It was my first bike, but not my first experience with motor bikes. Growing up my dad always had a few bikes in the garage. During the summer months he would give all the neighborhood kids rides around the block on the back of his Kawasaki cruiser. Everyone would lineup in our driveway for a ride around the block and dad would take his time to do a lap for each rider and just cruise.
When I was around 7 or 8 years old I would sneak into the garage and climb up on dad’s bike and act like the rider. One day I accidentally tipped it over in the garage (un-harmed), but never sat on the front seat of a bike again until I was 19 years old.
February 1997 -
I’m not exactly sure how I got the itch to buy my first motorcycle back in Feb. of ‘97, but I decided I wanted a bike and was going to get one regardless of my parents approval/disapproval. Mom was fully against the idea. Dad didn’t like it from a financial perspective, but I could tell he was exited about the opportunity of sharing the enjoyment motorcycles once gave him.
For $3700 in ‘97 I was the proud owner of a well-groomed Suzuki Katana 600 with less than 4500 miles on it. It was red, pink, white, black, orange and hideous, but I loved it. Kerker pipe, tinted windscreen and a cheesie cargo-net to boot. It Despite the looks the bike was fast and handled great for someone with zero motorcycling experience. In fact, the day we purchased it dad rode it home about 60 miles (in Feb.) so we could store it in the garage until spring.
The next day I completed and passed my written motorcyclist exam and was a permit rider in the state of Indiana. The spring and summer months could not come fast enough.
Once the weather broke I spent the next few months riding in the neighborhood under dads tutelage learning all the core aspects of riding. I wore helmet, but not much else at the time. I’ve become an ATGATT guy so when I think back now I’m thankful I never had any accidents.
After graduating from the neighborhood I spent the next several months riding all around south-central Indiana. Although I had to sell the Kan-O-Tuna after 2 years of ownership I will never forget my first bike.
