Are you a motorcycle rider?

[Gordon Maney]

I am curious as to how many of you Dodgers are motorcycle riders. I have ridden since I was about 14, having started on an Allstate 175 that belonged to a friend's brother. Later I owned British motorcycles, BSA & Norton, and then in the mid 1970's I switched to BMW.

If you like Power Wagons, you might like this motorcycle....

All gear all the time....

[powerwagontim]

Hi Gordon,
In high school, I had 2 friends get killed on motorcycles (different accidents) it kinda spoiled bikes for me. Being rather ignorant on the subject, what is special about that bike?
Thanks, Tim

[Gordon Maney]

It is very utilitarian, like a Power Wagon.

[powerwagontim]

Hi Gordon,
Is it a production bike, or someones project? Do you have a side shot?
Tim

[Gordon Maney]

It is a production model, a BMW GS1150.

[powerwagontim]

Hi Gordon,
Is it sitting in front of your shop? I do like the saddle bags/ boxes
Tim

[Gordon Maney]

Yes, that is my shop in the background. The luggage is great. Not streamlined, but very practical.

[Russ Erickson]

What a coincidence, I just ran across an old picture of me with my 1956 Ariel Red Hunter last night. This was a factory race bike, 500 cc single cylinder that I bought from Jack Tatum of Port Angeles, WA in the summer of 1968. It had been used to race flat track and hill climbs before Jack bought it from John Swett. I painted it and got it street legal (barely) and used in at college for a few years, until I had to sell it to pay for college. That's the fastest motorcycle I've ever owned, and I've had a Yamaha TT500, a Suzuki DR500, a Hodaka 100 Super Rat, a Hodaka 125 Super Combat and several others since. I now own an Artic Cat 400 4X4 ATV, which is great because I'm too old to be breaking anymore bones. Many of the old motorcycles are very similar to the old Power Wagons, very simple and get the job done.

If I can get the picture of the Ariel scanned, I'll post it on this thread.

[Russ Erickson]

Gordon, I just realized that your BMW has some pretty aggressive tires. Is it basically an off road bike like they use in the Paris to Dakar race every January? I haven't seen anything on the TV on this race for several years, but they used to be pretty gruelling.

[Gordon Maney]

Yes, it is that sort of motorcycyle. BMW has done pretty well in that race. I will say, however, that it is pretty heavy for serious, rough terrain,off-road riding. It would be better suited for high speed desert, logging road kinds of things.

It is absolutely great on gravel, which is where I live....

[chewie]

I used to ride all the time, but I sold it (700 Maxim) when the kids started coming. Too many close calls, even in Iowa. When they can fend for themselves, I'll get back on one.
The fastest bike I ever rode was an 1100 K*&^(* back in high school. No goggles, so I couldn't read the speedometer, but the front wheel felt awful light...
The nicest bike was a BMW that belonged to a co-worker. He almost didn't get it back. When I get another one, it'll be a BMW. Course, the Revolution by Harley looks good. Anyone been on one yet?

[Paul Cook]

I would guess a better question to ask was "Who did not ride motorcycles?" I think the nature of being a POWER WAGON nut has much in common with the nature of being a motorcycle rider.

Back in the 1950's when I started messing with motorcycles, there were many attitudes to overcome. Women were less likely to express enlightened thinking (I'm glad that is done with.) and we had to deal with images. Mothers told us motorcycles were not the right thing for "good sons" to be seen on. Fathers told us they were not practical. Girlfriends thought of us as "bad boys" which sometimes worked to our advantage - sometimes not. And the stereotypical "prune puss" neighbor lady knew the neighborhood was being degraded significantly.

This was also the time of the "bad biker" movies and the emergence of "Hells Angels" who seemed to copy each other. By the way, there were few, if any, Harley-Davidsons ridden in "The Wild Bunch" - mostly "Limey" bikes.

