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Path: utzoo!watmath!klmartin
From: klmartin@watmath.UUCP (K.L. Martin, Hardware)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: What to start out on
Message-ID: <14954@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Jun-85 10:25:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: watmath.14954
Posted: Mon Jun 10 10:25:54 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 11-Jun-85 02:28:45 EDT
References: <346@osiris.UUCP> <1537@orca.UUCP> <150@ittral.UUCP> <2360@vax4.fluke.UUCP>
Reply-To: klmartin@watmath.UUCP (K.L. Martin, Hardware)
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 32
Summary: 

Let me put in my $0.02 worth as well.....
  I started out on a Heathkit "BoonieBike" (anyone remember that 
little beastie) with a 5hp Brigs & Stranton engine.  Once I removed the
govener on the carb I could do 55mph on the back roads of northern Quebec.
I learned more from that one little unstable kidney shaker than any other
machine I have owned since.  The basic skills learned from coming over
dirt mounds and finding the other side missing or leaning too far in a corner
and having the machine decide that the laws of physics do apply after all,
has served me well.  This was all done at speeds guaranteed to make the 
adrenalin surge, remove skin and yet leave the hide intact.  I proceeded
to buy bigger and bigger bikes over the years and agree that after a year
or two the bike does get a little too tame if you have the urge to "boogie".
As my experience increased so did my driving record, when I raced I did
so on a track, when I want to be a nerd I did so on bushroads, when I wanted
to drive I headed for the highway and always stayed 10-15 mph above the
speed limit ( the cops never bothered anyone going that slow ).
  I now drive a rather mellow machine and have turned my attention
to touring the open roads with my wife.  I strongly recommend getting
a small bike, sure you will grow out of it but the operative word is
GROW, which implies life, which implies learning the basic survival
rules on a machine that is forgiving.  A mount that has the ability to
tell you when you have made a mistake and will let you live to tell the 
tale is better than having a first bike that is your last.(literally)
I don't want to sound fatalistic but I have lost a lot of friends who
for the most part were drunk, stoned, doing warp 12, playing chicken,
weaving through traffic at warp 12 and other irresponsible actions that
cost them their lives.  Everyone is mortal even the superbiker who has
the same attitude as the cronic smoker with cancer of the lung "Ah I know
the risks but it will never happen to me, I'm cautious."

"Ride the wind, feel the air, avoid the pavement.'	--Kim.