How and when did you start riding?

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Permalink Reply by Amber L Ford Dimalanta on September 20, 2011 at 9:46am

Cool story Brenda!

Brenda Lewis said:

I started riding when my older son was a freshman in college and I was in my first year of teaching. He'd earned a full scholarship to an Ivy League university, but had no discretionary funds. I was newly divorced ...and poor as a church mouse... and assumed his father was sending him spending money (since he wasn't doing much else for our son). Near the end of my son's first semester, however, I discovered he was delivering pizzas at night, just so he wouldn't need to ask me for money. I was absolutely distraught about that fact that my incredible son was attending this fabulous school, but wasn't able to enjoy it because we were so broke. I felt like a complete failure as a mother.

One night, while lying in bed in the dark, it occurred to me that if I could learn to ride a motorcycle, I could save tons of money on gas by not driving my 18-year-old gas guzzler to and from work. I immediately went online to cycletraders.com and found a 15-year-old Suzuki 550 in great condition. The seller delivered it to me at a local abandoned military parade ground in exchange for $325; we exchanged cash and pink slip; and I spent the next 45 minutes falling off the bike, until I learned to ride it, The next day, I went to the DMV and got a learner's permit. 

My new form of transportation came with certain perks. Students at my school decided I was the coolest teacher on campus. All the students in my classroom dressed up as bikers on Halloween! It was one of the greatest compliments I've ever received. I rode my 550 to and from work for the rest of the school year. When it ended, I decided I liked riding so much that I continued doing it because I WANTED to - not just because I HAD to.

At the end of the summer break, I sold my Suzuki 550 for $75 more than I'd paid for it, and replaced it with a Honda Magna V4 750. I've owned several bikes in the 11 years since then, and I still ride every day the weather allows. Riding is always good for whatever ails me, and I find it's the best way for me to commune with God.

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Permalink Reply by Lil Brat on September 20, 2011 at 10:50am

Thanks for sharing Brenda.  I too ride my motorcycle to work nearly everyday to save money but also because I LOVE to ride.  When I can't ride for several days due to weather (passing hurricanes dumping massive rain), I really miss it.  I HATE driving my car to work.

After my painful divorce, I tell people that my motorcycle saved my life.  Getting back into riding was the best thing I did to recover.

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Permalink Reply by Brenda Lewis on September 20, 2011 at 1:58pm

I understand that kind of pain. My divorce was occasion to celebrate, but I've definitely experienced more than my share of emotional pain. I had to give up riding for several years, after surgery to correct a spine injury proved detrimental. Then the unthinkable happened: my younger son was killed when an impaired pilot in a second plane crashed into my son's plane. I retreated into a very dark and painful place for three years, until the day I bought a motorcycle that looked like the one my son had ridden. I bought it immediately, and ride it every day the weather allows. Slowly but surely, I'm recovering from the agony I was once certain would surely kill me. The loss of my child still hurts terribly, but riding that gray bike helps me somehow to feel just a little bit closer to his spirit.

Lil Brat said:

Thanks for sharing Brenda.  I too ride my motorcycle to work nearly everyday to save money but also because I LOVE to ride.  When I can't ride for several days due to weather (passing hurricanes dumping massive rain), I really miss it.  I HATE driving my car to work.

After my painful divorce, I tell people that my motorcycle saved my life.  Getting back into riding was the best thing I did to recover.

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Permalink Reply by acalliste on September 20, 2011 at 9:45pm

Oh Brenda I'm so sorry!   That is something too dreadful for me to contemplate. I'm glad you are coming out of your depression, and that you found a way to keep his spirit alive.  I'm sure he is riding along with you every mile.

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Chappell on October 3, 2011 at 6:20am

I started riding during my divorce. I had always been afraid of riding because of the horror stories I had heard. After finding out that my ex was having an affair with what I thought was a friend, I decided that I could survive anything.  I took MSF, bought my bike and haven't looked back.  I ride to work as often as I can, try to ride on the weekends and when I can't get on the street bike, I try to spend some time on the dirt bike, which I have just started to learn.

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Permalink Reply by Jamie Torres on November 5, 2011 at 11:59pm

When I met my husband all he talked about was getting a bike!! It took a few years, but he finally got one this past March onhis birthday!! At that point I had no problem being the passenger until we went on our first group ride with NWI riders. That night there was about 40 sports bikes. We ended taking a ride through Chicago and found ourselves in a bad area, on a messed up road, in the fog. The group leader decided to turn off that street at the last minute and we all followed, but the off ramp had a huge pot hole that none of us saw until the last second. The bike in front of us launched and barely saved himself, then we launched and I went off the back, and the bike behind us launched and recked his bike. A rough rider saw the whole thing and pulled over and gave me a ride to the hospital. I had a broken collar bone and some road rash. My helmet saved my life. The design was gone and it was cracked. Since that night I was determined to get back on the bike and learn to ride it myself. I was told it would be 8 weeks before I could get back on, but by week three I was on the back again. A month later my hubby was teaching me to ride. In August I got my permit while the hubby was at work, and I have been riding since! I do not have my own bike yet, but I will by next year. I let my hubby go for his rides and he lets me take my rides!! LOL!! It works!!

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Permalink Reply by Iron Horse Gypsies on November 20, 2011 at 2:44pm

I had always had the hots for motorcycles right our of my mother's womb. I used to kick start my "air bike" and ride it all over the house. I had a cousin that rode trials and he turned me onto that in the early 80's. I hounded my mom until I got a Yamaha TY 250 trials bike. I was 11. I am 46 now and have a Sportster. I love riding. I always will. Mandi

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Martin on April 9, 2012 at 9:29am

Well when I was in High School I played softball. The softball field was very close to Roebling Road and the only thing that really separated the two were the woods. I would hear cars racing and motorcycle racing and I have always been attracted to fast things. I dumped a lot of money (ll my money) into a car trying to be a NOPI star lol. So I started hounding my parents saying I wanted a bike. In 2001 I bought a ninja 250 and hated it, but thats all my dad would let me have. In 2002 I bought a brand new GSXR 600. I loved that bike and ended up racing it at roebling road and in 2004 while working at a custom bike shop we all decided to do a track day and my boss took my bike out. The brakes malfunctioned and my bike hit the tire wall. It was a sad day but my boss lived and thats all that matters. I road a harley for a little while after that until I purchased a 2006 gsxr 1000 red and black (sexy) well 1200 miles later i get tboned and RIP to that bike. Now I am on a RC51 one but really want a Aprilia RSV4. I Love riding its what makes me happy.

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Permalink Reply by Danielle Butcher on April 14, 2012 at 6:54pm

While looking for work I was told about Kickstart, its a scheme to help people who just got in to work get on the road on a scooter. I decided to get on a scooter on my own, buy one and off I go. I never thought I would get on to a geared motorcycle.

Only a few weeks ago did I get onto one.I have always loved motorcycle's but the thought of riding one never crossed my mind till the last few months of last year.(well a scooter anyway). 

Then having my first go on a geared motorcycle a few weeks ago I couldn't help but smile and say "yes thats what I want" so now Iam here, with my Sanya and YBR (well other half's YBR, its in my name but he rides it, lol).

Its a great feeling even when I do stall and get a little angry at myself, I still love riding and I hope to complete my full licence before the end of this year before next year when all the law changes again here in the UK. 

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Permalink Reply by 09r6girl(Melissa) on April 23, 2012 at 3:37pm

I started learning how to ride when I was 16.  At the time my mom had a little Virago 535, so that's what I learned on.  Soon after she upgraded to a VStar 650, and then to a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 that she still currently owns.  My father owned a Harley Road King 1400, which I also took around(WAAAYYY too big for me!!).  Needless to say, all of my experience was on cruisers, but I knew I always wanted a sport bike.  In August of 2010, I was ready to make the leap! I found a 2009 Yamaha R6 in black and orange and completely fell in love with it.  It has been my one and only bike that I have owned, and I have put just about 11,000 miles on it since day 1(and I purchased it with 0, so every mile on her is mine!).  

I did a few months of riding around with my mom and her friends before I ended up on another motorcycle forum where I have come across quite a few members who were also a part of Girl Riders.  I have been wanting to get on this site and on one of your guys rides for awhile, but scheduling was always an issue, as most of the rides seemed to start SO early and soooooo far away from me! I'm hoping I'll be able to get in on one eventually though and meet a few more of you lovely ladies(and guys) on the streets

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Permalink Reply by alison green on May 10, 2012 at 4:56pm

I've always wanted to ride as a kid; however, my overprotective father wouldn't let me. I remember being in high school and drooling over the Ninja's as I would pass by the showroom and peek in to get a glance. Street bikes would pass by me on the highway and I felt like Linda Blair from The Exorcist. LOL. The love of wanting to ride has been with me since I was a kid. I didn't actually do anything about it until I was older. About a year ago I just decided that it was time. No more excuses about money or the not having enough time, blah blah. I finally got my license and bought my first bike. Woo- hoo!!!  The love of riding my bike will never go away. Ever have that feeling "I can't get enough of a good thing?" I bought my bike from a local police officer - ninja 600R - I asked him, "if you pull me over for speeding will you let me go?" Haha... right..!

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