You had to be a risk taker and that was part of the mystique. This was a time when the newly established Air Force was just starting to wear hardened crash helmets. There were none for us in the civilian side. Some bikers wore the old aviator leather headgear. Instead of "brain buckets" they wore "brain bags". Safety was not a consideration for motorcyclists. But compare that to cars and POWER WAGONs of the day that had no safety belts or crush zones.

As a former motorcycle safety instructor, I recall with some horror all the things I did that I should not have survived. We all got started when a friend offered to let us try out his motorcycle or motorbike. Safety Instructor (SI) says there are more accidents on a motorcycle not your own. Usually they were just learning, too. SI says learn from an experienced rider.

I rode some home made motorbikes since they did not require plates or a driver's license. These were a standard Schwinn with the soft front suspension converted using a kit from the Whizzer folks. The first belonged to Vernon Shaw when we were in Junior High School. The second belonged to me when I was in my fourth year of college. (I still hadn't become smart.) The only brakes on these conversions were the standard coaster brakes - rear wheel only.

During the 1950's, I had the opportunity to ride a variety of these entry-level two wheels with motor devices and gained a general familiarity with them.

Particularly memorable among these were a genuine factory Whizzer; a Cushman, step-through motor scooter; a Husquarvana 50cc moped; and a "Silver Pigeon" - a copy of a Cushman step-through from Japanese built for commercial use. Remember, it was the 50's and the most Japanese had not attained sufficient wealth to own a real car or truck.

One memory that will remain involves a co-worker at one of my college era summer jobs. He was my age and had just bought a BSA Golden Rocket. This was a small frame motorcycle with the large touring bike motor - much in the fashion of the Buick Century which was the smaller "Special" with the big "Roadmaster" engine. Interestingly, he knew very little about the bike and stopped by my place because he was having problems with the clutch. He was inclined to be a bit of a "hood" and had the requisite "biker chick" with him. I did a minor clutch cable adjustment and took of on a quick turn around the block to check it out. That divine providence who watches out for fools let me get away showing off this time. I was back almost before I left. My co-worker and the chick were both suitably impressed. In fact he was so impressed that while he was doing 30 days in city jail for an altercation with his mother-in-law he asked me to keep and ride the bike. (He set her back porch on fire.) Sadly, the biker chick was not part of my stewardship. I did ride that bike, though.

These are the beginnings of my motorcycling and cover 1953 to 1960.

[Jonas Smith]

That's a cool BMW!!!! Looks like something out of a Chuck Norris movie! You need to mount up some machine guns or rocket launchers or something to complete the look.

I have had a motorcycle since I was six starting off with a Honda 50. I've mostly had dirt bikes, Huskys, Hondas, a CZ, and a Bultaco. I have a XR400 Thumper in the garage right now. I owned 3 street bikes so far, a Zuki GS750 that was way to fast for me at the time, a Zuki Bandit 400 that I balled up into a nice little piece of tinfoil on Palomar Mountian road in San Diego County, and a Triumph 750 Bonneville... That last one nearly put me in the Loony Bin! I called it the English Vibrator. My girlfriends loved riding on it, but I hated that **** bike!
I bolted a big magnet on the rear fender to try and catch the nuts, bolts, and related parts as they rattled themselves off riding down the road. Heck, I did'nt have to be riding it to have parts fall off... I come out in the breezeway in the morning to start it an find parts laying on the ground under it. I figured out the best way to keep things on was to torque them down untill you rounded off the bolt heads, that would give you about another 80 miles worth of riding before the bolt fell off.
I am still a fan of the older british bikes... I've been searching for a Vincent Black Shadow for a long time.

I was bidding on a Bultaco Alpina a couple of months back but the price went through the roof in the end.
I am also a big fan of the Vintage BMW R65's with the single seat and low rise handlebars.

I still say that if you are going to strap a Bike in the back of a Power Wagon, it has to be a Rokon... Imagine a 2wd motorcycle with tractor tires and a PTO that can run farm equipment!!!!!

[Cheyenne Dave]

It's been all Suzuki's for me. GT 380, GS 750 and my true love, a GS 1000E. I would love to get another 1000 but have had little luck tracking one down I could afford. If you know of one, keep it to yourself...I'll live longer without it!

DAB

[Joe Cimoch]

I got a motorcycle license about a year ago. John Horniak & I attended a MC rider safety course here, where they give you a license after sucessfully completing the course. So, I'm looking for my 1st bike. I'm looking at Harley-Davidsons, realizing that you have to be rich to "buy American" when it comes to motorcycles.

[dbohn]

I didn't think I would be talking about bikes here! I see you have a new Adventure, Gordon, the latest Panzerbike by BMW. I can only presume that you are at least 6.5ft tall and 250lbs as these things are HUGE. I rode a plain jane R1150gs a few years ago and was surprised at the BM's speed , agility and comfort but as I am 5'10" tall with a 31" inseam, it was no fun trying to maneuver at low speed and on side hills. I would own one in a minute but I would have to drop the ride height a bit and cut the seat down.

As for what I have owned, I started out with a '76 KE125 Kawi(tough), then a '84 Suzuki Gs400(nimble, underpowered), a '78 Gs750(cafe racered it), an '84 750 sabre(good touring/standard but watch out for soft cams), a '92 1100 Virago(hated it, owned it for 2 weeks), a cherry '78 GS1000e(bought for $875cdn! It was like new!), and finally, a '96 Ducati 900sscr(fast, loud, raw, gorgeous, ungodly uncomfortable).

I still lust over a 1986 GS1150ef(still remember the commercial for it) and any airhead R100rs BMW(gotta be the ultimate motorcycle for on-road). In hindsight I wish I had kept all of these bikes(except the virago) as I miss the unique experience of riding each of them from time to time.

Not that I have time to ride any more let alone work on them but some day I will, and in the mean time one can dream and troll the bargain finders for deals.

Good subject Gordon, I love bikes!

[Randy N]

I started on a 1966 Yamaha YL100 in 1972. It was a screamer. I forgot to put oil in the tank once and it seized on me at 40 MPH (wide open throttle). Went for a ride on the pavement and learned the value of leather!!

I upgraded to a 1972 650 Yamaha a few months later and kept it for 4 years. It had a notorious speed wobble which caused me to dump it at highway speed. Thank you leathers again!!

Four years ago I bought an 82 Honda 500 Silverwing. It was alot of fun, but I moved to the city and prefer the protection that detroit steel offers over leather.

Bike are fun and I want to get a road bike again. I like the older BMWs and Triumphs.

I have way too many interests and not enough time!!

Happy biking!

[mxpro]

Funny this question gets asked here. I am 33 years old and have a AMA licsense that is 29 years old. I started riding very young and started racing moto-cross when I was 4 years old. Just for fun and then it evovled into something our whole family did together. I was injured when I was 16 and never really got over it but still raced and made decent money. I still give schools and private lessons whenever I have time and ride just about every weekend. It is (or was) my only real hobby until i bought this truck.

I recently started riding street bikes just for fun and that even turned more serious. Track days first, then wanting to race and then I realized I needed something I loved as much as motorcycles to keep me occupied. This is where the truck entered the picture and the street bikes left.. I guess anything mechanical I like, old mechanical stuff, I love. I attached a picture of my favorite street bike (that I actually owned). I'm figuring I may be around a little longer for my family with this thing gone. I think I going to enjoy this new hobby although I'm sure it will be as expensive, if not more so.

Curt

[Cheyenne Dave]

...hence the handle, "mxpro". It all makes sense now...

[Gordon Maney]

Originally posted by mxpro
I attached a picture of my favorite street bike (that I actually owned).

Curt

That is a really beautiful motorcycle. What model Ducati is it?

[Frank Irons]

Originally posted by Gordon Maney
I am curious as to how many of you Dodgers are motorcycle riders. I have ridden since I was about 14, having started on an Allstate 175 that belonged to a friend's brother. Later I owned British motorcycles, BSA & Norton, and then in the mid 1970's I switched to BMW.

