Which of your bikes has had the biggest impact on you?

bullpen58 (MD)
Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 9:45pm
Of all the bikes you've owned or at least ridden, which one had the most impact on you?

For me, it was my first one, and 1982 Yamaha YZ 80. It was waaaay too much bike for me but I wouldn't allow my Dad to buy me something more appropriate (like an XR 100). I wanted a race bike and that's what I got. lol. It was fast but I learned a lot on that thing. I went from having to learn to use the clutch to actually being able to get both wheels off the ground on that thing. Mostly, I learned how to take care of a bike. My old man taught me to be methodical when it came to maintenance and I had that thing looking like new all the time.
On one of my very first rides.
[img:3vw4c9cr]http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e159/bullpen58/Moto/Mybikes.jpg[/img:…]

A distant second for me was my 99 YZ400. It was only the second year Yamaha had made the new racing four stroke and I was as happy as a puppy with two peters the first time I heard that engine. That thing didn't sound ANYTHING like all the other four strokes I'd heard. it straight up barked. The first time I rode it, I was in love with it. The bike I had prior was a good one (97 YZ250) but at Glen Helen, I could only do about five laps before my arms would swell up like Popeye and I'd have to pull off the track or slow considerably. The very first time I rode that 400 I was suddenly able to just ride and ride and never seemed to get arm pump. I was super pumped! My results in racing improved dramatically unless I stalled the bike. If that happened, my results tended to be either last place or DNF. It was a great bike though. I'm happy I was on the 4 stroke bandwagon long before it had become a bandwagon.
The day I financed that baby in SD. I was pumped!
[img:3vw4c9cr]http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e159/bullpen58/Moto/YZ400001.jpg[/img…]

Of course, the best bike I've owned is the newest one. This thing is night and day better than anything I've ever ridden. Surprisingly, I'm not eating anything in this photo.
[img:3vw4c9cr]http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e159/bullpen58/Moto/2006YZ450F006.jpg…]
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andymoto
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andymoto 1/27/2008 8:46pm
1/27/2008 8:46pm
Early, the '78 Bultaco 250 Pursang. Handled darn good and was fast.
Late in racing, my '90 YZ 250. Felt could never do no wrong. Inspired me to ride with so much confidence.
Heck. owned over 30 new bikes. It was my passion; and still is. '84 KX 125 another sooo fun to ride/race. Another confidence building bike.
MX forever.

Anyone knows of a 1990 YZ 250 for sale? Not totally thrashed; reasonably well kept like I did all mine.
MX7MX
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MX7MX 1/27/2008 9:54pm
1/27/2008 9:54pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:05pm
My first 4 stroke.....ended up selling my 2 stroke and never looked back! :D
mx757
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mx757 1/27/2008 10:11pm
1/27/2008 10:11pm
my 01 yz125. i had a ttr125-l and a yz80 before that but both bikes were too small for me when i got them. the 1st day i rode that 125 i was way happy. i had a bike with power, suspension, and bars that didnt kill my knees in corners.

