My GT380
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2020 10:11 am
My addiction started back in the mid sixties when I was about 8. My parents took us to visit relatives at the summer camp they owned. I was put on one of those classic 60's minibikes with a centrifugal clutch. After that all I wanted every birthday and Christmas was a mini bike.
It was not to be for many years. Mom was a nurse working in the operating room at the local hospital, and they were too dangerous. Funny thing was, I was allowed to ride the neighbors kids Honda 50 and 70, but could not have my own. This was part of the beginning of my learning how to fix bikes. Their father had moved out after a divorce, and they knew nothing about using tools. As long as I was able to keep them running when they broke down, they let me ride with them. I had always enjoyed taking things apart and usually getting them back together. That Revell - Visible V-8 Engine Plastic Model Kit I got as a present one year had given me a bit of knowledge about engines.
One day when I was 14, dad finally got permission to buy a 1967 Honda CL160 Scrambler a friend had sitting in his garage for about 3-4 years. It had not been taken car of and was a bit rusty. Dad got me a Haynes or Chiltons book and access to his limited tools. Took a few months of tinkering, setting valve lash, adjusting points, setting timing, cleaning and adjusting carbs. Took a lot of the money from my lawn cutting and baby sitting money to buy tune up parts, new exhaust, battery and some necessary tools of my own.
Finally the day came for the first start. I pushed the bike up our sloped driveway, pulled in the clutch and started the descent. I put the bike in second gear, dropped the clutch and it came to life. Oh what joy. We lived on the end of a dead end street leading into woods with some trails. Every chance I got I rode that bike up and down the street and on the trails. Not much suspension travel, but at least it had a high exhaust.
The Honda lasted till I was almost 18. Riding was limited still though. Mom would not sign the consent to allow me to get a motorcycle license. Just before I was 18 though, the unthinkable happened. My Honda was stolen. The good part of this was that it led me to my next bike.
I don't remember exactly how I found it. It was about 1979. Back in the 70's there was no internet to search. I did eventually find an interesting bike a couple of miles from home. It was this interesting Suzuki 2 stroke. It was not very quick, but I loved the look, it handled easily on the street, and I could afford it. I remember taking that 4 mile ride home, no license, insurance, and praying no police spotted me. I had my first GT380.
First thing was to buy a Clymer book. Then I gave it it's first tune up since it was new. Suddenly I realized I was wrong about it not being a quick bike. It had only been running on 2 of the 3 cylinders. I loved it. I was also old enough to get a license without an adult signature. Mom was upset, but life goes on. I rode it everywhere. It was a wonderful feeling of freedom.
It was not to be for many years. Mom was a nurse working in the operating room at the local hospital, and they were too dangerous. Funny thing was, I was allowed to ride the neighbors kids Honda 50 and 70, but could not have my own. This was part of the beginning of my learning how to fix bikes. Their father had moved out after a divorce, and they knew nothing about using tools. As long as I was able to keep them running when they broke down, they let me ride with them. I had always enjoyed taking things apart and usually getting them back together. That Revell - Visible V-8 Engine Plastic Model Kit I got as a present one year had given me a bit of knowledge about engines.
One day when I was 14, dad finally got permission to buy a 1967 Honda CL160 Scrambler a friend had sitting in his garage for about 3-4 years. It had not been taken car of and was a bit rusty. Dad got me a Haynes or Chiltons book and access to his limited tools. Took a few months of tinkering, setting valve lash, adjusting points, setting timing, cleaning and adjusting carbs. Took a lot of the money from my lawn cutting and baby sitting money to buy tune up parts, new exhaust, battery and some necessary tools of my own.
Finally the day came for the first start. I pushed the bike up our sloped driveway, pulled in the clutch and started the descent. I put the bike in second gear, dropped the clutch and it came to life. Oh what joy. We lived on the end of a dead end street leading into woods with some trails. Every chance I got I rode that bike up and down the street and on the trails. Not much suspension travel, but at least it had a high exhaust.
The Honda lasted till I was almost 18. Riding was limited still though. Mom would not sign the consent to allow me to get a motorcycle license. Just before I was 18 though, the unthinkable happened. My Honda was stolen. The good part of this was that it led me to my next bike.
I don't remember exactly how I found it. It was about 1979. Back in the 70's there was no internet to search. I did eventually find an interesting bike a couple of miles from home. It was this interesting Suzuki 2 stroke. It was not very quick, but I loved the look, it handled easily on the street, and I could afford it. I remember taking that 4 mile ride home, no license, insurance, and praying no police spotted me. I had my first GT380.
First thing was to buy a Clymer book. Then I gave it it's first tune up since it was new. Suddenly I realized I was wrong about it not being a quick bike. It had only been running on 2 of the 3 cylinders. I loved it. I was also old enough to get a license without an adult signature. Mom was upset, but life goes on. I rode it everywhere. It was a wonderful feeling of freedom.