The Little Bikes that could

[bigguy]

A recent post got me to thinking about those little 150cc and smaller bikes that hauled huge loads on sometimes epic journeys.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,43714.0.html

I did a blog on the subject, but I barely touched on actual bikes or events. I'd like to get stories from the good folks here about some of those little bikes. Please feel free to post them here for the other members to read, or just PM me if you'd prefer.
It's possible I'll do a future blog on the subject, so if you don't want your story included, please make note of that in your post. Otherwise, I'll consider it fair game.

Blog- The little bikes that could.



Blog- The little bikes that could.

[Jess from VA]

The ride that got me hooked on bikes, was on the back of a 150 Dream.  My older cousin the driver was an unskilled lunatic, but I just thought all motorcycles were to be driven this way. 

[RainMaker]

My first ride was a '70 Honda CL-70 Street Scrambler.  5 hp of roaring power, a speedo that optimistically went to 45mph and 4 speeds.  Big deal when you're 15.

My longest ride was to Lake Leon near Ranger, TX.  Rode with the throttle wide open all the way down and back.  3 hours to get there. About 250 miles round trip, but stayed a week between going and coming.  Had all my stuff bungee-corded to the seat - no bags, no luggage rack.  I think I used 2 gallons of gas on that trip. 

I only had it a year - had to sell it to have enough money to buy my first car.  Might find one again someday.

RainMaker

[Spirited-6]

My first Honda was a 125 "Bently", little brother to the "Dream" Bright Red and I thought it was the best bike rolling. Traded it for a 305 Super Hawk that was MUCH faster. In the winter months we played Fox and Hounds. Too cold to ride on the roads. Rode in the fields behind Blue Grass Field in Lexington.  Kinda like tag on a bike. We had one guy that we were always trying to catch. He was always the last one to be tag`ed, he rode a Honda 90.  I had my Super Hawk in some tight places that were not to my liking, tore off a $26.00 set of pipes when I hit a stump. WOW, $26.00 for two muffers.  Anyway, fun times on "small" Honda`s.

[Alien]

Hodaka Ace 90 with a 50 tooth rear sprocket.

[f6john]

    Hope to get this one running this winter, I haven't gotten in too deep into it yet but I'm still stumped on getting it running.   Any XL 175 experts lurking around?

[sheets]

Rode all over SoCal for a couple years on a '60s vintage Suzuki. Jeans, Converse tennis shoes and a T shirt . . . and sun glasses.  No helmet -- no gloves. A few (like three) bucks in my pocket for gas and a burger and I was good for all day.  ???

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

My first bike was a Sears 106 I was 12 or 13 what a POS we spent as much time working on it as riding it. I did'nt have it long my Ol' Man told me if he caught me on the road with it ,it would be gone....He caught me on the road with it.

[bscrive]

My first bike was a gold '74 Honda CB350 that I bought from my cousin.  He hadn't rode it for a few years but it only took three kicks to get it started.  i blew the whole wiring harness hooking up a horn to it.  I loved riding that bike.  I would drive the bike all over the place at night because it wasn't licensed and I was only 15.

[f6john]

My first bike had several things that my Valkyrie is lacking....


74 360G came with a 6 speed! The six speed was great even with the small displacement.

[Rams]

I'm probably this silliest of the group, my first bike was a 50cc Honda, don't remember what year it was but, Dad knew I needed wheels to get around and he wasn't about to let me take his pick  up.  Rode that bike all over Kansas during harvest time.  Carried everything I needed in a backpack and a softsided case bungied to the back of it.  Probably the farthest I went was a 150 miles from home but, it got me there and started the trip I've been on ever since. 

Do I want one again, nope, it would just sit and I can't stand having something do what it wasn't intended to do.

[bigguy]

My first bike wasn't even MY bike. My uncle Delano was killed on a motorcycle right about the time I was born. That pretty well eliminated any chance that I'd get a motorcycle during my childhood.
But my cousins, who were twin brothers, had several bikes and scooters and let me ride them. The one I remember best was a little Honda 90. Unlike the little Cushmans we'd been riding, this was an honest to goodness real motorcycle. I loved that little bike. I never took a real trip on it. Just short hops around town, but those short rides made an indelible mark on my psyche.
30 years later, when I bought my first motorcycle, I was drawn to a little 250 Nighthawk. I think as much as anything it was because it looked more like that Honda 90 than any other bike on the floor.


Uncle Delano on a troop train sometime in the 40s.

[Blues]

I got my first "bike" when I was eight... a Briggs and Stratton mini-bike.  Soon, Honda came out with their 50 mini-trails and my dad (I) had to have one.  From there, on to an XL90, then a 125, then something came over me and I started experimenting and building on Harleys.  Finally got around full circle back to Honda and the incomparable Valkyrie!

[Michvalk]

The kid across the street got a Harley Hummer and we learned to ride on that. We lived next to state land and had MILES of two tracks to run and learn. I was about 12 or 13. Then another friend let me ride his Triumph on the road and my interest in bikes really came alive. Have not been without a bike of my own since. Over 60 and going strong!

[98 T]

When I was 14 my uncle got a CB160.  To me (after riding  Honda 50's and various mini-bikes) this was a big, heavy street bike....with ELECTRIC start!!   We drove it around in the woods...not exactly what it was made for..but it was a great bike.  Lots of good memories. 

[xman]

1966 I learn to ride a Honda 90 on my uncles farm. I rode the fields and hils all summerl. It had some low gears that could go anywhere. I remember them saying we could herd the cows with it. It only scared the crap out of them. If you know cows they only go where they want to go, when they want to, for food or milking.   

[Hoser]

My run around town grocery getter.  81 70cc passport.  Gas it probly twice a year, holds a gallon.    Hoser

[klb]

Started out on a 1977 Honda XL75. Been hooked on Honda since then.

Have had about every kind of brand in the middle but started with the

XL75 and will for sure end with the 1999 Valkyrie.