Many moons (ok months of moons) ago, I was gifted with a ride down a county road by a friend of the families, he and I were the same age, had a lot of the same interests. Anyway he had a "real" MC (I have no idea what kind, it was small, dirt bike style, no idea if it was street legal or not). I'd ridden minibikes and go carts but not a MC. No body told us it was hard or dangerous or that we should get some training first, so off we go with me at the throttle him kneeling on the back of the seat, holding on for dear life, yelling instructions in my ear. I had no idea how to shift gears on the thing, no idea which lever was which etc. He must have somewhat explained the throttle idea before getting on - not sure he explained that there were multiple positions that it could be used - I think we were probably WOT all the way.

Anyway, somehow we made it all the way to his front yard where we dumped the MC on its side. Might have been just the shot in the arm my "rat" (see "feed the rat for reference) needed. Our parents just laughed at us. My Mother, God bless her is more concerned about me riding now than she was then. I guess kids were either unbreakable, infinitely repairable, replaceable, or all three.

I hadn't thought about that trip for a long time, thanks for the memory lane gift.

Do something that scares you everyday!

My first ride was on a little mini-bike when I went to stay over on a friends farm stead. I must have been 9 or so, but I can't really remember how old I was. I took off on this little bike and it was fast. I didn't know how to ride, I didn't know how to stop, and I didn't know how to start it up. I got on and away I went. I headed into an orchard of trees and I freaked out cause I couldn't stop. I don't remember what happened next. I somehow came to a stop and the bike died. I had to walk it all the way back to the house.

I didn't ride another actual motorcycle until highschool, when I rode my friend's mother's little honda motorcycle. I don't know how big she was - maybe a 250, but maybe even a 125 - not so sure. It was awesome. I loved it. But I wasn't allowed to have a motorcycle. But for some reason my dad thought it ok if I had a moped. So, that's what I had in highschool. A Honda moped. It was pretty darned sweet though. It had some get up and go. I drove that thing all around town for hours and hours after school. I loved it.

Got a minibike when I was a kid. Mowed lawns for a couple of years & split the cost with my brother. Was hooked! Wanted a motorcycle soon after, but too expensive. Rode a friend's Honda CB100 at 16 for the first time. REALLY hooked this time! Worked all summer at my first real job & got a low mileage 1973 Honda SL100. My first bike. Rode everywhere, everyday. I'm sure I'll be riding well into my senior years. 8)

Got a minibike frame and put a 5HP Briggs&Stratton into it with belt pulleys.  That thing was a blast and hooked me on riding from that point.