How did you all start?

[cole]

How did everyone start riding, what made them want to ? what did the ride ?

Just under 2 years ago my mate josh let me ride his VT250 up his driveway, he was surprised as was I that I could ride it up not a problem. So he told me to go down the road and practice in the dead end turning around and coming back, I did. Came back up he told me to drive down the road 5min, I did came back.

Had the nack of it since then.

In hind-sight totally stupid way to learn, very dangerous. But I think it helped taking the "Jump right into it" challenge once I knew I could actually control the bike.

[georgie]

turning 30 did it for me... Mad panic that I was leading a horribly boring life, and ended up in a bidding war on trade me :doh: Haven't looked back since. Infact, it's been so long since I drove the car that I only noticed yesterday that the warrant and rego have both expired. Haha!

[James Deuce]

Lying awake at night and hearing GS750s with straight pipes hooning up and down Eskdale Rd.

[Subike]

got stuck in the side car of grandads BSA when I was 5
never wanted to really do much elso on the road since as much as ride a bike
have had fast cars, but bikes are the one.
My dad and my elder brothers rode bikes
my sisters rode vespas
I guess I had no choice
in the blood so to speak
got a photo of my dad and three of his brothers on belt drive side valve harleys that was taken just before the 2nd world war in Marshlands CHCH

[sugilite]

Believe it or not, My Mother suggested it. I was moaning about two bus rides each way to my 1st job. She said "why don't you get a little motorbike". If she only knew what was to come, she would of kept her mouth shut :lol:

[kevfromcoro]

dunno..started with old AJS at the age of 15..sort of allways been around biking people...bit of a way of life..walked into a bar the other day.. and there were a few riders there..plonked myself down and started chatting..
bit of a lifetime bond i think.....
most bikers are interesting people

[sAsLEX]

Growing up with Dad having a bike till he went off them whilst I was still young, then having the bike sit in the garage till I was about 15....... and not being allowed to get my class 6!

So....... I shipped out and left home and got my license.

[dino3310]

6 years old riding the old mans stepthrough round the school feilds had the bug ever since

[98tls]

Learnt to ride a TL250 trials bike when i was 8,when 9 came home to find a SL125 in the driveway with my name on it,very lucky kid.:msn-wink:

[merv]

Threw a leg over my bro's Zundapp moped 40 years ago and that was me hooked.

[BiK3RChiK]

On the farm, I rode bikes from time to time. Also, rode my brothers XR-250 quite a bit as a teenager. It wasn't until 2 months ago I got back on a bike and got my licence though..

[fizbin]

My story is a little different.:whocares:
I have never understood my complete fascination with bikes. I have wanted one since i was about 8. My mother would never let me get one. my step dad hates them (Which is a bit hypocritical since i have just found out he used to ride) so basicly i have never been allowed to get one.
When i was 16 i went to OZ to meet my real farther. i was then that i found out that his whole side of the family rides bikes.:Punk: it has taken me 14 years but i have finally got one. 9 years to go well sod it i just want one and i am going to get one, and 5 years to convince my wife i am allowed one :shit::nono:
so yeah that is why i started.
Got my fist bike just over a week ago so you could say that i am still in the honeymoon period!:shit::innocent:
I want to go to OZ so me and the old man can go for a ride together but the funds for that a slow in the coming!

[Radar]

For me its not how I started but RE-started: After 30 years or so I had a chance to hire a 120cc bike in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with my two Italian travel companions (women :D) who also hired bikes. Would I remember how to ride the bike, brake, do the gears, etc?!? Didn't know but was really tired of walking everywhere in the tropical heat, and wanted to be with the :hug: Italians. No problem, though - it all came back. Helmet was too tight so I rode with no protective gear at all (like the locals), up to 90 kph on the motorway, and it was fantastic!!!

Back in NZ for some stupid reason it took a couple more years to get my act together but when two of my mates got bikes, that got me going and here I am enjoying it more than ever!

[McJim]

My Dad did a house swap for a holiday with a bloke that lived in a cottage right out on the West Coast of Scotland. Nothing but potato fields an sea as far as the eye could see. There was an old Puch 50cc 2 stroke moped in the garage. Covered in rust with flat tyres. Didn't run.

Me and dad had nothing else to do for 2 weeks so we stripped down the engine, cleaned the plug repaired the tyres and spent a day taking turns trying to kick start the fucker.

Day 2 it spluttered into life so I got 10 days of riding it across newly harvested potato fields (ruts and mud and stuff) could get 50mph (80kph) out of it too.

Fun.

[toebug]

Riding mates dirt bikes and farm bikes around paddocks and the like, now there is nothing but bikes!:2thumbsup

[gijoe1313]

There was this one time at band camp ....

[rachprice]

Just started, always loved the idea of them and now love the actual riding even more! Dad used to but before i was born, a lot of my guys friends have them and it got too tempting.

[Mr Triple]

Got three older brothers that all had motorbikes and the old man had them as well. My very first bike that I owned was a TM125. Had a lot of fun on that, as you do. And my first road bike was a CB200 a real mint one, till I smashed it up.:crybaby: But that was all along time ago.
I still enjoy it very much and try to get out as much as I can.

[Caladbolg]

Started on leg powered bikes.. My friend went on holiday and i 'looked' after his RM250 a couple of years ago and was hooked after that.. just loved the rush you get when you nail it through the gears trying to keep the front wheel on the ground. Then i scored a GSX400 and fixed it up and caught the roadbike bug. now ive had my ZXR for about a month and im loving it so far, except stupid old women and bugs kamikaze-ing my visor

[ginny]

Was looking at getting a scooter to save on gas. Then meet a cute racer who took me for a ride. Decided I prefered being in control rather than on the back. He doesn't like me riding cause he worries but has given up trying to talk me out of it :banana:

[scumdog]

On a mates brothers Phillips 'Gadabout' moped in 1965 in Nelson.

