Bikes you grew up with

[Doogie2.0]

Now you guys are going to know I'm a really old dude. So you recognize these bikes some won't. I grew up on the bikes called the widowmakers. Why widowmakers,? well you add a powerful engine to a crappy frame, sloppy handling and high speed wobbles, quarter mile times the fastest in the world at the time, throttle wheelies on a 1972 motorcycle and you understand why. My mother bless her heart had no idea what the motorcycles she was letting me buy could do. I didn't pay for them she did and she did to get me away from my stepfather who was abusive. So needless to say I was hardly ever home and almost every day riding. My first bike was a red 69 Kawasaki 250 it's just a picture of the bike it's not my old bikesamurai scrambler. I think I was 14 15 during that time. When she let me get a bigger bike it was the 71 Kawasaki H1 triple 500. My 71 wasn't as fast as the 69 and the 70 500's, I know that because I rode them all. I was 16- 17. I got broadsided one night and totaled the 500 somehow I convinced her to let me get the 750 triple, the 1972 Kawasaki 750 H2. I had other bikes later on but this is the bikes I started out with and hold my skills on. The picture of the 69 250 in the 500 are just pictures of the bikes I had , not my old bikes. The picture of me on the 750 is when I was 17 this was 1972. I hope you guys will show some of the bikes you rode on and grew up on cuz I sure would like to see them. Whether it was 5 years ago you started riding 20 years ago or 40 years ago whatever. Thanks250

 

[Isleoman]

We must be about the same age. At 17 I went to look at a Kaw 500 that was for sale by a young owner. He asked If I wanted to take it for a test drive and I said sure. His next question was do you have a license? Sure (actually not) but he didn’t ask me to produce it. It was an eye opener as far as acceleration for that time period.

I don’t think I ever took a picture of the first bike I owned. I think it was a 72 maybe 71 Triumph 750 Trident. Lucas electronics kept it out of service 50% of the time. I definately didn’t have the patience to fix things at that age. The final straw happened when I went to kick start it and the ratchet on the arm let go and I hyper extended my knee while falling off the right side of the bike. As I laid on my back in agony I screamed "that’s it you Farger I’m done with you”.

I still have my first real bike a 74 Kaw Z1. Very reliable. Haven’t started it in 15 years. I’ll have to look for a photo.

 

[Doogie2.0]

We must be about the same age. At 17 I went to look at a Kaw 500 that was for sale by a young owner. He asked If I wanted to take it for a test drive and I said sure. His next question was do you have a license? Sure (actually not) but he didn’t ask me to produce it. It was an eye opener as far as acceleration for that time period.

I don’t think I ever took a picture of the first bike I owned. I think it was a 72 maybe 71 Triumph 750 Trident. Lucas electronics kept it out of service 50% of the time. I definately didn’t have the patience to fix things at that age. The final straw happened when I went to kick start it and the ratchet on the arm let go and I hyper extended my knee while falling off the right side of the bike. As I laid on my back in agony I screamed "that’s it you Farger I’m done with you”.

I still have my first real bike a 74 Kaw Z1. Very reliable. Haven’t started it in 15 years. I’ll have to look for a photo.

Isleoman I'm so sorry it took me so long to reply, I completely forgot about this post lol. That so awesome you still have your z1. There's a shop " Johnny's Vintage motorcycle Co" I've watched them restore many z1's , a couple H2's. They have parts and completely restore those bikes.

 

[Isleoman]

Isleoman I'm so sorry it took me so long to reply, I completely forgot about this post lol. That so awesome you still have your z1. There's a shop " Johnny's Vintage motorcycle Co" I've watched them restore many z1's , a couple H2's. They have parts and completely restore those bikes.

No worries on responses we all have stuff to grab our attention.

There are a couple of national level shops that cater to the Z1. (Z1 Enterprises is another). WEBBIKE in Japan has most Z1 parts still available.

There may be more parts for 70’s Z1 than Gen 1s. On one level I’d like to totally restore it but on another I don’t see myself actually riding it if I did. So it just sits. The bike I’d like to finish is my GS1100. I can see myself riding it. I have everything to make it much better than new again just need the time and determination.

 

[Doogie2.0]

No worries on responses we all have stuff to grab our attention.

There are a couple of national level shops that cater to the Z1. (Z1 Enterprises is another). WEBBIKE in Japan has most Z1 parts still available.

There may be more parts for 70’s Z1 than Gen 1s. On one level I’d like to totally restore it but on another I don’t see myself actually riding it if I did. So it just sits. The bike I’d like to finish is my GS1100. I can see myself riding it. I have everything to make it much better than new again just need the time and determination.

I love the GS 1100. Love it! A friend of mine, well he's actually the friend that gave me the FZ1 I ride. And just so happens to be the faster blue ,,,,,, but getting back to reality. He had a gorgeous silver GS1100 ES. Had it better full Yoshi (?) exhaust 4 into 1. Just an immaculate bike and he sold it for $1500.! Couldn't believe it. But my all time favorite is the blue and white one with bullet faring on it . I'd give anything to have one. And I remember reading those engines were so over built they could handle over twice the stock HP

 

[Isleoman]

https://imgur.com/AXwa0bx

My 82 with ES body pieces.