The Motorcycle That Got Me Hooked on Motorcycles

"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32) 06/01/2016 at 12:07 • Filed to: TWO WHEELS GOOD, ORGAN DONOR, MOTORCYCLE

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My dad sent me this picture on Monday with the caption “got the old thing out yesterday.” I asked him how it rode. His response? “Flawless!”

The bike is his 1978 KZ1000 LTD. From what I remember, he bought it in 1982 and has had it ever since. He has never ridden it much. To my knowledge, he trailered it to the Black Hills from eastern SD once and rode around for a couple of days in the 80s, but that was probably it’s longest trip. Last time I saw it and looked at the odometer it at 14,000 miles on it. It’s been stored inside it’s whole life and and extremely clean.

Back in the day this was the fastest and biggest thing around, so making them touring bikes was common, hence the Windjammer and touring pack. Without them, it would look like this:

My first memories of it are taking short rides around town on the back, then sneaking into the garden shed where he kept it (we didn’t have a garage) to sit on it and make motorcycle noises. I fell asleep on the back on a 30 mile trip home from my sister’s softball game once. Dad leaned back to keep me pinned between him and the backrest until we got home.

By the time I turned 16 I was a big car nut because of my dad. He went to tech school to be an auto mechanic, but had left the profession for another job before I was born. However, he still had all the tools and knowledge, so he worked on all his vehicles. He’s always been extremely patient with me and showing me how to do different things related to vehicles. Motorcycles were no exception.

That summer he pulled the bike out of the garage and helped me wash it, check the tires, oil the chain, and fire it up. He made me get on the back, which I thought I was too old/cool to do and we drove out to a quiet road. He stopped, jumped off, and told me to give it whirl. I got the clutch out and got rolling fine, but when it came time to turn I got scared, ran wide, and laid it down. He picked it back up and made me try again. The second time I did fine. I was hooked. I got my motorcycle license a few weeks later and until I bought a bike of my own this is what I learned on.

He’s threatened to sell it for the past few years and I keep coaxing him to keep and ride it. I’ve told him that if he does sell it, it better be to me. I thought we had a deal done this year, but now he’s talking about putting some tires on it, giving it a tune-up, and keeping it for himself. I’m all for it.

Growing up around this bike gave me a love and appreciation for them from an early age. It has become outdated, goofy looking, and screaming 80s nostalgia, but it will always be the coolest bike to me.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Hammerdown 06/01/2016 at 12:24

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I’m totally digging it. The windjammer and backrest gives it this real Bosozoku vibe.

If I had that I would totally leave it as is.

I need to find a wind windjammer like that for my ‘82 Yamaha Vision

Wind has been my biggest gripe about this bike.

Edit: Is that a radio I see??? just went up 100 more internet points.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Hammerdown 06/01/2016 at 12:26

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Reminds me of the 1st Goldwing I ever drove similar color with the same white Windjammer setup

Hammerdown > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 06/01/2016 at 12:27

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Spitfire windshield would get the wind off your chest, which would help a bunch.

I keep thinking that if he keeps this bike long enough it’ll come back into style.

Decay buys too many beaters > Hammerdown 06/01/2016 at 12:35

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Nice write up! I love how many people seem to be getting into biking on old iron. For me it was a ‘82 Virago, that bike despite it’s antiquity cemented in me a love for V-twins that no inline has yet been able to topple.

Hammerdown > Decay buys too many beaters 06/01/2016 at 12:42

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The first bike I owned was a 1983 Honda Shadow 750, so I couldn’t agree with you more!

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Hammerdown 06/01/2016 at 12:45

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I just looked it up and there is 3 options that fit my bike. I can’t use the spitfire since I have square bars.

S-00 Enterprise

S-02 Spirit

SS-24 Hellfire

I’m just excited that I actually found something that fits the bike. I would probably go for the Hellfire if anything but they are still all a bit bigger than I envisioned.

Hammerdown > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 06/01/2016 at 12:51

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There you go! Those wouldn’t look bad on there. Keep close tabs on Ebay too. You never know when some good older used stuff will pop up.

Hammerdown > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 06/01/2016 at 12:51

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Hahahaha. Not just a radio. It also has a tape deck and an extendable antenna.

Decay buys too many beaters > Hammerdown 06/01/2016 at 12:53

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Nice! I was looking at a Shadow too at the time, but the seller of the Virago was far more willing to entertain offers within my comically low college student budget. $800 for a runner isn’t bad!

Unfortunately, I only have crappy pictures.

Hammerdown > Decay buys too many beaters 06/01/2016 at 13:05

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Mine was also $800 bucks! And I hear ya on the crappy pictures.

BobintheMtns > Hammerdown 06/01/2016 at 13:27

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That is a very, very sick bike.... Yeah, you better make SURE that if he sells it, it’s to you!

Decay buys too many beaters > Hammerdown 06/01/2016 at 13:31

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Ahh those wonderful days before everyone carried a 10MP camera in their pockets and we had the classic bottom right corner time-stamp :)

The Compromiser > Hammerdown 06/01/2016 at 19:55

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Dad had me on mopeds and scooters as a wee man. Then when I was 4 I got a motorcycle for Christmas. Started racing that summer. Rode around on the front of his 500 Virago, until I was big enough to sit on the back. Then the 850 Commando, and the 78 sportster. He stopped riding for a bit, then got a YSR 50 for kicks. I did my license test on that thing. Later on he picked up a sweet 750 shadow (metallic candy red with flames) but decided it didn’t have enough go, so he grabbed an 08 VTX 1300C in “my poor eyes”, yellow. I’ve inherited that bike now, and the yellow is still obnoxious. I wouldn’t have it any other way.