How old were you?

[Monty]

A Cushman Eagle in 1951. I was 13.

 

[ALDAWG]

When I was 15 I had a Honda XR-350R. The trails where I used to ride was about 2 miles away, but I had to cut across a golf course and a couple of back roads to get there. Believe it or not, I went to the same school with Doug Henry back then, we were just kids, and I remember him hitting 50 foot doubles that scared the **** outta me! He was a natural from very early on, soo fast nobody could keep up! Soo many good memories back there in the woods, another time some girls had a large bottle of J.D. Lets just say it was nearly impossible to ride across that golf course in the snow that night, I could'nt go 5 feet without dumping it. Felt like it took me 4 hours to get home, thats when I learned drinking and riding absolutely won't work.

 

[beemerdons]

Started at 14 Allstate moped purchased from local Sears store $287.00 on sale. Payed for with earnings from my newspaper route, Mom thought it might be "OK" since it had pedals.

Karl and I had the same exact start. This is the Sears Allstate Standard 175, which was actually a Puch manufactured in Austria. In 1957 I was 9 years old and my Cousin Stan was 11 when we got this bike at The Stanley Family Farm outside of Oakdale, California. We gave our Grandfather Ed Stanley back our allowances earned while working on "Sleepy Hollow Cattle Ranch", a 400 acre working spread on the banks of the Stanislaus River.

Our Grandfather Ed was a Wonderful Man, our allowances did not even come close to buying this bike; but a loving Grandfather made up the difference for "His Boys"!

We were not supposed to ride anywhere but on the ranch, but Ed Sr. knew we were sneaking it out for trips to Oakdale and Knight's Ferry. He loved us and ignored it!

In 1978 after Granddad Ed's funeral and the reception for him back at the ranch house. Stan and I went out to the old chicken shed to look at the Allstate 175 one last time, we cried like babies and we were both Army Veterans. Man oh man, that Sears Standard sure gave Stan, my Grandpappy Ed and I some great lasting memories!

 

[RavFJR]

I was 13 and rode a CB125...was also the first time I laid a bike down :blink: !

 

[DennisJ]

Honda 90 at age 19. My first car. Lasted for 10 months and 9800 miles before trading it for a Honda 305 Super Hawk that I rode for the 4 years until I was drafted.

 

[exskibum]

Legally? 15.5, which was legal then in California with a learner's permit. Honda 90 (we had 2 in the family). Grew up on an orange grove and was first on the neighborhood public (dirt) streets on the way to the local trails in the hills at 14, however.

 

[raitchison]

No poll choice if you started riding at age 32-39?

In my case I was 39 (~2.5 years ago) (I chose the 40-59 option because it was "close enough"

 

[rogdeb]

Oh how I wish it was at an earlier age ............... 52 for me. Do I win - or lose? :lol:

 

[user 6393]

Oh how I wish it was at an earlier age ............... 52 for me. Do I win - or lose? :lol:

you and me both, in the end Rog, we win!

 

[wheatonFJR]

I started riding motorcycles solo at age-3. Would not let them take the training wheels off my bicycle because it scared me.

My father bought a used BMW R60/5 with a wrecked Lufmeister full fairing. I rebuilt the fairing and he and I shared that bike for many years. The BMW was my first street legal experience.

I just love it when people give me an excuse to post this photo. Rode this bike on the street, but not legally. Note to Niehart - take notice of the garden hose nearby that had just been used to wash the bike.

Your gear has changed over the years...your shirt-eatin grin hasn't.

 

[wheatonFJR]

43-24-36

Wow. :dribble:

 

[yamafitter]

I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that the answer may tend to incriminate me.

 

[Bounce]

In 5th and 6th grade I rode a honda mini trail 50 (often on the neighborhood streets and going from one to another). In 7th and 9th I borrowed friends' 125 BSAs and Bridgestones before i got my first street bike. 14 i got a moto d/l (learner's permit). You didn't have to have an M endorsement on a regular D/L but you could get the bike learner's permit before the auto learners (@ 15.5 years old). Seems you still can.

