How I Started Riding Motorcycles 

Ok So there seems to be a little confusion about the Tank Bag lol I'm sorry for not explaining it better. Wolfman Luggage Posted this Video on Facebook as a DIY Tank Bag Challenge/Contest: facebook.com/WolfmanLuggage/posts/3104946942908112 See the post if you'd actually like to enter the contest, Judging ends April 12th, and if you win they will send you a Tank Bag of your Choice! I assumed I wasn't eligible because I'm an ambassador. I thought it sounded fun though, so I made a cardboard version, and then decided to make a mock up with the black canvas I had on hand. It's just a for fun project to help me process the fact that I won't have a job again until July. I don't have all the materials I would need to make a fully functional tank bag right now lol. I hope that explains a little bit, of course all of this context will be in next week's video, but for those who haven't been following on Instagram, there ya go. :P

6:52 "she started right up for me" IT WAS LIKE THE SWORD IN STONE - YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE - I love this story so much!!!!!

This is really chill and relaxing. More garage sewing motorcycle stories please.

Honestly, a great narrative! And I’m amazed that you can do that WHILE sewing!

Omg!!! Yes! Grease 2 was bomb!

I absolutely loved your little rambly story! I always enjoy your videos. I swear if we ever met I would feel like I already know you because of how open and honest you are in your videos. It is part of what makes your videos so much better than most others.

Why did I start motorcycling? In 1974 we moved from London (England) to a small town just outside Bristol... and I felt marooned. In 1975 I had my 16th birthday and so was eligible to ride a 50cc moped (a 50cc motorbike with cycle type pedals). I borrowed some money from my dad and bought the only moped I could afford, which was a 1967 Raleigh Runabout. With transport came a weekend job and also the realisation of the freedom powered two wheel travel gave. In 1976 I was 17 and got a 1966 250cc Royal Enfield... all my buddies got the latest Suzuki's, Yamaha's etc, but I was already weird, choosing to ride a British bike. Six weeks after my birthday I passed the test to get a full license and a 1968 500cc Triumph replaced the RE as soon as I had the money. Don't forget to clean up the mess in the garage Amanda! My son makes bags so I know what the floor will be looking like around about ...now.

You are such a natural and gifted storyteller 😁 Really enjoyed this 👍

Some of my first bikes were death traps. But I'm still here 50 years after and bikes are my true love in life. None of my daughters wanted to ride so it's nice to see women enjoying bikes. Fun channel and keep enjoying your life.

I like it. Story time with Amanda. You're sewing straps. I'm making breakfast. Pretty chill.

Amanda watching your videos is becoming addictive, thank you for hours of enjoyment .

Great story. You will never forget the feeling of riding you first motorcycle. I was 4 when I realised I would ride bikes one day and never stop. Mum was in the Catholic bookshop on Elizabeth st in Melbourne, and left me in the bike store next door because I was being a pain in the arse and nagging her. to. It wasn't neglect as this was the 1970's. I was hooked. 😳

Great to see your sewing machine skills

I kept expecting the sewing machine to topple off the top of the stool. Talking while sewing is something I cannot do. (My wife passed away leaving me with 21 sewing machines and two sergers so I've been learning to sew since I have all the tools. )My first bike was a brand-new 1979 Suzuki GS425E. I bought it with the bonus the Navy gave me for completing Naval Nuclear Power training. There was no MSF at the time so the salesman showed me a few things behind the shop and wearing a borrowed helmet I set off for home. I survived that but practiced shifting and braking with it on the centerstand for awhile before venturing out in the neighborhood. Traded that for a new 1982 CB900F which was my bike when I toured across the US and halfway back. Traded that for a new 1988 BMW R100GS which I ride to this day.

New subscriber & female rider from Down Under... thanks for making video. Hearing female riders stories is inspirational and online community super supportive when you’re just starting out. Cheers!

