Whats YOUR story?

[o2lily]

Go ahead write a story!

How and when did you start riding?
What got you into motorcycles?
How did you feel then how do you feel now?
What one piece of advice would you give that you learned?

[SiC-0]

Well it all started when i was born, i dont remember much before that. In the summer of 2002 i bought my first bike, a 97 YZF-600R. I had it for just a few short months. I bought a 2002 R6 after that. I loved that bike. I had it till the summer of 2005, when i totaled it. In Sep 06 i bought a 2003 R1. I still have it. In Aug of 06 i bought my 06 R6. These 2 bikes are what ive been looking for.
Id have to say that my friends got me into bikes. They had em and i was feeling left out. Thats when i got the 600R.
I feel much more comfortable on em then i did then.
If i was gonna give some advice id say wear your gear and pay attention to what you are doing. You can only get better by riding. If you have questions ask. Hell i could go on all day.

Good topic! Reped!

[o2lily]

For those that didnt see my intro :P


My first ride ever was as a passenger in April of 2006. I didnt think much of it until I woke up the next morning twitching to ride again. That was when my addiction started. My friend took me on a ride up Deer Creek Canyon for my 2nd ride ever. I fell in love there. In the turns was where I felt happy.
I found out WHY I liked riding so much is because it gave me this extremely relaxing feeling afterwards that I wanted more of. I called it "my zen"
When I first started learning about motorcycles I was shocked at how complicated they actually were! Like hands and feet are involved & counter steering and having to look EVERYWHERE at all times and not trusting ANYONE or ANYTHING just to name a few! Now that I have taken the course and ridden myself, it doesnt seem as complicated but remembering then, when I knew nothing about motorcycles, I can understand how and why cagers dont/cant see us! They just dont understand how in tune we are with our surroundings and for us its impossible not to be, but for them, they dont know any better.
I took my MSF course on April 20th of 2007 and passed easily. Turns and swerving came to me naturally. I joined a female motorcycle club and figured it would be a lot easier to do many things if we ran our own club. So more than 1/2 of the club and myself split off and started our own with the intent of raising motorcycle awareness and helping the local community.

If there were one thing I would tell someone regardless of riding skill it would be: Take it slow & easy - think everything out in steps. As long as you do what you are supposed to do, the bike will do what ITS sposed to do.
Meaning, you are taught to look where u want to go...well if you look too long at something, the bike will go there...if u wanted it to or not.
The bike works the same way every time you perform an action (unless it has mechanical problems). When you push left, it will always go left and so on.

[R1Gurl]

I started riding about 10-11 years ago on a CR125. My mom had a dirtbike when I was a kid and used to take us for rides on it. Her house used to open up to an empty field that we used to go ride on. Needless to say I got the passion from her as a child.

My dirt bike was fun for me, I didn't wreck too much even just starting out. I eventually got tired of it and sold it. I bought my first street bike in 1999 it was a CBR 600 F4. I took the MSF course and got my license before I picked up my 600. I rode the 600 for a couple years, then 2 years ago bought my dream bike (well within my price range anyway) my raven R1.

At first I was nervous as all newbs were. I didn't have an accident on the street until this past february when I laid my R1 down on cold tires when I hit a cross walk strip. I wasn't alert that day.

My only piece of advice is ALWAYS wear your gear and never ride when you're just not feeling up to the challenge. Ride like you're invisible, not like you're invincible.

[#1TOWNIE]

started racing bmx at a young age... then went to dirt... then this one night i went out to meet some of my friends back home and they had some sport bikes.. it was a 03 r6... i rode it and the next day went down and got my 600rr... still have it... she is a beat up now days but i still love her..

[f4imom]

about 10-11 yrs ago, I used to be a passenger on lot of different bikes. Then I moved to small town america and was never around them again. Then I met my now husband who told me that he used to ride back in the day and he went looking for a bike and came home with one, that turned into my bike then he went and got one for himself.

I'm still scared to death in certain situations. I like my feet firmly planted on the ground and right now, I'm not especially cause I just found out that my husbands brother messed with the suspension and made it higher.. grrrrrr :( men I swear..

[o2lily]

We got a few newbies so...


BUMP

[boomboom]

I started looking into getting my own bike in 2002 when I was deployed overseas. I wanted until I got back stateside. Started riding on the back of my ex's bike (when we were dating). Got my own bike shortly after that. I have always loved riding and bikes. Use to ride three-wheelers and everything when I got the chance as a kid growing up.

I love riding!

Advice. I guess take the MSF course and see how you really like riding. Once you do that, get a cheap bike to start and learn because then if you don't care how it looks and you drop it, you won't care. But it allows you to be a little more free with it to learn.

[acalliste]

I grew up in Buchanan, MI near a motocross track called Redbud, so I spent a lot of time there watching races, though I never got into it myself (unfortunately I was more into horses at that age). However I did ride the CT70 all over creation, as well as the occasional snowmobile & three-wheeler.

