Learning to Ride a 50cc Motorcycle in the 1970s
I've read a few posts today about learning to drive and getting one's drivers licence. These sort of posts remind us all of our own background and how we did things. My first drivers licence was not for driving a car, but for riding a 50cc Suzuki motorcycle. Oh how those 1970s memories have been rushing back.
I was a young teacher and tired of catching the bus to school every day. I definitely needed my own wheels, but was a little anxious about learning to drive a car. My sister's boyfriend, now my brother-in-law, suggested I buy a motorcycle. So, I duly learned the road code and went for my provisional licence, a piece of paper that would allow me to ride my new bike on the road.
My sister's boyfriend helped me find a motorcycle to buy and, once I parted with my hard earned cash, rode it back to our house, where he taught me the basics by having me ride round and round the lawn in our back yard. Next morning, before very much traffic appeared on the road, I took the bike out for a real ride and discovered it was really very easy. It only took me a day or two of practice before I was brave enough to start riding it across town to work each day.
I loved that bike. It was more than a year later, after I was married, that my husband taught me to drive a car.
Image Credit » http://pixabay.com/en/vespa-scooter-street-paris-174171/
Comments
VinceSummers wrote on February 20, 2015, 10:05 PM
I never had a tiny bike, but often road the back of a 50cc Honda. When I got my own bike, it was a RED 400cc Yamaha. Ah, those were the days...
1valmnz wrote on February 20, 2015, 10:06 PM
Lol, when my husband, then fiance, car was off the road, he too rode on the back of my tiny bike
1bestwriter wrote on February 20, 2015, 10:11 PM
But I suppose when one owns something, it is difficult to part with it. Was it difficult for you to do that with your bike?
1valmnz wrote on February 20, 2015, 10:15 PM
Oh no, driving a car was far more exciting! And, being newly married, we needed the money
2Squidwhisperer wrote on February 20, 2015, 11:10 PM
And from there? A 750 Triumph or 850 Norton I hope...
1wolfgirl569 wrote on February 20, 2015, 11:15 PM
I love riding a bike but hate the danger that comes with it. Hubby had a bad wreck not long after we met when someone pulled out right in front of him
1valmnz wrote on February 20, 2015, 11:48 PM
Squidwhisperer I rode my friends much larger bike into a hedge, put me off forever!
1valmnz wrote on February 20, 2015, 11:49 PM
I confess, I'd rather walk or drive a car now. Well, I do enjoy riding my bicycle though.
1allen0187 wrote on February 21, 2015, 12:49 AM
Presently, there are a lot of motor bikes here in Manila... too many in my opinion. Motorbikes do not cause traffics but are a definitely head ache for other motorists and pedestrians since they seem to not care about the basic traffic rules and road courtesy.
1UK_Writer wrote on February 21, 2015, 4:06 AM
I got my first moped once I'd been in full-time work for about 6-7 months, it was awesome as I could go out and about when I liked and not have to worry about finding a bus, or if I'd missed the last bus. It seems rare these days for young people to think of getting a 50cc bike, instead they bemoan not being able to afford driving lessons. In my day it was what you usually got first, a moped for 1-2 years then you saved up for a second hand car,
1Kasman wrote on February 21, 2015, 6:15 AM
I did it the other way around. I learned to drive a car aged 18 and then bought my first motorcycle and passed my bike test at age 25.
1Kasman wrote on February 21, 2015, 6:18 AM
VinceSummers - would that be the RD 400 2-stroke? My best bike was a Honda 400-4. I was never a fan of 2-stroke engines.
1VinceSummers wrote on February 21, 2015, 7:11 AM
No sir. Mine was a 4-cycle. I feel exactly the same concerning 2-stroke. Nyun-yun-yun-yun-yun sounds like a dinky bee or something. I preferred the quiet throaty sound of 4.
1FernandoSHA wrote on February 22, 2015, 3:44 AM
A 50cc motorcycle is very economical on fuel. Even the popular Honda 70cc in the 80's was very widely because of its fuel economy.
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