My first was a Honda mini-trail 50, then I moved on to a trail 70. I rode a lot of dirt bikes as a kid and they were mostly Honda 4 strokers.
As an adult, my first was a 1984 Yamaha RZ350-LC in Team America colors. It was cool hanging with the big 750 4 strokers on the little RZ350 two stroker. Also a fun bike to trick out as lots of aftermarket parts were/are available.
Moved on to a sweet 1990 Honda VFR-750 which I tricked out with a "left-side" Kerker exhaust, thus exposing the cool single sided swing arm and rear wheel. I promptly wad'd it while "following" a buddy on a very spirited canyon ride. He was coming into a fast blind right hander and his breake light failed. When I realized he was braking I grabbed too much brake and low sideded it. Luckily, I scrubbed off to about 80mph before hitting the pavement. Slide about 70 feet before leaving pavement and tumbling through a farmers front yard.
Here's some good advice: SAFETY EQUIPMENT WORKS!!! Full leathers, gloves, boot and helmets will save your A$$, literally. I slide a long way on pavement then left the road and tumbled end over end a couple of times. Walked away with NO ROAD RASH, just a broken arm.
Anyway, back to bikes, I moved on to a Honda CBR-900RR and loved it. At the time, it was so good, it felt like cheating!!! I know other bikes have surpassed it now, but man o man did that thing always felt like it was on rails.
I'm bikeless today. Next one will be something really cool and much slower. I might get something like a Honda GB-500 and trick it out in 60's racer replica trim. Or buy a real 50's-60's Brit bike.
Enjoy, and wear safety equipment!!!!!
TIC
