I didn't see one so I figured I'd start one.
I first road a 125cc Honda belonging to my brother's friend on the back roads of North Carolina in 1976. The friend didn't keep it long but I was hooked.
Early in the summer of 1977, I rode pillion on a friend's 1975 Kawasaki KZ400 from Binghamton to Staten Island. Later that summer I bought my first bike.
A 1971 Suzuki T-250 (earlier known as an X-6 Hustler). It was a twin 2-stroke street bike, light and surprisingly fast, with a rather rubbery frame that responded well to near-constant wheel alignment. EVERYTHING wore out on the damn thing, but it was fun as hell to ride--when it wasn't screwing up. It's in my shed and maybe in 20 more years I'll restore it!
1981 Yamaha 650 Maxim, an in-line 4 shaft drive that had a cruiser appearance with an engine with a constant penchant for snapping exhaust studs. It was fast and decent handling but too much work. I began replacing the studs with 6mm bolts because they didn't freeze into the head, and when they broke were easily replaceable. I had to replace 1st gear and the cam chain on that engine as well.
Traded in on a new, year-old (NOS) 1991 Yamaha Venture Royale, a competitor to the Goldwing. The 1992 came in a different color and $600 more. The dealer put a Titan alarm on it which was a dreadful mistake as it kept killing the battery (batteries) especially when a Battery Tender was attached. After several years of struggle, I disconnected it. The Venture was a 1300 V-4 shaft drive, an over-sized but de-tuned V-Max engine--solid as a rock. Built-in CB, Cassette deck, AM/FM stereo, intercom, passenger remote, computerized air suspension, cruise control...and it still shimmied above 75. The one time I had to change the rear tire it took half a day just to get the damn thing off! But it was comfy and you could direct warm air at your legs in winter. I eventually sold it on eBay to a guy in Kentucky--I guess he was happy because I never heard a complaint.
I found a 1981 Yamaha XS400 at a yard sale for $220. It needed a new battery and to have the carbs unplugged from gas that turned to varnish. It was a nice little bike, great for getting stuck in summer traffic jams because it didn't bake you like the Maxim, the Venture or later bikes. It was the last bike with a kick starter, as well as electric start. I sold it several years later for $700...my wife has a "2 Bike Limit" No pics.
How About a Motorcycle Thread?
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Last edited by YankeeTarheel on Sat Sep 29, 2018 11:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Even if the bee could explain to the fly why pollen is better than shit, the fly could never understand."
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