Experience poll

[Jerry]

More or less in order of ownership:

1945 Harley "45" (1967 - '68, sold to a collector for college funds.)
'69 Honda 90 (1974, destroyed in bike to dump truck accident.)
'72 Honda CB 450 (1974 - '85, sold to pay for a move.)
7? Honda CB 350 (1992, sold to a co-worker.)
'82 Yamaha 400 Maxim (1992 - 2001, sold before a move.)
'82 Yamaha XJ 1100J Maxim (1999 - present.)

[xsilerating]

too many years... too few bikes

Pretty difficult to remember all the bikes there were over the years, especially when I can't remember what I had for supper and that was only a couple of hours ago

But, I do remember that it all began some 37+ yrs. ago with a 50cc Suzuki that I picked up for 50 bucks from an American draft dodger. He needed the money to pay for repairs to his '62 Chevy Corvair. Drove that for a couple of years 'till I blew the engine. Ended up selling/trading it to a buddy of mine for a case of beer. Don't know who got the better of the deal... I got one case with 24 bottles in it and he got 4 cases with one bike .
Then came a '71 CB350 which I inadvertently wiped out on some 'black' ice barely 4 hours after I picked it up (new) from the dealership. Then came the following - in no particular order - 650 BSA; 750 Norton; 500 Honda 4; Yamaha 650; CB 400; Yamaha 125 dirt; CB450 and one or two others thrown in for good measure. The two noted below currently occupy the stable.

[STEPPENWOLF]

38 years on the road with 12 on a bicycle before that.

[DGXSER]

Started riding Motorcycles in 1987 Rode until about 1990. Next bike I got was my 11 in November of 2008. Still a newbie by most standards.

[Bigfoot]

Started on a Honda 185 Twinstar in 2005 for a couple months. Bought my XJ shortly after. Didn't really ride it much until I finally got it running right in 2007. Last year bought a 1980 Midnight Special. Just sold the XJ and bought a 1984 FJ1100.

[CatatonicBug]

My MNS is my first bike ever. Been riding it since fall of '08. I've gone from being scared to lean around the corner at the end of my street to taking twisties at highway speeds with my new XSive friends!

[cywelchjr]

Been riding off and on since 1980, with a couple of large breaks in there. Been riding this time for about 2 years, and don't plan on stopping this time till I live in an old folks home.

[Elevener]

You know, when I first saw this poll (92% over 25 years), I thought "What a bunch of old farts! ( chronologically Im an old fart also ) But considering we are all into 30 year old motorcyles I guess it make sense.

[Big Daddy Funk]

Hurts so good.

Riding 38 years minus a five year stretch for buying my first house. These are the bikes I rode for at least one full season. The Specials are my favorites follow by the Triumphs. Guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

1969 Briggs&Statton powered mini bike
1972 Honda 90
1962 (approx) Triumph Daytona
197? Kawasaki K400 triple two stroke
1974 Honda 500 four
198? Honda 250
1980 Goldwing
1986 Goldwing Aspencade
197? CanAm Rotax
1996 Triumph Thunderbird
1980 XS 11 Special (still own)
1979 XS 11 Special (still own)
I think i'm done buying bikes now. The two specials keep me satisfied.
(unless a really sweet late model sport/tourer comes my way when the ole'lady ain't paying attention)

[65oldsboy]

Started in the dirt, riding a 78 Kawasaki KE100, which occasionally made it out onto the street. Underpowered, but made for a good bike to learn on. Rode that for 6-8 years.

Got my 1st real street bike (79 XS1100SF) in 1990 and kept it until 93. Traded it in on a V-max....one of the worst mistakes of my life. Kept that until 95 (when my daughter was born). Was bikeless from then until last month. Still waiting to ride "Divorce Maker." The honey-do list must come first or the bike's name will come true.

[Larrym]

Lessee here...

Honda 450 (Two cylinder 4-stroke)
Suzuki 500 (Two cylinder 2-stroke/longest production bike drive chain ever)
Triumph 650 Bonneville (Two cylinder 4-stroke/)
Kawasaki 500 (Three cylinder 2-stroke/scary motor matched to a butter frame)
Suzuki DR 370 ( One cylinder 4-stroke/ best handling bike I ever owned)
Suzuki 650 (Two cylinder 4-stroke/ mono shock rear was a tailbone saver)
Yamaha 650 ( Two cylinder 4-stroke/swapped it for the XS1100 Std)
Yamaha XS1100 Std (4 cyl 4 stroke/hated the handling cause of the fairing)
Honda Goldwing (4 cylinder 4-stroke water cooled/passed my WA motorcycle skill test on this full dresser)
Yamaha 700 ( 4 cylinder 4-stroke/50 extra cc's but still too small)
Kawasaki ZN1100 (4 cylinder 4-stroke/street version of police bike)
Yamaha XS1100 Special ( 4 cylinder 4-stroke/current favorite)

All bikes were daily riders except for current bike. Did all the repairs myself on every one. Always liked the inline 4 cylinders: least vibration and smooth acceleration. It's a plus when the bike handles well too....

