What age did you start riding?

[Steve O Chap]

I started when I was 20... will be 6 years in March.

[Cruzintexas]

My grandson got an electric motorcycle for x-mas. He is 17 months and has got it going on. Saturday i think I saw him put a knee down in a turn!!!!!!! He loves his bike and his grandads. I hope when he grows up he keeps the passion.
Steve
PS. I started at 5 my grandfather was one heck of a guy. We had motocycles, go karts, guns, and fishing poles.When we would go ride he would sit for hours and watch us. When we went to the ranch we had a vespa, a 305 dream Honda Black and a old Harley besides our regular toys. at one point he got us a dune buggy. He made us keep them clean and we did all the maintainence ourselves. Everyday i remember how lucky I was to have him in my life. I hope I can do some of that for my grandsons.

[nKhona]

Just started about 2 weeks ago. I am in my 30's.

[wonder91178]

I started riding when I was 25, I'm 27 now (28 in September!) :mrgreen:

Kim

[Squidward]

Started out on a 1986 KDX200 when I was 13.....turning 29 next month.

[CycleCat]

I bought my first bike 13 years ago... when I was 26. I had borrowed friends bikes occassionally in college for about 5 years prior to that.

[Bagwell]

I am not sure when I really started, or if starting on a minibike is officially starting for me.

I was kinda lucky in that I had exposure to motorcycles at an early age. Both of my parents used to race motorcross and enduros when I was a kid. I remember going to the races and running around from one part of the track to another. We often ate frito pies and bottled cokes when out there. by the time I was about 5 they stopped racing.
My dad got us a Honda minitrail 50 just after he stopped racing, and I had a blast on that thing for a while. We never could really afford real dirtbikes after that.
I got my first street bike at about 19 and it was on. A buddy of mine was selling his Yamaha Maxim 550, and I was buying.

I still miss that Minitrail.

Vaughn

[texas51]

I started at age 6. First bike was a Ruup mini bike. My dad told me if I fell over I had to get the bike up fast to keep the oil from running out no matter what. Next was a 75 Honda MR50 then XR75, XR125,XR200r,CR125. Then came the Street bikes about 4 years ago with a F4I first and now the RC.To this day If I fall the bike always is my first thought.

[thestudent]

I am riding my first bike. I bought it when I was just past 30 (30.5) so I answered the 30+ catagory. I had a buddy with a dirt bike that i got to ride a handful of times when I was in my teens. When I turned 30 I took the safety course, got my license, and bought my bike all within 2 weeks. Haven't look back. Now I just want more....bikes, power, etc.

[hfpieratt]

As soon as I could ride a bicycle I was on a motorcycle too.

[Earthpilot]

First "minbike" was in 1968 age 12, first "real" bike was a Honda CL90 in 1970 age 14, had that for a year, then a Honda SL100 in 1971, man this story can go on forever!

[mjacks]

I am 30 now and completed my MSF in August of 2004. The MSF course was my first experience riding a motorcycle. I am a hopeless addict now. ;-)

[scratch]

Late Paleozoic. Or it sure seems that way sometimes. ;-)

About 13 years old in fact, on a borrowed Yamaha 80.

[Hemibee]

I was 14, so I've been riding almost 33 years.

[bluedogok]

I started at age 9 on a 1971 Yamaha Mini-Enduro MX60.

[Tumper]

I was about 10 or 11 when I started. My Grandad bought me an 1982 XL80, I rode the you know what out of it. It was a blast. I got a 1983 XL250 when I was 13....it no longer exists, needless to say I was hard on machinery.

[Jesse H]

I was 24 when I took the MSF. 27 now. Besides learning how to ride a bike, I don't really think I've learned anything new in the past 3 yrs.

[mlinkibikr]

I'll never forget the day when my Dad rode home on a Garelli 50. It was a big framed 50 - not a minibike or a scooter, so to me it was a real bike. He taught me how to ride it - I was 13 or 14 and cut my teeth on the traffic in Rome. He used it to commute to his office. Two years later we moved to Jakarta and I got my own bike - a Yamaha 90. Maybe that's why Houston traffic doesn't scare me so much. At least the cars mostly pay attention to the stripes and the signals here...

[Dketchum]

Got a Rupp minibike when I was 8. Now 48..been riding all this time, street and dirt.

