[sugarlacedmorning]

My first bike drive ever was on a friends 70's Suzuki "water buffalo". 150 feet down the road I put it right on it's side. Luckily I didn't do any damage. And surprisingly I was able to pick the BEAST right back up.

From that day forward I was in love...

So what did I do??? I went out and bought my first cycle. A just as heavy, 1982 Suzuki GS850GLZ, with bags & trunk to boot!

Probably shouldn't have started with an 850, but boy was it fun!

Here it is:

Sold it off a bit later and bought 3 - '70's Honda CL350 Scramblers with the money.

 

[karmapolice]

I learned to ride on my dad's GT750. He's had it since it was new in 1975 and has ridden it well over 100,000 miles through 48 states. Smooth bikes- they make great tourers and they're bulletproof if you know how to take care of them. The GS850's are nice too.

 

[emtcustoms]

I would LOVE to get my hands a water buffalo or a Kawi H2....but dream and drool is all I can do for now.

 

[sidebike913]

i have had 2 1972 gt750's and a 1974



love those bikes



even the colors........ :}

 

[DakotaMK]

Kinda funny as I was reading this- the place I took my bike to for new tires and brakes/ brake adjustment had a mechanic who had been there for 30+ years. He was telling me about how he had a CX at one point, and how they'd get a lot of the Silverwings (the GLs, not the scooters) in and another mechanic would always refer to them as cross eyed water buffalo.



The owner told me once I rode the Boulevard I'd want to throw rocks @ mine.... but I'll take my cross eyed water buffalo any day!

 

[sugarlacedmorning]

I would like to find one of those water buffalos too. My friend ended up bringing that one to a swap meet and sold it for $400. And it was in perfect running order!

I was an idiot for not buying it from him!!!

 

[karmapolice]

Hi again all,



If you haven't seen it yet, several forum members have picked up my dad's book about his travels on his water buffalo (and a couple of tidbits about me and my CX)and loved it! If you're interested, here's a link to the original thread:



http://cx500forum.com/index.php?/topic/11377-new-classic-motorcycling-book/page__p__132464__fromsearch__1#entry132464



and the link to his website,

https://sites.google.com/site/johnbrueschcyclestories/home



Check it out, and let me know if you order a copy.

 

[telebass]

My first bike was the Water Buffalo. '73 GT750. I nearly killed myself a number of times, but I loved that bike. I gave it up after my second rear tire blowout and traded it for labor. Had the chance to view it a couple years ago, in pieces, in a barn. The new owner still holds high hopes for it.



I stuck to cages until my second wife rekindled the fire. The GL was her second bike. She moved on to a cruiser, then a Triumph Tiger, but we have not seen fit to part with the GL.

 

[baldgrimsbybiker]

I have bought , read and enjoyed the book mentioned by Karma . If anyone is interested in a tale of long term ownership of any bike , either the GT or CX or anything , then read it. It is funny in parts and inspirational in others.