Tman
Member
Howdy,
Ok, so about a year ago I decided I was getting too old to ride anymore (had just turned 76) and sold my last bike, a Yamaha XT-250. This was the last of a long history of motorcycles since I was seventeen or so and I was rarely without a bike. Throughout the years I pursued many facets of riding including motocrossing, enduros, hillclimbs, observed trials, trail riding, and long distance travel. After a year without riding and missing it sorely, I became aware of the Honda Trail 125 (I had once owned a Trail 90) and started looking at YouTube videos and before long I wanted one. When I began looking, I found out how much in demand they are and expanded my search to a radius of several hundred miles (I live in central Virginia). I called the nearest dealer who had one (2 hrs away) but they had just sold it that morning. More searching showed availability in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Florida. Not wanting to drive that far, I kept on searching and found another listing only 2 and a half hours away in Roanoke. I called and the salesman said they had one that had just arrived (still in the crate) and wasn't spoken for. I persuaded him to get the Service Department started on getting it ready while I embarked on the trip to take possession. Before going any further, let me just say that the personnel at Motosport Roanoke are the nicest and most helpful people in a dealership I've ever dealt with.
So . . . we loaded up the bike on my little trailer and I headed back home, arriving late that evening tired and happy.
Since then, because of bad weather, I've had no opportunity to take it out and play. However, today I figured there was enough snow melted that I could at least ride it out my driveway and back (1/2 mile each way). I was wrong! I only got a couple of hundred yards from the house when I realized the little bike was unstable on the hidden ridges of ice at the side of each track and I dumped it in a snowbank at about 5 mph with no damage. No big deal (I've been down many times) but it WAS slightly humiliating. So, back to the house and put it away to await more favorable conditions. Ok, so I admit I'm rusty and it's a poor craftsman who blames his tools, but I've already decided that I need more aggressive tires on this Little Red Donkey so that is going to be one of the first items on my list of improvements.
So there you have it -- my first ride was less than optimum but it still felt good to be on two wheels again and this old man is a happy camper. Can't wait to get back in the saddle!
Ok, so about a year ago I decided I was getting too old to ride anymore (had just turned 76) and sold my last bike, a Yamaha XT-250. This was the last of a long history of motorcycles since I was seventeen or so and I was rarely without a bike. Throughout the years I pursued many facets of riding including motocrossing, enduros, hillclimbs, observed trials, trail riding, and long distance travel. After a year without riding and missing it sorely, I became aware of the Honda Trail 125 (I had once owned a Trail 90) and started looking at YouTube videos and before long I wanted one. When I began looking, I found out how much in demand they are and expanded my search to a radius of several hundred miles (I live in central Virginia). I called the nearest dealer who had one (2 hrs away) but they had just sold it that morning. More searching showed availability in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Florida. Not wanting to drive that far, I kept on searching and found another listing only 2 and a half hours away in Roanoke. I called and the salesman said they had one that had just arrived (still in the crate) and wasn't spoken for. I persuaded him to get the Service Department started on getting it ready while I embarked on the trip to take possession. Before going any further, let me just say that the personnel at Motosport Roanoke are the nicest and most helpful people in a dealership I've ever dealt with.
So . . . we loaded up the bike on my little trailer and I headed back home, arriving late that evening tired and happy.
Since then, because of bad weather, I've had no opportunity to take it out and play. However, today I figured there was enough snow melted that I could at least ride it out my driveway and back (1/2 mile each way). I was wrong! I only got a couple of hundred yards from the house when I realized the little bike was unstable on the hidden ridges of ice at the side of each track and I dumped it in a snowbank at about 5 mph with no damage. No big deal (I've been down many times) but it WAS slightly humiliating. So, back to the house and put it away to await more favorable conditions. Ok, so I admit I'm rusty and it's a poor craftsman who blames his tools, but I've already decided that I need more aggressive tires on this Little Red Donkey so that is going to be one of the first items on my list of improvements.
So there you have it -- my first ride was less than optimum but it still felt good to be on two wheels again and this old man is a happy camper. Can't wait to get back in the saddle!
.