[sinfull]

I blame my father !
Wish i had his bikes !!! Sigh !

[Grub]

I got a job. Job had bike. I got hooked.

[_Shrek_]

my old man used to take me for :ride: on his cop bike (early 60's) norton commando 850 :love: never been the same since :laugh:

[martybabe]

:scooter: Just after the Romans left Britain, I got myself a paper round, do you have them here, anyway kids ride bikes and deliver news papers. From the first day I wobbled onto the road my pushbike was a secret motor bike. secret engine in the downtube for when I needed to go fast. everything I did to that bone shaker was to make it more like a mobike, apehangers, front and rear lights,little things that dragged on the spokes to make an engine noise.

Don't know why ,never been exposed to motorbikes, didn't know anyone that rode at all, yet I was obsessed with em.

Years latter I got my hands on a Yamaha DT125 after much fighting with the parents. My first ride was great except every time I stopped the bike cut out? I didn't know about disengaging the clutch.:laugh: and every bend was steered round, didn't know your supposed to lean em over. :no: Yes laddies and gents, I am the reason compulsory training was introduced in the UK.

Anyway,to cut a long story short, Hitler and us had a spat, 9/11 happened and 753 years after my first bike, I'm in NZ and still riding. Still not leaning to well but that clutch thing and me are good mates now.

[avgas]

i kept kicking over a old TS185 sitting abandoned in the shed when i was about 8, its was something for me too do while "getting the damn firewood".
Long story short one day it fell off the stand.
Had to take a big HTFU and put it back on the stand so that no one knew.

[Wingnut]

Was 13 and got my paws on a Honda XL100. Oh Yea!!! Been on bikes ever since - mostly dirt though..

[marioc]

The price of petrol and the boringness of the daily peak hour commute

[Luckylegs]

The price of petrol and the boringness of the daily peak hour commute

Bwaaaahahahahaha.... Yip me too, I convined my wifie it would be "Just another form of transport" for when our kids started school and one of us needed the car for dropping the kids off etc etc. (as we both work in the city and it seemed pointless us both being late).

Who knew it would become an obsession :innocent:

And has it been cheaper than running two cars, not on your nelly. After spending the dosh on the Bike (And the safety Kit) as well as the seemingly always empty gas tank from that quick "ride around the block" Im sure it aint but....... WHO CARES, The world just seems a little better now !!! :Punk:

[xwhatsit]

Lying awake at night and hearing GS750s with straight pipes hooning up and down Eskdale Rd.

What? When did you live around there? As a wee tyke I probably rode my mountain bike across your lawn while you yelled at me to GTFO.

Simple economic reasons to get into biking -- Mangere Bridge to the CBD is an expensive and long bus-ride. But of course, quickly found out it's ludicrous fun.

[James Deuce]

I grew up in Glenfield. All the hoons lived in Birkdale and Beachaven on the other side of the reserve.

[fireball]

daddy gave me a DS80 for xmas one year after seeing i loved the quad
never looked back really plus i hate cars they are scary like clowns:scooter:

[Chanak]

Seeing as I never did get around to doing anything with my car license, my friend twisted my arm to get my bike one...


... so he could sell me his bike. :innocent:

[LilSel]

I used to ride Quads & go-karts as a kid... wasnt allowed a bike... hounded mum & dad when I was about 12 to let me have a go-ped :lol:... got one... All was ok for a number of years... then I started going out with someone... who rode a firestorm... & all it took was one ride as pillion... & I was hooked... I bought my own bike shortly after that lol...

[Ripperjon]

I've wanted a bike as far back as i can remember.

Noone in my family has a bike.

The only time i remember getting on one when i was a wee lad was as a pillion on my brother's friend's dirt bike which stood about as tall as i was at the time. Scared the shit out of me as i remember but it was fun!

My first go on a two-wheeler (which probably doesn't count) was on a rental moped thing in Rarotonga :scooter:, which i managed to bin giving myself a good case of road rash up both arms.

Since then, nothing til i bought my first proper bike 18 days ago. Yay:first:

[T.W.R]

my old man used to take me for :ride: on his cop bike (early 60's) norton commando 850 :love: never been the same since :laugh:

Think you find it was actually a Atlas ;) not a Commando :yes:

My Old Man used to do exactly the same to me when he came home from doing his shifts for the ChCh City Council Traffic Dept & that was pre school days. Plus was around bikes all the time with him restoring Pommy bikes.
Then when I was around 6-7 he let me use a D3 Bantam to learn to ride on, then for my 10th B/day got me a YZ80 & got me into racing MX :clap:( #129, zone 3) and since then it's been :scooter:

[Guided_monkey]

Started with a high school mate with an old Suzuki DR125, going up and down his drive way.

Have been riding ever since.

:2thumbsup

[DEATH_INC.]

Genetics...My grandfather, father, uncles, aunties, cousins etc. etc.... all ride/ rode...I kinda had to....:banana:

[BarBender]

1979
My mates PE175
We were in the Tarawera forest
There was a girl
I had to do it.

You guessed it - I binned it....badly.

[klyong82]

I was 14 and my uncle bought a brand new 20th anniversary Goldwing. He asked if I wanted a ride and I said yes. He also told me not to tell my mum or my aunty. No one in the family nor my cousins were allowed to ride motorcycles as they were deemed dangerous. Well they soon found out when I got crazy and started talking about motorcycles day and night since. :sleep:

[glice]

always liked them. It just took me a while to get one and now its even worse.

