Easy Rider

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

Ok...
So we are doing history...here is mine...

Started on the same Honda 50 that Todd mentioned. Then trail 70 then trail 90. I saw those things are selling for 4 grand restored.

All those were my grandfathers. He still has the 90 runs in good shape.

Bought my own first bike CB400 with cafe handle bars and a kerker header...almost killed myself on it a bunch of times. Leaked oil so bad I would fill up the oil and check the gas on pit stops.

Had a Yamaha 650 Special for a short while then traded that for a 750 NightHawk. That was the fastest bike I ever had. I never hit the godspeeds that Scott did, but it would peg 150 pretty easily. It would also bring up the front wheel in all five gears. I put 50000 miles on that bike in 2 years. I never even owned a car until I was 21.

Then I went bikeless for a loooooong time. Bought the Harley just after 911. I am ashamed to say in only has 13K miles on it. Those are mostly long rides. Keyes, WV to FL a few times. It is a great touring bike and I just haven't had the time to do it justice.

Matt-
Sorry about the injury dude.

Still looking for a riding partner....I am not a bigot on make either. I will ride with anyone....bring a Schwinn if you want to.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007, 18:54 (GMT) Post subject:

Todd, I can relate to many of the bikes you're talking about. I'll bet you remember Binelli. Remember their 6-cylinder bike with SIX exhaust pipes?!

Back when I had the CB750F, a buddy had the Honda CBX, the six-cylinder, and he'd occasionally let me borrow it. It was like riding greased snot on a piece of museum glass it was so smooth. I still occasionally peruse those in ebaymotors.com and would love to get my hands on another 750F or 900F.

Down close to where I live there's also a Triumph dealership.

Todd Ellis · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007, 19:36 (GMT) Post subject:

When I was a kid my dad bought a old Indian - 110cc - I don't remember anything else about it - it was a street bike and looked very odd. Prolly late 30's - early '40s. A guy I used to ride was totally BMW - Grand Touring - HUGE powerful bikes - only time I was truly scared on a bike was on a BMW - going Waaaay too fast!

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007, 19:58 (GMT) Post subject:

George, you mentioned the Nighthawk being able to bring up the front wheel in all 5 gears?!!! Methinks your memory fooleth thou. I had a friend who had a Nighthawk and it was moderately fast, but didn't have the torque to do that.

However, another friend had one of the very first Yamaha V-Max's and it was ungodly! It truly would get the front wheel up in a handful of gears.

I had a '76 Kawasaki 750, but it wasn't the old 2-stroke triples that everyone remembers; it was a 4-stroke twin that I loved. I wrecked it when a little old man pulled out in front of me and when I had it rebuilt I had the front forks extended 6", added dual, rectangular headlamps, and a Hooker 2-into-1 header. With the extended forks (which were hard to get used to at first) I could EASILY get that bike up in the air and I have a couple of great pics of me doing it. I'll scan one and post it here.

Found it... here 'tis....
Bear in mind this was about 30 years ago!

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

Scott-
Remember when they changed the nighthawk ...went to a small front wheel and a little longer rake. I had that model. Not exaggerating at all. Now they also made that bike in a 650 I know. Maybe your buddy had that.

Hey one other bike I rode a little bit I forgot to mention was an old Harley four stroke trail bike. Seems like it was a 125. Anybody remember that one?

Todd-
A buddy of mine has a beemer out in CO. You are right those things fly. I don't even know the model, but I remember following him in a car up to Evergreen from Denver. There is a long very steep grade going up I70 and I just could not believe how he ate that hill up.

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

Scott-
I love the shoes. Addidas?

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007, 20:13 (GMT) Post subject:

Tom Greenlee · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 945

My first and only bike, was a 1982 Yamaha Maxim 550. Beautiful bike....used to get comments on it all the time. Saddest day of my life when I had to get rid of it. Sold it to some dude....he shows up at my house to pick it up....gives me the money....gets on my baby, and doesn't know how to ride....he swerved and bobbled at 5 miles an hour all the way down my street as he rode off on MY BABY! I was heart sick. here are 2 pics of my old bike. These aren't actually photos of mine...but they are photos I found of the same bike...same color and everything. Essentially, this was my bike.

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

Tom-
Dude!
You bring a tear to my eyes. I bet that bike loved you back too man.

Tom Greenlee · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 945

Todd Ellis · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007, 21:06 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott - your wife SHOULD get a bike - my Mom has a Harley Sportster - 880 Hugger. My Momma don't ride bitch!

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

Hey!
My wife and I saw Wild Hogs tonight. We were nervous because the critics rated it very low. Like D- or something.

But the movie was hysterical. Not high brow comedy, but well done.

Still looking for a partner. Somebody take the plunge. Nothing but fun, fun, fun for three days!

Todd Ellis · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007, 17:19 (GMT) Post subject:

OK George - you talked me into it. I'll ride with you on 2 conditions:

1) you have to keep it under 15 mph
2) We should probably leave right now.

Tom Greenlee · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 945

HA! Hilarious Todd....how old is that pic? Is that recent? Where can I get a hog like that? I'm envious. lol Bet that thing is a real chick magnet....you been fightin' em off buddy? Laughing

Todd Ellis · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007, 18:35 (GMT) Post subject:

Tom - that pic was taken today! It's my '71 Honda QA50 that I got when I was 6. Today MY 6 year old was riding it!