I really enjoy listening to you!

enjoyed the story very much.this morning my wife linda and myself john watched you for the first time and now we are subscribed. we are in the uk not far from the hinckley triumph factory. i am 72 years old and started ridingd when i was 11 years od. i used to help on a farm collecting the eggs and fetching the cows in for milking. i also did an evening newspaper round 82 newspapers. bought a 98 cc autocycle with pedals from an older boy at school and pushed it three miles home one evening after school. best wises.ride safe.

Horses to horse power. Good transition

I admit that Grease 2 is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Sorry to hear that you got furloughed - there’s a lot of that happening.I got a M/C license at 16yo, because I played sport and needed picking up, and my parents basically didn’t want to share their cars. So, my Dad bought me a step-thru scooter, my Mum was horrified (too many family members killed on M/C). I thank my Dad for that, because I got my freedom. I didn’t get a car license until I was 25yo. In that 9 years I had a range of road bikes - CB100, CB250, Yammie 650, Ducati Darmah. Then I had a gap, followed by BMW F650 x 2, after the latest gap, I’ve just bought a G310GS, and I’m in my 48th year of holding a M/C license. I really enjoy your videos, good content and sometimes whimsical, which I like. I followed you from ADVRider, I’m BabyBeemer from OZ, cheers :)

Good video. I got back into riding about 6 years ago. I rode dirt bikes as a kid ( 1970 to 75) and for a brief while had a 1980 Honda 750 F in 1982. Fast forward to 2015 and I bought a brand new Honda 250L . Maybe it was a midlife crisis since I was 57 at the time. Now I am approaching 63 and I ride a 2017 Africa Twin. Love your channel. It is very authentic and enjoyable.

You need a table for that sewing machine! First bike: 15 years old, Yamaha 125 Enduro, bought off a classified ad for $200. Rode in a field for six months before getting my license. The driving test and I quote: "Ride to end of the parking lot, turn around, don't fall off." Traded it in a year later after sliding into a car that ran a stop sign. Got more $$ than I paid for it with the gas tank caved in from the accident, the only real damage it took. The little Nissan I hit was totaled. I'd smashed out the windows on one side with my shoulder, the door, front fender crumpled by the bike, and hood dented where I landed on it. The old days when steel on Japanese cars was thickness of a beer can. The electric starter on the bike worked twice: the day I bought it and the day I sold it. Loved the little thing.

Love your videos its so nice to see someone pushing the envelope and living their dream! I've loved motorcycles since being 8yrs old(50 now) as soon as I was old enough I swapped my computer for a 125cc motorcycle, rode for years on learner plates. Until my mother was diagnosed with cancer, she made me promise to pass my full bike licence within the year. Mum passed in the May of 2004. I passed full licence in the November of same year. She too told me to follow my dreams so I'm living my dream everyday. Keep up the videos and inspiring others to do the same.

I swear that Suzuki 750 is the same bike my cousin owned for a minute back in the 80s when we were kids, like 17 & 20 year old kids. We rode that bike 75 miles from my dads house to my cousins house with my cousin driving and myself being the passenger and neither one of us knowing a damn thing about what we were doing!! Like I said, we were kids. I remember just hanging on for dear life and literally praying to God that we make it in one piece!

Start in motorcycling? Minibikes, dirt bikes, first street bike at 16 (old Yamaha RD350). First trip was MI to ME on a 1987 Yamaha Fazer. Been addicted to two wheel travel since. Inspiration from grandparents? "Be all the things you love about your grandparents and life will be great." With that in mind, don't blink. Before you know it you will be teaching a loved one to ride Lazarus and, sure enough, they will break the turn signal! :)

That story is an interesting coincident. I also did extensive horseback riding. I ended up with a horse of my own. After I had him for 10 years, I started to have to wear a face mask during in the barn and in the riding hall. I just could not manage to breathe the dusty air. I already had my motorcycle license at that time, but the bike really was just a means of transport for me. Anyways, I went to the doctor and he diagnosed serious asthma and a lung capacity of 85 % left. I was heartbroken, but I gave my big boy to a nice, new owner. I visited him in the following years from time to time. I mostly stayed away from horsebarns. My allergies and asthma are hardly noticeable any longer. As a consequence, my bike became much more important. It more or less became the replacement for my real horsie. Maybe that is strange...but in my mind, it was the right move to sell my horse. Otherwise, it probably would have killed me. But I really do enjoy motorbike riding a ton. Strangely, I prefer touring to go offroad. I even bought as a new bike a small tourer instead of a new enduro (had a Yam XT 600 E). Feels much better, as I am a tad short. Well, that's my story. Guess motorcycling saved my health in some way...