[Reido]

I've just started riding, dont even have my license yet..
Brand new bike :banana: did my 100th Km just this afternoon

we moved house and i refused to catch a bus to school..
Dad "we'll get you a moped"
me "Fu#k no!... I'll get a motorbike" (spur of the moment decision)
Dad "ok"

a month later tada

[munterk6]

Back in the early 70's my older brother and sister both had bikes, my brother bought a new Suzuki AC50 Maverick and I would ride it round the back lawn when he was watching TV....I was 13 then! Now Im 49 and have been riding every single day since then!!! Well......almost every day lol!
I now have the pinnacle of motorcycles, the mighty GSX-R 1000K6 and I ride it to work everyday and have toured the South Island on it as well.
Riding my bike keeps me sane in this insane world we live in:niceone:

[smoky]

Just like a whole bunch of others - started when I was a kid, we'd visit, spend the holidays on fiends farms and got to ride thier bikes. I remember my brother and I riding a step thru honda 90 bringing the cows up to the shed.
Spent most my teenage life on bikes TT250, IT250, Bultaco750, TT550, CB500, RD350, Yamaha 750 Specail, some ol 500cc Indian, Triumph Trident 750, katana 650, GPz900, GSX400, VX800, GSF1200S
Not sure about some of those names - but they're close.

[NighthawkNZ]

How did everyone start riding, what made them want to ? what did the ride ?
Well, first the earth cooled, then an atmosphere formed which forms water and oceans. Minute 1 cell life forms developed, which formed some sludge, then plants started to grow then eventually dinosaurs, mammals and then humans...

Humans became intelligent and built machines... I like machines, they developed one with two wheels, called a motorcycle, it was an odd but technical machine and requires some skill and intelligence to tame. I remeber as a young lad saying cool thats me, and being taken for rides on one of these things. However after many years training and patience, I am now capable of riding any of these machines.

[crash harry]

Had a little honda monkey bike thing as a kid. Didn't get to ride it all that much, because we didn't have room at home. Rode it up north at Baileys Beach when we went on holiday - I must have been about 7 or 8 at the time.

Always loved bikes, always intended to get my license. I was one of those guys who always says "Yeah I really want to get my bike license" and then didn't.

Fast forward to about 5 years ago, my sister and her boyfriend were both getting their basic handling certs, I tagged along. Since then I've had everything from a ZZR250 to a Hayabusa. Now on an R1. (Sister's still on her learners and has sold her bike, her (now ex) boyfriend never even got one... I win :))

[koba]

Great thread...

Anyway, when I was born the old man had a CZ 175.
I grew [EDIT- and am still growing] up in Upper Hutt around alot of "NO JAP BIKES" and "what do you call a jap classic? - Nothing there aren't any!" That sorta stuff seems to have died down alot latley but i still see both sides of that, there really is somthing special about an old goldie being caned uphill or nortons on the track with super straightline speed and bugger all braking ability!

Speedway solos, old BSA's, Sidecar rides and bikes in the lounge counted for alot as I was growing up. Ever present, always noted and admired.
When my make got an '88 Steelframe GSXR250 I was truley hooked! Learnt to ride it with no front brake lever and have been into it ever since.
I later owned that bike, took it around the clock. Mikey has it now, still see him riding to work on her, the old blackbitch.
Got a another bike 2nite, between me and the better half that makes 8...

[MaxCannon]

Motorbikes were a big no in my house when I was growing up.

Dad had one years ago. Has some false teeth from falling off.
A couple of his mates were killed in their 20's as well.
Plus the only time he ever got Mum on the back she freaked out before he'd even left the car park and demanded he stop.

Fastforward till I'm out of home and have a job in the city and it's the only sensible way to get to work, too far to cycle, too expensive to drive, too slow and inconvienient to catch the bus.

So I booked a BHS test for the coming sunday, bought a bike on trademe on the Thursday, sat my scratch and win on Saturday, bought all the gear on Saturday. Rode the bike home on the Saturday (the second time EVER that I'd sat on a bike) from way out west to way out south.
Spent Sunday riding around sub-division
Rode to work on Monday.

[Rogue]

Was always interested in Motorcycles :scooter: Then my sister started going out with a guy (later became her husband) who rode a Norton :2thumbsup That was it brought my first bike at fourteen and have always had one since
Also bike's were cheaper and as I thought then better than the tin tops around in the early 70's. Come to think about it I still think bikes are better than tin tops now:Punk:

[Vacarious]

About when i was 13yrs dad got me on the front of his 1989 GSX750R for the first time. got the hang of the clutch and gears easy, took it to his workshop and rid round there for a while, but when he sold it to buy the new 'busa I had to wait till I got my learners and a little 250.

Im now riding a zxr250

[Edbear]

..walked into a bar the other day..

Did it hurt..?:innocent:


:scooter: Just after the Romans left Britain, I got myself a paper round, do you have them here?...

Had one at 14, steepest street in Warkworth! It was a challenge to ride up it, we'd see who could get the furthest, and if you could ride to the top you were a hero! Didn't make it until I got a bike with the 3-sp. hub!

My mother had a beautiful, black BSA Bantam 125 and I loved it from the first time I saw it! (Actually, if it had wheels and an engine, I loved it!) When I was 12, she let me ride it around the section - I was hooked! My first bike was a B31 350 BSA which I loved/hated! Next was the T500 Suzuki which I loved/loved!

[skidMark]

Believe it or not, My Mother suggested it. I was moaning about two bus rides each way to my 1st job. She said "why don't you get a little motorbike". If she only knew what was to come, she would of kept her mouth shut :lol:

For me my mate had a little goped thing we used to rip around on and i had a couple of dunger old project scooters my mate sold me to tinker on. Then i got a job assemblind motorbikes for a chinese importer.

3 days later rode home on a little 50cc minibike road regoed all that.

Scared silly of big bikes. I looked at my mates ZXR250 and knew i could never ride one. He let me have a sit though, i was 18.

Then well, met loosebruce.

It quickly turned from "nice little minimoto can ya wheelie it bro?"