If you like Power Wagons, you might like this motorcycle....

All gear all the time....

My first bike was a '46 Indian Scout, no seat, just a board with a rug wrapped around it held with baling wire. Paid 20 dollars for it in 1963. and I still have the receipt for it. 45 cubic inches with an Edison Splitdorf magneto and a side shift transmission, and no girly man electric starter either.

Frank

[Gordon Maney]

C'mon, Frank, tell them about the time you tried to ride the Harley Davidson up the plank on the basement stairs....

[Russell]

Well it looks like alot of you folks like motorcycling, I've also been riding since I was a kid. I had Honda trail 50 that the first time I rode it, I hit a tree not knowing how to turn it or shift gears.

Since then I've had Kawasaki 2-stroke dirt bikes & four wheelers, then I got into street bikes with my favorite bike of all time, a '92 ZX-7, wish I still had it but you can't have everything.

I now have a 2000 Titan Phoenix, 1991 Suzuki GSXR 750 (still very original), & an Aprilia RS 250 2 stroke GP replica that I get to track day with some. My friends & I try to go to Daytona Bike Week as often as possible.I got to demo the BMW in the first post on in the Daytona speedway road course, what a thrill that was.

It doesn't matter if its a Power Wagon or anything else, its nice to see and hear all of you enjoing all of these motorized forms of fun.

[DaveK]

Harley Davidsons and Power Wagons . buy American, real Dodgers, buy and ride American iron. Be an American and buy American. Talk to the old timers and they will tell you that some of the people are selling America short. Don't mean to rant, but thats how i feel.

Dave

[Gordon Maney]

Originally posted by Russell
My friends & I try to go to Daytona Bike Week as often as possible.

I have never been to that, but think I would like to go. What is it like? Also, what do you do for lodging?

[Frank Irons]

Originally posted by Gordon Maney
C'mon, Frank, tell them about the time you tried to ride the Harley Davidson up the plank on the basement stairs....

Gordon,

What a memory you have! I must have told you that story 5 years ago! Seriously, I think I would have made it out of the basement if I just would have had 8 more feet to build up speed before I hit the ramp. Kids, don't try this at home!


Frank

[Bob Hansen]

Mosty dirt here, had a couple of street bikes here is a pic of an 83 Yamaha that I sold a year or 2 ago.
Now to search the pc for a pic of the new bike.

[Bob Hansen]

Here it is at the dealership

[Bob Hansen]

and here it is after I modified it for license plates.

[mxpro]

Gordon - it is (was) a '95 916 and I installed a 955 kit. The thing was great on track days but for any ride longer than 30 minutes it was terrible. Great for what it was built for but not much else. I pretty much re-built and painted the thing from about 10 boxes worth of parts, it was the only way I could afford it. The guy had all the parts but lost interest in the project. Not long after I had the bike completed it caught on fire and I had to re-build it again. I hate the feeling of riding a burning motorcycle and have to wait until you slow down enough to decide when to bail off.

Bob - How do you like the Suzuki? I am curious how their 4-stroke effort is working out. They are good looking bikes.

[Bob Hansen]

The Suzuki DRZ400E is pretty heavy, but the heavy feeling goes away once you are rolling. The old IT250 Yamaha (1983) felt faster, but that is because the 4 stroke delivers power different. In fact I was actually slower on the Suzuki till I learned how to ride it. Oddly enough they only times that I have dumped it was when going slow. I really wanted a Yamaha WR426F but the Suzuki was over $2000 less!
The forest service was always wanting to check the decibil output of the ole 2 stroke as it was LOUD! Now I pull up to their sound checks & they wave me right on by. They are getting pretty tough on the noise levels around here, they refused to test a friends YZ400F saying they knew it was too loud and he could not ride it. He had a aftermarket silencer on it which did make it pass @ 93 db, so he said you test it or I'm riding it!
They were quite upset with him until it passed!