I think first bikes usually have nice stories with them. I spent first 3 months riding around in circles in a yard until I had cash for insurance on road. Then out on the road, I had problems going straight! But I used to b very good at u turns, that's a long time ago 🤔 ... must get back to the circles. Your videos are exellent. Just what we a!l need 👍

I've always loved motorcycles. Ever since I learnt to ride a bicycle I loved the idea of traveling on two wheels. I finally found the courage to have my first attempt at my cbt (compulsory basic training) in 2013. It took me 3 attempts to pass it.

I took a Honda Shadow in on trade for a plow truck I was selling (in the middle of north Ohio winter) then sold the bike the same day to someone I knew looking for one. Before the buyer of the bike could pick it up he sold it back to me because lack of storage for it. When a few nice days in a row hit I decided to try and ride it (never rode before). I rode it around the block and was hooked at that moment. I rode it 1 more time to make sure and then signed up for the local riding academy at Harley. After the class which was in the freezing rain for days, I bought a 2014 Harley V-Rod. I kept the Honda around and let my brother ride it so I could have a ride partner for a summer. This took place in 2017 and now I'm on my 3rd bike.

My motorcycle story starts in 1969 0r 70. I was around 4 or 5. Uncle Paul set me in front of him and let me operate the throttle. We never got out of first gear - but I was riding. Add to that my Auntie Faye had her own bike. Unheard of, I know now. But then - it never occurred to me to think that was strange. Ten years later - this same Uncle, now sporting a Goldwing, let me ride him around the canyons of California with him on the back. I was immortal back then. I spent my whole life with motorcycle envy - until I bought my first bike, a Kawasaki KZ400 in 1997. I still trip out sometimes, when on vacation, riding the road and thinking I had become the person I once envied. Nothing like an epic mountain road on a bike. I live for those days! Great story Amanda. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing! Seems Lazarus was a great deal dollar wise and ultimately a true match for you. I got into bikes through my dad; first a mini bike and then I learned he loved riding when he was younger. So, he sprung for small dirt bikes and we explored all over the desert west of our home in Tucson. I was hooked for life. And sharing time and experiences with him was priceless.

My first bike was a 2004 Buell Blast. Clutch feathering was non existent. No suspension at all. I didn’t lose a dime on it. I test rode my 2018 RE Himalayan it was like a Cadillac.

Cool story. I started on dirt bikes in grade school. Took the MSF at age 16 (in 1986!) and I've been riding ever since.

Fabulous video and great content. I started riding motorcycles in 1973 and I am still riding. I have been a motorcycle instructor and a motorcycle paramedic in the UK. I guess that if I haven’t grown out of it by now aged 63 I never will. I currently ride a 2013 BMW 1200RT. I love watching your videos, and I hope that you have as much fun motorcycling in your life as I have had in mine. Stay safe.

I love your story, thank you for sharing.

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

Guess I'm late to the party but that's a good story. My dad bought my brother and I a '73 Honda CT70. We rode the heck out of that little thing. Fast forward to 1989 and I bought an '87 Kawasaki EX500, rode it for a while and sold it. I got back into riding in 2007 with a Honda VTX 1300c and had it until last summer. It wasn't getting many miles put on it since I bought my Victory Cross Country in 2016. Been getting the ADV bug and watching lots of YT vids on it and found your channel.

So many parallels! My first two bikes were an 82 Suzuki GS650L and an 80 GS550E. I’d been interested in bikes since I was a kid, but only when a friend gave me his old bike (the 650) did I actually start riding. 20 years later here I am!