To... "get a 250 ya wuss"

I had had a TZR 250 i bought cheap sitting in the garage, but upon finding more info on it and how quick it was there was no way in hell i was going to ride it. Not then anyways.

So i bought a GN250. old one for $500. stripped her down repainted her from end to end alarm polished the motor etc etc.

Swapped that for a GPX 250.

now feeling a bit more confident and my mates ZXR250 having come up for sale. well how could i resist eh...

Now just sold my 3rd ZXR. Love them.

Bikes are my passion.

I don't know what keeps me on them, they are dangerous i'm always in trouble with the police, and i enter a corner hoping i will come out the other side, as i don't get much adrenalin off it anymore, only if i'm playing chaseys with a fast rider.

But then there is the cruisey ride with a mate that is always great.

Doesn't matter if they are fast or slow. Thats living.

Skid.

[RnB Fan]

The old man had little commuter bikes (Suzuki 50) when I was a kid and when he went out we taught ourselves how to start it without the key. Taught myself how to ride. Also used to do farm stays in the school holidays and rode farm bikes (XL185 complete with trailer and RV90). Came time to get my first vehicle and Mum wouldn't let me get a bike so she stumped up with the money to buy a car for me. Didn't ride for years until wife told me I was a lazy unmotivated git that needed to get off the couch. Went out next day and bought a DR250, got my licence etc and have now graduated to a 650. Absolutely love it.

[skilly035]

i got into sidecar racing november last year. after a horrible year my grandparents decided i needed something to keep my eye off of things..
because my grandfather is a well known name in sidecar racing (Gordon Skilton) ive always been interested in giving it a go. they found a woman who needed a female swinger and here we are!
norton commando 750 number 35....not so great but we are both still learning.
pukekohe festival was our first run

i loved it!!!
i still love it!!!

[NOMIS]

How did everyone start riding, what made them want to ? what did the ride ?

Just under 2 years ago my mate josh let me ride his VT250 up his driveway, he was surprised as was I that I could ride it up not a problem. So he told me to go down the road and practice in the dead end turning around and coming back, I did. Came back up he told me to drive down the road 5min, I did came back.

Had the nack of it since then.

In hind-sight totally stupid way to learn, very dangerous. But I think it helped taking the "Jump right into it" challenge once I knew I could actually control the bike.


I was very much the same but it was more stealing my uncles dirtbike. then snapping the chain on it while I was doing skids in the paddock :-) Some old school suzukie 600cc road/farm bike thing I was 12- 13 at the time picked it up in a flash

but had to climb on it holding the cluch in off the fence was hard and stopping was aswell. my feet could only just reach the gearshift :-)

[chubby]

1976 and a mate of mine had an A50 that he would blatt on the gravel yards behind his house. I learnt on that.

Brought my first bike a year later AC100 *sigh* as the only affordable way to get to and from sports training. Too far to cycle, to good to stop, to demanding on my mother to drive, couldn't afford anything else as too poor.

[chubby]

norton commando 750 number 35....not so great but we are both still learning.


A Norton Commando!!!!!! Wow, what a bike. I remember seeing them back in the 70's they were always my pick... especially the black ones with gold pinstripes. Then again you have it as side car so no doubt that thing is nothing like original.

Moment over.

[EJK]

One day I was bored. So I decided to read a book.
So I reached out my hand and grabbed the first book that I could see...

...it was 1999 edition Motorcycle Road Code that my mum used to get her car license..

No kidding :lol:

Then I saw the cover picture (A Yellow GSXF, Black gear and white Arai helmet, at a country side)

And so there I was :love:

[Blossom]

I was about 5 when my sister got an older boyfriend who had the most stunning machine I had ever seen. (at 5 obviously I had loads of life experience) It was an Indian scout. He took me for a ride....
That sealed it. But there was no real hope of me not riding. Its genetic in my family. But it took me a long time to stop fluffing about on the back of bikes and finally get one of my own. Girl issues I think.

[Whynot]

Have ridden pushies, mostly mountain bikes, since i was old enough to walk.
had a couple of crappy little scooter things while i was at high school before i could afford a car.

The first one was an extremely dodgy little 2 stroke with no reg, wof, lights and indicators. It only had one brake and the fuel tank was off a lawnmower.
The exhaust broke off a few times so i tried to weld it back on with my dads mig half a dozen times or so before i gave up.
To this day that was the most fun i have ever had on a bike. :first:

After i broke up with my missus of 3 or so years, i discovered i had a fair bit of spare coin floating around and my mate had been riding for a year or two so i thought i would give real bikes a go.
The ability to filter and save on fuel also helped a bit :)

[Whynot]

Since then I've had everything from a ZZR250 to a Hayabusa. Now on an R1.

and crashed them all .... :innocent:

[Imti]

Haven't been on the forums in aaages so thought this would be a good place to return to posting:)

I've wanted to ride ever since I was a kid. Growing up I wasn't given the opportunity to - family were not having me ride a bike!

Last year a friend of a friend mentioned that he had an old GN that was there for anyone that wanted to learn. So took him up on it, and took to the riding. In the space of a couple of months I had my first lesson, got my gear, licence and bike. I sold my car this month too :niceone:

[criticmbs]

dad has had a bike all his life and riding on the back with him was enough to trigger me to get one and have never looked back since.

Now all three of my brothers have one (even the 6 year old!! look out hes the next motogp boy!)

[shotgun74]

giday 2 u all 1stimer....
been ridin 4 ....forty years

[wickle]

Use to BORROW my older brothers when he was at work cause he wouldnt let me touch it if he was around.

[Maha]

giday 2 u all 1stimer....



Is that German or something??
I can hear Hitler saying that to Ava.

[Choco]

Dad had a bike (before my time though) and I always liked bikes. One day me and my mate decided to do the basic handling course and get our learners as a bit of a joke, I dropped the GN125 and crashed it into a wall but still passed (somehow) and 2 months later bit the bullet and got myself a GN250!
Never looked back.

