Sorry to hear about your family doubleD and Nastynotch, my sincere condolences ...

doubleD, that motor on the bandit is a GREAT motor, I believe they are using it or a variation of it in NHRA pro-stock, (to bad they are still letting the harleys cheat with almost double the the displacement) goes back to the GS1100 I think ? Man too bad you don't have the kawasaki triple anymore !

Good choice on getting the 14R, I'm 55, and recently had two stents placed in my coronary arteries (they wanted me to do open heart surgery, but I said "no way") so who knows how long we are going to be on earth, have fun while you
Are here is what I say ! LOL ! Tomorrow is promised to no man .....

Carabusa,
My older Brother decided late in life to Race motorcycles for FUN. He is a lawyer in a small town in Arkansas. At 47 years old he gets his racing certificate. He has to drive 300 miles to the nearest race track in OK.
1998 he was doing practice laps at Heartland Park, KS in August. He came back to the Pits and he was the color of concrete. His wife called the Ambulance and they saved his life. He had total blockage in a major artery and 85% in another. They put him on blood thinners and a stent.
2004 he had open heart surgery replacing 5 arteries using veins from his lower legs.
2009 he quit racing-thank God. We always thought he was trying to kill himself. He had the addiction of racing.

I just watched One Man's Island by Mark Gardiner and he spoke of the Magic Thinking that addiction gives. He had it.
Drag racing in Kansas City

Riding a modified 650 V-twin Suzuki (#66), took 3rd at a National event at Barber Motor raceway (not fast enough)

Upgraded to a 750 GSXR. He and another guy did endurance races. He finally qualified for Daytona in October 2008.

Take care of yourself, but don't wait too long to replace those stents.

* Last updated by: doubleD on 6/20/2014 @ 2:14 PM *

Wow double D, nice pictures, the nostalgia is awesome.

That's some great stuff doubled. I'm digging the bike in the photo labeled 1972. What is it?

Kaw H1 Mach 3 ?

@milanista

I am in that turnaround at least twice a month when I cruise West Cliff. Same color scheme.

Just too a long ride from Santa Cruz to Manteca and back today... damn that's a long time in the saddle when it is 98 degrees outside.

@openroad hey man I live in MANTECA too. Yeah that ride to alices and santa cruz is a trek. Thats why I head up into the hills towards Oakdale into sonara . Hwy49 between cultervile and mariposa is a tite twisty wet dream. Hit me up next time your in the area.

Here's what the road looks like from the top looking back

The 1972 photo shows my Brother on his 1969 Kawasaki Triple. He bought it new and rode it for 19,000 miles, then he started modifying it for drag racing. He did his own engine porting and built his own expansion chambers. He had a friend that traveled with him who had a homemade 750 Kawasaki Drag Bike. It was a scary ride.

While he lived in KC they took the 750 to a car dyno. They could not strap the Bike down good enough for a HP reading.

Going racing.

I blame his ambition on our Father. Our Dad subscribed to Hot Rod Magazine and took us the National Hot Rod Races in Great Bend, KS 1959. Don Garlit was defected. Don is sitting behind his dragster in the trunk of the car.
I'm the cool cat in shades.

* Last updated by: doubleD on 6/22/2014 @ 4:08 PM *

2/17/44 Been riding for 58 years. My 2016 is my 3rd ZX-14. Put 53K on my 2008 and 2012 before I sold them. Just turned 12K on my 2016. Just turned 73

hitting big 6 in a couple of weeks time...

79, 80 in Dec .. First drag race was in 1954 at Cotati California.. First road race was in the late 70s at Ontario California..I am the guy they all love to see show up since that meant they would not come in last LOL But still having fun racing and got my first taste of LSR last yr on hte 14 at the Mojave Magnum.. 192.4 mph but on my next visit I will remember to shift outta 5th,..looking for teh shirt !!:)

* Last updated by: chrly on 3/27/2017 @ 7:42 PM *

That's a great picture chrly!

Can't believe I posted on this thread 3 years ago, I am turning 61 years old next week!

.

Started riding in 1979 thru 1984 took long break until 2004 when I started riding again and haven't stopped since.

Me, too. but i stopped for ~20 years.

53 in a couple of weeks

Very nice!!!!

* Last updated by: david5525 on 3/30/2017 @ 8:01 PM *

I just turned 45. Glad to see many older riders. Heartening to know these things can be ridden long into my years to come.

Kawasaki did such a great job perfecting their Flag Ship. A real multi-purpose motorcycle.
Tapping 66 next week.

* Last updated by: doubleD on 4/2/2017 @ 9:43 AM *

69 in December.
Ride On!

* Last updated by: hawkman on 4/4/2017 @ 8:31 AM *

Hey guys,
No pic of me on the 14...only got it in Mid September last year. I will be 54 in July. Ridden since I was 14 years old......
My Bandit is up for sale....LOL

I should have posted yesterday when I was still 66...

You fellas give me something to look forward too. 39 here.

35 here...