Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Chat Forum > The HUBB PUB
The HUBB PUB Chat forum - no useful content required!

BUT the basic rules of polite and civil conduct which everyone agreed to when signing up for the HUBB, will still apply, though moderation will be a LITTLE looser than elsewhere on the HUBB.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Like Tree14Likes
  • 2 Post By mollydog
  • 2 Post By backofbeyond
  • 2 Post By anonymous1
  • 1 Post By SandroRoma
  • 1 Post By jkrijt
  • 2 Post By *Touring Ted*
  • 1 Post By Senno
  • 1 Post By Senno
  • 1 Post By mollydog
  • 1 Post By paul1962

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 4 Apr 2014
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Roma
Posts: 47
Why are we bikers?

We usually enjoy talking about our adventure tales and amaizing pics...
BUT...
how often do we spend time talking about who actually introduced us to bikes?

I want to say thanks to my uncle Fabio!
It's thanks to him that I am now a biker!
http://www.ridesoul.net/thanks-to/?lang=en

So, who's yours? share your pics!

Alessandro
Attached Thumbnails
Why are we bikers?-uncle-fabio1.jpg  

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 5 Apr 2014
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
Everyone has influences and inspiration can come from every side of your world. For me it came in stages ... and has continued along for the last 50 years.

Early influences:

Dylan on his Triumph

Pirsig- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance


This guy lived in the neighborhood .. and this is how I remember seeing him riding around. I think he rode everyday if not working.


I saw these guys race in person at Ascot Park at age 14. In two years ... I was racing there too ... a very short career. Ascot was an amazing scene in the mid 60's. Many future world champs came out of there including Kenny Roberts ... who I saw ride there a few years later.


Romero and Dave Aldana were crowd favorites.


And who could forget the Eakins brothers? Early Baja heros of mine and thousands of SoCal kids. Brother Bud doubled MQueen in The Great Escape. I met Dave at his bike shop in San Fernando Valley in the 60's. A magic place. He rode for Triumph and Honda and helped me keep my Bultaco running! (badly)

Later influences included:


Ted Simon's Jupiter's Travels. I was in S. America at the same time Ted was, only later read his book ... and wished we'd met on the road. I was on a Vespa (in Peru' anyway) he on his Triumph. I spent a year there.


More recent heroes:

Author and Adventure rider ... and HUBB member, Dan Walsh. A fantastic read.


Austin Vince of Mondo Enduro and Terra Circa fame.

Last edited by mollydog; 5 Apr 2014 at 03:30.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 5 Apr 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,102
Sadly no impressive pics like Mollydog's in my timeline but that's probably because most of my influences were local - friends mainly. I started on two wheels because living in the country at the time I needed transport and it was all I could afford. Back in the 60's you either went scooter or motorbike and I started with one of these -



Its shortcomings soon became apparent when I started doing longer trips on it but it was better than cycling!

About a year or so later a friend started working with a guy who was doing long distance van trips in his spare time and a bunch of us put a winter trip to Austria together. That was my first time out of the country and the start of a love affair with the Alps.

Smudgy black and white pic from that trip -



Six months after that was the first of the bike trips - two of us to Morocco by 250cc Yamaha. Pic below is me in a campsite in Tangiers writing a postcard home (we got back before it arrived).




That was 1970. Tharoughout the 70's we did at least one major Eurotrip each year. This was Greece in 1973, at roughly the same time as Ted Simon was in Libya



I have read a number of travel books - Jupiters Travels, Zen etc but tbh most of my inspiration is generated internally. I just do whatever I've been interested in - subject to the checks and balances of family, finance etc.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 5 Apr 2014
Registered User
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 377
On Any Sunday

My excuse is, I saw this movie at the drive in when it came out, got my first bike, a Honda SL 100 very soon after! I've never been without a bike since, unless it was stolen (twice ^&%$#@*'s) and that doesn't count!

If you've not seen it, do yourself a favour and watch it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl_6aeIRmGs
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5 Apr 2014
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Roma
Posts: 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Everyone has influences and inspiration can come from every side of your world. For me it came in stages ... and has continued along for the last 50 years.

Early influences:

Dylan on his Triumph

Pirsig- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance


This guy lived in the neighborhood .. and this is how I remember seeing him riding around. I think he rode everyday if not working.


I saw these guys race in person at Ascot Park at age 14. In two years ... I was racing there too ... a very short career. Ascot was an amazing scene in the mid 60's. Many future world champs came out of there including Kenny Roberts ... who I saw ride there a few years later.


Romero and Dave Aldana were crowd favorites.


And who could forget the Eakins brothers? Early Baja heros of mine and thousands of SoCal kids. Brother Bud doubled MQueen in The Great Escape. I met Dave at his bike shop in San Fernando Valley in the 60's. A magic place. He rode for Triumph and Honda and helped me keep my Bultaco running! (badly)

Later influences included:


Ted Simon's Jupiter's Travels. I was in S. America at the same time Ted was, only later read his book ... and wished we'd met on the road. I was on a Vespa (in Peru' anyway) he on his Triumph. I spent a year there.


More recent heroes:

Author and Adventure rider ... and HUBB member, Dan Walsh. A fantastic read.


Austin Vince of Mondo Enduro and Terra Circa fame.
Hi Mollydog,

I'have never seen before the Honda logo like that one! So funny, comparing it with the current one. The sign of time!

Forgive me, i'm 28 years old!

By the way....The "Legend" Steve McQueen was your neighbor??!!....you lucky guy!!

Cheers,
Alessandro
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 5 Apr 2014
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Roma
Posts: 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by backofbeyond View Post
Sadly no impressive pics like Mollydog's in my timeline but that's probably because most of my influences were local - friends mainly. I started on two wheels because living in the country at the time I needed transport and it was all I could afford. Back in the 60's you either went scooter or motorbike and I started with one of these -



Its shortcomings soon became apparent when I started doing longer trips on it but it was better than cycling!

About a year or so later a friend started working with a guy who was doing long distance van trips in his spare time and a bunch of us put a winter trip to Austria together. That was my first time out of the country and the start of a love affair with the Alps.

Smudgy black and white pic from that trip -



Six months after that was the first of the bike trips - two of us to Morocco by 250cc Yamaha. Pic below is me in a campsite in Tangiers writing a postcard home (we got back before it arrived).




That was 1970. Tharoughout the 70's we did at least one major Eurotrip each year. This was Greece in 1973, at roughly the same time as Ted Simon was in Libya



I have read a number of travel books - Jupiters Travels, Zen etc but tbh most of my inspiration is generated internally. I just do whatever I've been interested in - subject to the checks and balances of family, finance etc.

Backofbeyond...your pics are amaizing!
I like to see pics of "old times" travellers. It helps me realizing that nowadays even the toughest adventure, it HAS to be easier and achievable!!

Then, i should have no concerns about my forthcoming 6 months adventure!

Thanks for sharing your pics,
Alessandro
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 5 Apr 2014
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Roma
Posts: 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drwnite View Post
My excuse is, I saw this movie at the drive in when it came out, got my first bike, a Honda SL 100 very soon after! I've never been without a bike since, unless it was stolen (twice ^&%$#@*'s) and that doesn't count!

If you've not seen it, do yourself a favour and watch it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl_6aeIRmGs

Hi Drwnite,

I'm already watching it!

Alessandro
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 5 Apr 2014
jkrijt's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 636
My introduction to bikes was by my uncle Willem.
When I was a little kid, he and my aunt took me on a ride to the motocross, sitting behind them on his Triumph Speed Twin. When we returned from the cross, he let me ride on the tank and hold the handlebars. I was in heaven !!!

Many years later, when I turned 18, he helped me buying my first bike, an Ural 650cc and learned me how to ride it.
After he moved to England and later to South Africa, I visited my uncle and aunt in my holidays and made some nice bike trips there, alone or together..

It was a real shock for me when he died at an accident with his Harley in South Africa some years ago. The car driver had not seen him.........


__________________
Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a BMW R1200GS

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 5 Apr 2014
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Roma
Posts: 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkrijt View Post
My introduction to bikes was by my uncle Willem.
When I was a little kid, he and my aunt took me on a ride to the motocross, sitting behind them on his Triumph Speed Twin. When we returned from the cross, he let me ride on the tank and hold the handlebars. I was in heaven !!!

Many years later, when I turned 18, he helped me buying my first bike, an Ural 650cc and learned me how to ride it.
After he moved to England and later to South Africa, I visited my uncle and aunt in my holidays and made some nice bike trips there, alone or together..

It was a real shock for me when he died at an accident with his Harley in South Africa some years ago. The car driver had not seen him.........


Hi jkrijt,

I'm sorry to hear of your uncle, I know how you must have felt! I have sadly been through the same sort of things...but I know he was surely happy to have introduced you to bikes! And let me say that I do like your way to pay him your respects with your trips to South Africe for visiting them!

R.i.p.
Alessandro
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 5 Apr 2014
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
I was big into Mountain Biking so already into two wheels from an early age.. I ended up getting a bar job in a Biker/Rock club when I was 18... It didn't take long before I was introduced to motorcycling and was taking my test 6 weeks later.

I think once you own your first bike, you're a biker for life. Even if you don't own a bike any more I think you still crave one.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 5 Apr 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 141
Interesting question. I'd seen bikes about since my earliest memories, but was much more into cars and push bikes when I was a teenager. My brother first introduced me to the idea that I, too, could own and ride a motorbike, but it still remained theoretical until I read Pirsig. That book truly opened my eyes to the beauty and magic and sheer poetry of biking.

Within moments of finishing it I had booked lessons and, shortly afterwards, passed my test. And I've never looked back. I love bikes so much that even if I were unable to ride (God forbid) I would still own bikes, as many as I could, as they are objects of beauty in themselves, separate from their function.

Hooked forever!
__________________
That concrete whizzing by five inches below your foot is the real thing...
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 5 Apr 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 141
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
.

I think once you own your first bike, you're a biker for life. Even if you don't own a bike any more I think you still crave one.
Spot on. I'm suffering right now as, being poorer than a church mouse's poor cousin, I am bikeless (or rather my bikes are stuck in the garage unrepaired, untaxed, un-MOTed and unusable) even as the days lengthen and the weather improves and the roads beckon.

It hurts, man, it hurts!
__________________
That concrete whizzing by five inches below your foot is the real thing...
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 5 Apr 2014
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
Quote:
Originally Posted by SandroRoma View Post
Hi Mollydog,

I'have never seen before the Honda logo like that one! So funny, comparing it with the current one. The sign of time!

Forgive me, i'm 28 years old!

By the way....The "Legend" Steve McQueen was your neighbor??!!....you lucky guy!!

Cheers,
Alessandro
Yes, I grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles. Mr. McQueen lived UP the hill in the fancy area. (N. Kenter ave., Brentwood neighborhood) We'd sometimes spot him riding with Lee Marvin or other actor friends. Many lived around there. Also saw them all at the BIG desert races. (Mojave Desert area as shown in On Any Sunday.

BTW, I skipped A LOT in my first post! I started off riding and bodging various homemade scooters, at age 14 bought my first "real" bike ... 1960 Vespa 150! After that, a '59 200cc Triumph Tiger Cub, then into modern times: Honda 50 (sport model). After that went racing on my Bultaco Pursang 250. 50 bikes later it's all history ... and water under the bridge. I'm very lucky to have survived!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 5 Apr 2014
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 30
I'm a biker - I ride a bicycle - have done so since I was 2 years old! Why? - because I lived in the Netherlands then - and everyone rides a bicycle there.

I'm also a motorcyclist - continously since 18 years old. Why? Because most of my mates at school rode motorcycles (well started off with sports mopeds AP50's, Garelli's, ect.) - but I wasn't allowed one.

But I saved my money, persuaded my parents and bought a mate's Suzuki GT185, when he traded up to a GT500 - which I later bought when he traded up to a GS1000. The GS1000 got knicked so never bought that of him!

But I did have a Triton whilst at university - don't think that would happen today. Should never have sold it! But needed a bike to go despatch riding on -so the Triton went and got replaced by a 'plastic maggot'. (One amongst many dumb things I have done in life!).

When I was 28 I decided I better learn to drive a car - now I'm 52 but have always prefered to ride a motorcycle - there's 3 in the garage at the moment -Honda C90, MZ Skorpion Sport, and Suzuki XF650 - hopefully one day before I get too old, I'll get the money together to ride one of them around the world.

Certain people are attracted to certain things. Some guys rave about them, but for me cars never did it -they're a box on 4 wheels- a means of transport. I'm also a pilot. I fly sailplanes, have done since I was 14 - powered aircraft again are a 'means of transport'. Maybe its a skill thing - it takes more skill and judgement to fly a sailplane than a powered aircraft, more skill and judgement to ride a motorcycle than drive a car?
__________________
I don't have to travel fast but I do need to travel cheap
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Bikers swarm SUV, beat driver in New York MountainMan The HUBB PUB 10 30 Oct 2013 22:46
MAPs annual International Bikers meet Nov 23/24, 2013 Omie West and South Asia 0 27 Oct 2013 08:47
Have we bikers lost our manners? - Helmet tipping. kentfallen The HUBB PUB 40 18 Sep 2013 19:55
Wash DC denies permit for 9/11 bikers xfiltrate The HUBB PUB 34 18 Sep 2013 19:18
Brazil, Foz do Iguaçu - new Bikers Hostel Mervifwdc Sleep and Eat, South America 1 24 May 2013 17:06

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:32.