My ex-husband tried to teach me to ride his Kawi H1 750 triple (three cylinder 2-stroke street bike) when we were in England before we got married, but I scared the crap out of him, and we didn't pursue it. A two-stroke street bike is not a good learning tool, to say the least.

Years later after we split up, I got my first street bike (Kawi EN450 cruiser), learned to ride and got my endorsement in Fla in 1989. In 1990, I moved to MS and began working in motorcycle parts for a Honda dealer. I stayed in MC parts until early 1997 when I became fed up with making no money.

While in MS, I bought my GS1100E in a box and with the help of my then BF, rebuilt it from the frame up. We also rebuilt his Kaw H2 750 triple (the big brother of my ex-hubby's bike) which I rode a few times, and his CR250.

I was bikeless for a few years, but had the use of a CBR600 for a while when my friend's house burnt down and he had nowhere to keep his bike. (Storage fee = I get to ride the bike). And of course, I get to ride any bike my SO might have.

In Nov 2004 I bought my current bike, the '05 GSXR600 and as of the date of this post I've put over 28k miles on it. I did my first track day on a friend's '04 gsxr750 in March of '06. I am now a Certified Track Junkie. :D

My advice is, keep learning as much as you can, wear your gear always, and have fun!

[NinjaYogi]

How and when did you start riding?
My husband got into Moto GP 3 years ago. We started watching and he decided he wanted a bike. I got tired of being left at home so I tried to ride on the back of his Honda. I didn't like that at all.
I figured I would rather be the one in control so we decided to get a small bike to start with. I have a Ninja 250

What got you into motorcycles?
My husband and I fell in love with AMA racing and Moto GP shortly after.

How did you feel then how do you feel now?
I am still really new to riding. I am learning the ropes and have my husband and a few friends that are patient and helpful

What one piece of advice would you give that you learned?
Don't get on a bike and think you know everything. People with big egos give sport bike riders a bad name

[o2lily]

bumpy
**wut itsa great topic**

[GixxerChik]

I guess it started when I was little and my dad would take us kids for rides on his motorcycle. That planted the need for speed in me. Then I got into drag racing cars when I was 17. I had many friends who rode and always wanted to go riding with them.

My ex-boyfriend, Brian, rides, but he would never take me for a ride. He always said that it would be better if I had my own bike. He encouraged me to take my MSF course, so I did. A week after I did, we broke up, so I went out and bought my bike.

That was all the middle of August '07.

My dad is still riding and two of my three brothers ride. The older of the two, Justin, has my dad's first bike, that dad used to take us riding on when we were little. My little brother Jake has a 600RR.

Before, I didn't really know what I was missing. It's a whole new world being on my own bike and being in control.

My advice: Take an MSF course......Only ride if you're serious about riding (not showing off)....When you do go out to ride, have the mentality of riding, like R1Gurl says, "never ride when you're just not feeling up to the challenge. Ride like you're invisible, not like you're invincible".........and of course ALWAYS wear your gear!!

[BadKitty]

Hi guys...new here.

I started riding in 2002. Bought my '02 Suzuki SV650 on an impulse purchase. Had never ridden before and had no friends that rode. Has been on the back a few times on cruisers, but that way a long time ago. So I was at this open house, and they had a buncha used bikes there, and i sat on the SV and fell in love. Long story short, about a month later I gave in and bought a new one, took the MSF course and learned to ride. First 3 years i put on a TOTAL of about 5000 miles. NOW, I do about 10,000 miles a year. Plus last year I discovered TRACK CRACK and not am 100% addicted. But best advice i have for anyone if that no matter where your skill level is or how long you have been riding, there is ALWAYS more to learn. That and ATGATT (all the gear, all the time). Then, if you ride like you are invisible, and they are all drunk AND out to get you, THEN you have a 50/50 shot on the streets.

[seamonkeyaj]

Hey y'all! New here, and new rider....

My love affair with two wheels began when I was 11, and walked by the Honda shop for the first time. Still remember that purple Nighthawk sitting out there. Didn't know anyone who rode though - my dad had sold his bike when I was really little - and life took some unpredictable turns that led me to have higher priorities (like finishing college!). I never gave up the idea though, and last summer I met my boyfriend Michael and his friends. The first time I rode on the back of his VFR, I announced I would be buying it off him someday. Of course, he had heard that many times before - the difference is, I get what I want.... ;)

I never intended to go straight to a sport bike, but financial circumstances led me to buy his bike a year sooner than I planned, so in May, I took the ABATE (MSF) course, and then started cruising the neighborhood on her. After a (very) rough start because she was too tall for me, and a lot of friends helping out to fabricate parts, we got her lowered enough for me, and I started riding regularly about 8 weeks ago. I'm completely addicted already, though - I'm absolutely crushed at a week off for repairs (stator and rectifier fried out last week).

