How did you all start?

**cole** · 25th March 2008, 17:54

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** · 25th March 2008, 17:58

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

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** · 25th March 2008, 18:05

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

**Subike** · 25th March 2008, 18:24

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:Me** · 25th March 2008, 18:27

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

**kevfromcoro** · 25th March 2008, 18:30

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** · 25th March 2008, 18:30

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** · 25th March 2008, 18:34

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

**98tls** · 25th March 2008, 18:36

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.

**merv** · 25th March 2008, 19:23

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

**BiK3RChiK** · 25th March 2008, 20:20

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** · 25th March 2008, 20:52

My story is a little different.

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.

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

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!

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** · 25th March 2008, 20:56

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

) 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

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** · 25th March 2008, 21:00

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.