The Shop

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tobz173
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tobz173 1/27/2008 10:14pm
1/27/2008 10:14pm
i went from a ttr 125 to a yz125. it taught me a few lessons on riding, i then went to a 01 yz250f, and i really think the time i spent focusing on the technique with the 125 really helped me with being able to focus on other things to help my riding on the 250f. if that makes sense.
shiftless 1/27/2008 10:40pm
1/27/2008 10:40pm
My 1987 Cr250 I bought in 1990. What a great fuggin bike. I will find another and restore it to new!
shiftless 1/27/2008 10:44pm
1/27/2008 10:44pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:05pm
[quote="MX7MX":2cmif964]My first 4 stroke.....ended up selling my 2 stroke and never looked back! :D[/quote:2cmif964]
Oh didn't we buy an imaginary KTM 300 2 Smoke last year?
Bill163
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Bill163 1/27/2008 11:20pm
1/27/2008 11:20pm
Old days dumping my Elsinores and buying a 78 rm 125.Buying a 400f in 98 making my slow ass able to win a couple of motos at mammoth in the old geezer class.That bike was a huge advantage then.
alphado
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alphado 1/28/2008 3:18am
1/28/2008 3:18am
My RMZ450, no doubt. It fits my lazy riding style perfectly. I wouldn't change a thing about it.
jtomasik (MD) 1/28/2008 3:29am
1/28/2008 3:29am
My CR480. It landed on top of me at the bottom of a decent size sand dune jump. I'd say that was the biggest impact.
endo
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endo 1/28/2008 4:03am
1/28/2008 4:03am
Early- my 78 CR250, set up with Fox airs, plenty fast for a 135lb teen. Later- 98YZ400F. I've been on the thumpers since the beginning.
BobbyM (MD) 1/28/2008 7:22am
1/28/2008 7:22am
my 74 yz250 or my 76 rm370. that 370 was da shit back then. wasn't as reliable as it could have been but that may have been my fault...too much throttle. the yz250 was faster than hell and made hole-shots easy as pie.
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 1/28/2008 7:32am
1/28/2008 7:32am
Probably my '75 KTM 250. That was the first genuine European motocross bike I ever owned, and I felt like I could ride it right on the edge. A fifth-gear endo in a deep sand whoop section crushed my femur and reminded me that riding on the edge occasionally meant stepping a bit over the other side.
dirthead1
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dirthead1 1/28/2008 8:00am
1/28/2008 8:00am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:05pm
[quote="bullpen58":30zwtvaa]Of all the bikes you've owned or at least ridden, which one had the most impact on you?
[img:30zwtvaa]http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e159/bullpen58/Moto/YZ400001.jpg[/img…]
[/quote:30zwtvaa]
House of Motorcycles! I used to work there.
FLvet
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FLvet 1/28/2008 8:04am
1/28/2008 8:04am
Went from an old shop long travel moded CZ 250 to a Maico 400 Magnum. Went from C to B class that year as that bike was golden for me. My RM had a big impact to when it hit me in the back. Four busted ribs.
AJ
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AJ 1/28/2008 8:12am
1/28/2008 8:12am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:05pm
A friends 93 or 94? CR500.
Had raced a long time , and never even ridden one,
lik emany people I just always thought the big open bikes were crazy, and likely a big handful to ride.

I was entered in a few classes that day ,and he pulled my arm to race the big bike in one of them,
Despite his bike's suspension being set up for a 290 pound guy, and me weighing about 140 LOL
lined up , and i came back from that moto with a huge grin, and thought it was the most fun, and easiest bike to race , i had ever ridden.
Bought a new one monday morning..... =)
[img:3ea2w7m9]http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q203/aj277/95_casey.gif[/img:3ea2w7m9]
Tiki
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Tiki 1/28/2008 8:19am
1/28/2008 8:19am
1996 RM 125
It was the bike that really changed my life in the sense I had ridden and raced. It was this bike that unlocked the fun and got me truly hooked to the addiction we call Moto. I would ditch work, stay out late and ride it more days a week then any other bike I ever had.

Pit Row

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bhawkce (MD) 1/28/2008 8:54am
1/28/2008 8:54am
My 03 CR250, made a nice dent in my helmet and tore up my leg when i looped out doing a wheelie like a drunk hillbilly (no offense Dave)
yzvet
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yzvet 1/28/2008 9:09am
1/28/2008 9:09am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:05pm
[quote="jtomasik":2ftt3y97]My CR480. It landed on top of me at the bottom of a decent size sand dune jump. I'd say that was the biggest impact.[/quote:2ftt3y97]


