Thursday, September 21, 2006

Biker Chick

OK,,,confessions time here. In my misspent youth I had a passion for motorcycles. I bought my first used 80cc yamaha when I was 14 and proceeded from there. I rode Moto-X and "Hare and Hound". My social life ran around motorcycles which of course really helped my mainstreaming in High School (not!). By my senior year I realized I could not keep such an expensive hobby, work, eat and go to college. The choice was motorcycles or eating....eating edged them out. I sold my dirt bike (Maico 250) and bought a used Yamaha 350 that I used for transportation during my college years. (I loved 2 strokes!) The last motorcycle I owned was an 82 Suzuki 850 that I sold the day the rabbit died. I let my motorcycle license lapse and have not looked back on what I considered a closed part of my life.

In the interim, my older brothers have all hit their mid life crisises and bought motorcycles. Between the three of them, they own a Honda Valkyrie, HD Sporster, HD Superglide, HD Fatboy, BMW and a minibike. They seemed to feel something was missing in my life so on the 8th of this month when my sibs were coming in for "Da Kids" Ironman, one of them showed up riding thismy first response was "nice bike, but aren't your other bikes jealous?" the rejoinder? "Nope, its your birthday present from blank1, blank2 and me. We thought you needed a motorcycle again and this is a 'girly bike' after all". The OH was in on it and started laughing. I promptly ended that with a "shut up, or guess who will be riding bitch?"

At least now I understand why the OH was trying to get the excess junk out of the garage.

It is a nice bike. It is along the lines of what I would have bought for myself. It has 15K miles on it and needs some minor work. I hope I can get my required class and my license updated before the snow flies.

Everyone needs big brothers *S*

18 comments:

Ed said...

I got rid of my bike after almost broadsiding a car that pulled out in front of me for the fourth time in about a year. My foot peg hit their car door and left a scratch but I walked away. I was amazed at how much room my garage had with just one car in it.

P.S. All these years later, I still keep renewing my motorcycle license.

Jessica said...

I can definitely see the lure of riding motorcycles in California: you can use them year-round with much more efficiency than a car. But I'll prefer traditional bikes for the exercise and the trails.

Chris Hughes said...

Hot Damn! Presumably you've noticed the Valkyrie on my profile photo. The RD 350 was a great bike. I have two Kawasaki Triples which I rode in my youth and need to be parted out or restored. Point being that I love two strokes too! Between the Triple and the Valk I had another great machine not unlike you're new machine - a Honda Hawk NT650GT Twin. That was a really fun bike too. Enjoy!

Freewheel said...

Nice bike! Be careful doing wheelies!

Freewheel said...

Nice bike! Be careful doing wheelies!

Grant said...

Yeah - biker chicks rule! Now all you need is a new tattoo and a collection of death metal CD's. Let me know if you need suggestions.

Fantastagirl said...

Now I know why I always wanted older brothers....darn - wonder if younger brothers could come up with something like that...

Dave said...

Oh my, I only see crazy people riding that style of bike. Please be careful.

You would get a good laugh out of my bike. I'm really big on accessorizing.

Leesa said...

I am scared of bikes!

Balloon Pirate said...

Nice little crotch rocket you got there.

Wear a helmet. You don't want to go nipple-surfing on asphalt like Ben Toothlessberger.

Yeharr

mal said...

Ed- yup, it is a barn hog

Jessica- I prefer to pedal also. By the time I sold my last motorcycle in California, I had become deathly afraid of the freeways myself

Chris- Kawasaki Blue Streaks? sheeesh, those were a milestone bike. I would think (hope) they are worth restoring

Freewheel- I ride like an old biddy

Grant- a tatoo? hmmmmmmmmm

Senor Caiman- this bike is NOT a crotch rocket. It a solid multi purpose bike

Fantasta- I confess, big brothers are real good things to have *G*

Leesa- when riding motorcycles (or bicycles) fear is not a bad thing

Not So- I have a feeling the elephant is coming into your tent

BP- I always wear a helmet when I ride ANYTHING with 2 wheels. There is a name for people who do not, "Organ Donors"... BTW despite the appearance from the fairing this bike is NOT a crotch rocket. I will not go anywhere near one of those

Spider Girl said...

I've only ridden on the back of them, but boy are they fun!

Have fun!

Josh said...

When I was up there it seemed like people on motorcycles were everywhere. Guess with the nice weather it is fun.

Åsa said...

Cool bike! Having brothers finally paid off I see. I have a tendency to crash the motor vehicles I drive, and since my father worked as an insurance adjuster in his younger years and always say “the lucky ones dies”, I have stayed away from driving motor bikes.

So maybe your next updated picture will be of you on that bike?!

mal said...

Chrissie-Good luck! *L*

Spider Girl- they are a lot of fun. I did not have a good social life in my teen years and dirt riding provided a good outlet for me

Liz- oddly, I notice people do a lot more outdoor things here than they do in California. I suspect its because they appreciate good weather when they have it?

Asa- probably not until next spring! my motorcycle safety class is next week and then I have some work to do on the bike. I think my sib left it that way since he knows I like to tinker a bit. He could have done what needed doing easily. He is the most gifted mechanical artisan I know. Long and short? I do not think I will be riding before the snow falls.

BarbaraFromCalifornia said...

All I can say is, I can see you in the helmet, black leather, and listening to Stephenwolf's Born to be Wild.

Enjoy the ride!

eyes_only4him said...

u need to hop on that bad boy and ride on over to my town across the way and we will go out raising some hell..with helmets of course:)

ilaiy said...

Get the Hog .. It is a little expensive but a wonderful ride .. Much better than the sports bike .. If you were around here I would have been able to help you ..

All the best .. It is exciting ..

./thanks
ilaiy