Who influenced you?

[Wilson123]

Why do you choose to ride bikes? Do you have a bike over a car even though you have no choice but to use it when it rains etc? Is it because your friends all ride bikes? I'm curious

I've always been in to bikes because my Dad has always had them, he's on an SV1000 now. When it's raining I always think "Man I want a fucking car, this is shit" but deep down I think I'd prefer a bike in the long run

Oh, and out of coincidence, all of my mates have bikes. A few have cars but my close friends all have bikes.

Your turn(s)!
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Doug97 wrote: Fuck you, what they did was awesome. You just wish you had the balls to be like them, instead of being constantly afraid that there's a rule somewhere out there you might be breaking.

[tsmith]

good fuel economy, free parking and you don't have to sit in traffic all day.

so basically it saves me money and time.

leaving just about anything standing at the lights is also fun.

[Vinyardo]

I'd been driving for 10 years before I got my first bike - as soon as I passed my test I sold the car and have been on a bike since!

It makes commuting quicker and more fun and even when it rains or snows I'd rather be on a bike (with the right gear on obviously).

None of my friends ride, so it's a personal choice for me
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--| Current bike: |--
--| Previous bikes: Honda CB500 -- KTM Duke 390 -- Honda CBR1000RR7 Fireblade -- Honda CBR600 FX -- Suzuki Bandit 600 -- Yamaha TTR250 -- Suzuki GN125 |--

[snomag]

I always wanted to have a bike, but when I was younger, my parents didn't support the idea of it and back those days, I couldn't really afford it to get it on my own.

Now luckily this has changed and as I finally had both the time and the money, to sort it out, I went for it and I'm very happy I did so.

The reason why I always wanted a bike because in my eyes it's a cool, fun thing to do and because of the - cliche warning - feeling of freedom.
When I say it's cool I don't mean it in a way, so you can walk up to people and show off. It's just great sitting on the bike, becoming a part of it and enjoying the ride and grinning all the way long.
I simply enjoy riding it, even if it's a busy afternoon in the middle of a town, or a late night ride when noone is around.

[The Original Muzza]

All my friends are either car drivers or bus takers.
I'm the only one with a bike license. I believe one took a CBT, but never went further.
Family wise my cousin has a bike, he passed a year before me, but lives at the other end of the country, so it never really compelled me.
I just never really liked cars. The idea behind them, the mundaneness. I got my car license before I done my CBT, though I haven't driven since. I only took the test as my mum paid for it to try and tempt me away from bikes. She would never pay for a bike or insure a bike for me, so I had to save up for my own, unlike my brother who got a cheap first car bought for him. (though my mum paid for my safety gear, there is a silver lining to their dislike of bikes).
I have no interest in WSB or any other racing, so I guess it's a mystery what inspired me.
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Current Bikes: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (2020)
Former Bikes: Honda MSX125 (2014), BMW Funduro (1996), Honda VT500 (1983), Yamaha FZR250 (1989), Suzuki GZ125 Marauder(2005),:Triumph TT600 (2002) (stolen)
From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.

[flamy]

I got one because my mate got one... so was peer pressure for me
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Current: GSXR 750 K6 Previous: R1, R6, ZXR400, NSR125 Next: Ducati 848 or 999

[Barry_M2]

Started out because a mate of mine got one and kept nagging me to get one too. That was 18 years ago!

Stuck with a bike 'til I was 25, then passed my car test. Had a couple of years without a bike then couldn't resist the urge to get another one. Now it's purely a hobby, although I do ride into work if the weather is nice.


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ZXR750R (M2) - For the road.
CBR1000 RR4 - For the track.
https://www.bikechatforums.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4332

[Paulington]

I come from a biking family, Mum had bikes, granddad did, dad did and my brothers did so was brought up around bikes and fast cars.

Of which I have a penchant for both now. (:

As Muzza said it's quite odd, I know a few people that ride mopeds but don't intend on taking it any further, I'll be the only person in my Sixth Form with a bike licence..

I guess I was inspired by watching my brothers ride FMX style, Dad on his Bandits and stuff, then watching bike/car racing inspired me to race karts and cars and bike racing inspired me to ride my bike.
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"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[The Original Muzza]

[Paulington]

[wizzzard]

I could drive well before I went for my CBT but could never find a car that could satisfy me totally ( oooer ). After changing cars pretty much on a bi-monthly basis for about two years I thought enough was enough and persuaded my wife to learn to drive so I could try out riding. Never looked back since. Rain, snow or sun I use the bike because being in a car now feels far to restrictive.

Can't say there was anyone who influenced me in real life to learn to ride, very few people I know have bikes and they hardly ride them ( raffles ). My earliest memory of a bike that registered as cool and made me think oh yeah I want one was tom cruise riding up the runway next to the f-14 so I will blame him for my present addiction.
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And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[sagalout]

Both of my Grandads were despatch riders in the War, my dad had bikes all his life and used to take me on his from about 6, so getting my first bike at 16 (a Puch Maxi lol) was just something that was always going to happen.

