Who Started Their Riding Career in the Dirt?

SweaterDude

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Credit - Final Impact for this topic but here goes...

Who here started out riding dirt, and where did you go from there.

I'll start:

started riding dirt when i was 10yo on a Honda XR100
moved up to a CRF230 and then a 250x and occasionally ride my dads XR400 supertractor.

The FZ6 is my first street bike, and i feel that riding dirt more than sufficiently prepared me for the street, granted i rode A LOT for MANY YEARS before riding on the street.

Things i learned from playing in the dirt:

-what to do in the event of a slide
-throttle control
-trail braking
-countersteering
-what to do when the breaks lock up
-roll starts
-dirt is much softer than cement, both of which are harder than grass
-2strokes smell better than 4
-CRASHING IS NOT EVER FUN so ATGATT
 

PB4UGO

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I started in the dirt on an old sl100 honda. Had several other dirt bikes before coming to the street. Best way to learn imo.
 

mxgolf

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Started in the dirt also. Honda minitrail 50 when I was 8. When I was 14 bought a honda 100 dirt bike then a Yamaha YZ250 dirt bike. Still ride in the dirt on my Honda CRF250X. I think it's sure helped out on the street. :rockon:
 

motojoe122

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Great thread!!!
I started on a brand new 97 YZ250 (1st dirtbike), rode it for 7 years. My 09 FZ is my first street bike, I've had for 2 years now. To me, the two bikes are similar....not much on the bottom, but when you hit the powerband:eek: I think it made it easier to adapt to street riding coming from the dirt.
 

TownsendsFJR1300

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Mini bikes from 12-15 years old.

At 15 years old, my first motorcycle, of course a Yamaha. A 1969 AT1, 125cc enduro (learned alot with that bike as the PO beat it up- busted kick starter gears, stripped case cylinder/head bolt((1 of 4)) .

Several 2 strokes 125's, MX series and two 250 YZ's (1977, 1979), did some sanctioned motocross racing, (1975 YZ 125 and 1977 YZ250) in the Hampston's, LI, NY. (mostly loose, deep sand, some big up and downhills, mud holes, etc).. Also lots of fun... Learned alot about engines then as well, frying up a lower connecting rod bearing on the 125 in the middle of a race... The 250 two strokes were my favorites...

Lots of trail riding on LI, and upstate NY (lots of fun!). Some trail riding here in Florida years ago....

First street bike, 1975 RD 350 bought in 1977. Many more street bikes after that...

IMHO, a definite plus in experiance before hitting the street.

Great thread BTW, thanks!!! :thumbup:
 

iSteve

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My first bike was a Hodaka Dirt Squirt 100 then a few CR125's , CR250, RM250 CR500 and a KDX200.

I traded my first CR125 for my first street bike a KH400 when I was 15.

6083841592_8fc258ffd4_z.jpg
 

CBallman

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I started in the dirt as well. Started out on a Yamaha 50cc dirtbike when I was 4, then went up to a Yamaha RT100 at 8 then a Honda 230 when I was 15 and still ride it a lot. Got my first road bike at 19 which was a 1978 Kawasaki KZ750 and then The Fz6 at 20! Still have every bike except the Kawi and the 50!
 

Jessica Rabbit

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Started with a Yamaha 80 when I was 9.
My dad bought a cabin in Joshua Tree in the absolute middle of nothing and bought me the bike so I would go off and ride while he would enjoy piece and quiet. Got a Honda 250 when I was 12. I couldn't couldn't touch the ground.
Sadly, at 14 I went to live with my mother.
Bought my first street bike at 19 and I had no training, no license and no brains.
My dirt training pulled my out of a multitude of stupid things I did.
Off bikes for a while.
Now I'm back!
 

njbill

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Started on a 1976 YZ80C, then a 1978 YZ125E. I still ride dirt bikes and trials bikes at the old age of 49. :thumbup:

Taken last year
1292473644771.jpg
 

IndyFZ6

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Started on a Suzuki JR 50 at 6 years old. The addiction got worse form there:

Suzuki DS 80
Yamaha MX 100
Suzuki RM 80 (1983 and then 1986 version)

Then the addiction went to street:
1986 Suzuki Savage 650 (now known as the Suzuki S40 I think)
Suzuki Bandit 400

Now back to dirt:
2003 KDX 200

And finally in 2010,

Back to street
2008 Yamaha FZ6 :rockon:
 

TownsendsFJR1300

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Started on a Suzuki JR 50 at 6 years old. The addiction got worse form there:

Suzuki DS 80
Yamaha MX 100
Suzuki RM 80 (1983 and then 1986 version)

Then the addiction went to street:
1986 Suzuki Savage 650 (now known as the Suzuki S40 I think)
Suzuki Bandit 400

Now back to dirt:
2003 KDX 200

And finally in 2010,

Back to street
2008 Yamaha FZ6 :rockon:

Was you Savage like this?
 
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FinalImpact

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Credit - Final Impact for this topic but here goes...

Who here started out riding dirt, and where did you go from there.

Thanks! just haven't had time. . . Was thinking of a "Poll" and headed towards up time i.e. NO tips, crashes on street. Can you add a poll? Mod as you see fit. Need to add years for dirt too, IDEAS and then make a poll?

Rider Experience:

Started with dirt-bike/motoX switched to street - Down in 1st season
Started with dirt-bike/motoX switched to street - Down 2nd season
Started with dirt-bike/motoX switched to street - Down 3rd season
Started with dirt-bike/motoX switched to street - Never Down > 3 years road

Started on street - Down in 1st season
Started on street - Down 2nd season
Started on street - Down 3rd season
Started on street - Never Down > 3 years road
 

FinalImpact

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My story;
At 8 y/o on a Honda SL90 not the step through kind. . .
At 12 bought my own Yamaha a 125 Enduro. Full plastic, 250 forks, 21" front wheel. At 13 I ported it, bigger reed cage, air box, stole a carb off something, pipe, dual plug head, and laid down the rear shocks! Big sprocket and kicked on the local YZ 125 riders big time. It was torque monster good for trails and hill climbing! A great Bike!

View attachment 45645 View attachment 45646

Ran though a couple fixer up honda's and later bought 89 XR250R which I kept for a long time! Great trail bike! Loved IT!
View attachment 45647

From my uncle we built up an XR500R adding a big bore kit; 650CC HAHA!!! What beast! I wish they had electric start then!

These are the three bikes I spent most of the time riding (125, 250 500/650). Along the way there were lots of other bikes ridden and some street bikes including a couple hawgs! In my late teens were sand rail dun buggies, (air cooled Chevy powered Corvair's), Stand up Jet Ski 650 Kawi to teach ya thing or two about balance and jumping,:thumbup: And various quads and three wheelers. . .

Season #2 is done and so far - My first street bike hasn't bounced off the pavement!!! :cheer: :cheer:
2011-03, 2008 FZ6
 

LFZ6

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I started on a Honda 75 (I think it was, maybe 80) that my brother handed down to me. We lived in the country so I had a lot of land to play on. Didn't ride again until a couple of years ago. My first street bike was a 1994 Honda Magna.
 

CNY Fizzer

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First bike was Yamaha MX 80 at 10 years of age.
First road bike was 1975 Yamaha RD 350 at 16 years of age. Rode it for 9 years! :D
 

FIZZER6

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1989 Honda CR125 back in 1992, I was 13. After 4 hours on the bike I was jumping dirt ramps! Should have bought a street bike before 2006!
 
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