Years On Two Wheels
-Years On Two Wheels-
This weekend while looking through some old photos I decided to scan in a few of them and create a photo archive of all bikes I have ever owned. I might add a note here and there, it is amazing to see the correlation between the bikes I have owned and the people I then became acquainted with that certainly shaped my life or otherwise had a profound impact.
I remember having liked bikes ever since I was a young lad, growing up in Germany I enjoyed seeing motorcycles and the gear the riders wore, quite a difference then to my re-location to El Paso, TX, where you would see folks ride without helmets, in shorts and T-shirts.
1985
1981 Kawasaki LTD440
My first bike. My grandma essentially funded the purchase of this bike ($800), this was my main (and only) means of transport while I attended the University of Texas at El Paso. Met another German rider named Peer Salden at UTEP, he rode a Yamaha XT500. We became good friends and went riding quite a bit. He and I dissembled the Kawasaki engine and replaced some rocker arm shims. Bike got trashed in I guess a pretty bad accident (I don't remember it), my buddy Aaron was riding bitch and thankfully wore my helmet.
Kawasaki LTD440 BackyardMy first bike .... the passion for motorcycling develops
1981 Kawasaki 440LTDMy first bike .... the passion for motorcycling develops
1986
1976 Honda CJ360T
I guess I got this one to replace the LTD440. Not a great bike, I remember that it had a torn diaphram in one carb which was such an easy fix, then it ran pretty well. I think Peer was pleased I got this bike, he HATED the LTD. I cannot re-collect whatever I did with this bike (or when/where I bought it).
CJ360TMy second bike. I guess 1985 - 1986? I think this was a either a '76 or '77 Honda CJ360T. Got it after the 440LTD was trashed in an accident.
CJ360T and new Hein Gericke JacketMy second bike. I guess 1985 - 1986? I think this was a either a '76 or '77 Honda CJ360T. Got it after the 440LTD was trashed in an accident.
1988
1980 Kawasaki Z1-R 1000
Only my third bike, this bike was quite cool, first bike I never should have sold. This was my daily rider while being stationed at Ft. Bragg, I lived off-base in Spring Lake, would ride this bike year around as I still did not own a car.
1990
1976 BMW R60/6
My first BMW. And my last ... This was the most dreadfully slow bike I ever owned. I did not appreciate what makes an airhead an airhead, but heck I was young then. This bike swore me off of BMW's for YEARS.
R60_6 Full View
R60_6 Somewhere in MS
1991
1982 Kawasaki KZ1000J
Don't really have much to say about this bike, this is the only picture I have of it. Don't really remember riding it.
1991 or 1992
1980 Honda CB750K
The move to California prompted me to have to sell the Z1-R 1000, the BMW R60/6 and the KZ1000J because I needed a car. This was a bad move on my part, but lesson learnt. The Z1-R I should have never sold, and now that I love airheads, the R60/6 might appeal to me again. I bought a 1973 VW Super Beetle. Finally after maybe six months or so, while living in San Diego my roommate Michael used to hijack my "Motorcyclist" magazine every time it was delivered. We talked about bikes and motorcycling, he said he would like to try that. So we found him a good starter bike (Yamaha Seca 550), went and looked at it, I test rode it, he purchased it and I rode it home for him. Probably just being on a bike again got me excited about getting another one, so this is what I bought.
CB750K and Michael
CB750K at Michael's
1994
1982 Honda CX500 Turbo
I sold the CB750K in 1992 before moving to the Washington DC area towards the end of 1992. I remained "bikeless" for probably a little over a year. My good friend John back in AR contacted me about his CX500Turbo being for sale and wanted to give me first dibs on it. Before I knew it, I had a trailer hitch installed on my car, and was heading to AR with a borrowed trailer to get the bike. Finally riding again, I went for a few short trips here an there, and ended up meeting my good friend Jim (he had a CX500 Silverwing) through some motorcycle forum online. We met up for quite a few rides and I saw him accumulate a few bikes over the next few years. Through a good friend (Dave) from work, I was re-introduced to BMW's. During our lunch hour he would tell me about these great BMW rallies he goes to, including some as far as Montana ... Wow. On occasion we would run to Bob's BMW for lunch, I absolutely fell in love with a BMWK1200RS. Dave invited me to join him at the BMW Square Route Rally in Thurmont, MD for the day, this was my first BMW rally (I rode the CX500T), it is here where I met several other guys from the Dutch Country Riders and realized that I want to be part of this rallying, and want to do it on a BMW.
1998
1997 BMW K1100LT
A very good friend and fellow rider took me to Bob's BMW for lunch and I instantly was hooked on the K1200RS (Yellow & Checkered Flag paint scheme). A subsequent visit had me look at the bike below, one year old dealer demo with 80mi, discounted by some $3000. Couldn't say no, purchased the bike and ended up putting almost 55k miles on it before wadding it up. This bike was simply put a great bike. Added a Russell Day-Long saddle, Remus Sport Exhaust, PIAA Aux. Driving Lights and a 5gal Fuel Cell. She was a runner and took me to quite a few rally's and on many great rides. Totaled in 2/8/2008.
2008
2005 BMW K1200LT
I decided not to get another bike until Aug/Sept 2008 or so. I healed up well from the accident and was beginning to strongly consider a BMW GS Adventure of some sort. After more consideration and being that I tend to take longer hauls, I decided on a K1200LT instead. In hindsight, a GS would have been a better fit, although the K1200LT served me well, and continues to do so.
-2014-
1977 BMW R100RS
Going old school because "Old's Cool". First airhead since 1991, trying this again. This time with a bike that needs a bit of help. What an adventure this turned out to be ... Too much to list here, but in a nutshell all I can say is that this is my favorite kike I have owned so far.