What was your first motorbike?

**Marmite the Dog** · 08-10-2009, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by S Landreth

you were a bit of a late bloomer

That's true. I always had cars in the UK, but this opportunity came along and I took it.

**AntRobertson** · 08-10-2009, 08:54 AM

I know some dipstick's likely to say it doesn't count, but mine was one of these:

A Honda Beat.

Loved it too I did, and that grill on the front's not just for looks either as it actually had a radiator to cool the massive 49cc engine. Only mine was black in colour which obviously made it both faster and cooler.

It also had this 'VTEC' or 'VTACS', something like that anyways, system which basically meant that if you stood on a peddle by your right foot it would adjust the fuel / oil mixture to give more power. Near as I can tell it actually did fuck all, bit it did light up a bunch of LED's on the dash it an upwards RPM type arch so I thought it was cool regardless.

It also had a rather inovative for its time belt-drive system. This was a fact I didn't actually discover until one day whilst out and about on it the belt snapped and the bike suddenly started doing approximately 55,000rpm (as per I'd been storming along with my foot firmly on the VTEC or TAC or whatever peddle).

Loved that bike, right up until the time I lost the key and ended up parking it in the garage and forgetting about it. Not sure what ever happened to it actually, mayeb me dads still go it there? Better ask him next time.

And immediately following that I got one of these:

250 Kawasaki 'Ninja'

**Marmite the Dog** · 08-10-2009, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

A Honda Beat.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I'm pretty happy

I'm even happier now.

**Norton** · 08-10-2009, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by celtic

1970 Kawasaki 350cc 3 cyl , from 0-60mph would blow away Yamaha 650"s and Norton Commandos.

I had the 500cc version. Indeed it was one hell of a crotch rocket. Cornered like a rock though so always best to make sure you kept the speed down when cornering. Even in a straight line it was a killer. The power band was so narrow, if you opened up the throttle in 3rd gear and speed was low, the engine would emit a low rpm growl and then suddenly a high rpm scream when it hit the power band. It was at this point one found themselves sliding down the road at 60mph on their ass watching the bike bounce down the road.

**Gipsy** · 08-10-2009, 10:36 AM

The first three.... all Yamaha XT 500. The first, a scrappy piece of dirt taught me how to jump, fly and finally how to park it up a tree at 2,5 meters high, coming of a dike... The result was a s-shaped frame, a crushed front section, a ripped tank and a sore shoulder. Kept the leftovers and moved on.

The second, also an old one was used to beat the city traffic commuting to work and to collect mud over the week-ends. A friend of mine bought it from me, to call me only a few hours later to collect the mthrfckr asap, and for free... he was in the hospital; his shinbone broken in 3 places because of that dangerous kick-starter.

The third was a new one, the jubilee model, the last one ever made. Being my very first new bike, I adored it. Spent equal time on making it dirty and on cleaning. Bought a few extra bits 'n pieces to be able to travel. Took it into the Alps and all the way to Sicily. But the fun didn't last long, as it was stolen after 11 months, despite the 2 kryptonite locks. Guess they just lifted the whole thing into a van and said "Thank you!"...

I would love to have one over here in Thailand. I see the SR 400 and 600's, but no XT 500 yet.

**the dogcatcher** · 08-10-2009, 11:32 AM

No one mentioned the X7. They were thinking about naming a hospital ward after it in some places.

**Travelmate** · 08-10-2009, 11:50 AM

Suzuki ER185.

**the dogcatcher** · 08-10-2009, 11:58 AM

BSA Bantum eh. My father had one.... and you need the say the next bit in a Sheffield accent........"eee did undred thousand mile oop ill ant down valley..greeeeat"

**Thai Pom** · 08-10-2009, 03:46 PM

Yamaha FS-1E around 1974

**bsnub** · 08-10-2009, 03:53 PM

Honda 80, I was 9 years old.

**mao say dung** · 08-10-2009, 04:04 PM

1968 Triumph Tiger 500. I was 18 and I just loved this bike (well, not this one exactly). Spent a lot of time in the shop though.

**peterpan** · 08-10-2009, 04:35 PM

Nice bike MSD, although I wouldn't want to own one. My first was a kawa 500 H1. Fast as fck but bad every where else. Raced it and eventually ran into a bunch of logs at the end of the main straight, Ruapuna Christchurch. 9 weeks in hospital but better off than a guy driving a corvette powered race car in the next race, the same accident killed him.

**bsnub** · 08-10-2009, 04:59 PM

Bike number two...I rode my neighbors 125 before this one but was not much older than 13...