If you are under the age of 16, you may apply for a motorcycle learner's permit. Until you turn 16, you are not allowed to carry a passenger. This permit has numerous other restrictions::
Motorcycle or scooter must be no larger than a 250cc piston displacement.

You may ride only between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.

If your motorcycle piston displacement is smaller than 125cc, your speed may not exceed 35 mph.

If your motorcycle piston displacement is larger that 125cc but smaller than 250cc, you may drive the posted speed limit; however, you may not ride on an interstate highway or turnpike.

These restrictions will automatically lift when you become 16 years of age; however, while you are still under 18 years of age, you must wear a helmet.

 

[beemerdons]

I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that the answer may tend to incriminate me.

Here is Bill F.'s first motorcycle, a 1957 Junak; built in Warsaw, Poland. yamafitter bought it brand new! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junak

W naszym kraju nie znajdziemy motocyklisty nie znającego motocykla SFM Junak, no już przynajmniej nie słyszącego o tym pojeździe. Klasyczna sylwetka, czterosuwowa jednostka napędowa i dostojny odgłos pracy może skusić każdego miłośnika motoryzacji.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that the answer may tend to incriminate me.

Here is Bill F.'s first motorcycle, a 1957 Junak; built in Warsaw, Poland. yamafitter bought it brand new! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junak

W naszym kraju nie znajdziemy motocyklisty nie znającego motocykla SFM Junak, no już przynajmniej nie słyszącego o tym pojeździe. Klasyczna sylwetka, czterosuwowa jednostka napędowa i dostojny odgłos pracy może skusić każdego miłośnika motoryzacji.

I'd kick you in the junk for that motorcycle. I bet it's worth more than your house...Or my house.

 

[beemerdons]

I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that the answer may tend to incriminate me.

Here is Bill F.'s first motorcycle, a 1957 Junak; built in Warsaw, Poland. yamafitter bought it brand new! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junak

W naszym kraju nie znajdziemy motocyklisty nie znającego motocykla SFM Junak, no już przynajmniej nie słyszącego o tym pojeździe. Klasyczna sylwetka, czterosuwowa jednostka napędowa i dostojny odgłos pracy może skusić każdego miłośnika motoryzacji.

I'd kick you in the junk for that motorcycle. I bet it's worth more than your house...Or my house.

I bet you are so right about the high value of this Junak, they were an incredible motorcycle! You had to be very influential in the Polish Communist Party or a close friend of a high ranking Soviet to be allowed to own a Junak. There was always a buyer's waiting list for them.

I've only seen one in my lifetime, I was stopped in St. Gallen, Switzerland for lunch in the mid 80s on a rented BMW K75. While seated in the restaurant a Junak pulled up next to my moto and I went out to talk to its Owner. Swiss Owned and only one of two in country!

 

[Pilot2Wheels]

No poll choice if you started riding at age 32-39?

In my case I was 39 (~2.5 years ago) (I chose the 40-59 option because it was "close enough"

Oops!!!

Meant to have that as 30-39. If I knew how to fix it, I would.

 

[Pilot2Wheels]

Oh how I wish it was at an earlier age ............... 52 for me. Do I win - or lose? :lol:

you and me both, in the end Rog, we win!

If you're riding know, you're a winner for sure. :yahoo:

 

[wheatonFJR]

This was the bike I saved $$ for in high school. Was going to tour the country on it...

I ended up only saving $1500 during High School, so I got this when I was 18 instead...

A couple of years later, I saved up enough for this...

...stolen a year later...thought I would never get a better bike. Ever.

Enter the FJR...

 

[El Toro Joe]

My firts bike at 16 yrs old...

Same bike but mine was in a little better shape before I turned it to stricktly an off road machine, and beat the piss out of it.