Still not sure how I convinced my mother, she was a radiographer back in the day and got to x-ray all the bikers that came into the hospital :blink:

[icekiwi]

Heard all the stories of the crazy stuff my old man used to do....
Thought I got to have some of that shit.....

[gismo]

When i was about 15 i hooned around the country raods on my sisters 50cc bike.

About 2 years ago i was starting to feel i wanted to get back into biking.
Just brought my 1st bike.. 250cc virago.

Looking forward to the fun times im going to have.

[fridayflash]

i day dreamed about motorcycles ever since the age of about 5yrs
and never stopped thinking about them until i got an ac50 at aged 11
my parents didnt know it and never comented. i paid $5 for it..true!
it had no road gear,no brakes, no clutch, no kickstart, no killswitch
and alarmingly no throttle! but with a piece of string acting as throttle cable
id pushstart it and ride it at the local river and along grass verges,
country roads etc etc endless fun!

[fridayflash]

as an aside,the 1st bike i ever rode was an ag175 at age 10
it was far too big,i climbed onboard opened the throttle wide
dumped the clutch,and promptly flipped it.endy story.
:clap:

[hellkat]

Gosh, short version:

When I was 23, my best mate was dating a boy who had a Katana. He talked her into buying a bike, and she talked me into it.

I rode the bike off the shop floor (Holeshot, I think it was), learnt how to ride it home, kept it and rode it for six months in and around Auckland.

Then I left for 2 years working holiday in London, so I sold the bike, and hence started a whole different life. Got stuck over there, 13 years before I came home again ... got married, pregnant, did the mum and wifey thing ... a bike didn't really suit the lifestyle I thought I wanted to live.

Turns out I didnt want to live that lifestyle, anyway.

I bumped into a redneck American from Nebraska on the internet, who diverted me back onto the subject of bikes (via a very sleazy romance and a bit of a mad road-trip life for a few months) ... and I thought I was gonna be a Harley person.

Eventually I got back to London and before I got round to affording a Harley, I ended up with a trail bike. Discovered I like the sitting up riding style, which is great in London, you can see above most of the traffic, and its easy to zip in and out in heavy congestion.

So I recovered from the American, and from a divorce, and just after the Millennium, I ended up hanging out with a bunch of couriers at the top of Carnaby Street, where I have met more than my fair share of mad/bad/dangerous-to-know types. I love them all, my blokeys, we're like a huge big family of nutters (some more 'family' than others ;) ) ... and I've been having a hell of a time and lots of fun, love, laughs, tears and general lunacy ever since.

Still not got round to riding a Harley :rolleyes: ... been on the back of a couple, though (which is where I currentLy think I like to be on Harleys) :innocent:

[WelshWizard]

I just started back in the 50's, My Old Man had a Rudge and my mam had a Cotton back in the 20's and 30's seems starting a family canned that for them, but the photos of them riding were around the house, and when I was at school we could hear the Motorbikes racing at the back of the school during the day, strangely I was the only one of the three kids that took up riding motorcycles though my brother did buy a Franny Barnet not long before he died, sadly he never got to ride it.

The old man found my first motorcycle hiden at a friends house and sold it,( still miss that RE conny to this day, great road holding and a fair turn of speed for its day) that was the start of the war between him and me until the day he died, however there was one time we nearly had a truce, when my mother was ill I turned up at home on a new 71 750 cc Norton Roadster, and he was all over it even took it for a spin round the farm road, he actually raved about it.

Once a rider always a rider, it gets in the blood:chase:

[Mikkel]

Bloody hell, if I could only remember... It was a long time ago, to be more precise my license says I started riding motorcycles medio december 2007 - but fuck me if I can remember why.

[Jez]

grew up on a farm just outta Invers many years ago ... used to nick off on dads bike round to this girls place when he was on dayshift ... left home, spent alot of years walking and pushbiking everywhere ... got a job wife and kids been driving cars since ... kids about to go to school ... dads about to get his own bike finally , time for the kids to start walking ;)

[wharfy]

In the early 60's my next door neighbour had a Matchless 500 (and black jeans and jacket :) I was only 8 or 9 and he used to take me for rides sitting on the tank !! Graduated to the pillion seat and then at 15 my sisters honda 50 step through. I had a car license and to get a bike added you just had to ride around the block while the cop followed on his bike ( a Triumph in those days :) .
First "real" bike was a 1970 BSA lightning 650, had dozens of bikes since pranged every one except the Ducati 450 Desmo - wish I still had that *sigh* nostalgia ain't what it used to be.....

[dutchman49]

1963 and my Mum had taken us little fellas into Wellington to pay her Farmers and DIC accounts. I remember her threatening a clip around the ears (It was allowed in those days) if i kept going back to look at those 2 Yamaha bikes sitting there in Farmers. She knew immediately there was something wrong coz all the clips in the world would not drag me away. 45 years later and 20 something bikes and i am still totally addicted. If you have to ask why then you will never know and should stick to a car.

[Mom]

I first started riding on a mates dirt bike, I may have been 12 or 13 at the time. Oh what fun, and the burns from the pipe had to be experienced to be appreciated! Lucky no scars to speak of these days.

When I was old enough (to be living away from home and my parents influence) to get a license it was a for a motorcycle. I believe it was 1976. I was working at the Mater Hospital in Auckland waiting to be old enough to start my nurse training. I needed wheels and this was the cheapest option for freedom. My boyfriend at the time used to ride too, he "taught" to actually ride. My first bike was a 125 Yamaha 2 stroke the model escapes me, I paid $85 second hand for it! I used to carry a pocket full of spare plugs, and had constantly dirty nails from keeping it on the road.

