How was your first ride?

My first ride was a 2007 ninja 250r. That bike was a lot of fun. I'm glad that was my first bike. I wish I had it longer, but it got stolen after 6 months and I purchased the zx6r (current bike). Looking back now, I realized that my bike friends are dicks. I had never road a motorcycle in my life and they didn't even bother to hang around while I learned to ride or anything. I spent a handful of hours the first day riding it around the neighborhood. For most of those hours, I was skipping 2nd gear because I thought you have to upshift twice (to pass neutral). Ugh. Spent the next day in traffic. Hit the road running, as they say. It was nerve racking, but after a few days things settled down.

What I loved about the 250r, is that it was light and nibble, and that I could keep it WOT screaming around corners without breaking the rear tire loose. I learned to ride the power band on the bike: 10-14k. I usually cruised at 8k (nothing below that). I eventually bought clip-ons that put a really aggressive riding style on it (I thought it made it handle better :coocoo ). That's when I knew that I wanted a supersport bike. I got pics of it somewhere (had to seriously cut the fairing to get them to fit).

When I got the zx6r, and the handling was different and the power really scared me. I didn't think it was going to be that big of a difference. Matter of fact, I really haven't done much with the bike in the past year, other than daily riding to campus or work and back. I'm just now starting to get more comfortable with it and a bit more aggressive.

It all started for me when I was around 17( I'm now 38). I had two friends get into riding and I got to ride back seat on the 250 something cruiser ( which probably looked really funny and maybe gay??).Really got the bug for riding and I bought the 250 from him so he could get a bigger bike and the rest is history. I really loved that bike and it was probably good that I started on a low cc bike so young. Traded it for a 86 yamaha 500cc cruiser that was also a good bike, then sold it a couple years later. Didnt ride for a couple years until I got the itch again and fell in love with my currect bike the minute I seen it. The first time I rode this bike scared the hell out of me for some reason, I had never even sat on a sport bike before and I was scared it was going to get away from me for some reason and wreck. The guy I bought it from dropped it off at my house and their I was all alone with my new baby, so I dress up and got on. Decieded to try and do some slow roll offs and as soon as I would put it in gear it would just die. Had to google it to find out to pick the kick stand up ( got to love google!!). Ride went well and the rest is history! Man all I can say is I love this bike!!

Jebus, I'm old in comparison for when I started, 33. No previous experience even though I grew up around motorcycles.

Ahhh the first ride (not counting the MSF).

March 8th, 2014. My bike had been delivered a week ago but I couldn't get out and ride due to snow on the ground or some other obstacle. But tonight was the night. A cold 32 degree night, but I didn't feel it. I went out at around 1AM on my new Ninja 300 with nearly no traffic (except that cop I waved to who probably thought I was nuts). Before venturing out, I went up and down my 50 foot driveway about ohhh 20...thousand times before I was confident to take it out on the road to an empty parking lot less than a mile away.

If I said the very first ride to that parking lot on my own bike was error free, I'd be a liar. My glasses were fogging so I couldn't see a thing without tilting my head to an extreme, missing shifts and shifting into neutral (Which looking back now I'm not entirely sure was me and not the bike being stupid), the horn being pressed when looking for the turn signal, good fun. It was really one of those "maybe I should take up quilting instead..." moments. lol

After awkwardly getting to the parking lot and sorting out my fogging issue, I then practiced for a while going through all the MSF exercises again. Emergency stops, cornering, looking through turns, slalom, etc... Finally, I decided it was time to head out for real. Nervous as all hell, I circled my low-speed neighborhood a few times.

Joy. Just sheer joy. I don't think I'll ever forget it. As happy thoughts go, that is truly ranked up there. Potholes? HAHAHAHA I laughed at them as I scooted around them.

After my neighborhood jaunt, I decided to see what 50+ MPH felt like and headed out on a highway to a Wawa (gas station/coffee joint for those not familiar). Didn't much like 50+ MPH cause it felt like I was about to be blown off the bike kite-style. But I made it without incident, grinning ear to ear and went in to get a coffee. Best cup of coffee I have ever had before or since.

Riding home, taking all sorts of back roads, all that went through my mind was "this was the best money I've ever spent!"

Fast forward a couple of months and a lot of miles later and I realized the 300, while great, kept needlessly scaring me or had me focused on the wrong things (like needing to be hyper focused on road defects to make sure I hit nothing but smooth road. Which, in PA, is a challenge). I was so worried about the ride that I was no longer really enjoying the ride.

Sat on a ZX6R and instantly liked it. I took it out for a test ride, scared as all hell the bike was going to be too much for me, but the complete opposite happened. The test ride was almost as much fun as my first night with the 300. All negatives the 300 exhibited weren't found on the 636 and the bike and was nothing but what I can only describe as "confidence inspiring." My 5 minute test ride turned into an 45 minute test ride which turned into a purchase later that day.

Since buying the ZX the riding has become tons more fun.

Sorry for the long post, but it was fun riding down memory lane. Especially since we're in the same time of year.

My first ride after the MSF course was on a pair of BMW GS650S's with my dad (we got our licenses together). We went from San Diego to Julian CA. Once we got our bikes we decided to go to the nearest parking lot to get better acquainted with our mighty machines. After a few laps I feet good and proceeded down the angled driveway. Then I kickstand stall about 8 times before I figure out my error. The freeway was absolutely terrifying that first time! Everyone was going soo fast and I had the extra pressure of looking after my dad as well. After a few minor drops (3 total all day) here and there (bike had a cage on it) we completed our first journey and father son ride. It was difficult, fun, exhilarating, terrifying, and an awesome memory all in wrapped into one.

