Bryant
01-28-2004, 02:01 AM
Once upon a time... many many moons ago... the BodMaster wrote his story on an ancient website that no longer exists... about his first experience with a rickity old motorcycle and how he came to own his very first gas driven "bicycle".
----- and so the story begins back in the year, 1997... -----
http://www.hypercycles.org/images/bryant/me_and_vtr.bmp
Hello! Here's some background info about me: Birthdate: 12-28-77, Birthplace: Dallas, TX, Ethnic Background: Korean Physical: 5'8"; 140lbs. Bikes Owned: '89 VTR250; '97 YZF600R, Education: UCSD (Computer Engineering) Job: Intern (The Scripps Research Institute - Research Computing) Quote: "Early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." My first bike was the '89 VTR250. The story about how I ended up riding motorcycles is quite long, but in a nutshell...
http://www.hypercycles.org/images/bryant/YZF_and_RX7Helmet.bmp
Two summers ago, I was living on my own, attending two colleges, and working part time... and I didn't have a way to get around other than the bus. Well, the bus got me late all the time to class so I had to find another way to get around. Tried to find a cheapo car.. but to no avail. Then alas I found a VTR250 for $1200. It was in crumby condition when I got it.. but it did the job. Finally.. something I could afford with the meager student wages I'm getting. Man.. after getting this bike, I did all the wrong things in the world on it. To start things off, the battery died as soon as I bought the bike. =/ So I had to roll my clunky old VTR down a small hill in my parking lot to get it started. Bear in mind that I have absolutely no experience what-so-ever riding motorcycles at this time. Had no M1 license, no training, no knowledge at all on how to ride a motorcycle. I didn't even know where the brakes were! I thought to myself, "How much different can a motorcycle be from riding a bicycle?" Anyway, I spent three whole nights after work trying to figure out how to get this bike to stay running once I got it started. Heh.. I thought it was broken cuz I kept stalling once I got it started. It took me a while.. but then I realized that it's a manual! Hahaha.. moving right along... I eventually figured out the clutch and the brakes. Shifting came as I went along. Oh, I think I should mention that the first time I actually got the bike going was unintentional. I found this thing called "CHOKE" on the bike and I decided to pull that lever all the way open. Popped the clutch and BAM.. the bike took off (it was already in gear). I was running stop signs, red lights, going right through busy intersections like there was no tomorrow, and all the while wondering and being amazed at how the bike's idle speed was a WHOPPING 25 miles per hour!!! Anyways.. I eventually stopped, but not very well. You see.. I was still in automatic transmission mode so all I did was squeeze the brake lever. Needless to say the bike stalled. And I fell for the first time right in front of a swimming pool full of very pretty ladies! Ugh.. I was stuck unceremoniously under my bike. =( I'll never forget that day. So that's how I learned to ride.. trial and error. I got to class on time.. went to work on time. Man.. I was getting things done! After summer was over, I finally got my M1 license. Then I got some insurance.
http://www.hypercycles.org/images/bryant/me_on_YZF.bmp
Fastforwarding a bit, it is now the month of February and I have a craving for a bigger, faster, more sexier looking bike. That's when I bought my '97 YZF600R from a former police officer at UCSD. Wow.. what a difference. Take care you guys and ride safe!
----- and so the story begins back in the year, 1997... -----
http://www.hypercycles.org/images/bryant/me_and_vtr.bmp
Hello! Here's some background info about me: Birthdate: 12-28-77, Birthplace: Dallas, TX, Ethnic Background: Korean Physical: 5'8"; 140lbs. Bikes Owned: '89 VTR250; '97 YZF600R, Education: UCSD (Computer Engineering) Job: Intern (The Scripps Research Institute - Research Computing) Quote: "Early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." My first bike was the '89 VTR250. The story about how I ended up riding motorcycles is quite long, but in a nutshell...
http://www.hypercycles.org/images/bryant/YZF_and_RX7Helmet.bmp
Two summers ago, I was living on my own, attending two colleges, and working part time... and I didn't have a way to get around other than the bus. Well, the bus got me late all the time to class so I had to find another way to get around. Tried to find a cheapo car.. but to no avail. Then alas I found a VTR250 for $1200. It was in crumby condition when I got it.. but it did the job. Finally.. something I could afford with the meager student wages I'm getting. Man.. after getting this bike, I did all the wrong things in the world on it. To start things off, the battery died as soon as I bought the bike. =/ So I had to roll my clunky old VTR down a small hill in my parking lot to get it started. Bear in mind that I have absolutely no experience what-so-ever riding motorcycles at this time. Had no M1 license, no training, no knowledge at all on how to ride a motorcycle. I didn't even know where the brakes were! I thought to myself, "How much different can a motorcycle be from riding a bicycle?" Anyway, I spent three whole nights after work trying to figure out how to get this bike to stay running once I got it started. Heh.. I thought it was broken cuz I kept stalling once I got it started. It took me a while.. but then I realized that it's a manual! Hahaha.. moving right along... I eventually figured out the clutch and the brakes. Shifting came as I went along. Oh, I think I should mention that the first time I actually got the bike going was unintentional. I found this thing called "CHOKE" on the bike and I decided to pull that lever all the way open. Popped the clutch and BAM.. the bike took off (it was already in gear). I was running stop signs, red lights, going right through busy intersections like there was no tomorrow, and all the while wondering and being amazed at how the bike's idle speed was a WHOPPING 25 miles per hour!!! Anyways.. I eventually stopped, but not very well. You see.. I was still in automatic transmission mode so all I did was squeeze the brake lever. Needless to say the bike stalled. And I fell for the first time right in front of a swimming pool full of very pretty ladies! Ugh.. I was stuck unceremoniously under my bike. =( I'll never forget that day. So that's how I learned to ride.. trial and error. I got to class on time.. went to work on time. Man.. I was getting things done! After summer was over, I finally got my M1 license. Then I got some insurance.
http://www.hypercycles.org/images/bryant/me_on_YZF.bmp
Fastforwarding a bit, it is now the month of February and I have a craving for a bigger, faster, more sexier looking bike. That's when I bought my '97 YZF600R from a former police officer at UCSD. Wow.. what a difference. Take care you guys and ride safe!