Tangents or not, you are a great storyteller! I grew up with horses, but when I was in high school I discovered muscle cars and bikes, and that was the end of my equine career! I had a Suzuki GS60 way back when, and it was a bit of a problem child, too! Still, I loved it! Great video!

That was cool Amanda. Felt like I was just hanging out in your garage with you listening to stories and watching you sew LOL. The informal format was nice. Thanks for sharing your story!

06:35: The dead of winter, especially up north, is one of the best times to buy a motorcycle. Demand is generally low. OTOH, if you do not have a trailer, it can be a mite breezy getting it to your house.

I love that picture of u in front of the montana sign- rock on

I started out on a 5hp minibike and after riding that into the ground, I got a DT100 and rest was history!

What, you can sew too? Jeez, too many talents. Anyhoo, a bit late to the party but... I started riding on a field bike my oldest friend had - a Honda PC50 moped, complete with wicker basket on the front 😁. I think we were 11 years old. Then I got myself a field bike - a '73 Honda CB175. Man, that was fast for a 13 year old! Here in the UK you could ride a 50cc bike on the road at 16, so got myself a 1976 Yamaha FS1E and hit the road on my birthday in April 1985. To this day bikes are my thing and, I hope, always will be. Loving going through your back catalogue, Amanda, and seeing the improvement in your video production (and other skills) along the way. Really hope to make the RockyMTNRoll one day. For real! Thank you.

Loved the background story Amanda. Larry aka Trikezilla

Good on you Lassie .xx

Thanks Amanda! Loved to hear that story!

great story seem like Grandpa got lots of us started in motorbikes . mine got me a minibike when I 6 for Christmas. my 1st ride didnt go very far . but my next ride couple months later had to be over 100 miles I guess i was hooked

I love hearing stories of how people started riding. I also enjoy watching you see as you tell it lol 😋

I learned to ride my first motor, a 500 Honda Ascott VT (shaft drive)... for financial reasons. Waaaay cheaper to ride than drive a car. Plus, my dad had a hand in my influence being a rider as well. I was ...like 10 when he took me for my first ride to the Rose Festival downtown Portland, OR. Mama was NOT amused. I had the biggest grin...ever. Ever since then, I was hooked. Like a slow burning wick, it took me 10 years to get to my Honda Ascott...rather get past my mom to my Honda lol.

*Gets check* I'm gonna buy me a motorcycle! Love it.😆

Great story, very well told. Well done on the tank bag. You're basically MacGyver!

Glad I went back and watched this. Amazing story teller. More pls

Haha! I took my MSF course in December here in Washington State. My friend suggested it and I was so excited I just couldn’t wait. It was in the 40s and rained a little both days. It was one of those “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” type II fun kind of weekends. My friend went along with me, but I think he really had more like May or June in mind😄

The “why” is simple.... it called to me. It was a 1959 Allstate (Sears & Roebuck) moped. I was 14 and rode it all year round. At the time I lived in Aberdeen Washington. I’ve always had some sort of two wheeled transportation. My first serious “motorcycle” was a brand new 1980 Suzuki GS750. I bought it in Warner Robins Georgia and I took it the long way to Aberdeen Washington and back (two up). This motorcycle got me hooked on touring. I just turned 71 last month. The desire has never faded, never got dull and has always been exciting. I love camping and motorcycling. I never questioned “The Why” and I always managed the “How”. Take it from someone my age, the desire to ride has never, ever faded. I’ve written comments on several of your videos. I’ve mentioned going thru Canada to Alaska this summer. That ride may not happen, but I can tell you here and now.....a ride of some magnitude will take its place... Why, “Just because I can”.....😀😀😀😀

Cool story and pics. I noticed a Suzuki Cavalcade there in the beginning. Funny story as my first bike was/is a 1986 Suzuki Cavalcade GT GV1400. And is also the bike that my wife and I will be arriving at your campout on.