When we finally got back to drop off the bikes, I get my helmet off, gloves off and step away.....only to have the bike follow me and almost push me over. Yup, forgot the kickstand, what a rook! One of the most fun days I've had with my dad in a few years.




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My first ride was 7 years ago at the ripe, young, cocky age of 46.:butbut: I spent most of my life envious of every motorcycle rider out there. Especially the sport bikes. Then I finally just did it! I bought a 2007 Ninja 650R and didn't even ride it for two months until I had completed the MSF and got my M1 license. I wanted something I could commute to work on on the highways in San Diego so I wanted enough reserve power to get away for the cages if I had to.

First time on it was a little scary I guess. I thought it was heavy as shit and I was afraid of dropping it the first time I had to stop. Spent the first couple of rides in the neighborhood practicing stops, turns and just really trying to get use to the handling and the throttle. Once a little comfortable I rode farther away and on a long straight hill, I opened her up and..... woooohooooo! I was in love.

Spent every day I could riding and getting more comfortable with the bike. Finally, one Sunday morning I took her out on the highway to test the 30 mile commute to work. Wow. The speed felt so different. I remember the intimidating sensation of complete and utter sensory overload. My head was shaking and keeping my eyes focused was a real chore. It took a half a dozen rides before my brain got use to the movement.

I've been riding every since and won't stop till I can't get my leg over the seat anymore.:sigh:

Sorry I'm probably going to write a short novel here because in my opinion I've had 3 "first rides". My family is full of mechanics and motorcycle/car enthusiasts. So as soon as you're old enough to hold a bike up, it's go time.

1. I was 5 years old and my favorite hobby (aside from beating up furniture while watching power rangers) was watching motocross and MotoGP racing. All I wanted as a kid was a bike and I always told my friends, "one day I'm going to ride a super-bike!" My dad bought me a Honda 50cc dirtbike. He had me ride laps around the yard and figure eights between two trees. Once he felt comfortable he went inside to get some water. This was my chance! I had been eye-balling our sidewalk, where erosion had created a "ramp", which was really just a lump. So I hit it like the motocross guys and of course wrecked. The throttle got stuck and the bike was spinning in circles on the dirt. The engine was screaming as the tire spit dirt everywhere and I was crying. My dad came back outside and told me to get back on. I told him I was scared, and he said "no boy of mine is gonna be a pansy, get back on and ride until I tell you to get off." I've got to say it was a defining moment in my life and after a couple minutes I was trying to jump the sidewalk again.

2. Flash forward 4 dirtbikes and 13 yrs to 2009. I'm 18 and working my ass off at a clothing store. I saved 300$ and found a 1981 Kawasaki LTD 550 for 600 bucks! It didn't have front brakes and the carbs needed a good cleaning but she was gorgeous. My brother lent me the extra 300 and we picked her up. I'll never forget driving her the first time. Riding on the highway was hella scary. No one pays attention and I was cut off 3 times on the way home. As I pinned her and hit 85, I knew that my 5 yr old wish needed to come true.

3. May,2014 I was finally in a place to make my life long dream come true. I mean I literally carry around a bucket list, no joke, it's with me everywhere I go and Number 1 was "buy a super-bike". So the sell is final, I fire her up. My stomach is butterflies, my hands are shaky, and I have this retarded smile on my face that I couldn't lose if I had tried. I pulled out of the lot and started home. I felt like I had won the lottery/ I could fly/ No one could touch me. I eased up to 20 in 1st then gave 3/4 throttle up to 60. I couldn't believe the acceleration!! I played around with 1st and 2nd and after about 20 minutes I found a long country stretch and decided to see what I had been waiting for. OH MY GOD I thought she was accelerating to 60. NO. She was waking up. At 70 I felt the wheel raise slightly, 60-86 was so fast I almost missed the shift. Shifted to 2nd and the wheel lowered back to the ground. I'm not sure where 2nd gear red lined, but just as 3rd was redlining the road inclined suddenly( there was a small bridge for a creek) I felt the front wheel rise up so that the speedometer was in my line of vision. I read 134 mph and my heart went up to my throat. I shifted into 4th and the wheel lowered. I then slowed down to a stop and pulled over because my arms and legs were shaking so hard from adrenaline that I had to take a break. I've got to say I was hooked for life but I'm not gonna lie I took it easy the rest of the week.

Even if no one reads this in full, I still had fun reminiscing.

First bike was a Ninja 300 about 6 months ago. Had it delivered to my house and it was a total impulse buy and I paid out the *** for it. Rolled it up my driveway into my garage and it sat there for 3 days until I had the time to actually get on it for a few hours and teach myself. I had no manual experience, no past motorcycle skills, anything. So I stalled 3-4 times and then got going very slowly around my neighborhood. Had some trouble with downshifting and stopping but after about 4 hours. I was pretty confident, so I took it out of my neighborhood. Speed limit is 40 and it was relatively late, so it wasn't busy.

All went well and been riding since then. Traded in my 300 about 2 months ago for a 13' ZX6R that I had been holding out for. Finally found one and jumped at it. The time came to ride off the lot with that bike and I was scared shitless, because it was the first time I had been surrounded by people all watching me and I knew this bike had power compared to my 300. Also the seating position was a huge difference to me. I just gave it a little throttle and rolled out of there so I had some time to get comfortable on a side road before heading on my 200 mile ride back home on the highway.

Love this bike so much and I don't see myself getting rid of it any time soon. I will ride it into the ground.