[Russ Erickson]

This is a photo of my 1956 Ariel Red Hunter 500 cc single taken about 1968. This the fastest bike I've ever owned. It was perfectly balanced, I never once layed it down and I did some real dumb things on it.

[Russ Erickson]

These pictures were scans of Polaroid photos I had of the 1956 Ariel. They are pretty bad, but you can see the overall shape better.

[Jerry o]

I bought a 1970 BSA Royal Star 500 twin in 1972,traded for a 1974 BMW R75/6 in 1975 and am still riding same. Wish I had just kept the BSA and stored it just to look at as it was a beautiful bike.

1951 M37 modfied LA318
1960 M37B1 original
Jerry O
Howe,Tx.

[Clint Dixon]

I have never been on a "street" bike, but the dirt bike bug bit me at the age of 15.

I started out on a brand new Honda MT125 Elsinore (dual purpose bike). Having only sat on a motorcyle once prior to that, I was jumping straight into the deep end of the pool. It only took me about one summer of exploring the local gravel and dirt roads to realize that this bike was not fast enough and I really wanted to race in competition. After much begging, my folks started taking me to watch amateur AMA District 22 Motocross races each Sunday across the state of Iowa. By the age of 17, I had bought a new Yamaha YZ125 race bike. I placed 10th in my first sanchioned Motocross race out of a field of 40 riders. 10th place was the last place that trophied that day. I had found my calling. This was the turning point in my life that lifted me from being a wallflower/nerd/loner/teenager. From there the door was opened to all kinds of interesting things in life, like: girls, Power-Wagons, and even speaking in front of an audience at the Power Wagon Rallys, and writing the occasional piece.

In two years, I moved up from the "B" class (beginner) to the "A" class (expert). I moved up to the 250cc class and raced several Yamaha YZs, a Maico 250, and the first production watercooled 1980 Honda CR250.

I finally came to the realization that age 17 is much to late to begin Motocross racing and that it is definately a "high school sport". A couple of trips to the emergency room by ambulance, finding out that even 20 something bones don't heal as quickly as a child's, and the fact that I couldn't concentrate on racing and working on bikes 7 days a week and my girlfriend at the same time, led me to quit while I was ahead, much to my father's dissapointment.

I have never had any interest in riding a street bike. At the 2001 Vintage Power-Wagon Rally, I had a chance to climb back on a Motocross bike for the first time in 16 years, a Yamaha YZ465, I believe it was. My first time ever on a four stroker. I was having a particularily depressing Rally, and that ride made my week.

I would someday like to get another dirt bike so I could ride around the property as a fun way to work off that middle aged spread. By the way, I did marry the girl that got my attention away from motorcycles, and she says, "No way to the Motocross bikes and to stick to Power-Wagons!"

Clint

[Jerry o]

I guess what I have always liked about motorcycles the most is the raw machinery aspect especially older motor cycles.If it dont have a kick starter it really aint a motorcycle.I like the cylinders hanging out there in the wind on the air head beamers.and the purpose built look,form follows function not the other way around.I think that is the same reason I like Powerwagons & M37's,they dont need a decal on them saying "4x4 OFF ROAD" They were built to do a job and do it well with no undue concessions being made for creature comfort or styling.

M37 1951
M37B1 1960
1974 R75/6
Jerry o
Howe,TX.

[Cheyenne Dave]

2001 was my last Rally, and I happened to be in attendence when took Clint his ride. If you don't know Clint, he's 5' 16" or so, and when he gets on a bike there's no need to throw a leg over, he just walks up behind it and sits down. It's hard to imagine a man that tall being competitive in a sport where his knees must have been jabbing him in the chin...

Thanks for the moment of sunshine, Clint!

[Clint Dixon]

Originally posted by Cheyenne Dave
It's hard to imagine a man that tall being competitive in a sport where his knees must have been jabbing him in the chin...

Thanks for the moment of sunshine, Clint! [/B]

Hey Shy Dave! The height always worked to my advantage. During those real muddy races, where the short riders would spin out and just fall over sideways, I could catch myself by just planting a boot firmly in the muck. Also if I got a little tired, I would just rest my chin on a knee through a couple berm shots, recharge my batteries, and then rooster tail over the competition! HA HA!

