I rode friends YZ80's and YZ125's when I was I kid, learned how to use the brakes the correct way with out crashing.
Spent most of my youth at this friends playing dirt bike tag. Actually Rick was my best friend, taught me alot about riding.

Rick died in a head on automobile accident 3 months after we graduated high school 1985.

The whole time I lived at my parents I wasn't permitted to own a motorcycle "Not While You're Living In This House"
Pffftt, I'll get my own place. . .Well then I couldn't afford the bike. . .
I ended up getting married and had the dream of owning my own bike, wife said "NO"
For the 1st -2 years we were married I tried to convince her how badly I wanted to feel the freedom of 2 wheels again.
Finally I had stashed enough cash to pay cash for a $7,000 motorcycle, it was our 4th year of marriage, it was all the money we had.
I thought she'd S$#@ if I dropped all the cash on my dream. So I applied for a loan.
up until that point everything we had was under both our names, house, vehicals etc. etc.
Credit Union called a few days later and told me that my loan was approved.
HA, I've done it, I don't need her to co-sign, and I don't need to empty the savings, and I can afford the $142/month payment

She threw that in my face for 2 years, "You Bought A 7k Motorcycle" blaa blaa blaa. . .
Then she realized how happy riding lets me feel.
She has even told me that "You Need To Go For A Bike Ride", because she knows I return from whatever it was I was running from as a brand new man; all my frustrations, all my worries, all my anger, all my disappointments are erased with a bike ride.

I now own only (2) motorcycles, a '00 Lime Green KAwasaki ZX9r Ninja that I paid cash for in 2001 as a brand new left over. I've logged 31,000.0 miles on this bike in the 6 seasons I've been with it.
I also have a '05 orange and black Harley Softail FXSTi that I paid cash for in 2004 and spent lots of money customizing with Performance Machine parts, I've logged only 9,000.0 miles during the 2 seasons I've had this bike.

The difference is amazing, the Phatial attracts attention wherever it is, wherever it goes. It's Loud and not very responsive when it comes to brakes (even with dual piston PM calipers) or when it comes to twisting the throttle, or when ya try to navigate the turns, but It is Fun, it kinda gives ya the attitude.
While the sportbike is a pure adrenaline rush, very responsive, very fast to accelerate, and very quick to stop, handles like a race bike, even though it is OLD technology compaired to the '07 sportbikes.
After riding the Harley I just want an Ice Cold beer, after riding the sportbike I want sex - weird isn't it?

 

Welcome from Northern California!

 

That avitar looks familar
You a member of esportbike.com? (now sportbikeworld.com)

 

Welcome from Tucson!!!

 

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Welcome aboard from Omaha, Nebraska.