Older motorcyclist

[TexasDave]

I apologize for not having introduced myself here. I am starting to feel older now that the motrcycles I rode in my younger days and some I am still riding are considered "classics". If you count the street licensed 3.5hp Fox minibike capable of 40mph (we clocked with the car) I have been on two wheels for half a century. If not then the full size 1968 Yamaha 180cc Bonanza purchased 5yrs later. Used a dark face shield and rode it for a year without a license at 15 years old. Wanted a bigger bike in highschool and bought the bike everyone was riding the Honda 350cc four stroke. Big mistake. Didn't go faster, stop better or handle as well as the smaller 2 stroke Yamaha. Looking at motorcycle mags saw on the cover the 1970 Yamaha 350R5.Just the looks sold me.(have made the same mistake with women). Rode to the Yamaha dealer to buy one. Well only one in country making the rounds with Yamaha at the motorcycle shows and I will see what I can do. Straight from the Chicago motorcycle show to my front door. So 16 yrs old I have one of the first crotch rockets back in the day. What were my parents thinking? Faster in the quarter mile than a corvette or a Honda 750. Go fast, Stop fast and handle like a dream. A good majority of them wound up track bikes. Father of the RD series bikes Yamaha made for years. Been partial to Yamahas ever since. Some of the bikes I fondly remember and wish I still had 75Kawasaki900, 74&76 Suzuki GT750 water buffalo(kettle for the aussies) and 78Honda750F. All classics with the price going higher every day.

[movenon]

Welcome Dave. Your profile fits a lot of us ! Join in anytime. 
George

[FJmonkey]

Welcome, the older we get, the faster we were....

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome Dave, yep, I started in '66 on a Taco 22 mini bike. 40mph with no helmet, T shirt, sneakers and Levi's were the customary apparel. Road rash was common. The LA County Sheriff didn't like us. Neighbors didn't like us. We tended to ride in a pack. Open pipes on our Briggs & Stantons ment the neighborhood could hear us coming. Dogs began to howl.

What a great time that was....amazing that no one got seriously hurt. No one went to jail, but it was close.

You're gonna fit right in.

[Bones]

Welcome Dave, don't think of yourself as "old," think of yourself as  "experienced."

They don't call us wise old men for nothing.

                                                       Tony.