[Tourmeister]

I voted in the wrong category :oops: (20-30)

I started at 33 with the Honda Nighthawk 750. It has all been downhill since then... But I can stop any time I want!! Honest!

[BrutusTx]

Started with a CB750 in 1978, then took a break from 1990-2005 then I bought the Busa in March. My how things have changed!!
First time I was on a bike I was a passenger, Reno to Death Valley on a 1950's Harley of some kind...........when I was 18 months old. And I have pictures to prove it......1960
Sorry, got sidetracked, 1978 I was 19.

[groovyone]

December 2002 at the age of 26.

[Thermalser]

Bought my first street bike, '82 Kawi 440LTD, when I was 17.

[Gilk51]

I got the ancestor of the current motorcycle license at 14 and rode an Allstate 125cc scooter for 2 years as my primary transportation. Limit for riders under 16 back then (mid 60s) was 5 brake horsepower. The Cruisaire had 4.5 HP, 2 cycle.

No motorized 2 wheelers for 37 years until a year and a half ago when my family of 4 all took the MSF class in September of 04. My wife and I were both 53 - must be midlife crisis. :mrgreen:

[redrider4life]

I got a mini-bike when I was 9. It had a Briggs and Stratton motor. It was really hard to get to start but once it did it wouldnt get shut off till it was dark.

Ron

[Thermalser]

Does a "Big Wheel" count?:-P

[WoodButcher]

Rode a minibike for an hour or two when I was 8 or 9, but I'm not counting that. Took the MSF class the month after my 41st. birthday. So that was a little over 2 years ago. Bought my first bike a week after the class.

[Snoopster]

I started riding as a passenger in my early 30's. It wasn't until my mid 30's that Tourmeister & Blue Bomber informed me that I carry too much luggage & needed to get my own bike. ;-) I'm on my second bike now & it's been 2 1/2 years & I can't imagine not riding my own. :pilot:
Thanks for that push. :hack:

[Red5]

Mid-20's with a '91 Bandit 400. 10 years and counting.

I'm waiting for Jack to chime in and beat us all. :-D

[Hairsmith]

Started riding at 9 years old.
First bike JT160 Yamaha.
I believe that was about 37 motorcycles ago. But some may have gotten lost in there somewhere.

[Bagwell]

Mid-20's with a '91 Bandit 400. 10 years and counting.

I'm waiting for Jack to chime in and beat us all. :-D
Ooooo, COOL BIKE.

Now we need a poll for the coolest starter bike. :rider:

[leadwolf]

I started when I was seven. Rode dirt for a long time and rode on the back of my dad's Goldwing when I was in my early teens. I took his Goldwing down to the DMV and got my street license on my 16th birthday. After that, I proceeded to put more miles on it than he did.

Since then, I've had times with and without bike. Currently, I don't get to ride much since I have two boys under 2 (22 months and 4 1/2 months). They keep us very busy. What I'm hoping for is a return to dirt soon. I'm thinking mom will give in to the boys and let them ride early. Still working on that. :pray:

Forgot to add, for those that care, my first bike was an Indian 50 dirt bike. Three speed automatic!

For reference, I'll be 39 this coming June.

Larry Johnson
Grapevine, TX

[1TallTXn]

I started riding in the dirt by myself when I was ~10 IIRC.

I started riding with my dad on the tank of the XR200 when I was old enough to stay on by myself :-D

Started on the street just a few months prior to my 21st BD. that was in '04

[Jack Giesecke]

13, Honda 90, baby! First gear, it's alright, second gear, holdin' right, third gear, hang on tight........

[1TallTXn]

13, Honda 90, baby! First gear, it's alright, second gear, holdin' right, third gear, hang on tight........
careful, your starting to give you age away there ;)





is it sad that I know the song he's referencing??

[Gilk51]

careful, your starting to give you age away there ;)

is it sad that I know the song he's referencing??
No, 'cause I know it, too. Next line is "faaaasterrrr..." :yawn:

Jan & Dean? Not sure of the group name... :-(

[howdydo]

No, 'cause I know it, too. Next line is "faaaasterrrr..." :yawn:

Jan & Dean? Not sure of the group name... :-(

Beach Boys "Til I die"

Dang it, now I am telling my age ;-)

Started riding December 03 (MSC) then bought my first (and only) bike in November 04...

