[Cobalt]

I started riding when I was 11 years old. I am now 44, however, there was a 14 year gap in there to raise three kids. I sold my last ride when the oldest was six and had no toys for the next 14 years. The kids came first. Now that they are responsible for themselves, we are back into toys again!

At 11, my parents bought me a Honda CT70 trail bike. It was a little 70cc 3-speed automatic (no clutch). Shift and twist! After bombing trails for a few years with this, Honda introduced the ATC90 and I got to try a friends. After some pleading and pitching in my money saved from odd jobs, I got one of the first ATC110 3-wheelers. FUN! That lasted a couple more years and I got a Yamaha DT175 bike. I tore down this dual-purpose and make it a strictly dirt machine. I took apart the engine, had it bored and stroked, send the head out for porting and polishing, and changed out the sprockets for more low end dirt riding/hill climbing. During this time, I aquired a Honda XL175 which I used for some off road but mostly onroad. I drove this for two seasons on the street without a license or permit. (This was central Maine... You know.... "Hey! Nice TOOTH!" )

My first true street bike was a 1977 Suzuki GS 400. That one had some issues and didn't last long. I then got a 1981 Honda CB750F Supersport. This bike was the ride of it's day. I bought it used almost two years old. I had it for about 4 months and totaled it when I was stunting. Doing a wheelie at about 55 mph and lost it over backwards. Geared up, I hit the road and slid watching the bike do several endo's, front, tail, front, tail, etc.... There was no saving it, crumpled mess! Paid cash, no insurance, total loss out of pocket. Lesson learned!

After getting out of the Army, I bought a used Honda ATC 350X three wheeler. This was only put out for 20 months by Honda and then pulled because it was too fast and dangerous. I kept mine until my oldest turned 6 and sold it. It wasn't until May 2006 that I picked up the '05 FZ6 holdover. This was sold to a young man in '08 and I picked up a 2008 FZ6 in April of that year. I modded the bike up and really enjoyed the heck out of it. After a year, I finally got to take a trip to Deal's Gap and see what this Dragon was all about. NICE!!!! Well, the FZ6 didn't perform so well, so after returning, I decided something better was needed in the suspension department. Rather than mod any further, I traded in the FZ6 for the bigger sister, the FZ1, same colors thus an EASY transition!

I never had formal training for working on these but learned on my own with Chilton or Haynes manuals along the way. I still work on most of my stuff by myself and prefer it that way. Especially with the bikes because I have a trust issue with someone else working on my ride and me feeling 100% safe afterward. I've also performed a lot of work on bikes for others. The rest of the kids in the neighborhood always came to me to help them fix and repair their machines.

As for street miles, I am guessing at about 85k miles. Off-road on bikes and 3-wheelers, probably 80k because I was ALWAYS on something with less than 4 wheels for 12 years out of my life.

I've done the MSF twice and think everyone should take it every few years as a refresher. It reminds you of bad habits you need to break! I also scored a perfect 100% both times!

I've crashed many times with all but one(See "stunting" above) in dirt. I've always worn gear and even after all these crashes, I've never broken anything. Most crashes were from pushing the ride to the extreme. I was one to always try something new. I'm glad that it's out of my system now that I am on the FZ1!

I commute every possible day with the FZ1. Even if rain is called for, so long as it isn't raining for the ride in, I take the bike and a rain suit. We're not doing a lot of joy riding these days for two reasons, too many items on the Honey-Do list and the price of gasoline. I'm looking at about 6k per season on the bike at this rate.

I have never done a track day but fully intend to next year. I need to pick up some good gear for the track first. I'd really like to buy another bike to run on the track. Maybe I'll get lucky and score an older FZ6 to convert to track-only! Pull all the plastics, lights, etc... Truly naked! I'm too old to ride the true racers... the ergos of the R6 kill me as much as I would love to track one!

I try to always post based on facts but have been wrong and admit when I am. I'm always welcome to constructive criticism. If I do not know, I either do not comment or try and point you in the right direction for an answer, be it another forum member or a web link. I really like to be helpful. If I offend someone, I would hope they let me know. I'd feel really bad about it as it's not my style.

Regarding advice, there are a lot of gray areas when we meet to discuss things online as we've seen with the oil, gas, tire, etc... threads. Most people who tell me they're an expert at something, well? I tend to find it unbelievable. I know a little about a lot of subjects but I cannot ever say I'm an expert at anything. As the wife says, I'm a "Jack of all trades, Master of none." I can do it all until it comes to plumbing but I think I might be able to do that now that PEX is out there! *EDIT* Done plumbing! (with PEX, LOL!)

I do value to the advice of a great deal of members here but everyone needs to quantify that advice with some responsible research of their own. Do not simply take another's advice... You owe it to yourself to make sure the words of wisdom are sound!!