My Five Favorite Motorcycle Thrills

I know that feeling of popping out into the garage just to admire a bike that to anyone else is nothing special.
It's great.

My five in chronological order.

Buying and learning to ride my KL250 in May 1980.

Riding a Norton Commando in a Wichita hotel parking lot in July 2002 for a brief stint which allowed the bug to bite again.

Buying my SR 650 in 2004.

Riding my SR 650 on Labor Day 2004 after spending all summer working on it.

Cranking up the 650B for the first time in August 2006 after it hadn't run in some time. There was carbon and rust everywhere when it belched to life.

Okay, so I have simple thrills.

Every ride's a thrill!

Beyond that In 1978, I know ancient history, I was crossing the Sierras on Rt 108 with my KZ900. At the top the pavement was really narrow probably 24 feet but it felt more like 16. Any way I'll never forget the sensation as I came out of a hard left hander right at the crest of the hill, I brought it up for a hard right and completed the turn in the air. The bike floated for an instant which seemed like a minute and landed as if I was walking on water.

Never went back and never felt that kind of air since.

KZCSI

>My first ride on an unknown to me type of bike. My dad bought it when I was 14ish. It's light green, painted by a brush and 'bout 75-100cc. Must be an AJS. It had to be kick-started. My brothers and I just rode round and round a dirt patch outside our home in the country side.
>As I grew older, I secretly rode my dad's Triumph when he's not home. I remember having to park the bike exactly over the oil spot! hehe! I still haven't told him that today!
>Then in '76 I rode my own brand new KZ650 home from the dealer. I was grinning from ear to ear. Oh what a feeling!!
I still have it today and my boys are riding it.
>Last year I rode my new Duc 1098s home and pheeww!!!!That feeling is back!!
>Parked my KZ650 outside a restaurant where I normally have lunch and watch a bunch of guys looking over my bike!
I cannot share the other thrills!!

1. Hitting 135mph on a 1985 900 eliminator.

2. When i was 14 and learned how to ride a motorcycle on a 71 Yamamha DT250. Broken clutch cable and all.

3. Racing motocross at the Pontiac Silverdome.

4. Hitting a jump in 4th gear with the front tire tracking thru a different rut than the back tire:woohoo: . It got ugly then.

5. Another MX crash, i was near the front of the pack and crashed going over a jump and as i was falling to the ground i remember seeing the number plate of one of the other racers as he hit me right in the face. ( good thing for helmet's;)

I love motorcycles!!
Tom