Images of Love Past (My First Bike)

[Helmetdance]

Ah Yes! They say your first love will always hold a special place in your heart, even if the same can no longer be said for the parking place in your garage. Believe it or not, this was my first motorcycle. I would not recommend this approach to anyone else, but I have never done things in a "typical" manner. I walked inside a local Harley dealer one day more curious than serious. I came back a week later, bought it, and had it delivered to my garage - then I had to learn to ride. First taking a couple of MRC classes using bikes owned by ABATE, it took me a while before I worked up the nerve to ride my own, but things rapidly progressed from there.

Without further adieu, I introduce the first motorcycle I ever owned, a 2002 Screamin' Eagle Road King - The "Purple Hog":

[mnnden]

Mark. That is one BEAUTIFUL MACH. I know a guy who has an older harley, he dosn't ride, but it sets in his garage as a piece of art. I put yours in that category. You say this "was" your first bike, do you still have it? I hope so, If you don't mind I would like to download a pic or two to send to a friend, Thanks Den

[Helmetdance]

Originally Posted by mnnden

Mark. That is one BEAUTIFUL MACH. I know a guy who has an older harley, he dosn't ride, but it sets in his garage as a piece of art. I put yours in that category. You say this "was" your first bike, do you still have it? I hope so, If you don't mind I would like to download a pic or two to send to a friend, Thanks Den

Den,

No she's just a memory now. But I have a few more pics of it where these came from. It's not a custom bike, so download to your heart's content. This was a standard factory edition called a Screamin' Eagle - they still make it. It came in two color schemes. Purple with silver flames and red with red flames (two different shades). Help yourself to the pics. And I can email you others if you'd like them.

My next bike will be a BMW GS! As you know, Harley's are pretty to look at, but they can't do what you can do with yours.

Mark

[Strega 51]

Wow Mark, that is a lot of bike for a first bike. Man I started on a Kawasaki KM100 But I was only 14 and I loved her to.

[Helmetdance]

Originally Posted by Strega 51

Wow Mark, that is a lot of bike for a first bike. Man I started on a Kawasaki KM100 But I was only 14 and I loved her to.

Phil,

You're right about that. I'm almost sure that if I would have known about this board and sought the advice of the experienced riders prior to buying my first bike, then I probably would have been advised to start smaller - and maybe I would have - but then again.... I think that even I would probably do things differently now, and certainly would never suggest to any beginner that they do it the way I did. In fact, I have sort of passed the passion on to my older brother, and have already tried to convince him not to start out like I did.

If I would have brought a bike home, even a mini-bike, when I was 14 my parents would have killed me - then they would have made me get rid of it. I begged and begged to no avail. At 18, after graduation from high school, one of my high school buds died as a result of being rear-ended at a red light. Then a couple years later another high shool bud got hurt and was in recooperation for about a year - went from 230 lbs to 130 in the interim. It took me a long time before I regained my taste for motorcycles, but when the appetite came back, you might say it hit me real hard! I guess I had to make up for lost time.

Mark

[motowriter]

Excellent pix, Mark, what a gorgeous bike!!

I bought my first love on May 9 last year, almost a year ago to the day. I still have her, though a friend who's a newb is riding her at the moment. Sooner or later I'll put her up for sale, but she was a great learner ride.



Haven't used that 3/4 helmet for months... bought it cheap to take the MSF class last May, when it was in the 90s. Wassup with this weather this year???

[Helmetdance]

Gary,

Your first bike is the same color as one of my favorite first cars, a 71 Mustang I bought for $400!

BTW, the pics you posted the other day on Mariposa to Angel's Camp where amazing! I'm really looking forward to riding that stretch this summer.

Mark

[motowriter]

Heh?? When are you going to be out here? What did I miss? Need details!!

[Neeley]

My first one was a 305 kawasaki small but had alot of fun on it.

[Helmetdance]

Originally Posted by Gary

Heh?? When are you going to be out here? What did I miss? Need details!!

Gary -

I plan to arrive in CA on Thursday August 4, hopefully early afternnoon. I'll cross the Nevada border into your wonderful state in the Lake Tahoe area on my way in. I'll stay up at Loon Lake the first night. Then I'll make my way south through the Sierra Passes, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, down into the LA area and then north up the coast. The morning I leave CA should be Monday the 15th, when I should be starting out from the Weaverville / Peanut area and will make my way up into Oregon and Crater Lake from there.

I've been traveling for work the last couple of weeks, but when I get home I plan to post a detailed itenerary for where I will be each day, and I am hoping to meet a few of the guys from this board along the way. Hopefully when folks see that post they may be able to fit some of those days into their agendas as well. Hope to see you along the way!

Mark