I think this is what I used to call a good ol fashioned *Street and Trail*.
I started out on a 1979 Yamaha DT 125, street and trail.

Two stroke that had good ol fashioned brake cables for brakes and a cable ran speedometer.........

LOVED that bike. My mother gave me $600 of an insurance settlement she got and I gave $575 for it. this was in 1981 or so.......the bike had very low miles on it. I recall being so proud to shine it up after riding it around town and through the woods........... I was so happy to have it. (thanks, mom. I miss you)

I used to ride it to school as I had my license (the cutoff for my class of license was for a bike less than 150cc, I think. ). Me and other school friends who also had bikes and three wheelers used to congregate and go riding deep in the woods, through creeks, and test our skills (and balls) on this enormous high climb that was the climax of a long, winding woods trail we all rode regularly.........

Anyyway, I think the term was changed from street and trail, to dual purpose, dual sport, and now I think they call it adventure motorcycling or adventure touring. What we did all those years ago was basically the same thing, only on a teenage kids level, and only locally.......Now, they have much more capable street and trail bikes, and take trips that are on a much more ambitious scale....... LOL.

I see the *adventure* faction of the biking worlds seems to be really growing, and they do alot more than a ride down the road and into the woods with a bunch of loud and cocky buddies. Some of these guys are taking bikes on treks all the way across the country, camping at night, all the while hauling all their gear on the back of these big bore single cylinder 650 bikes. THis has probably been around alot longer than I have been aware of it, as I've been *outta the game* for many years. I have not been into bikes in any capacity until rediscovering them last year. (I now have a new motocross bike, as well as the ZX14R......My old DT 125 is probably rusted into oblivion, somewhere in a metal salvage junk yard)

Anyone else start out on a good ol fashioned *street and trail* bike, and I think some of you are into *adventure motorcycling* these days, correct?

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 2/10/2013 @ 5:02 PM *

Yes , I also started on a street/ dirt bike . A '74 Suzuki 185 was ny first and only bike till I bought the 14 last year. A little difference ! I also have great memories of mine

me too!

Ah yes...it was one just like that Alg8er that threw me off for my first experience with a highsideLOL...been trying to replicate that feeling ever since!

My FIRST REAL bike was a 175 Yammie enduro....way back when.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/17/2013 @ 6:25 AM *

Before I was old enough to ride a regular motorcycle, I had minibikes. The around the yard kind with Briggs and Stratton 3.5 engines. then when I got one with suspension and a 5 horse engine, I had really arrived.

But the first big name manufactured bike I had was a used Honda CT70 from the early to mid 70s. (all my bikes were used, but I was ticked to death to have them regardless if they were second hand, third hand, etc.......)

These little suckers were street legal, and were very durable and reliable. I think I had a couple of them in my teen years.

Not fast at all, but it would crawl its way through or over about anything. And it was cool to have a real name brand motorcycle.

I gotta get me one of these to collect and just have for old times sake, as I spent so much time as a kid on these little bikes.

Before landing a CT 70, I was deperately trying to get my mom to buy me a Honda ( QA ?) 50, but even after two leads on used ones, I never did get that little rascal. I can get one, NOW, though!.

I need to keep an eye on Ebay for a Honda 50 to park next to the ZX14R. I think Brock is in the process of developing a high performance exhaust system for the QA50.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 2/17/2013 @ 10:13 AM *

Ha Ha my first ever ride was on a more primative thing like that little Honda fifty! my first road registerd was this though

* Last updated by: bean07 on 2/17/2013 @ 5:46 PM *

I owned that 50 for 3 years. It saw highways, city streets, dirt roads, cow paths, a motocross track, and quite a few ditches. I had 3 people on it a lot. Huge seat for 11 year olds.

3 People? They must crank out some kinda nasty low end torque. 49cc of raw power.

I'd love to get one as a side project to piddle with, as long as restoring it wouldn't turn into a money pit.

bean, is that an XL?

bean, is that an XL?

* Last updated by: bean07 on 2/18/2013 @ 12:33 PM *

ZX14MAN64; well, 3 11 year old kids, and it took some "walking" to get started. Top speed of about 40 was rocket fast back then, and we didn't stop very often, unless the kid in back fell off.

A lot of COG folks do adventure riding. Every rally, there is a contingent and they even have routes prepared and researched.

Lots of KTMs, Kawasaki 450s, and stuff.

Hey Beaner KTM Exec 500 will set you back 12 ish over here in Canada. What are they trading for domestically over there?
When I retire my ZX I am picking up a KTM for me and for my son and I will relegate riding to weekends and trailers!
Peace!
W

* Last updated by: Wolfman on 4/13/2013 @ 7:17 AM *