New subscriber got your address from hertwowheels . Enjoyed the history... Lived in Montana. But now live in Wyoming... I'm a truck driver don't ride anymore... Just enjoy watching and listening to people's experiences... Thanks for the video... Much love....

Thank you for sharing your experiences

Loved listening to your story, thank you!

You are real enough to keep my attention, thank you!

Very much enjoyed your “rambly story”. I so enjoy hearing how and why (especially women) got into riding. 👊🏽🏍. I started riding AFTER retiring from teaching. Best decision EVER!😉. Great Vid Amanda. And sewing...valuable skill.

Well I took my riding course and am going to go get my license. I have a Yamaha T700 on order. Thanks for the inspiration

Your 'zook sounds a lot like my '76 CB750. Lots of love and don't dart out into traffic, or it will stall out, etc. Thanks for sharing :) Love that you carted Laz home i a horse trailer! I started to ride because my twin bro got a motorcycle and I wanted to be just as cool as him (I had a quad).

That was a great story, well told.

A great rambly story.

lol I didnt know husqvarna sewing machines where a thing. great story video :)

Furloughed until July.........Wow.......I learned to ride on a Kawasaki KZ400.

Great video, bespoke tank bag looking good. I had a 1979 gs850 to (shaft drive) and the GS550e and had some really great adventures. Also like you I did my test in the winter with all the ice/rain ..still it's something I'll never regret. 👍

Good for you.

I had a 1980 gs 550. It was the fastest bike I had ever owned up to that point. Very dependable machine. I forgot they made an 850 .

Super

Can't wait to see the tank bag. I am looking into these at present and I have not found the perfect one yet

First bikes are always fun. Mine was a '78 Yamaha XS400 that was pretty beat down when I got it in '91. Total deathtrap but I loved it.

Love your channel! Love you!

Enjoy Your Videos !, Very Nice and Thank You !

I loved evel kneviel growing up a couple guys in my neighborhood rode motorcycle's I just knew I was getting a bike&did been riding over 30 years last 2 no bike trying to get another. My wife passed away 3years ago.i want another bike if I can get one gonna live from my motorcycle a life long dream

I’m also from Montana and I ride. I know live in Louisiana. Oh also my name is Amanda. Love your videos

Thanks for sharing Amanda! Great story! Caused me to wax nostalgic and think back to my start in riding motorcycles some 43 years ago. Also on Suzuki motorcycles. Man, that makes me feel old! lol

Great story time video :) It’s amazing how we look back at events in our lives and connect the dots and realize if we had made a different decision in that moment in time where would we be now. Like, how would I spend my 15-20mins on Friday after work if not for your grandfather originally buying that 1979 gs. So here’s to you and here’s to grandpa 👊🏻 Awesome video as always. Be safe and take care.

Aw, I teared up with your Lazarus story. Riding motorcycles was a lifelong dream for me because of Karate Kid and Lost Boys, so I think every Hollywood movie should have motorcycles to inspire the next generation of riders! Or better yet, we just make sure your videos are viewed by the next generation! They'll all buy bikes!

I started riding after I got out of High school because a buddy had a honda 350 sl one of the first dual sport motor cycles. I bought a 1971 I think red honda 175 sl . If I had the money now and could find one for sale I would buy it. My first trip on it was from Missoula MT to Manhatten MT (almost to Bozeman ) about 180 miles on I 90. I rode with it totally pegged out and my whole body vibrated for almost a day and a half. Not to Mention I was almost hypa thermic when I got there.

Great stories! More people need to be watching this channel. Always great content, Amanda.

You have a GS850? Me too! Im trying hard to find a cheap method of panniers so i can go camping with it but the college student budget is really keeping my options limited. It really is an excellent bike and super smooth.

i didn't believe a GS weighed 600lbs until looking that up. crazy heavy first & 2nd bike. my bikes both weigh half that. thanks for sharing and taking me back through my initiation to motorbiking. it is one of the great joys of my life. on another note, Montana is one of my favorite places on the planet. i have an alternate reality version of me there right now...lol

Who’da thunk that sewing and motorcycles would blend so nicely 😜👍🏻 This was great. Cheers! In answer: I let folks know what got me into riding in my video “A quick cruise, a quick tour, some history,....” but I’m sure you know that already cuz your subscribed to my channel and have probably watched it already, right🤣

You are by far the most interesting biker on youtube I like to listen to your stories and appreciate the content of your video's.