By the way Dave, my Grandpa always replied to comments from people who were height challenged, and indicating their wish to be a little taller, "You're not too short if you're tall enough for your feet to reach the ground..."

Have a Happy New Year!
Clint

[Russ Erickson]

Well Clint, you've just given me a new motto:

"You're not too short if your feet reach the ground."

Thanks, that makes me feel a bunch better. My height is estimated at 8 feet and -29 inches. They just don't make tape measures long enough.

[Clint Dixon]

Originally posted by Clint Dixon
...rooster tail over the competition! HA HA!

Here are some old photos. Thanks Gordon for letting me reminisce.

In the Poloraoid, the shinier trophy was for overall second place in the summer Grand Prix point standings. The other one was not. Ironically I got them both on the same day. Socond place was okay by me. The first place finisher only got his name on a plaque on a wall in a building that was later torn down. He did not get either of the trophys that I got that day!

Clint

[Clint Dixon]

Originally posted by Clint Dixon
...rest my chin on a knee...

See Dave, I'm not so tall. ;^)

Clint

[Cheyenne Dave]

Great shots, Clint...You mud dog you! Was your Dad taking those pix?

I guess all you "land of Lincoln" folks like using Abe's famous reply to the question " How tall should a man be" asked by a reporter.

"A mans legs ought to be long enough to reach the ground."

See, I did learn stuff in high school...I don't always remember the exact words, but I try to get close!

Well, I'm off to my annual New Years Day dip in Crow Creek. I leave GUS running so I have a nice warm cab to warm up in when I get out. A sauna would be sweet! I wonder how many other Polar Bears will be there today...

DAB

[Clint Dixon]

Originally posted by Cheyenne Dave
Great shots, Clint...You mud dog you! Was your Dad taking those pix?

I guess all you "land of Lincoln" folks like using Abe's famous reply to the question " How tall should a man be" asked by a reporter.

"A mans legs ought to be long enough to reach the ground."

See, I did learn stuff in high school...I don't always remember the exact words, but I try to get close!

Well, I'm off to my annual New Years Day dip in Crow Creek. I leave GUS running so I have a nice warm cab to warm up in when I get out. A sauna would be sweet! I wonder how many other Polar Bears will be there today...

DAB

It could have been either Dad or Mom taking the photos, but Martie took the photo of the handsome young stud in the new Honda getup!

That quote by Lincoln is interesting. We did not learn local things like that in school. I never heard Grandpa speak of anything historical, outside of things that happened to our immediate ancestors. I always thought that either he had no interest in any of that, or that his 6th grade education had left him in the dark on the subject. I am going to reexamine some of his favorite sayings and some of the other words of wisdom that he shared. Maybe this was his way of connecting to the history and passing it along to me. You have given me something to think about.

Are you still a pop sickle, or have you thawn out by now?

Clint

[Cheyenne Dave]

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I bet there are a lot of Lincoln quotes floating around in your state... He's your most famous son ( I think). For Wyoming, it would be a toss-up between Dick Chaney and Tom Horn, and Tom has the most famous quote...most people don't even know who he was!

[mxpro]

Clint, what year(s) are the photos from?? Circa 79-81 maybe? I won my first amatuer national championship in '81 at the ripe old age of 10. Those were the great days of moto-cross. Now it's all about how high and far you can jump. It's almost too much for my old bones and body to handle.

Psst, the picture of you railing that berm is most imppressive!!

[mxpro]

Clint, what year(s) are the photos from?? Circa 79-81 maybe? I won my first amatuer national championship in '81 at the ripe old age of 10. Those were the great days of moto-cross. Now it's all about how high and far you can jump. It's almost too much for my old bones and body to handle.

Psst, the picture of you railing that berm is most imppressive!!