**Norton** · 08-10-2009, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by mao say dung

1968 Triumph Tiger 500. I was 18 and I just loved this bike (well, not this one exactly). Spent a lot of time in the shop though.

My second MC. Was a real good one. Note in the pic the oil stains on the wood. Sucker is a gusher when it came to oil leaks.

**Mousepad** · 08-10-2009, 05:09 PM

First bike - Yammy TY80 (I think I was around 9yrs old at the time)

Then - Honda CB250KL (bored out to 360cc and then I took my test :0 Circa 1980)

Then - Suzy SP370 (Crap)

Then - Honda CB750 (I know this pic is a 900 but they looked the same)

Followed by - Honda VFR750 (Used in my dispatching days)

Then I left 2 wheels for a while and moved to Thailand

First 'big' bike here - Honda CB750 (Great bike and only B60,000)

Another VFR - Honda VFR800 (Poppin' wheelies on this one and put a footpeg through my leg - Lesson learnt, Don't drink and drive :0)

Last biggy - Honda VTR1000 (Hit a 'buffalo' on Samui and ICU for a few weeks)

Got banned from big bikes after that .... by the Mrs

Now have 3 Honda Waves (Yeah, I know there are only 2 in the pic)

And for collecting the pizza, I use the Mrs's Yamaha Vino - all of 49cc.

and my pickup for when it rains. (Just thought I'd add it.)

Some pics nicked off the net but the same as the bikes I had.

**Davis Knowlton** · 08-10-2009, 05:19 PM

My first bike was a Triumph Tiger T-110, which I bought off the wall of the Super Star Bar in Pat Pong in 1988. I used it in Aranyaprathet until 1990, when I took it with me to the Philippines. After some more trips, it eventually ended up back in Bangkok with me in 1993. It stayed there when I left in 1996, and since I ended up living in the Philippines in 1998, and not Thailand, it was turned over to a friend in Pattaya, where it resides today.

**tuktukdriver** · 08-10-2009, 05:22 PM

1978 Suzuki GS550

Just like this one except mine had a Kerker exhaust and different handlebar. lots of fun back then.

**genghis61** · 08-10-2009, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by Mousepad

Then - Honda CB750 (I know this pic is a 900 but they looked the same)

Some pics nicked off the net but the same as the bikes I had.

good pics of your 'history'; have a friend in NZ doing a longterm restoration on a blue CB750F with the colour scheme of the 900 you pictured; I don't recall seeing too many 750s, the 900s were quite common (but mainly in red or silver) - maybe with such a small market not many 750s were brought in I doubt the price diff would have been much at the time.
Never liked those Comstar wheels, weren't there problems with them as they got older?

**slackula** · 08-10-2009, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Mousepad

Last biggy - Honda VTR1000 (Hit a 'buffalo' on Samui and ICU for a few weeks)

Good grief! I wouldn't want to even contemplate riding a VTR1000 on Samui!

**the dogcatcher** · 08-10-2009, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Thai Pom

Yamaha FS-1E around 1974

AP 50 quicker!

**the dogcatcher** · 08-10-2009, 08:13 PM

I didn't think it would be long before the VFR, the CB 250 K4 stroke K5 and the GS 550 made an appearance. Dispatch tool though, CX 500 every time. Except for the alternator problem.

**helge** · 08-10-2009, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by mao say dung

1968 Triumph Tiger 500. I was 18 and I just loved this bike (well, not this one exactly). Spent a lot of time in the shop though.

My second MC. Was a real good one. Note in the pic the oil stains on the wood. Sucker is a gusher when it came to oil leaks.

My brother bought his Tiger 100 new in 1969, and didn't open it up until the 250000 KM mark.(The block,that is)

I have borrowed it several times, and actually prefers it to my 650 Bonnie, as it runs so smooth and soft. Not many drips there.
The Daytona is a different story. Oil leaker par exelence

**klong toey** · 08-10-2009, 09:57 PM

Well i am shocked am i the only one who's first bike was a FS1E.

**ItsRobsLife** · 09-10-2009, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by the dogcatcher

Originally Posted by Thai Pom

Yamaha FS-1E around 1974

AP 50 quicker!

Wasn't it... just.

**helge** · 09-10-2009, 02:04 AM

Originally Posted by klong toey

Well i am shocked am i the only one who's first bike was a FS1E.

Well, if we include mopeds, my first bike was a Kreidler, and later on the very macho Puch Maxi.

I have never seen a Yamaha with pedals.

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