We are all in the same situation....

I could not multitask how you are doing the entire video! Kudos lady. Thanks for sharing.

Great story. In an automobile, you're just commuting from one place to another. On a motorcycle you're experiencing the journey from one place to another. Motorcycling is now, what driving used to be (and still is in places like Germany). Peace and love.

My old man got me into bikes by sitting me on the tank of his bike and riding me up the road on his way home from work, would have been under 3 years old then. Got my first bike at 16 though, a Honda MT5 :-)

Love that you are sewing. I’ve been watching lots of how to sew masks (don’t have a sewing machine though or how to use one). Good ole fashion needle and thread does it for me. You def. should do more sewing stories. Loved your story.

Great story, thanks for sharing it. made me think of how I got into riding back in the day,

What an amazing story, My grandfather was instrumental in me starting to ride, in a slightly different way. (This will be long jus' sayin') I am 19 and a close friend got himself a Honda CBR 600 I think .... anyway he let me ride it and although it was not the style of scooter I wanted, I knew immediately that I wanted to ride. When I got home I told my mom that I wanted to buy a motorcycle...(crickets....) she just looks at me with the mom face and said "The last thing you need is a motocycle". Obviously she is in full support. Next I see my grandma and I tell her.... whoa she said a lot of words and I don't remember a lot of them but they were loud words like " DIE! ...crashes and broken backs ,) oh my! Right about now my Gramps walks in and says, "Whats all this hullabaloo?" (yeah he actually used that word) I proceeded to recount my story for the third time. He smiled and said "It's good to have goals" then turned and left the room. The rest of the day went pretty normally it was a Friday and I was staying with my grandparents to help gramps with some house repairs. Saturday morning was an eggs, bacon and toast breakfast. Gramps was just about finished when he said " were going to have to run to the hardware store to get some things" "Great!!" I replied , I loved the local hardware store, always a favorite place to go and get lost in the rows of shelves, bins and odd tools hidden in dusty corners, it was a very old store....sorry I am off track again... Gramps and I left for the store right after finishing breakfast, we took his '55 Studebaker President, I loved driving that car it was so smooth it was like riding on clouds..... I am signaling to turn right to go to the store and Gramps says, "no no, go straight here I need to run by Bernie's".... 10 minutes later we are parking in front of Bernie's paint shop and to my amazement ther is a nice clean motorcycle with a "FOR SALE" sign taped to the seat. Immediately I was out and moving to the scooter. The placard read "1973 Honda CB 350 $400 obo Runs great clean title in hand. For more infocal Bernie (503)- 282-*&35."..... Gramps had headed directly into the shop to see Bernie about whatever business he had with him..... Well, now it seems I have some business to talk to Bernie about myself....About this time I hear Bernie and look up, he hands me the key and asks, "Do you know how to ride?" " I rode my best friends CB600 on tuesday." I asked him, "Is it the same shift pattern and clutch? "Yes" , said Bernie. I didn't bother answering him verbally. I just put the key in the ignition, swung my leg over the seat and squeezed the clutch lever. I turned it on pulled the choke and pushed the start button.... she fired right up and fast idled. I maybe waited 30 seconds before I put the choke to the half position and put the scooter in first........ 3 blocks and $400 of my grandfather's "case" (in case he needed it) money, I owned a scooter!!! He had paid Bernie while I test rode it knowing full well that I would want to buy it when I returned. The rest is history, my grandfather took some flak for buying me that scooter but he justified it by saying it was "payment " for the work I would do helping him around the house. This was a bargain I was happy to live with, even if I didn't technically ever "make" said bargain. Grandpa alway had my back. Just like your has your back. I will be 56 in May, just about the age Gramps was when he helped me get my first ride..... I know I am dramatic here but I promise you this story is true..... as I sit here with tears running down my face, missing my hero. Yes I still miss my Gramps.... Peace folks I got some "memberin to do. Thank you for sharing your story, it took me to a beautiful memory in my past and even though I cried at the telling I am happy to have this memory to cry over,...good times

You've been so insanely dedicated to the tank bag thing it's crazy, I'll be mad if you don't win!