[Dodgeum]

This is what happens when you have to much free time. I bet I get hurt on this more than on a BIG bike.

[Clint Dixon]

Originally posted by mxpro
Clint, what year(s) are the photos from?? Circa 79-81 maybe? I won my first amatuer national championship in '81 at the ripe old age of 10. Those were the great days of moto-cross. Now it's all about how high and far you can jump. It's almost too much for my old bones and body to handle.

Psst, the picture of you railing that berm is most imppressive!!

Hey mxpro. 79-81 is the time frame. I started in the spring of '78 and I believe I rode my last race in the fall of '82. I agree, those were the great days of motocross. Back then we were still trying to get back on the ground as quickly as possible. Hard to accelerate if all your rear tire is grabbing is air! After that, liability insurance rates started going sky high, a lot of fathers were getting laid off from the big shops around here, and all of the great tracks of Iowa were closing down.

That YZ was a '79 model. I got the white front fender and side plates off of a Yamaha Enduro bike. I could not find a white rear fender to match the shape of the stock YZ, so Dad talked an up and coming plastics manufacturer into custom running a batch of white ones for me. They had not yet developed a good formula for truly white plastic, so what I got was really brittle ones that were almost like model airplane polystyrene. I went through about one rear fender every week. When they got loaded up with mud, they would just snap right off.

The Maico was an '80 250cc. What a change from the Yamahas. I could not rail the berms like that on the Maico! It was great for pivoting the inside of the corners and rocketing back out though. Did you win your championship at Loretta Lynns ranch?

It is hard to believe that I started living and breathing Power-Wagons in 1980, but racing always remains a part of me. I wish I had the mindset back then that I do now and/or could have started about 10 years earlier. I still dream about racing about once a week and I can see every inch of every track I rode still in my mind.

Good to hear from a fellow 'crosser!

Clint

[mxpro]

Clint, man it's not too late. Get back out there!! The vet classes are usually the biggest ones at the races anymore. And the best thing, we all have kids and jobs so no one is going to run you over for for a trophy or a few bucks. I actually enjoy riding/racing more now than I ever have. No pressure, just spending time with your friends and people that love to ride. I won that championship at Rolling Hills, NC. The year before everything went to Loretta Lynns and then went there for the next 7 or 8 years. Usually top five but never won another one. I guess it's a good way to stay in shape as well. You know you want to, go get a bike and get back to enjoying the sport!!

See Ya
Curt

[Monte Mitts]

I have always liked motorcycles from an early age. Rode a Honda CL450 Scrambler in high school then got my Dad's CB400F which he had bought new. Still have it. Always wanted a Harley and got my first one in '89. My wife rides it now. I'm on my third Harley a 2003 100th Anniversary Heritage Springer. I will always have a motorcycle just like I will always have Dodge trucks.

[Jonas Smith]

I found some pictures from '98 When My Wife and I Married and first moved into the house. That's her and her '97 XR 400. It turned out to be a bit big for her. I think she needs to get a XR 250.

[Jonas Smith]

This picture was taken on the trail behind our house. It's a '98 XR400. I now have a '96 or the same model, but with a trick exaust and a bunch of other goodies.

[Ed Tavernier]

Gordon,
My parents flat out forbade me to buy a dirt bike. I ended up buying a racing cart instead. My brother, three years younger, received a Honda XR 75 mini when he was twelve! By then I was 15 and had bought my first car... a '67 VW bus. My brother was very good and raced for a local Honda dealer on the early Honda Elsinores. I rode each of his bikes though he may never have known.
Flash forward 20 years an a couple of friends convince me to ride with them. I was the slowest through the whoops, but by the end of the first day I had improved dramatically. I bought a Suzuki RM 250 and rode it for several years; my wife sold it when we moved.
My brother bought one of the first Paris-Dakar replicas sold in the US. He had to import the 5 gallon tank! He still has it but it is in need of total restoration...Sun, salt air and sand have left it pitted, faded, and rusty.
I still yearn to buy another RM 250 and head down to the beach......
Eddie