Who rides motorcycles?

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Luckily she does. Been married for almost 38 years, never gave me a problem on the bikes or much anything else.
Mike Hawkins

Really nice Hodaka you have there. And rare. Thanks for posting. I would love to see some more when you have time.

I was the poor kid on the block who never had a bike until I turned 15 and bought my first. An XL 125 1971 model. Also, growing up, my mom was the front gate ticket lady at the local motocross races for many years. I bet I walked 15 miles on those Sundays, meeting and watching (with envy) the fast guys. My mom was a trooper to do it, with the summer temps down here over 100, mostly for my sake...So I could have some form of weekend enjoyment. I think they paid her $20 for the whole day. We had to be out there at sunup and stayed until the races were finished.

Some bikes I remember that were special to me. Maico, Husqvarnas, the first monoshock YZ's, the first silver tank Elsinores, Can-Ams, Bultacos, the list goes on and on. Every year, seems one company would have something a bit faster or smoother and to stay competitive, you had to keep buying a new bike. I got to ride a Husaberg 500 in California back in 1991 that was faster than a WR 490 in a drag race on a dirt fire road.

 

[Firehawkmph]

I'll get some more pics up soon, have to get them out of my laptop. This wombat was a total nut and bolt restoration down to bare cases. Many nos parts that took me about ten years to collect. Both wheels, top end, speedo, tail light, brake pedal, cables, grips. The wombats were black framed. I did this one in red to replicate the factory prototype, which was in red. Then they decided to make the production bikes black so people would easily tell them apart. Raced 125 and 250 Elsinores, yz 125 and 400, even raced a Rupp 125 one year and a Penton 125. After the 77 Yz400' I switched to four strokes before it was cool and raced a Yamaha TT500 then Honda XR500 after that. They were fun but heavy.
Mike Hawkins

 

[Garandman]

Sweet!

I took the "Fat tire flier" for a spin yesterday, trails and road. Crazy fun bike, though max speed is 55.

 

[Piston]

The t Dubb is on my "dream bike" list. I think I'd LOVE that bike!

 

[kcflhrc]

Wow, over 300 posts since I originally posted the thread. Amazing. I rode with my 2 brothers Saturday. One Goldwing trike, one Honda Valkyrie and my Stratoliner. It was a fun day.

 

[barko1]

I've had a Kawasaki Concours 1400 for maybe 6 years, great bike bu I got the itch for something different. Bought a KTM 1190, nothing like 150+ HP in the dirt! If anyone needs a great Sport tourer I'll sell you a Kawasaki, or I have an 66 Honda S90 for sale.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Dual purpose KTM 1190?

 

[barko1]

Dual purpose KTM 1190?

Ye, the Adventure, light, fast, comfortable. Will take it for a few thousand mile test in jist over a month and Wednesday the Cherahola kwy.

 

[PJSprog]

... Bultacos, ...

When I was growing up, my best friend's older brother bought a Bultaco with right-shift, which he kept at their farm. I remember the first time riding that thing. Nice bike, but strange to shift and brake backwards. Popped the clutch once and rode a beautiful one-handed wheelie right into a bush. :duh:

 

[Firehawkmph]

Here's a few more pics of some of my bikes. Purple tanker is a 1976 Husqvarna WR360. Hodaka Super Rat, orange tank bike is a 1972 Husky WR450, modern yellow bike is a 2008 Suzuki RMZ250. Modern red/black bikes are 2007 Aprila RSX 450's. Orange and blue Hodaka is a 1974 Super Combat, nut and bolt resto with a front end off a Hodaka 250, custom up pipe by Harry Taylor, modern blue bike is a 2002 Yamaha WR250F.
Mike Hawkins