So, that's my long, short story of riding.... :) The biggest things that I've learned so far are to take everyone's advice and use it... to the extent that you can develop a "style" of riding that you're comfortable with, cuz everyone's different. ;)

[odieoh24]

i,ve been riding for about 25 years now. i learned when my father was stationed overseas in panama for the army. one of the kids i went to school with was a factory sponsored rider for yamaha dirt bikes. every year they would deliver 4-5 bikes-he would ride them and pick 2 for the season. he taught me how to ride, now that i think about it, i learned how to drive from an 11 year old. i learned on dirt and was hooked at about the age of 12. my parents were very conservative so there were never any plans on getting me my own bike-until i got my drivers license. i convinced them it would be better to buy me a bike instead of a car-they had cars already lol. first bike i owned was a honda 500 shadow, then moved up to a nighthawk 750. had these though high school. then one day in 1985 my friends father showed up to go for a ride on the baddest looking bike i had ever seen in my life-the yamaha v-max. this thing looked like it would eat you. first time i saw the rear tire spin like a muscle car burning out-i knew i would have to have one. turns out he bought the only 2 the dealership ordered that year as they had just come out. for a couple of years i joked about buying my friends fathers max-he'd always say show up with 2500 and i'll give you the keys. well one day in 88 i asked to buy the bike, was he surprised when i laid 2500 cash on the kitchen table, but i was even more surprised when he appeared from his bedroom with the keys and title. i did some really crazy, unsafe riding on this thing for about 3 years then wrecked it. thank god i never got really hurt. went without a ride for a couple years until the same guys who sold me the vmax bought a couple of cbr 900rr's, one for him and one for his son who was retuning from the army. i rode these a few times and knew two wheels was were i belonged! time to buy a new bike. unfortunately girlfriends, kids, girlfriends, wives, finances, insurance, basically life, made purchasing a new machine out of the question. in 2000 things finally started to get better and i bought a yamaha yzf 750-sweet ride. that same year i saw a 97 vmax and bought that too!!! in 2002 i traded the 750 for the aprilia and in 2004 i bought my second vmax an 89. in 2005 i bought my sisters ex-boyfriends suzuki 800 marauder. got tired of riding the ole lady on the back so i gave this one to her and told her to learn how to ride. she's been on here asking a few questions and she's doing an incredible job-considering what she is riding. i cant wait till she wants to ride the aprilia or the max-nothing sexier than a chick on a sweet bike. the best advise i can give based on my experience is to always watch out for the other guy-especially in the beginning and end of the riding season.

[psychochild28]

So i've only been riding a tad over a year.
My love started when my dad took me for my first ride on the back of a my brothers (not surre what it was, honda something) But my parents acutally hated them becasue they saw and responded to a horrific motorcycle accident. Van backed out of a driveway and didn't see the biker coming down the road.....bike hit the back of the car and threw both ppl into the ditch before flipping over the van and bursting into flames. Needless to say that just scared them both, and to make it worse they knew the couple on the bike. They are ok now.

But when I was a Junior in college i started dating drewpy and he got into them and took me for my first ride on a sport bike. (Honda cbr i believe) Well I fell asleep on the back....we were on a curvy river road during fall..:haha: When we got back he asked me if i was asleep and I said yes....I need to have my own i hate being passenger. So as a give that christmas he gave me a card that said I owe you one msf course and one new driver license. So the spring of my junior year i took the course and about 6 months later i bought my rebel! And in about a year I am going to get a sport bike.

[R1Gurl]

Great stories!! I love hearing about how diverse our membership is. Everyone gets their start in different ways. Keep posting them up!!

[Crash Test Joey]

When I was about 7, my grandfather bought himself a Honda Twinstar 185 as a retirement present. He was about 59 and had never ridden a motorcycle in his life. Once he learned and got license, I got to ride on the back of it. For about 5 or 6 years, I rode EVERYWHERE with him. Fell in love with being on a bike and spending time with my grandfather. Never did shake the habit I guess :)

[MistressOfMayhem]

Ahhh what a topic for today! I've spent most of today reminiscing back to my noob days because we took my best friend out and gave her some lessons. She took to it instantly, and rode like it was second nature. No stalls, drops or panic episodes. I'm so proud of her. And to see how happy she was at the end of the day reminded me of how cool it was to have that overwhelming feeling when you first start out, in anything that is significantly challenging. All of the anxiety, the giddiness and the straight fear, but at the end the reward of success when you look at the video or the pictures or simply reflect on how much you progressed in such a short time. But also, it brings to mind that we are always still learning, despite how far we've grown from the days of wobbly legs and jerky take-offs.

I got into bikes when I was a kid. Dad used to cart me and my bro around on this old yamaha dirtbike that he had converted for the street. People used to sit in traffic and glare at us but I loved it. Then I started riding in the dirt with my aunt and uncle when I was in grade school, but during high school we moved and there was nowhere to ride so I lost sight of it all. I engaged myself with books and stuff and thought nothing more of it until the end of high school when I started to get the itch again. I didn't want to ride on the street because of traffic but before too long I was reconsidering. I rode around as a passenger with my best friend for a few years, getting a feel for it and toying with the idea until finally about 4 years ago I finally went for it and got my own. I figured that with as much as I was riding as a passenger I might as well be on my own. Now its my sole means of transportation and I'm alright with that.