That's a bunch, I've owned 36 bikes since age 14 and always wished I'd owned more (or still had some of them)....and just purchased my 87th motorcycle last November
My most missed bike, really either one of them
That's a bunch, I've owned 36 bikes since age 14 and always wished I'd owned more (or still had some of them)....and just purchased my 87th motorcycle last November
I have seen that a lot of your posts reference the Tampa Bay area back in the day and I lived in T&C and went to Leto high school. I spent a lot of time at Suzuki of Tampa back then, it was a great place to hang out and looking back, it was a great time for motorcycles since every year brought new and exciting bikes.Very cool, and I remember that dealership well, passed it hundreds of times growing up and living in Tampa (well, Lutz but there was really nothing in Lutz at the time). Remember that Tampa had 3 Honda franchises all doing well at the same time? Honda of Tampa was the oldest one, then Barney's Outboard Marine and Honda motorcycles (not to be confused with Barney's Yamaha across the bay and yeah, they originally sold Mercury outboards and boats) and Honda Village in North Tampa. I worked at all 3 of them, Honda Village twice, then later at Suncoast Honda which was started by the former service manager from Barney's in '75.
I started on a beat up, $50 CA102 in the summer of '68
Ugh, sad story but it may have been for the best (or at least that's what they always say). Yes, youth and the adult adventures we embarked on with little to no adult-level experience. My parents, sister and I moved to Lutz from the Detroit area in February of '61 and it was like total culture shock moving from a residential neighborhood with friends very nearby in Roseville to the sticks 12 miles or so north of Tampa. When I was about 12 a local kid got killed on a Yamaha 100 twin, a DUI driver hit him from behind at about 80 mph. My mother took that one hard because my father had ridden Harleys prior to them getting married and she wanted nothing to do with them after that event. I'd already had a very well-built go-kart at age 9 so I had some experience with piloting a vehicle well before I was big enough to drive or ride, and after a couple years things cooled and my Dad bought that CA102 from a co-worker, brought it home and let me try it out. It was during the summer so I rode it as often as I was allowed, and unbeknownst to me he planned to give it to me for Christmas. I had zero idea he intended to do that and when it happened my motorcycling life began even before I was old enough to get my restricted license. A year later he bought a CT70 for my mother to learn to ride on and the 3 of us went camping often, dirt riding all weekend (ironically just west of where I live now in Citrus County).I have seen that a lot of your posts reference the Tampa Bay area back in the day and I lived in T&C and went to Leto high school. I spent a lot of time at Suzuki of Tampa back then, it was a great place to hang out and looking back, it was a great time for motorcycles since every year brought new and exciting bikes.
After my TS was stolen I bought a 72 Honda CL350 on the cheap from a neighbor and finished out my high school years with it. In the spring of 1980 (my graduation year) I bought a lightly used 1977 Suzuki GS550 and I thought that it was the greatest bike ever. Powerful, smooth, 6 speeds with digital gear indicator, and only 1800 miles for $1200. I was in heaven.
Then my girlfriend and her family moved to St. Louis and I was heartbroken. So I did what any other love stricken 18 year old would do, I loaded up my bike and rode my GS550 to Missouri to see her. Then I rode home and never saw her again.
Ah, the trials of youth.
I bought a 78 KE175 back in the early 80s. It was my third bike. Back then the national speed limit was 55MPH and the KE would do 70 so I rode it on the interstate without any issues.My first bike was a KE175, which was street legal and not exactly a street bike, although that didn't prevent me from riding it 20 miles to school or 60 miles to the nearest "big" town.
First real street bike was a 440 LTD. Not sure what was "Limited" about it (lol), but man did I think that thing was awesome!
I owned a 1981 gray CBX with the factory fairing and saddle bags👍 Nothing sounded better to me than a CBX.That's a bunch, I've owned 36 bikes since age 14 and always wished I'd owned more (or still had some of them).
My most missed bike, really either one of them
Yes, the sound of a CBX is something you remember well. Water-faucet power from the bottom up, smooth and so much fun to ride.I owned a 1981 gray CBX with the factory fairing and saddle bags👍 Nothing sounded better to me than a CBX.
I wish I had kept my 1984 RZ350 with the Toomey kit installed but other motorcycles needed to be purchased🏍
I had a good deal for 15 years…..worked four years at a Honda dealer while in school + it was like family to me and could purchase any new Honda right. I even got to set them up right from the crate.
They were a wheelie machine even when you didn't really want to wheelie, LOL. Fast as hell, below average handling as you mentioned. That's a clean example of one there, beautiful.I started out on a Kawasaki 120cc street/trail bike and rode it primarily on dirt trails because I was too young to have a driver's license. I then got a slightly larger Suzuki 250 street/trail bike then sold it when I got my first car. Missing MC riding, I snagged one of these from the local Cadillac dealer who took it in as a partial trade on a Caddy. I paid $550 for it in 1975. Damn thing was a wheelie machine and it's a wonder I didn't kill myself riding it. The frame flexed in the corners and the pipes dragged way too easy.
Not mine, a pic from the interwebs, a '72 H1 Mach III