For me, riding a bike was the only option as first wheels. Cheap to buy, cheap to run and if you were not really carefull a hell of a lot of fun too! I remember saying to the cop that took me for my test that travelling at 30 miles per hour was almost impossible for my bike as it either revved its nuts off or fouled plugs. He agreed not to fail me if I had to stop and change a plug mid test...LOL

[Motu]

My wife was working at the Mater possibly a year before than,struggling to get there on her Bantam....with a pocket full of sparkplugs.

[raftn]

I met a women, got married, she was mad on bikes, so i learnt, then got kid number 1, got our learners, then kid number two, then cbr 600, then got Zx 6, then got divorced and she took the Bike....two years later i brought my Daytonna, and have never looked back....just love riding........and it annoys the fuck out of the x wife!

[1 Free Man]

Wanted a bike for 30 years. was married for 32 years. left the wife sold the house bought a new house, Good late model 4wheel drive and a new bike. Never had a bike under my butt because I wasn't allowed one. Once I got the bike home I rode it for 10 minutes around the streets near home and decided there was only one way to fuck this cat and that was to get on the open road and go for it. My first ride was from Tauranga to Rotovegas and back. House is neglected, 4wd is covered in cob webs and dust. Me and my Suzi are never home can't get enough of it. Done over 5000k's since easter making up for lost time.:banana::banana::banana:

[1 Free Man]

I've just started riding, dont even have my license yet..
Brand new bike :banana: did my 100th Km just this afternoon

we moved house and i refused to catch a bus to school..
Dad "we'll get you a moped"
me "Fu#k no!... I'll get a motorbike" (spur of the moment decision)
Dad "ok"

a month later tada

:rockon: You poor bugger!!!! your screwed!!!! No going back now. You reach that first 100k mark and then you have to reach the 1000k mark and then it's 5000k's ETC ETC.
It's a focking itch that you have to scratch and scratch and scratch.
3 months and I'm up to my 5000k itch.
Ha Ha Ha your doomed:rofl:

[Highlander]

:rockon: You poor bugger!!!! your screwed!!!! No going back now. You reach that first 100k mark and then you have to reach the 1000k mark and then it's 5000k's ETC ETC.
It's a focking itch that you have to scratch and scratch and scratch.
3 months and I'm up to my 5000k itch.
Ha Ha Ha your doomed:rofl:


Then you start looking for 1000 km days, 5000 km weeks...

[Rback]

Have been around bikes for all my 44 years. Grew up next to Ruapuna race track and when we moved overseas I was living within 100m of the gate to another track. Learnt to ride and drive on the track. All on or in race bikes and cars. Had a ball. Learnt to ride on a Darbi 50cc then the next day was put on a TZ250 to warm it up.

[portokiwi]

Threw a leg over my bro's Zundapp moped 40 years ago and that was me hooked.
Mate I had a Zundapp in Portugal. My brother in law still has it. He has one he made from scratch. They are real fun bikes to ride. Oh I had a FZX750 there too, He has a ZX6R
i started with yes a XS400 which I brought 2nd hand from the shop it had 250 covers on it lol.
I didnt know till I did my drivers licence. BUT that was over 20 years ago. i still ride like a learner.
I have had XS400, CB750, ZX6R, GS550ESD, Z1000, Zundapp50cc, FZX750 now ZX9R.

[freddy72]

My Dad brought me my first bike when i was 5 and have been riding ever since mainly off road but have recently got my full licence and loving every minute of it. I try to ride every day now alot more fun than sitting in the car to get to work

[fatzx10r]

when is was about 5 my older brother got his first bike and that had me hooked on bikes, got my first bike when i was about 10 and have been riding ever since.its like a drug, but gives ya a bigger rush

[LittleAngel]

I wouldn't have ever thought I would ride a bike... but wonders will never cease eh?

My dad was in a major crash when I was little (old enough to remember him in bilateral casts to his legs :eek5:). Rode a friends 50cc scooter :scooter:round town when I got my car license and had heaps of fun but my dad wasn't very happy about it (he didn't ride initially after his accident, didn't get back on a bike until 20 years later).

Jumped on the back of my best friend dads bike and was a bad pillion and leaned the opposite way when cornering :Oops: :dodge:And didn't ever want to do that again!! Thank you very much!!:no:

When I met my husband.. he had a bike so I asked lots of questions about riding etc and then decided one day that I would get my license, had no interest in being a pillion. No looking back since then. Got the trusty ole GN250 and worked my way up to my bewtiful RF900! :clap:

YeeHarr I say :Punk:

[buellbabe]

Went with a mate to a bike shop to pick up his brand new TT250. Saw a DT175 and fell in love. Couple of weeks later I bought it and then learnt to ride LOL. Never looked back!

That was over 20yrs ago and since then I have only ever been 'bike-less' once and thats while I was living in the UK.

[tate35]

It all started for me with a friend of mine taking me pillion on his road bike, and then on his dirt bike. After many discussions he took me for a lesson one day on his dirt bike, it was important to me that I knew where the brakes were!!lol After a quick run through I was off, I think it helped he kinda threw me into the deep end (as he would'nt listen to my MANY excuses and WHAT IF senario's) which if left to my own devices I could of easily taken up the afternoon with EXCUSES and WHAT IF's lol

But from that moment on I was hooked and a year down the track still am ;)

[Roki_nz]

I was a boy racer back in the day and when I was down in Christchurch for a holiday to I watched the worlds fastest Indian. Thought a bike was a hell of a lot faster than a car and probably a lot cheaper so I month later I had a bike.

Only regret I had was selling my bike dues to parental pressure

[scorry]

Dad must have said, well if you can walk then you can ride. i got my first bike just after 1 turned 4. Then rode it till it wouldnt go no more.
Got my first road bike when i was 14, then never looked back from then, every bike after than was faster and more expensive, but well worth it.
So i would say it was my dad who started me out, he was the president of bronz back in the day.