I've had periods without a bike - kids and stuff tend to get in the way at times. I've always loved 2 wheels though, so even when I havent had a motorbike I've still had cycles, and like to get out road riding and mount biking when the weather is too crap for the motorbike.
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Current Bike: Triumph Speed Triple T309
Previous: CBR600F => ZX9R => Triumph Tiger => Honda Blackbird => GSXR 750 => Versys =>ZX12R

[deepfriedmars...]

Like most of you it seems,I've just always liked bikes,for as long as I can remember. No-one in my family apart from my uncle rides and so bikes have always been pretty frowned upon for me. Like Muzza,I have never been interested or have ever wanted a car and I still don't. My parents are trying to get me to do driving lessons though,even going down the whole 'we'll pay for them' road. My dad in particular hates bikes and in fact most people I know are constantly telling me how dangerous they are. My brother,who is 19,drives and even he tells me not to ride. As soon as I hit 17 I took my CBT and was immediately looking for my first bike. So I guess I was just self-motivated really

Kirsty
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Scottish and proud!
CBT passed-15/04/09
'06 Honda CBR125R -Currently bikeless

[asdf]

I only got a bike because it was all i could have at 16. I was never really interested in getting a bike untill then. Once i got it i loved it so much i didnt even want a car at all so went onto a 125.
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KTM EXC 125 Supermoto, Honda Cub90

Past - Aprilia SR 50 Ditech, Derbi Senda SM DRD, Aprilia RS125 x 2, Aprilia RX 125

[arry]

Had scramblers as a kid but hadn't ridden a motorbike for some 15 years when I got back on one this time around (I'm 28 now)

Mate of mine had an NC30 and he offered to take me out on the back. Had to have my own bike after that.

[That_Hornet]

My dads always had bikes, been pillion since i could reach the pegs.

Bike shows, meets and racing all helped me.

Only once i wished i had a car. When i had to walk my brother and sister to thier judo and dancing. Would have been more easy in a car

Rain, Wind, Snow, Hail and the occasional sunshine..... I love riding bikes.

[Rufus]

when my parents split my dad bought a gixxer thou and took me on the motorway at 150mph. i wanted a bit of that
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CG125 > ZX6r > GSX600F > CB250n + ZX7R+ Bandit 1200

[Jayy]

When you're a small kid an you see a bike fly past you, there was just something amazing about it. I always used to stand at the end of my road watching all the bikes go past when I was about 7 years old.

Few of my friends had crossers when I lived in Kent and I used to jump on the back of them and the facination just went from there really.

Got a little Chinese import when I was 15 and used to toke that about everywhere. Got a 50cc ped when I was 16 then got promptly banned about 8 months later. After this point I didn't think I would ever get another bike.

I turned 23 and still didn't have my driving lisence, so I did 15 driving lessons as my mum bought me them for my birthday an said it was time I learnt to drive. I did all the lessons then stopped just before christmas last year with the intention of carrying on in the new year.

New year came an my mate had just bought a 125 and after having a little go of it, I decided there an then that I didn't want to carry on with the driving lessons and I wanted a bike.

Did my CBT again an got an RS125 in May 2008. I kept that for a year up until passing my full bike test on the 10th of July this month and went an bought a ZX6R the next day.

None of my mates have bikes at the moment but my sister had been toying with the idea of a 125 and she just picked up one of them YZFR 125s last week.

I think my dads slowly warming to the idea of a bike as well now.

[J D]

I didnt have nor need an influence to get a bike. I just love riding.
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m0l0t0v wrote: Chris, just so you know, JD is a nutter

[.Chris.]

I got a bike when I was 19 in the first year of uni. I'd been driving since I was 17, and tbh never thought about getting a bike at that point. I wouldn't have been able to either as my mum is not a fan of bikes. There wasn't one specific reason why I got a bike, but I think I thought it would be nice to spin round the countryside on one. Once I did my CBT and got on the road though I found out how useful having a bike is, and how much fun they are. Wouldn't be without one now, but then I wouldn't be without a car either - they're both useful for different reasons.

There is a bit of biking history in my family - my dad had a BSA Bantam back in the 70s and my uncle has had bikes for the past 30 years or so. That wasn't a factor in deciding to get a bike though.

Nobody in my year at school had bikes/peds, and only a few at uni do.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[rob_scott92]

I suppose it was my uncle who got me into bikes really. When i was a kid i was always into cars, then bikes, then cars again. although he's a biker, he's always tried to put me off but has now given up as he realises i won't back down lol . Though unfortunatly my mum is still not happy and throws in the occasional "Don't you think you should get driving lessons?" usually followed by "Hell no!, i've got a bike!". Just wait till i tell her i'm after an Sv650 after my test lol

Rob

[Tango675]

I wanted a bike at 16 but my parents said otherwise, got a car at 17 but always wanted to get a bike.

My Mate passed his test and got a bike, then another made got a CBT and a bike, then another mate passed his test...

... So decided to pull my out and give it a go.

Passed my test and love it.
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Somebody give that windup merchant a torque wrench..

[Wilson123]

[That_Hornet]

[Clanger]

My great grandad died whilst out riding a bike, my uncle's had bikes, my Dad had bikes...I went pillion at 7 years old on my Dad's bike, we watched bike racing and went to bike meets together... it was a natural progression for me to get into them really.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss