The bike that inspired me

jazzhunt · 05-03-2011, 04:49 AM

Hi folks. I saw this bike recently and was inspired to re-visit the idea of getting a bike. I live in Perth, Western Australia, home of some of the harshest bike restrictions around :roll: Mandatory helmet, lights on 24/7 and everyone, without exception, must ride a 250 for a year before they are allowed to sit (another) test to allow 'open' riding. This means that 250's are quite expensive, since you must have one, and having short legs means not many of the 250's (that I can afford)out there suit me. I did like the Virago 250's, back in the day, but as I grew (out, not up!) I felt they were a little dainty. Eventually I just let the whole idea slide. I saw this grubby old geezer and really fell for it - the wider tank, squat stance and fenders just really called to me. So I thought and thought and thought and spent hours on this forum (oh, man, some of the bobber projects on here are great!) and not 10 minutes ago I came home with the bike, a new helmet, a new armoured jacket and new gloves. Now to go do the training, get some practice and get out there. But in the weeks it will take to go through that process I'll be cleaning, polishing, repairing and generally bringing the old geezer back to life. Sure, it's not pretty but my (very) experienced mates checked it out and declared it acceptable (it's an honest cheapy and, hey, it does have less than 30 000 kilometres on it, was the call) and surely what inspires you has to be given a chance :-) Looking forward to spending even more time on this site!

alantf · 05-03-2011, 05:16 AM

Hi there, & welcome to the madhouse.

Reckon you'll get to like the two wheel experience in your part of Australia. My mate Bob, in Secret Harbour, puts on several hundred Ks each weekend. Mind you, he's got a 1700 cc Yamaha, so I'll bet that you'll wanna upgrade as soon as you can, to take advantage of those wide open spaces. :2tup:

jazzhunt · 05-03-2011, 06:08 AM

Thanks, Alantf :-) Yep, that is definitely the plan! I have mates all over the state who do a lot of miles on things as varied as gsxrs, m50's, harleys, st1100's, fury's and little gpx's and 250 ninjas. It's been amazing how many of them have offered to 'shadow' me now that I've got the bike. But I think the thing that was most reassuring was that every one of them, without fail, said "...don't care what you ride, just as long as you are riding..." or a version of it. BTW, Secret Harbour is certainly a nice place to base yourself :-)

BillInGA · 05-03-2011, 06:35 AM

Good on ya', mate! And welcome aboard. What year is it?

It doesn't look to be in any worse shape than mine. Hmm, maybe I should give it a bath...

alanmcorcoran · 05-03-2011, 06:47 AM

Welcome. Have fun with your new toy.

jazzhunt · 05-03-2011, 07:28 AM

Oops, good point BillInGA - it's a '98 model. Now minus the gear rack:-) Removed but hanging in the shed - I'm sure it will be useful once I'm more experienced.

blaine · 05-03-2011, 08:45 AM

Welcome to the family.Ride safe. :cool: :2tup:

Water Warrior 2 · 05-03-2011, 03:03 PM

Welcome Jazz. Your new friend looks pretty good for a 98. Have fun getting to know each other and happy wrenching.

mole2 · 05-03-2011, 06:53 PM

Welcome to the forum from South Carolina, USA. Ride safe.

geezer · 05-03-2011, 07:14 PM

great story, i would want a new bike to if i had all that straight line riding too, but boy is this bike fun in the mountains

05-03-2011, 04:49 AM	#1
jazzhunt Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 6	The bike that inspired me Hi folks. I saw this bike recently and was inspired to re-visit the idea of getting a bike. I live in Perth, Western Australia, home of some of the harshest bike restrictions around :roll: Mandatory helmet, lights on 24/7 and everyone, without exception, must ride a 250 for a year before they are allowed to sit (another) test to allow 'open' riding. This means that 250's are quite expensive, since you must have one, and having short legs means not many of the 250's (that I can afford)out there suit me. I did like the Virago 250's, back in the day, but as I grew (out, not up!) I felt they were a little dainty. Eventually I just let the whole idea slide. I saw this grubby old geezer and really fell for it - the wider tank, squat stance and fenders just really called to me. So I thought and thought and thought and spent hours on this forum (oh, man, some of the bobber projects on here are great!) and not 10 minutes ago I came home with the bike, a new helmet, a new armoured jacket and new gloves. Now to go do the training, get some practice and get out there. But in the weeks it will take to go through that process I'll be cleaning, polishing, repairing and generally bringing the old geezer back to life. Sure, it's not pretty but my (very) experienced mates checked it out and declared it acceptable (it's an honest cheapy and, hey, it does have less than 30 000 kilometres on it, was the call) and surely what inspires you has to be given a chance :-) Looking forward to spending even more time on this site! Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-03-2011, 05:16 AM	#2
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Re: The bike that inspired me Hi there, & welcome to the madhouse. Reckon you'll get to like the two wheel experience in your part of Australia. My mate Bob, in Secret Harbour, puts on several hundred Ks each weekend. Mind you, he's got a 1700 cc Yamaha, so I'll bet that you'll wanna upgrade as soon as you can, to take advantage of those wide open spaces. :2tup: __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.
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05-03-2011, 06:08 AM	#3
jazzhunt Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 6	Re: The bike that inspired me Thanks, Alantf :-) Yep, that is definitely the plan! I have mates all over the state who do a lot of miles on things as varied as gsxrs, m50's, harleys, st1100's, fury's and little gpx's and 250 ninjas. It's been amazing how many of them have offered to 'shadow' me now that I've got the bike. But I think the thing that was most reassuring was that every one of them, without fail, said "...don't care what you ride, just as long as you are riding..." or a version of it. BTW, Secret Harbour is certainly a nice place to base yourself :-) Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-03-2011, 06:35 AM	#4
BillInGA Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kennesaw, GA Posts: 296	Re: The bike that inspired me Good on ya', mate! And welcome aboard. What year is it? It doesn't look to be in any worse shape than mine. Hmm, maybe I should give it a bath... __________________ ATGATT - All The Gear, All The Time
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05-03-2011, 06:47 AM	#5
alanmcorcoran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,926	Re: The bike that inspired me Welcome. Have fun with your new toy. __________________ [hr:5yt6ldkq][/hr:5yt6ldkq] http://alanmarkcorcoran.com Motorcycles, Music, Musings and More… Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-03-2011, 07:28 AM	#6
jazzhunt Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 6	Re: The bike that inspired me Oops, good point BillInGA - it's a '98 model. Now minus the gear rack:-) Removed but hanging in the shed - I'm sure it will be useful once I'm more experienced.
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05-03-2011, 08:45 AM	#7
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	Re: The bike that inspired me Welcome to the family.Ride safe. :cool: :2tup: __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised.
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05-03-2011, 03:03 PM	#8
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: The bike that inspired me Welcome Jazz. Your new friend looks pretty good for a 98. Have fun getting to know each other and happy wrenching.
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05-03-2011, 06:53 PM	#9
mole2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Longs, SC Posts: 1,469	Re: The bike that inspired me Welcome to the forum from South Carolina, USA. Ride safe. __________________ 2009 V-Star 650 Silverado Pearl White 2007 Suzuki GZ250 Black (sold)
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05-03-2011, 07:14 PM	#10
geezer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: dahlonega GA Posts: 563	Re: The bike that inspired me great story, i would want a new bike to if i had all that straight line riding too, but boy is this bike fun in the mountains __________________ 99 gz 250 and a currently dismantled fzr 1000
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