[JR]

I started at age 15. I'm 75 now and still kicking the breeze.

JR aka Grumpy
STOC # 394
03ST1300ABS
Lake Livingston, TX

[dutchinterceptor]

Dirtbikes: 6 years old. Honda MR50.
Streetbikes: 32 years old. Yamaha Radian.

[Tracker]

1971 Sears 5 hp Briggs & Stratton Mini-bike with street legal equipment (lights & horn)
Then a 196? Honda CL90 blue with silver gas tank/black rubber knee pads in the tank. Got my license on my 15th birthday--was in the low 20's but I rode it home from the DVM. :rider:
Quit riding at 16 and didn't ride again until 3 months ago...

[Jack Giesecke]

I started at age 15. I'm 75 now and still kicking the breeze.

JR aka Grumpy
STOC # 394
03ST1300ABS
Lake Livingston, TX

My hero and inspiration...;-)

[KewlRR]

As soon as I could ride a bicycle I was on a motorcycle too.


Wow.. 80+ bikes. Any few he wants to get rid of? (free pickup!) :)

[Jack Giesecke]

As soon as I could ride a bicycle I was on a motorcycle too.

When your dad is THAT into bikes, how could you miss? :LOL:

I started at 13 and I'm 53, so I've been riding 40 years non-stop.

[Desert Skies]

14, 37 years ago.

[Bagwell]

Wow.. 80+ bikes. Any few he wants to get rid of? (free pickup!) :)
Hey, there is only room enough in here for one Vaughn. :)

I dont see the name around much, but every now and then.

Vaughn

[Chris Mitchell]

I started when my friend George decided to put a lawn mower engine in a bicycle frame and used a washing machine torque converter for a transmission and clutch. I had to build my own to keep up with him, as my bicycle was not fast enough. I was 11 or 12 then, and I am 57 now. Been riding a long time, including number of years on flat tracks and other off road racing and riding. Graduated from the home make bike to a Sears MoPed and from that to a Harley 125cc Hummer two stroke single which I rode to death. Then the Harley Sprint years, and on to various BSA and Triumphs and Nortons.

[Cadaver]

Riding? or owning bikes?
Started riding about 12-13, but only because my friends got bikes. I absolutely loved it, but my parents (or at least my mom) were dead set against them. So not a whole lot of riding. Had to settle for cars and bicycles, still have a bunch of them. used to ride them all the time.
Finally, took the MSF class at age 37 for the first time about the time my mother was got breast ca. So, I didn't get the endorsement (seems at the time you still had to do the road test) or buy a bike at the time. Didn't think about it until 3 1/2 years ago, I took the class again, got my endorsement and bought a V-star 650. Rode it nearly every day for a year, 11k mi, commutting and also to Puerto Penasco. Loved it, but wanted more. So I bought a Beemer R850R and sold the V. Then I bought a H-D, not sure why. Lowsided it twice on wet roads and bad brakes. It mostly just sits in the garage now. Never dropped the other two rides. Still think I'm gonna sell/swap the HD out for a track bike or a DS, or both.

Now, I can't believe that I let all those yrs go by without riding. But, I have to believe things happen for a reason, so maybe I enjoy riding even more now because of the wait. Or, perhaps I wouldn't be here now if I hadn't.:zen:

[budzrex]

Starrted at age 4, I am 44 now and have never been without
a motorcycle. The whole family rode for years but I am the
last one riding. Dad hung his helmet up ealier this year
after a nasty spill mesed up his foot. He is 79

[bronco78]

15.5 years old.. Bought my first bike from a friend,., DT175.. Ran for almost a week :lol2: Bought my second bike form another friend at 16.. Parked it down the street from home,, so mom would not know I was riding a street bike................ about six weeks later.. I was running late for school,, and asked dear old mom for a ride......,, she asked why I needed a ride...... Why not just take my bike :doh: .. Who the heck did I think I was fooling :mrgreen:

[Project-RD]

8 years old on a friend's yamaha 80 ...

The occassional short ride on a borrowed machine here and there ...

Really started riding in earnest at age 20 ... Had my first RUNNING bike at age 21 ...