My first car was a bike a 1965 Honda cub 50

Yay! I like that your sewing machine is a Husqvarna! =D Can't wait to see what kind of crazy tank bag Amanda dreams up!

I remember bits and pieces of the story, something about a classmate shooting down the jockey dream and I think something about grandpa and how awesome he is. I bought my bike because the 2000 Dodge Stratus, which my dad had sold me while my project Camaro was in pieces, wouldn't respond to anything one day. The computer had failed. I decided to buy a motorcycle, because the gas mileage was better and for $1600 you can get a pretty reliable bike with enough power to get on the highway. I took the MSF course and then bought a 2002 Shadow 750 ACE the next week. I've been commuting almost exclusively by motorcycle for 6 years now. I bought and owned a truck for about a year, because I'd bought a house and wanted it to do home improvement projects, but I used it so rarely that I decided to sell it and rent a truck if I need one. After taking my wife on a few day trips with me, I convinced her that it'd be more fun for both of us if she was on her own bike, and she agreed to sign up for an MSF class as well. We bought her a $600 1981 Honda CB400T with a slight oil leak. After I forgot to check the oil one day, we ended up spending $1000 on a 1980 Honda CB400T which was in amazing condition for its age, and she rode that for a few years before we bought her a 2013 Ninja 300 and set it up for touring.

🤔 just making your own bag. Me and 2 younger brothers had a susuki 100 and a 150 honda. Both 80s street bikes and just fell apart. It would be probably 20 years untill i was back on a bike. In 2009 a bunch of the family went to the casino in Hull, Quebec. I ended up winning 2 Harley Davidson's. A his/her bagger and a softtail with the tractor style seat. I took the cash. It was in 2010 gas was getting higher and decided maybe I should get a bike. Took a safety course in october and got my M1. All summer I was doing a bit of research on bikes that would be good for the hwy and good for the hundreds of dirt roads and trails around home. Decided the KLR would be best..it had the largest tank and was rated as a do it all, while not spending anything on it for a couple years. In november I phoned up a Kawasaki dealer and asked if they had a 2011 orange klr. They said no but it could be here the next week. Made all financial arrangements and the next weekend I had a bike. Never even tested one or sat on one before, so was shit this things tall. Just road it a couple days here and there and soon winter came🙃 The following spring I got my M2 and allows me to travel at night and freeways. Ya ...we have graduated licensing. By the end of summer I had pivot pegs, bark busters, and a aluminium skid plate. Got used to the height and in 2012 put longer dog bones on and proper knobbies, crash bars. 2012 and 2013 were the years I though this thing was a dirt bike.🤠 The swmotec skid plate was not worth replacing and took it to a machine shop to build a 1/4inch aluminium plate copy. Now after 100000km, lots of stupid trails with buddies, rallies, lots of stupid trails by myself, a Yellowstone trip with a friend in 2014. Full M lic. in 2015. A solo trip in 2018 from Ontario to Washington to Vancouver Island and back across the Canadian prairies🥰 A solo trip out to Nova Scotia in 2019. It's so true about talking to more people on a bike. You just get caught up in their interest in you, which then you repay the favors. I've come across other bikers that are not same. I reckon they just haven't figured out why they're on this planet yet😆👍

I hear it's good for creators when people give thumbs up and leave comments, so I am.

My first bike was a 1980 GS850. This was 82. I was stationed in Del Rio TX, I was from Kansas City MO. 1000 trip. I rode it many times.