10 Years on 2 wheels....

[Jon_W]

Dosen't time flw when you enjoy yourself. Just reasised that 10 years ago today I passed my motorcycle test.... and have never looked back.

Having ridden everything from a 50cc scoot to a Hyabusa to a 1937 Velocette, I've yet to find a motorcycle I don't like, but this is only a part of the pleasure. I guess the best bit has been riding to the best places and meeting the best people in the world.

Cheers guys.

:)

[lolliver]

98 days here! And I've ridden a Yamaha YBR 125 and a GS500. ;D

Man I love having OCD.

Congrats, hope you enjoy the next 10 years just as much :)

[mdukx1t]

good post to see jon - and one that deserves a recognition -
nice last para
:)

[Nelly]

Blimey Jon! You just jogged a memory! And a Strange coincidence has come to pass.
I just checked my license and it was 27 years ago today that i passed my motorcycle test! :o

[Kevinb]

Started riding an AP50 at 16 but didn't pass my test until I think it was 83 or 84 & yes that is 1983 or 1984. I remember because I bought a brand new black MZ125 to learn on.
Ah memories

[Last Train]

8-) 8-) as JW


26 years in April for me.... :o

Kin ell..... :-X

[Geordie Stu]

Showing your age now Kev...!!! ;D

[Dabz]

Nice one Jon :D

so..what's the BEST bike you've ever ridden?

[Jon_W]

Happy 27th Nelly!!!! [smiley=beer.gif]

The Best bike.... oh that's hard. Every one has been good, some better in one are than others.

The Busa was effortless speed.... my god that could haul ass....
The Velo sounded the best..... I could listen to the exhaust and inlet note all day...
The superdreams were the most comfortable. I don't know why...
The CBR was brilliant for hooning about Silverston....

...and the cub is just plain fun!

But...

If I had to have one bike, I'd have my Sv. Looks good, sounds good, is reasonably comfortable and goes well. Have had it eight years and have never tired of riding it.

[Cemorah]

Feb 1981 nearly 31 years time for a goldwing or beamer perhaps ;D

[wiltshire builders]

23 years for me.

I'll never forget how excited I was, as a fresh faced 11 year old, when my Dad took me into the garage and showed me the wrecked Italjet sat on a milk crate.
We rebuilt it and I rode it as often as I could.

I've ridden loads of bikes since but whenever I get a wiff of 2 stroke it brings back some awsome memories of both riding and watching my Dad race.

[redken1]

Well said Jon. [smiley=thumbsup.gif] Passed my test in 1979 and like you have ridden too many bikes to mention. Gt 185 twin suzuki 2 stroker has got to be my fav.

I was an apprentice on a low wage and worked on local resident's gardens for a year to save up. Picked it up on my 17th birthday in 1976. Like WB, every time I smell the exhaust fumes from a 2 stroke I take a trip down memory lane. :)

They say, "You never forget that first kiss" or in this case, first ride. ;D

[Snowy]

Got my first bike August 1st 1978 - brand new CB250N Superdream and rode it out the showroom having never sat on a bike before with the mechanic on the pillion seat telling me what to do ;D ;D. Passed my test the following May, 3 weeks before riding down through France and Spain to Minorca for a two week holiday with a bunch of college mates. Great times. :) Must do the Pyrenees again on the GS someday - great ride.

Well done JonW for reaching the decade.

[Toph]

Most of you know my story!! ;D ;D
I rode my first "bike",a 3 speed NSU Quickly, to work on my 16th birthday, February 1976. I've owned and ridden a huge series of small capacity bikes to work ever since, when I was 17, I bought a TS250 Suzuki trailie, Which I loved, but had to sell it when the restriction for riding on "L" plates was reduced to 125cc. :(
I can't explain why it took 35 years to pass my test :o :o, I guess it was because I used my bike as a tool to get to work, never really wanted to ride anything bigger.......until..
April 4th 2010, when I joined Wiltshire Bikers, I went to some meets, made some new friends, joined you all on a few rideouts, and realised how much I needed some more horesepower!! ::) ::) ;D
So in March this year, after 35 years on "L" Plates, :-[ I passed my bike test , bought Jordan, and am having the time of my life, I wish I'd passed the test years ago!.
I'm loving the extra power and more importantly the friendship of everyone in Wiltshire Bikers. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[bubblylittleme]

Well I passed mine on 9th April 1980, that's 31 yrs!
and heres all my bikes...

