Bought my first bike (with my own money) at 14, a Hudson Moped with a 50cc Villiers two stroke engine. This sucker would go 165 miles on one Canadian gallon (the big one), and my first gallon cost me $.39 cents. Advanced through a DOT (Villiers 250cc two stroke), a 1942, 45 ci Harley, a 1954 BSA 350 Scrambler, and the love of my young life, a 1956 650cc Ariel Huntmaster (if ONLY I had kept it). Then girls, wives, kids. Resumed biking in early forties with a 1982 Honda 750 Sabre. Then kids university, bike went. Retired in May 2003, bought a 2002 Honda Shadow 1100 with 540 kms on it in June. Made the mistake of trying a 2003 FJR in September 2003. Tried a 2003 Honda ST1300 the following day. Purchased a 2004 FJR ABS about three weeks later at 61. Rode it til August 2006, and traded it for an 06 AE. All that chronology makes me 65 at this point, and I love my AE. My pillion enjoys riding with me (she's 18 years younger, hehe), but when she REALLY wants to go fast, she throws a leg over her 2003 BlackBird. And yes, she is an MSF instructor, among her many talents. As we are all here for a short time, my theory is; make it a good one, because NO ONE can live yesterday tomorrow.
