lotsa good stuff...chrome,fully enclosed chain,leg shields big mudguards - they were made to run forever.You are off to a really good start,keep it up.

[Jorja]

You are missing the leg shields.They were a great bike,a new retro in 1988....lotsa good stuff...chrome,fully enclosed chain,leg shields big mudguards - they were made to run forever.You are off to a really good start,keep it up.

Leg shields? Would like to fully restore it if I can.

[Supertramp]

What did it look like when i bought it or sold it lol? i had a 2nd hand fxr150 from a dealer as my first and it looked nice till i droped it (all part of learning) and again and again sooner or later i sold it and when i did it looked like crap.now my r6 is looking worse for wear after a bad call on a corner (still learning) mates girlfriend came out of it alright same with me just my baby dats not looking so good.

[CM2005]

TS125. 100k flat out, rusted hollow swinging arm. AG175, no clutch, rusted hollw everything, 4 gears, top went clunk clunk... outran a kx125 though!

[blackkatana]

Put the green bits in the compost, clean up the metal, plastic and rubber bits and go from there. It'll be a cracker. :scooter:

[Jorja]

Put the green bits in the compost, clean up the metal, plastic and rubber bits and go from there. It'll be a cracker. :scooter:

have washed off the slime and cobwebs, have sanded back all of the rust (just minor surface) and repainted 80% of it so far. Hooked up a new battery tonight. All of the lights and indicators work and it is turning over.
Carb has been pulled apart. 8 years of crap is being soaked off over night. Still have to replace throatle cable and the mounting block then should be able to reasemble and start him up.

Fingers crossed. :done:

[Maha]

AG175, no clutch, rusted hollw everything, 4 gears, top went clunk clunk... outran a kx125 though!


Oh the things we are proud of.....:Punk:

[Coyote]

First bike was a brand new Honda CRF150

5 years later, I have a run down RG150!

That's a pretty cool project bike. Good luck with it :D

[xwhatsit]

How bad did my first (only) bike look?
<a href="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46509&d=1163992914" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46509&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1163992914" border="0" alt="Wo0o0o0o0o0"></a>

[Gremlin]

As per picture... it had been crashed 2-3 times, and the next crash, insurance wise, it got written off. Bought it from the assessor, who aimed to put it back together, but was leaving the country. Bought off trademe, from a couple of blurred pictures. Headlight and front mudguard did come with it.Turned out it was previously owned by another KB'er too.

It only needed a top fairing (JustFairings) indicator, rego (it was suspended) wof etc, and she was all mine, motor was sweet.

Crashed it twice while learning, but it stood up to it really well, until I was bottoming it out through corners, and moved up.

[peasea]

My first bike (a 1968 650 Triumph TR6P with a Bonnie head) had the front end and some motor parts in a box, the rest we wheeled into the garage on the rear wheel. That was on a Saturday, on the following Tuesday I was riding it. It looked okay and I thrashed the pants off it until it kicked the rods. I rebuilt the engine and sprayed the frame and tank gloss black, which made it look better all round and it was utterly reliable. Unusual for a Triumph, I know, but even stranger......it only had one very minor oil leak, from the gearbox mainshaft, and that was only when it was parked on the side stand. I later slapped it with Candy Black Cherry paint with ghosted pearl silver flames. I also chromed a swag of stuff, including the two-into-one I made for it and had a dream run for five years. Then I broke even when I sold it.

[hitch]

My first bike was a nifty fifty :scooter: a blue one I just loved it :love: it got me everywhere I needed to go and the best thing about it was I didn't need to get a bike licence to ride it. She was my pride and joy, my first method of independance in the travel department and it came with a basket........... oh yeah :2thumbsup

[MadDuck]

Madducks comment this morning when she saw it was 'what creek did you pull this out of?'



Ok I may have been just a tad harsh...good on you for getting stuck in getting into riding

[Toaster]

My first bike was brand new so it looked stunning....:scooter:
My 2nd bike was 2nd hand and it looked stunning....:second:
My 3rd bike was 2nd hand and it still looks stunning...:third:


Well, in that vein....