Beat me to it <img class= " title="Laughing">
RandyS
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RandyS 1/28/2008 9:26am
1/28/2008 9:26am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:05pm
#1. 1969 Honda Z50 that came home in my Dads truck the day they arrived at the shop. He got home from work and told me he left something in his truck and asked if I'd get it. I think I was 6 and coming out the front door and seeing it in the truck is probably the most vivid memory I have of the first 10 years of my life. It was beautiful, still is but it needs some new paint and chrome.
#2. 1988 CR250, the first new bike I got as an adult after being cut off from the parent sponsor at 16. I went most of the 80s with old beaters that half the time didn't run because I couldn't afford parts. I took that thing down to the frame at least once a month. I think I did more maintenance on that bike in a year that the last 10 years and 7 or 8 bikes combined. :oops:
Ozy
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Ozy 1/28/2008 10:39am
1/28/2008 10:39am
The first real 2 stroke MX bike I had was a 1973 Suzuki TM125 and this is what put the Moto addiction into my blood


I love 2 stroke mx bikes
blankplate (MD) 1/28/2008 10:57am
1/28/2008 10:57am
1985 KX 125.

Worked all summer to come up with the $600 cash to buy it. Entered my first race the next month at White Sands Ok. and the damn thing blew up right before the finish line while in the lead. I learned alot about racing that day.
TJ
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TJ 1/28/2008 12:09pm
1/28/2008 12:09pm
[color=#0000FF:uhpczeq3]1995 RM 250, I guess, since that's the first dirt-based bike I ever owned. Craziest bike would be a '98 KX 250 Supercross bike that I bought from Carey Hart, when I still lived in Vegas. A buddy of mine still has it, & it's still insanely fast. My favorite would be my 01 YZF 250, though. First 4-stroke I bought & it completely changed riding for me. I think I may get another one soon. It's about time to let the CRF go. I have fond memories of every bike I've had, though...street & dirt...//TJ[/color:uhpczeq3]
rockcrawlerdude 1/28/2008 12:15pm
1/28/2008 12:15pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:05pm
[quote="TJ":4nvp8mxf][color=#0000FF:4nvp8mxf] Craziest bike would be a '98 KX 250 Supercross bike that I bought from Carey Hart, when I still lived in Vegas. A buddy of mine still has it, & it's still insanely fast...//TJ[/color:4nvp8mxf][/quote:4nvp8mxf]
mine's currently not modded out but man that years KX250 are still the funnest bike ive ever ridden/owned ...
mung_and_drool 1/28/2008 12:21pm
1/28/2008 12:21pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:05pm
2003(?) YZ250F

I don't remember the crash...or the paramedics...or the ambulance ride...or x-rays.

Concussion and fractured pelvis. Yep, I'd say it made an impact. <img class= " title="Wink">
whipmeister (MD) 1/28/2008 12:21pm
1/28/2008 12:21pm
Oh, so easy to answer. 1974 Elsie 125. Went from running somewhere around the lead pack in 100s to an acknowledged ass-kicker in 125s right from the day I got it. Honda should've paid me a big bonus cuz I think I sold a few bikes for 'em. I nabbed the first one to hit the Dallas area in 73 and the only one on the gate that weekend. Very first moto I went from dead last and WAY back in the first turn (haha. forgot to turn on the gas!) to finish 3rd in a gate of 28. I actually thought I'd passed everyone and started taking it easy on the last lap and a half. Turns out the two leaders had a big gap on 3rd. Easily won the next two motos. (Yeah. That's when we ran three.) Within a month or so the whole damn class was pretty much on Elsies. That bike ripped.
Larry
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Larry 1/28/2008 12:31pm
1/28/2008 12:31pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:05pm
Without a doubt this one

[img:27mnqv09]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/1958Larry/vintage%20pics/23_1.jpg…]

1972 Suzuki TS90. I knew I liked motorcycles but when me and this little sweetie found 200 of acres of trails a mile from my house it was a spiritual experience.
BobbyM (MD) 1/28/2008 4:54pm
1/28/2008 4:54pm
[quote:aogyaud3]Oh, so easy to answer. 1974 Elsie 125. Went from running somewhere around the lead pack in 100s to an acknowledged ass-kicker in 125s right from the day I got it. Honda should've paid me a big bonus cuz I think I sold a few bikes for 'em.[/quote:aogyaud3]

brin...that happened to me but i was on the other end..getting smoked by better bikes and marginal riders (not that you were the latter)

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