Your First Motorcycle Was a ............?

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Gaoler said:
'Keen observation...

"Group chats" seem to be a big thing with the younger crowed I know
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I don't know why, or how they have the time to keep up on those. I joined some chats on a few different platforms, but if I didn't check the chat in real time, I'd miss a huge chunk of the discussion by the time I did and wonder what they were talking about. So I'd end up back-scrolling through loads of useless (to me) chat I had no interest in to begin with. With forums, I can skip topics I have no interest in. Do kids' brains really work that differently now?
 
Relax said:
I don't know why, or how they have the time to keep up on those. I joined some chats on a few different platforms, but if I didn't check the chat in real time, I'd miss a huge chunk of the discussion by the time I did and wonder what they were talking about. So I'd end up back-scrolling through loads of useless (to me) chat I had no interest in to begin with. With forums, I can skip topics I have no interest in. Do kids' brains really work that differently now?
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Just never put your phone down amd you won't get behind. :/ you spend too much time on real world stuff like work and bikes.
 
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Dirty Frank said:
Is that a Rickman fairing that you got there?
The KZ650 was a solid ride.
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I lusted after a Kawasaki 650C, the silver one with mags and triple discs in high school, there were tons of nice used ones for sale in 79-80. However, by that time Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda had really upped their game in the 750 class. I ended up getting the brand new 1980 GS750(first year of 16 valve engine). I had numerous opportunities to ride all three. The Kawasaki was definitely the lightest and fastest. The Honda was the nicest looking, had the best fit and finnish but unfortunately was the slowest of the three. My Suzuki was right in the middle. I’m surprised how many of those 4 bikes(including the Kawasaki 650C) still turn up for sale in decent condition for around $2000. A testament to their durability.
 
PrivatePilot said:
I think the whole short-form writing / texting thing, and in some (many, sadly?) cases where some kids just don't have the ability to write proper sentence structure has a lot to do with this.
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This is rife in my workplace where written reports are a daily thing...
We have supposedly university educated people here who are borderline illiterate compared to the "older" cohort of staff.
I don't know how the hell some of these young people made it through university writing like a 5th grader...
Often these reports end up in court. It's embarrassing
 
Any group or forum is going to be defined mainly by the people that participate in it, not by the medium or platform it's on.

One web forum I used to frequent turned into a political-crapfest, no moderation whatsoever, so politics quickly over-ran the board. A vibrant community of over 1000 users reduced to 2 people posting Trump-Is-A-Great-Man-Others-Are-Not memes and LOLing at each others posts for the last 5 years. A literal echo chamber of TWO PEOPLE...!

Something I hope never happens to GTAM.

A lot of the well-moderated FB motorcycle groups that I've added are super-informative and the critical mass of users leads to good group-think around solutions. The model-specific groups also let users share issues with their bikes despite the manufacturer responding with the stock: "Oh, that's an interesting problem. You're the ONLY one who's reported that". Like the chocolate cams issue with the 790s and 890s.

Not to say there aren't brain-dead FB groups as well. There's a GTA motorcycle riders FB group that I pop my head into once in a while. Then I pop my head back out almost immediately because my eyes have have rolled back so hard they've hit the back of my skull at some of the sheer stupidity.

Just recently, someone put up a Rider Down post on that group. So many, "It's winter, nobody should be riding their motorcycle! Serves them right!" posts in response was disheartening. These are FELLOW MOTORCYCLE RIDERS.

WTF.

I started wondering where the admins were. Then realized the first person who responded with, "It's winter, he deserves it."... WAS the admin.

Yeah. Imma peace outta that sh!tshow.

I got better things to do in the wintertime.

Like ride my motorcycle...

snow23-X2.jpg
 
Aside from this one the best brand specific forum has been StromTrooper.
Had a superb mod in Grey Wolf and he was sorely missed when he passed.

There are a couple of casual mcycle forums I drop in on.....model specific
ADVRider has been a long term fav.
A few general chat forums that are far far down in participation compared to the heyday.

This is the latest discovery Straight Dope Message Board - Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks. since 1973. Very ecletic, members from around the world and interesting interface. No motorcycles.
 