[Biggles2000]

31 years ago I brought a old C100 Honda, it cost me $80, I was 14 at the time, and I never looked back.

[Imbray]

Been an on off again rider, at 8 I use to sneek out on my brothers 50cc honda, then my dads 100cc when he wasn't looking ( he still doesn't know how the front forks got bent wink:) then didn't ride for year's untill I got scooter (I was a danger on that thing around hamilton), then hubby got back onto a bike a 145 cc Honda for round town that I rode, but when he changed that for a 2 stroke 150cc that was 2 stroppy for me & I couldn't touch the ground on I was put off :nono:, got into my 30's & started drooling over bikes again & was off

[TLDV8]

The short version.

Apprentice,saved the deposit ($300) to buy a brand new 1976 RM125S (still have it in boxs) from Colemans Suzuki.

(google pic)
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/861551576_dd14345e77.jpg>

Rode that for a year,was then allowed to get a road bike (from Summer's Kawasaki)
Everyone had RD's so i got a 1974 Kawasaki S1B250 mid 1977.

<img src=http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/brochures/kawasaki/250/S1.jpg>

By 1980 it was a time for a 74 Kawasaki H2B 750 (still have that also)

[clutha58]

Brought my first bike last year ( VL 250 Intruder ) with the sole intention of using it for getting too and from work.

Fell in love with the whole biking thing, done a couple of rallies & was hooked.

I now ride a Suzuki VL 800 and enjoying every ride.:woohoo:

[swt 3]

Well, I was very lucky with my man having a bike. He then bought another one which I encouraged so I could get the old one. Both on Triumphs now. I got to learn on the America, wahooo. go girl go. It was too. Now I have since bought my very own brand new Street Triple & have the luxury of keeping the cruiser too. Best of both worlds. First up, best dressed. My family was also into bikes. And as a teenager, the boys always had bikes too. Back in the days of 'no' nelmets. :second::woohoo::yes::rockon:

[driftn]

In the blood. First bike i rode was White trashes gsx400 with him holding it up. Then a suzuki A50 by myself and it all spiraled out of controll.

[Pedrostt500]

Dad had a mountain goat they were built by Colemans in Wanganui, Dad used to sit on the back and let us kids steer it around the house, that sort of hooked me, the first solo ride I had I crashed it into mums grape vine, I was about 7yrs then. the first time over 100mph was on an old Suzuki GT 380.

[my-bonaventure]

Dad brought an old 125 that my sister & I got to ride in the forests around Tokoroa. I got my bike license on Mum's Yamaha Passola @ 15 and haven't looked back. I spent a lot of years on the Wairarapa coast so trail bikes were the mode of transport and developed a passion for the XR500. Since becoming single and coming to the fantastic South Island with it's fabulous open roads and great scenery I have progressed to an XJ750 and am loving it :2thumbsup

[blue eyed savage]

short story

[blue eyed savage]

dad had a bike (bmw k100) took me for a ride when i was 15 then my mate got a 250 zxr a after 2 days of buging him he let me have a go in a car park, i didnt stop rideing till it ran out of gas, a day later! i did more riding than him on that bike and a year later i got my lerners.

[fridayflash]

i blame it on the motorcycle wallpaper my bedroom was decorated in
the mid 70's because ive spent my entire life thinking about them since

[DW86]

Always wanna a bike when I was a kid. Moved into a flat this feb and saw my flatmate had a Kawasaki zzr 250. Then decided to learn to rider a bike. I am holding a Learner licence but never put a "L" plate on. :lol:

[I'm motarded]

Was younger, I remember my dads mate doing wheelies up and down our rd on his xr200, have been hooked on bikes ever since, had my bike licence before my car, many bikes many crashes since but still wouldn’t have it any other way

[steelestring]

I was about 13 years old, my friend and I got a old honda CT90 from the back of the neighbours farm that had been outside for about a 5 years in the grass. Motor would not run, so we put a CT110 motor in from the hay shed/rubish heap with a cleaned plug and car oil ... kicked it 5 times and it went! Ran it on a mix of avgas (after school job cleaning/bitch at the aerodrome) and methonol (model planes I played with ran on meth). Would ride everywhere... 2 up! Awesome fun! went really hard!
We passed it on to his little brother when we moved ;)

[MarkH]

When I was a kid I wanted a bicycle, when my sister got one I learnt to ride it and used it more than her. Then I got a chopper (the bicycle), remember them? 3 Speed, T-Bar handle - mine was purple.

My friend/neighbour had a friend (Neil) that rode a bike - I also became friends with him and I rode pillion on his bike a few times.

When I was 15 or 16 my stepfather had a 50cc bike that he used to go to work & back - proper gears and everything. He let me ride that and it was fun - I already had a car license and loved to ride or drive anything. At 18 I got my truck license and also my bike license. I bought a bike as my first vehicle - it was a GT250X7 - 2 stroke 250. Top speed about 150-155, but acceleration made me laugh at cars - you know those things that are back at the lights just starting to move while you are already exceeding the speed limit. Oh shit - that red Falcon was a mufti :Police: - it wasn't always cheap to ride a bike!

Then shit changed - the bike wore out & failed and I bought a cheap car. Having a car was great - I never wanted to not own a car again. My friend Neil got hit by a drunk driver and lost the right leg just below the knee - bikes seemed not so necessary a thing to have. But ever since I got my first car I have always thought it would be so great to have both a bike & a car - the sheer luxury of having a choice.

Now shit is changing again. I now live & work in Auckland where the traffic sucks. Petrol costs more than $2 per litre. I am self employed and need to have a working vehicle to earn a living. When ever the weather is fine (especially summer time) I yearn for a bike to ride. Now my car is getting a bit old and makes some funny noises.