[MindWebs]

lists...

first bike i've owned and still ride.
it's the reason i fell in love with motorcycles..

1975 Kawasaki S1-C 250cc 2 stroke triple(own)
1968-69? Honda CB450 twin (heavy, ugly, no front brakes, rode it anyway)(gone)
1981 Honda CB650 custom, fun bike, (sold to buddy)
1978 yamaha XT500 enduro, lots of fun!! smoked a KLR650 drag racing.(gone)
2005 Kawasaki EX250 Ninja, LOTS of fun, light and fast (own)
1979 XS1100 special, fun, but a pain in my rear.(own)
1981 XJ750 Seca, basket case. needs lots a work. (own)
1982 XJ750 Maxim MNS, project.... just needs a few parts (own)
1971 Honda CB 350, needs a batt and carb rebuild, (own)

i've also used 8 or 10 other bikes here and there..
newest being a Kawy Z1000, very fast, dual personality, i liked it.

been riding since i was 17, 11 years now....

Keep'er between the ditches gents!!

[roadcat]

My fav rides;

1978 Yamaha XS750 Special (Nevada, 1978/80)
1976 Yamaha 650 (Italy, 1980/81)
1973 (?) Laverda 750 (nice little racer, Italy, 1981/82)
1978 Yamaha XS1100 Standard (Germany, 1982/84)
1980 Yamaha XS1100 Standard (California, Nevada 1986/99)
1979 Yamaha XS1100 Standard (still in the saddle, California, Arizona 2001/present)

[DJinNH]

1980 Yamaha XS400 in 1980 (the summer between my soph and Jr yr in high school)
1981 Yamaha XS850 Special...the 400 was just too small
1982 Sharing the bike with Dad (we split the costs) was not giving me enough riding days so I bought a used 1981 Kawasaki GPz 550.

85 - 07 gave up riding as I didn't feel comfortable with it in South Florida after transferring there for work (Keys mostly, then WPB and Clearwater)

2008 bought two XS1100 Specials, 80 and 81...the 81 was sold to me for parts but I didn't have the heart to tear it down so started rebuilding that. I just sold it prior to ever finishing it.

2009, at the time I was very happy with my 1100SG, then I went to an open house at a local Yamaha Dealer and fell into the trap, "Why don't you take it for a test ride?" The hook was planted too deep and I ended up buying the 2009 Yamaha Raider (1854 cc's).

I checked the 6-10 yr option for the poll even though I did ride a little during those off years. My brothers bikes and even my boss who would loan me his Harley in Clearwater.

Don

Hey, back around 1971/1972, I use to ride around the yard on the gas tank of Dad's Yamaha 360, does that count if he was driving? lol

[rpgoerlich]

Back in 68 Dad picked me up a small minibike powered by a 3½hp Tecumseh. Rode it mostly on the ice in the winter and the two tracks and dirt roads in the summer.
In 69 he bought an ATC90 to ride around on the ice in the winter.
1970 he found me a 69 Suzuki TC120 cat cheap. Rode the snot out of it. He bought himself a 1969 Suzuki 350 Rebel that he and Mom would ride on the weekend.
1971 He played banker and financed me a new 72 Kawasaki F7 175 and let me get my cycle license at 15.
75 I picked up a 72 Kawasaki F8 250 and rode it a couple years.
Later that year I found a 72 TM250 Suzuki, which I promptly studded the tires and raced it on the ice.
76 picked up a 74 Honda CL350 Scrambler.
Moved to OK in 78 and found a 72 XS650 for $450 with 1200mi on it, rode it for a few years.
Arrived in Houston with the XS650 and ended up trading it in on a small Datsun.
Since then I've been buying, riding and selling a number of bikes a few of which I still own, that include:
YZ125
DT125
A number of 4 wheelers, Polaris & Honda.
1986 & 87 Honda Rebels
1980 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim
1985 Yamaha XV700 Virago
1979 Yamaha XS750 Special
1982 Suzuki GS300L
1980 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim(yea another one)
1977 Yamaha XS750 2D
1982 Yamaha XJ650 Seca Turbo
1982 Honda CB900F Supersport w/1100 engine in it.
1982 Yamaha XJ550 Maxim
1979 Yamaha XS1100 Special
1981 Yamaha XJ550 Seca
1980 Yamaha XS1100 Standard
1981 Yamaha XJ750 Seca