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My Riding History, Page 1 of 3 |
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My Riding History, Page 1 of 3 |
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I started riding in 1969, my first bike was a 1968 Honda 450 with a fiberglass
handlebar fairing and saddle bags. I hadn't ridden a two wheel contraption since
my last bicycle in grade school. One of the officers I worked with was selling
the Honda, and was trying to give me lessons to see if I really wanted to buy
it. I couldn't get it going because I was killing the engine when letting out
the clutch. Finally I twisted the throttle real good and did my first wheelie.
Unfortunately I needed more practice, the bike came down one way, I another. I
was wearing a helmet, but my cheek broke off the windshield as we parted
company. This officer came to my retirement party 28 years later to tell the
story of me laying on pavement, raising my bloody head up and yelling at him not
to sell it, I was buying it. It made me angry and I was going to ride it. And
buy it and ride it I did.
I learned to ride a little better and put about 10,000 plus miles on the Honda during the next year before selling it. I was wanted something bigger and faster. I was already riding the biggest bike imported from Japan at this time, so I looked across the other pond to England and purchased a 69 Norton 650 twin. This introduced me to Lucas Electric's. If you have to ask, just say Lucas was a little behind the times. The Norton was a shaker, but it did wheelies really easy and was a good handler. I kept this bike for a few years and had it custom painted and chrome. It took me to Reno several times, each a one day ride of about 850 miles, plus several other touring rides a year. The Reno ride would usually take me about 13 to 14 hours, same time as with the Honda and bikes to follow. Riders years later talked about doing a 1000 miles in 24 hours or less, I never did until 1999, but since I was doing 850 miles in 14 hours or less, I guess I had time for another 150 miles. A few years later I was making two day trips to Manhattan, Kansas to the Moto Guzzi Rallies and it was no big deal. Now in my later years I am really getting interested in long distance riding, maybe I am trying to keep my youth. But I am not as young as I use to be. Then in 1972 while crossing eastern Washington I had a rear tube tire blow out on my Norton. Witness's say I still doing about 50 MPH when I lost control and down I went to the pavement. The bike was totaled. I ended up with a broken right wrist, partially dislocated shoulder, and lots of road rash on my back side and legs. My helmet and boots did their job, but my jeans and tee shirt failed the skid test. The temperature that day was in the 90's, so no jacket. I count my blessings though, I had just passed thought the only town with a hospital within 50 miles, the witness behind me was a nurse, and at the same time a State Patrol trooper was approaching from the opposite direction. I was in good hands. My poor Norton, it had been custom painted and chrome. It had taken me many miles across this land, but now it was to be replaced. Within a week they released me from the hospital, and State Farm paid
off the Norton. While still wearing a arm caste and shoulder brace, I purchased
a new 1972 Suzuki 750 water cooled, with one of the very first Windjammer frame
mounted fairings. Frame The Suzuki was a good riding machine with a high pitch vibration, but it wasn't too bad. It was geared for 70 plus riding so when they reduced the speed limit down from 70 to 55 MPH it would lug in fifth. I rode the Suzuki until 1974 when I purchased my first of two Moto Guzzi's. That story continues on page 2 Click on a link to go to another page |
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