So now I am thinking about getting a 400cc scooter :scooter: - obviously not to look cool or pick up the chicks, more to have a more fun means of transport. I would then have a back up vehicle if the car is not working (or have the car as a backup vehicle if the weather is shit or I need to transport some gear). I would have cheaper transport for whenever I want to use it. I could get out and see more of the country - in theory I could do the same in the car, but meh! I would like to go on a scooter trip to the South Island (I've never been there) either this summer or next - I think it would be a great experience.

So now I am looking at buying a brand new Suzuki Burgman 400 K7 or K8 :scooter:and owning my very first brand new motor vehicle. It'll be spring in a few weeks and I would love to get one soon - even if it stretches my finances thin and leaves me with a bit of debt to pay off.

Some days you look outside and say "fuck the car, where's my helmet!"
Ooh - I like that, how do I make that my sig line? OK, found it.

So there - now you guys know my life story.

[yod]

took a spin on my mates '86 RZ250 and was instantly hooked, bought an NS250R a month later

[Paulo]

Being a kids in the 70's watching "Chips" and Evil Kineveil on T.V. Then a bit later going 'round' with a girl who had a gt125, I really only went out with her to ride her bike ;) after that I got an RD250....... never looked back.

[skippa1]

Have ridden pushies, mostly mountain bikes, since i was old enough to walk.
had a couple of crappy little scooter things while i was at high school before i could afford a car.

The first one was an extremely dodgy little 2 stroke with no reg, wof, lights and indicators. It only had one brake and the fuel tank was off a lawnmower.
The exhaust broke off a few times so i tried to weld it back on with my dads mig half a dozen times or so before i gave up.
To this day that was the most fun i have ever had on a bike. :first:

After i broke up with my missus of 3 or so years, i discovered i had a fair bit of spare coin floating around and my mate had been riding for a year or two so i thought i would give real bikes a go.
The ability to filter and save on fuel also helped a bit :)

Holy cow man.....thread dredge or what?

[SMOKEU]

Holy cow man.....thread dredge or what?

Nice one. :2thumbsup

[Grashopper]

Holy cow man.....thread dredge or what?

Who cares, as long as it is an interesting thread.

[10bikekid]

How did everyone start riding, what made them want to ? what did the ride ?

Just under 2 years ago my mate josh let me ride his VT250 up his driveway, he was surprised as was I that I could ride it up not a problem. So he told me to go down the road and practice in the dead end turning around and coming back, I did. Came back up he told me to drive down the road 5min, I did came back.

Had the nack of it since then.

In hind-sight totally stupid way to learn, very dangerous. But I think it helped taking the "Jump right into it" challenge once I knew I could actually control the bike.

Well it was a long long time ago after gazing at a Honda brochure with all them pretty colours and I've never been Bikeless since :sherlock:

Got a list of bikes owned so far somewhere, at last count over 50 and regret selling at least 40 of them :cry:

[mossy1200]

I never posted on this thread. I think ill just leave it that way. :doh:

Wait it was 2 months before is was born.

[Grashopper]

Nice one. :2thumbsup

:lol: Now I get it.

[10bikekid]

I never posted on this thread. I think ill just leave it that way. :doh:

Wait it was 2 months before is was born.

Its been said, if you go over 250kph to often you start to lose your mind, are you living proof ? :rolleyes:

[skippa1]

:lol: Now I get it.
Haha lol:lol:

[Kawasakidude]

When I was 14 my dad died of cancer and one of his farming mates gave me a 87 suzuki tf185 mudbug dirt bike as kind of a sympathy present. Fixed it up and have had 14 bikes or so since then :headbang: I have a good strong connection with my dad when I'm riding..

[BlackSheepLogic]

I started riding bikes because my elder brother rode bikes. Seems now days mama and the young crowd want cars not bikes.

[Blackbird]

Shows my age but in the 60's, we used to ride our pushbikes down to the local coffee bar to watch the lads on their British iron put a record on the juke box and try and do a lap of the town centre before it finished. Got my first motorcycle in 1964. Embarrassingly, it was a Suzuki 50 which my grandparents bought for passing my school exams but hell, it gave me independence and 50 years later, still loving it :laugh:

[Berries]

Got my first motorcycle in 1964. Embarrassingly, it was a Suzuki 50 which my grandparents bought for passing my school exams but hell, it gave me independence and 50 years later, still loving it :laugh:
It must have some miles on it.

[Blackbird]

It must have some miles on it.

Hehe - yup, grammar could have been better <_< . The little Suzuki racked up about 15000 miles in its first year and after passing my test, it was onto Triumphs. Seem to have come full circle :laugh:

[Erelyes]

Dad and half-brother had ridden bikes before I was born, but never actually saw either of them ride. Always thought the bike (GT250 X7) in the garage was interesting tho. Well, Dad got ill when I was in Std 4 and from then the bike sat.... and sat... and sat.

I was a boy racer so never really took an interest in the thing. I had the preconception of riding bikes as 'an exceptionally fun way to kill yourself'.

Fast forward to 2 years ago and I guess I'd gradually adjusted my way of thinking a bit. Eventually I realised that since there was free bike parking at work (distance is too far to pushbike) I could possibly save some $$$ buying a bike, and it might even be a bit fun.

Well I got that the wrong way round. Don't really save much $$$ over a car, but save time, and it's more than just a 'bit' fun! :banana:

[Banditbandit]

Pure rebellion .. all I wanted when I was growing up was a big motorcycle, a black leather jacket and a patch ... a 1%er in the making ... I was going to be an outlaw biker ...

I got the big motorcycle, the black leather jacket but I never did get a patch .. MCs have rules .. what kind of outlaw bikers have rules??? Fuck that ..

40 years later I'm still largely a rebel biker ... tho' nowadays most of my rebellion comes out in rebelling against the road rules ...

[ellipsis]

...I think it must have been when I was a little sperm...just before I became a zygote...