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo218/bubblylittleme/mybikeC50.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo218/bubblylittleme/mybikeA100.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo218/bubblylittleme/mybikeCD200.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo218/bubblylittleme/mybike-honda400-4.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo218/bubblylittleme/misc/DSCF4442.jpg
and of course
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo218/bubblylittleme/misc/suebike.jpg

[Scotty]

You passed your test about three months before I did Sue - not had many bikes since then though have you? Star got through about that many in just over a year.... ::)

[Swanny]

Passed mine back in Sept 1981 on my Yamaha XS250 Special 8-)
Back in the days when the examiner walked around and you just rode off :D

Before I was 16 I had

Kawasaki 90
Honda SS50
Gilera 50
FS1E

then when I was 16

Yamaha DT50
Yamaha FS1E
Yamaha XS250 Special
Honda XL250S
Honda CX500 Custom

20 year break

Kawasaki Zephyr
Honda CBF600

[Mark_Able]

Congratulations Jon! It's great to read a story like yours, especially as I was there at the beginning. How time flies. It's been coming up 14 years since I started 'Able Motorcycle Training', and 17 1/2 years since I started instructing. I wonder how many people's lives have changed in that time??? 8-)

[BB]

Well done Jon, here's to the next 10 years. 8-)

29 years so far for me, I was a late starter :D

BB

[Thorkill_The_Tall]

When I passed my test, the red flag rule was still in force, the hottest/dryest summer in living memory was just about to start, gay meant happy and this was number one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bKAPVpA46o

You are al soooooo young......

[alanTDM]

Well i passed my test £1 in 1966 on a Lambretta Li150 then sold that and got a Triumph 650 Thunderbird with a slick shift gearbox so thats coming up to 46 years i have been riding.Been riding twins and singles mostly.One of the high lights was when rode to Mid Morocco and worked in Spain for 5months in 1971, only 21 at the time.
Worst bit being side swiped in 1981 with serious injuries when a car driver went through a red light in Bristol,and hit again in 1994 in Atworth,Wilts.
Apart from those two accidents never regretted it one bit.

[Thorkill_The_Tall]

Triumph 650 Thunderbird with a slick shift gearbox

Did you ever master pulling away without using the clutch lever?
Quite a neat trick.

[@bj]

Brill last pic Sue...

[Jon_W]

Congratulations Jon! It's great to read a story like yours, especially as I was there at the beginning. How time flies. It's been coming up 14 years since I started 'Able Motorcycle Training', and 17 1/2 years since I started instructing. I wonder how many people's lives have changed in that time??? 8-)

Hell, I still remember doing lessons on the CG125. It certianly did change my life....

[billinom8]

Hmmm, well in Feb i would have had my license 21 years, riding for 23 though. Haven't had that many bikes, ridden quite a few but anyhoo, here's my list.

Honda MT5
Yamaha DT125
Yamaha RD 350 YPVS LC
Suzuki GSX400
Yamaha RD 350
Honda VF500
Kawasaki ZXR750J1
Yamaha R1 4XV
Suzuki SV650 - project
Yamaha R1 4XV
Triumph Trophy - project
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/billinom8s/30072006032-001.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/billinom8s/rd.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/billinom8s/Oher%20Bikes/mountain10_edit0-2.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/billinom8s/IMAG0054-1.jpg

[Nikki]

OK now I show my age its been 30 years on and off for me, but that does include a few before the age of 16 (years and bikes!)

I think I've had about 20 bikes in that time ranging from a Suzuki GT50 back as my first road bike to a 1200 Bandit. I now have a Triumph ST which I really like. Favourites along the way have included my Suzuki RGV250 (smoker ;D) Honda VTR1000 and Ducati ST, liked the Bandit too but a bit of a heavy old bus.