Did you ride a motorcycle before you rode a scooter?

New poll.

Yes, for about 100k miles all told over about 40+ years. A lot of dirt bikes, 3 big road bikes (no Harleys). The scooter is the most fun on two wheels since I got a "real" observed trials bike in 1970. It was a Montessa Cota.

A long long time ago ... I rode a moped which was not one of the options.

I rode a motorcycle 27 years ago for 5-10 minutes on a quiet road that looped in a circle . That is all the experience I ever had shifting until I took my MSF class 27 years later. I am guessing that is not what you mean by riding a motorcycle

I did have a small Suzuki, I think it was an 80, when I was in Grad school in '71. But about ten years later until now I went through four scooters and now my Silverwing. I love not having to shift.

Yes. Here is my motorcycle resume:

1972 Honda CB 350 (in high school)
1976 Suzuki T-500 (in college)

Then 18 years of marriage with no bike. Less than a month after separation, I was on 2 wheels again. My current wife loves to ride.

1997 HD XL1200 Custom Sportster
2000 HD Fatboy

Another brief bike-less period but not due to wife issues

2006 HD XL883 Sportster
2007 HD FXD Dyna Suger Glide
2007 Yamaha Vino 125 (my current wife's but I ride it some too)
2008 Honda Silverwing

How ironic to have started out on a Honda and now 30-some years later to end up back on a Honda.

Bill--Yes, that is what I meant. Shifting on a motorcycle. Diane

2 dirtbikes
4 motorcycles
1 sidecar rig
2 scooters

Diane

I still ride a motorcycle, although I only bought it in November 2008. The last time I had a bike prior to that was in 1997. My "new" bike is an old Yamaha XJ 900 Diversion (big brother to the old Yamaha Seca) 1995 model, 28.8K on the clock, full service history, used mostly as a Sunday ride and a bit of touring. I'm the third owner, and so far she runs like a dream... I can't believe the superb condition she is in! For a 14 year old she is in much better condition than my 5 year old S' Wing.
Prior to that my last my last big bike was a K100RT, and so far the although the Yamaha has very similar performance stats she seems much more fun, more stable, less complicated (no fuel injection), and seems more sportier. I have fitted a tall screen, handlebar risers and a monolock givi rack so I can now use my S'wing top box on the bike aswell. I hope to keep the yamaha in good condition as a fun bike, Sunday ride and tourer when the "season" starts. That said, truth be known the S'wing tours just as well, and in more comfort! My S'Wing will certainly continue to be my all season work horse, and get me to work with luggage rather than having to wear a huge rucksack.... Plus the S'wing is warmer, and you get less wet in the rain, and easier to handle around town... Hmmm! Lovely and souped up as my S'wing is I still missed the bike particularly the acceleration, especially fine when accompanied by the snarl of an inline four cylinder engine. By todays's standards its by no means a power house or super fast, but it has a very flexible engine and shaft drive and is fast enough...! Interestingly since doing a bit of filming on the bike (there is a thread in the other scoots/bike section) I've discovered that in real terms it is only about a second faster to 60mph than my S'wing, but then I'm not the best at fast getaways... I'd forgotten that there is an art to balancing the power on the clutch... Have been spoilt by the S'wing...

This is my first Yamaha. I'm well impressed! So I've now owned at least one bike made by each of "the" Japanese 4. I guess its the big 5 if you include BMW.... But then it would have been nice to call it the big 7 had I had a Triumph, and maybe a Ducati. Ah well, there's still time... I can't remember the dates, apart from my first and last bike, but these are the bikes I've owned.....

Honda SS50 1980 (on my 16th birthday)
Suzuki GS125 ES
Suzuki GSX400 ES (remember going out with a really gorgeous girlfriend on this one)
Kawasaki GT550
Suzuki CG125
Suzuki GT250 (two stroke screamer, I immediately began grinning just now when I thought of this one. One night coming home the generator must have spiked cos all the bulbs blew, all at once!! Had to ride home in the dark... But it wasn't too bad cos everyone got out the way when they could hear me coming but not see what it was!!!
BMW K100RT (once did just over 3,500 miles in three weeks around Europe on this one)
BMW 650 Funduro
Big gap here whilst I became the "family guy"
Honda 600 Silver Wing February 2008
and finally the Yamaha XJ900s Diversion, November 2008...

I was just thinking, it would make an interesting book writing ones autobiography, but defined by the memories associated with all the bikes you owned......

Happy Riding

Here's my spread out but thin history:

owned 1966 Honda 50 Cub
owned 1967 Yamaha 180 road twin
owned 1973 Yamaha RT360 Enduro
owned 2010 Honda SH150i scooter
now own 2009 Swing

Short answer: "No". Oh, except that one short ride back in 1968 or there abouts, when I almost dumped my passenger when taking off a wee bit too quickly. Neither she nor I knew what the hell we were doing. Come to think of it, neither did whoever it was that was willing to let me drive that bike.

And then there was that day or two back in 1970 I think it was, when I traded my VW Beetle for a friend's little red - Honda 350 was it? One unprotected ride on the California freeway system was enough to put me off motorbikes for another 37 years.

Then again, I decided to learn from all those motorcycle rider's "mistakes", and jump right to the "most fun" rides available, and skip motorcycles altogether in favor of scooters. No years of shifting and oil leaking hassles.
Or whatever else it is that motorcycle riders decide they can do without in favor of scooters:

1) Kymco People 150
2) 2 x Kymco People 250's
3) Swing

I think I'm good for a while.