As a kid, my Dad had bikes....850 Norton, 305cc Honda Scrambler, BSA 650, and he regularly worked on bikes. By the age of 5, I was riding circles around the farmhouse on a Tote-Goat.
Here's a photo of one I found on the web, like the one I started out on:
In a few years, I was riding a 1969 Honda SL90 - a one-year only bike in only two paint combinations - Red/Silver & Blue/Silver
Here's a pic of what mine looked like, color scheme and all:
At only 7HP, Dad thought I would be reasonably safe on that. I soon worked up to a 1973 RM100 and started racing in MX events, eventually stepping up to a Bultaco 250 Alpina and a Bultaco 360, then a Husqvarna 430.
Soon after, I got into Pro AMA flat track racing on a Home-Built Yamaha OW72.
Known by the nickname 'El Extremo,' I pretty much went at everything (life, music, cars, girls) flat-out, often with unexpected consequences. The '666' number plate added to the mystique and I wore a Mexican luchador mask under my helmet...
Every other Saturday, Dad and I would go riding. Dad would be on his 305cc Scrambler...
...and Mom on her CB350-4...
and me on one of my totally illegal race bikes.
Our enjoyment came from super-long single day trips. Our longest was the ride from Porterville to Amboy, California - 260 miles, leaving before down and returning before dark.
Then, in 1989 - when I was 24 - a friend was nearly killed street rising on a 650 BSA and my Mom freaked and demanded Dad and I sell our bikes.
And that was that....
Recently, the drummer for 'Outfall' got me interested in bike's and desert trips again. He has a soft spot for brand new 500cc KTM's, and he suggested I get a bike and go riding. I didn't want a new, computerized bike and I certainly didn't want to spend $5,000 to $6,000 on a brand new bike. What I wanted, was something that reminded me of a different time period.
I recall a buddy had a Honda XR500R in high school and I thought that was super cool, so I started looking - and found one - a second owner, 1983 XR500R with 4,456 miles on it for $1,000
Here's the actual photo of the bike from the listing:
So, tomorrow morning, I pick it up in Hesperia, and ride it 65 miles across open desert and mountains to my house on the northern outskirts of San Bernardino.
They didn't call me 'El Extremo; for nuthin...
Here's a photo of one I found on the web, like the one I started out on:
In a few years, I was riding a 1969 Honda SL90 - a one-year only bike in only two paint combinations - Red/Silver & Blue/Silver
Here's a pic of what mine looked like, color scheme and all:
At only 7HP, Dad thought I would be reasonably safe on that. I soon worked up to a 1973 RM100 and started racing in MX events, eventually stepping up to a Bultaco 250 Alpina and a Bultaco 360, then a Husqvarna 430.
Soon after, I got into Pro AMA flat track racing on a Home-Built Yamaha OW72.
Known by the nickname 'El Extremo,' I pretty much went at everything (life, music, cars, girls) flat-out, often with unexpected consequences. The '666' number plate added to the mystique and I wore a Mexican luchador mask under my helmet...
Every other Saturday, Dad and I would go riding. Dad would be on his 305cc Scrambler...
...and Mom on her CB350-4...
and me on one of my totally illegal race bikes.
Our enjoyment came from super-long single day trips. Our longest was the ride from Porterville to Amboy, California - 260 miles, leaving before down and returning before dark.
Then, in 1989 - when I was 24 - a friend was nearly killed street rising on a 650 BSA and my Mom freaked and demanded Dad and I sell our bikes.
And that was that....
Recently, the drummer for 'Outfall' got me interested in bike's and desert trips again. He has a soft spot for brand new 500cc KTM's, and he suggested I get a bike and go riding. I didn't want a new, computerized bike and I certainly didn't want to spend $5,000 to $6,000 on a brand new bike. What I wanted, was something that reminded me of a different time period.
I recall a buddy had a Honda XR500R in high school and I thought that was super cool, so I started looking - and found one - a second owner, 1983 XR500R with 4,456 miles on it for $1,000
Here's the actual photo of the bike from the listing:
So, tomorrow morning, I pick it up in Hesperia, and ride it 65 miles across open desert and mountains to my house on the northern outskirts of San Bernardino.
They didn't call me 'El Extremo; for nuthin...
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