how many bikes do you NEED?
Oh, no! It's true. We did not always ride.
Of course, there was a time before either of us had a license.
But, once I got a license, I was on a bike. My first bike was a 1970 Honda CB350 that ran in fits and starts, usually on only one cylinder. I learned to ride (and fall) on that tough little beast.
I also learned how to fall off an '82 V45 Interceptor. That hurt a bit more, and was much more expensive.
I took an 8 year break from riding (I got married, OK? She said I could not have a bike...) until Jackie finally broke down and let me buy a 1982 Suzuki GS1000 L. I fell in love with the GS right off the bat, even tho' it is a cold-blooded beast and can be a bear to maintain. It had all the go you could ever ask for, and held up to the daily commute pretty well.
The '82 went after only 2 seasons, tho' I hated to see it go. I still see it around town now and then. I didn't put the windshield on it, by the way.
I took a year off, looking for the bike o' my dreams, and accidently fell into a DEAL on a 1991 GSX1100 G. It was not the bike I was looking for, and needed some work, but I love my "Shark" and would never trade him in.
In fact, I like the bike so much, I bought another one just like it, the "'Cuda".
Since then, I've convinced Jackie to ride her own bike. She always enjoyed riding as a passenger, but was unsure that she could handle a bike on her own. I assured her that anyone who could drive a stickshift could more than handle a bike. Eventually she agreed to try.
Jackie started on a 1977 Kawasaki KZ400, where she got her balance and confidence. She agreed to take the MSF basic ridercourse when I bought her a 1986 Yamaha Virago 700. She passed, of course, and got her license shortly afterwards.
We sold the XV700 in early 2000 and found her a 1999 V-Star 1100. Jackie felt she was ready for more instruction and took the experienced ridercourse on her new bike and did very well. Eventually she will go for her MSF instructor certificate.