Lightcycle said:
Just recently, someone put up a Rider Down post on that group. So many, "It's winter, nobody should be riding their motorcycle! Serves them right!" posts in response was disheartening. These are FELLOW MOTORCYCLE RIDERS.

WTF.

I started wondering where the admins were. Then realized the first person who responded with, "It's winter, he deserves it."... WAS the admin.

Yeah. Imma peace outta that sh!tshow.

I got better things to do in the wintertime.

Like ride my motorcycle...

snow23-X2.jpg
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That gtariders Facebook group is a **** show...

That admin is also a bike instructor...

I agree that it was a stupid thing to ride with a passenger in the middle of the winter, but "deserves it..."??? Was b.s. many Facebook groups are an echo chamber of stupidity. Everyone has an opinion,and shares it freely with no consequence.

I believe if you wouldn't say it to their face for fear of being punched in the head, you probably shouldn't post it on Facebook.

The whole "anonymous poster" thing becomes annoying too.

And the lack of using the search function...
-Whats the best oil?
-Why does my bike make this noise, does this sound okay?

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk
 
Bobo said:
I lusted after a Kawasaki 650C, the silver one with mags and triple discs in high school, there were tons of nice used ones for sale in 79-80. However, by that time Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda had really upped their game in the 750 class. I ended up getting the brand new 1980 GS750(first year of 16 valve engine). I had numerous opportunities to ride all three. The Kawasaki was definitely the lightest and fastest. The Honda was the nicest looking, had the best fit and finnish but unfortunately was the slowest of the three. My Suzuki was right in the middle. I’m surprised how many of those 4 bikes(including the Kawasaki 650C) still turn up for sale in decent condition for around $2000. A testament to their durability.
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I had a C with cast wheels too. The Kawi was also the best looking.
 
To the original question:

1985 Yamaha FJ600. It was beat... 13 owners before me. Bought from a friend.

Suspension was knackered.

Clutch slipped.

I didn't know how to fix ****.

Learned to do bodywork. Paint. General maintenance. Rode it for a year or two. Sold it to a friend. It was a gateway drug, and a good learning experience.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk
 
My first real motorcycle, and the one I did my road test on, was an early 70's Kawasaki 100 enduro. I rode that little bike to and from work for a year or two and did some light off-roading with it as well. I also had my first accident with it when I rear ended a car at a crosswalk on Davenport Road in the rain. Those knobby tires were fine in the dirt, but not too good on wet pavement.
 
1964 Honda C200
90cc pushrod singleC200.jpg
 
In 1975 I was lusting after a Ruby Red Honda CB400F. I worked out several good deals at local shops however; I was always a little short on cash. I heard that Ontario Kawasaki was going to have an auction sale and decided that a leftover H1 would be better. Good thing for me the couple they sold went for more money than I had. I ended up buying a brand new leftover 1974 G4 TRD 100 with the dual range transmission. That was the best thing I ever did! No better way to learn than doing it in the dirt or mud or snow. I rode the nuts off that lil bugger. I have no idea how many miles I put on it as the speedo cable broke at some point. When my daughters asked for mini bikes I bought a pair of used Honda 50’s (one 1969 and the other a 1970) for them to start on but. I also found a second TRD 100. You know, for when they out grew the 50’s. But little girls grow up to be teenagers and found out about boys. In the 2000’s I sold all four bikes to my brother for him, his son-in-law and two grandsons for $1200. How did I know that those Honda Mini bikes would become so dang collectible. Oh well, here’s a shot of my lil Kawi at the bottom of Townline hill in Oshawa circa winter of 1976. With the trans in low range I could go almost anywhere. In the winter I would follow the snowmobile or cross country ski tracks. What a hoot!

Townline Hill.jpg
 
A 1950 series C Vincent Comet in 1964. Many bikes since but I'm slowing down nowadays. I sold my Triumph Rocket III a couple of years ago and replaced it with a T120 Bonneville 1200. Also have few old Brit bikes to keep me busy. present projects are building a '68 Norton Atlas cafe racer and a '55 Norton 500 single motor to put in another cafe bike.
 
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