Just turned 34 last week; and am restoring that first bike :)

[mode12]

I had a Trail 70 up at the cabin ever since I remember...I was on that thing whenever it wasn't dark out. Mom would have to pry me off of it at the end of the weekend to go back to the cities.

[KERKER]

Really started at age 9 on a CT70. Rode quite a few mini-bike and go-carts before that.

[DANNYROTH]

My dad had bikes (Triumph, BSA, Ariels) before I was born, so, I don't remember the first time I rode as a passenger. He got a BSA Bantam 125 (see my avatar) for me and my brother when I was about 12. Been riding since then, although went for approx 35 years without a regular ride. (I'm soon to be 55)

[pacman]

16 years old on a shiney new 1990 Honda CB1 (400). I saved for 2 years and bought it without my parents knowing. I didn't get to ride it for a while as I was grounded for over a month. But somehow I kept the CB1!!:trust::trust: Been riding a 2 wheeler ever since. That was 16 years ago.

[st driver]

Started at twelve with a sixth hand Sears moped(thats when I started the wrench habit). Have had something with a motor and two wheels ever since although I didn't always have one that actually ran. Most were dirt bikes till 8 or 9 years ago. I'll turn 54 in a couple of weeks.

[Bagwell]

16 years old on a shiney new 1990 Honda CB1 (400). I saved for 2 years and bought it without my parents knowing. I didn't get to ride it for a while as I was grounded for over a month. But somehow I kept the CB1!!:trust::trust: Been riding a 2 wheeler ever since. That was 16 years ago.
That musta been a neat bike to have for a first bike. You dont still have that CB1 do you?

Vaughn

[pacman]

That musta been a neat bike to have for a first bike. You dont still have that CB1 do you?

Vaughn

I wish. I t-boned a left-turning-pickup-that-never-saw-me at 60 mph. I played superman for a few seconds, got up and walked away, but the CB1 was toast.

[Don Ricardo]

I was a very clueless 15 years of age when my father traded a '53 Studebaker for two '64 Ducati Broncos. I rode one of them for three years; low-sided, high-sided and rode it through a barbed-wire fence one dark night. Fortunately, it was so slow that I never injured myself or the bike.

[SKEETER]

first dirt bike i was 9 = yamaha mx80
first street bike i was 12 = 250 yamaha speacial (my big sister wanted a bike because i was having all the fun, she got board quick so i got it.
age now(35)


now:
2006 husky sm610
2005 yamaha yz250f

[scratch]

...I started at 13 and I'm 53, so I've been riding 40 years non-stop.
Dude, that's got to qualify you for the Guiness Book of World Records! :thumb:

(can't believe none of the other wise-guys jumped on that one before now. Hello Sleepy? Wake up! ;-) )

[chiricahua]

At 16 my older brother let me ride his RD400. Not much has scared me since. But it taught me throttle control early on.:eek2:

44 this year and I keep saying when I get older I'll get a Harley:mrgreen:

[Faylaricia]

Rode my friends' bikes as a teenager, my favorite was the Yamaha DT. Mopeds and dirt-bikes were big where I grew up. Also had the occasional ride on my uncle's Vespa in Italy.
Then nothing for over a decade except for intense bicycling (as if that counts, lol). Was put on my uncle's huge brandnew Vespa in Italy in 2001 again and figured, I need to pretty much start over.

After years of cancelling MSF appointments and arguing with mom, took the course in Feb of 06 and finally made my dream come true of getting a bike (a birthday present to myself at 35) :rider: Put 4000 miles on the little Ninja before making the leap to my docile VFR that I love dearly. Still taking it very easy but enjoying riding and hoping to one fine day make it to a trackday.

So, officially, at 35.

[pkiser]

Started riding at 10. I begged dad for a Briggs & Stratton mini bike. That Christmas there was a Honda Z50 under the tree. Been hooked ever since. About to turn 46.

[Tchuck]

Started at 14 on a 2 stroke Suzuki 250. Am 54 now, but have a 20 year gap. Didn't ride when my daughter after my daughter was born until she left home.

[NX2000]

12 or 13 on a 1979 XL-75. There was a Z-50 in there somewhere but I'm not sure which was first. I rode that 75 all over the place, I'm amazed I never got stopped on it.