My first bike was new so it looked stunning
My third bike was new so it looked stunning
My fourth bike was new so it looked stunning
My fifth bike was new and it is stunning

... my second bike was a Honda. :dodge:

[FROSTY]

Ok I may have been just a tad harsh..
OHH NO YOU WEREN'T --Damb thing looked like it had been living in the bottom of a creek for 15 years.
The carb/oil pump and oil tank were caked solid in gunge.
The "mounting block" is the right switch block/brake lever mount.
well is--thats past tense as its a mangled /dead mess.
BUT the dambed thing wants to go--Well it turns over on the lekkie start and seems to have compression.

[Quartermile]

Yea mate my first was a FXR, and I loved it that bike was legend as:love:

[Dave-]

looks pretty cool.

I'd love todo up something bike, car, a willys jeep or even just some sodding engine from the 18somethings.

I once did up a trolly when i was a kid, bought itfor $50, stripped it, undercoat, paint, greese (and greese nipples - heh nipples....), new bearings in some of the wheels, new tyre, she was a beut, when we moved up from dunedin i gave it to this kid i babysat at the time, I hope he has as much wild out of control fun on it as i did.

[peasea]

Yea mate my first was a FXR, and I loved it that bike was legend as:love:

Tee hee, I've got an FXR and I love that too!!!

Is that a Dopler Effect?

[Quartermile]

Dunno but having your first bike has a good effect

[peasea]

looks pretty cool.

I'd love todo up something bike, car, a willys jeep or even just some sodding engine from the 18somethings.

I once did up a trolly when i was a kid, bought itfor $50, stripped it, undercoat, paint, greese (and greese nipples - heh nipples....), new bearings in some of the wheels, new tyre, she was a beut, when we moved up from dunedin i gave it to this kid i babysat at the time, I hope he has as much wild out of control fun on it as i did.

According to some you need an Ironhead Sporty. I'd say you need some books and a toolbox. If you already have them, go use them.

[mark247]

First bike i had was a XR200 dirt bike and i rode it on the road to mates places etc. That was heaps of fun. I learnt heaps on that bike, the engine blew up so i learnt how to put a new engine in etc haha. But i also learnt how to hit trees, brake too late, how to fall off on wet grass, how rear brakes are really helpful etc.... Then I got an old GSX250 which spun a big end, that wasnt fun, had the girlfriend on the back and i rode it home going clunk clunk clunk nievely thinking it was just the clearances. arrgh! I had the XR for about 6 months then the GSX for like 2 months until the big end went. When i went to pull the GSX apart, i found dirt and rocks all through the engine... So im guessing someone didnt like me having a bike. I dont think it would of lasted 2 months with rocks in the engine. Oh well, after that i got a VT250 which i paid $850 for and sold for $2000 a few days later. Now im onto the MIGHTY GB400! It only gets better...

[Chrislost]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/toycar/fairings.jpg

[Templar]

I remember my first bike, a Suzuki A100 sometime in the late 80s. Paid $400 I think (well my Dad did) and got a red one that worked and a blue one that didn't for parts.
Road the crap out of it all around the gravel roads and sand dunes out on the west coast!

[Roj]

The first bike I learnt on was an old "James", a 150 cc premix 2 stroke Villiers engine with girder forks and not much in the way of brakes, I was 12 at the time so the 3 gears were fast, faster and fastest... fence posts were a realiable stopping method.:scooter:

[FROSTY]

My first bike was a Honda C50.
It was abandoned in the hedge out the side of our families hotel.
pretty sad looking lil thing it was.
I was 10 years old and to me it was friggin sayxy :love:
I took off all the fairings and mudguards and painted everything else with a black spraycan
made a pretty good back yard fun bike

[McJim]

My first bike was a Honda C50.
It was abandoned in the hedge out the side of our families hotel.
pretty sad looking lil thing it was.
I was 10 years old and to me it was friggin sayxy :love:
I took off all the fairings and mudguards and painted everything else with a black spraycan
made a pretty good back yard fun bike

Yep - that's the bike you're still ridin' ain't it? :rofl: