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[Chief]

After looking at the old pictures Rjob749 posted of his Mom and Dad, it got me to thinking about my relationship with my dad about motorcycles.

In the early 70's my Dad, 6'4" and about 200 lbs, decided to buy a motorcycle to beat the gas crunch. He sold acreage, and it was hard to get the gas for all of the driving he needed to do while scouting for land in South Florida.

Dad went out and bought a 1972 Honda CL-70. Hey, for 70mpg, a 6+ footer CAN ride a 70cc motorcycle. This is the bike I learned to ride, in the back yard. I know there is a picture of both my dad and I on this bike going to deliver my newspapers, which we did a couple of times. I was 8 at the time.

As you can guess, it wasn't long before he "outgrew" the Honda, so it was sold. His next bike was a Kawasaki KZ-225, a 3 cylinder BEAST compared to the little Honda. I was never allowed to ride that one, but I wanted to. If I ever did, and was caught, that would be the end, as my dad did believe in corporal punishment.

When the gas crunch started ending, and the traffic was getting "bad" in our small town of Stuart, Dad sold the Kawasaki, and that was the end of his motorcycling career. I never did anymore riding until attending Auburn when I would ride my roommates bike on occasion. It was strictly forbidden for me to own a motorcycle. I was not the rebellious kid, the corporal punishment played a major role in that.

It wasn't until 1999 when I met my wife and was introduced to a good friend of hers who owned a '98 FLH that I started to get the bug to ride.

In June of 2000, I went to visit my folks in FL, and took the 2000 HD flyer. I showed it to my dad, and he clearly told me that "If you ever get one of those, it will be the stupidest thing you've ever done." I'll never forget that. From his point of view, me living in Atlanta, with its terrible traffic, it would be stupid. His point had a lot of merit.

Our trip down that June was to celebrate my Dad's 70th birthday. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer that May, so we had decided to make it a big affair with kin coming in from all over.

That was the last time I saw my dad as he passed away that October, only 5 months after being diagnosed with cancer.

When we were down after he passed, I remember we were driving to the funeral home, and my mom asked me if I had ever done anything about getting a motorcycle. I told her I had bought one a month or so before dad had passed. She said she was glad and just wanted me to be careful. I don't know what would have happened if he ever found out, but I'd like to think it would have brought back memories of his bikes and his position would have softened a bit.

So that's my story. I started "riding" when I was 9, and then took a 27 year rest. I've been riding for real the last six years, and have put in over 50,000 miles all over the country. It's been a great thing for my wife and I and I have met some really great people along the way.

I can't say riding has been in my blood my whole life, but I'm sure enjoying it now.

I do envy those of you that were brought up riding, and have all of those great memories riding with a parent or grandparent, and have been around riding for many, many years.

Well, that's my story.

Chief

[RJ749]

Chief, that sure brings back some memories.

Back in the late 60's and early 70's the small Japanese bikes introduced a lot of folks to riding.  

That is what got me my first bike and even though I was brought up around bikes, the message was clear, live at home no bikes.  

When I came home from Air Force boot camp I got a reprieve though, old enough to fight, old enough to ride.

That's when I got my first bike a Triumph 650 Tiger.

Thanks for sharing the memory of your first rides with your dad.

[ccr]

   Chief,  whether one has a passion in their blood and they are born with it, or if it one that they find on the road of life, a passion is what we all share.  And I feel confident that your Dad's advice to stay away from the sport of motorcycling was one born of concern, not an absolute directive forbidding you to ride one. The fact that he started you on a bike young, showing you the ropes shows that the act of riding was not what he feared for you.  It is the craziness that we choose to navigate through on our roads to self fulfillment on the two-lane roads in our respective neighborhoods.

What is it that gives you so much pleasure that you are oblivious to everything else?   What makes you wake up excited to start your day?  You find you can get more done than most around you so you can free up some time to ride your motorcycle.  The fact that your spouse shares your passion, speaks volumes on how you have affected this passion on those around you.  On a scale of one to ten - exactly how excited about your motorcycle passion are you right now?  If your Dad were here to feel that excitement in you, I bet he'd be wanting to renew his love of this pastime and put some miles down between the two of you.  

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story and tribute to your father.  

[Special_Ed]

Chief,
Great story, thanks for sharing it here.

Ed [smiley=pepper.gif]

[Chief]

 Chief,  whether one has a passion in their blood and they are born with it, or if it one that they find on the road of life, a passion is what we all share.  And I feel confident that your Dad's advice to stay away from the sport of motorcycling was one born of concern, not an absolute directive forbidding you to ride one. The fact that he started you on a bike young, showing you the ropes shows that the act of riding was not what he feared for you.  It is the craziness that we choose to navigate through on our roads to self fulfillment on the two-lane roads in our respective neighborhoods.

What is it that gives you so much pleasure that you are oblivious to everything else?   [highlight]What makes you wake up excited to start your day?[/highlight]  You find you can get more done than most around you so you can free up some time to ride your motorcycle.  The fact that your spouse shares your passion, speaks volumes on how you have affected this passion on those around you.  On a scale of one to ten - exactly how excited about your motorcycle passion are you right now?  If your Dad were here to feel that excitement in you, I bet he'd be wanting to renew his love of this pastime and put some miles down between the two of you.  

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story and tribute to your father.  

So right you are Candy.

Chief