This is one bike that I still think about. My 1969, 125 Penton. It had the metal gas tank with the two tone paint job of green and white. I took that thing off of jumps, hill climbed, and raced that dirt bike all over southern California desert. I knew of only one other at the time, early 70's and it was riden by another girl who also happened to be in the same motorcycle club as me. After riding it for a few years it was sold to a neighbor who had a son who was getting into riding and racing. I often wonder what happened to my Penton. I still would like a Penton Jackpiner and maybe one   read more

Hodaka, Montessa, Ossa, Maico, Greeves, Bultaco, Penton, CZ, and a few others that have faided away being memories from my childhood. I have not lived in southern California for over 17 years and one thing is for certain I miss the days of being out in the desert. The smell of the desrt after if rains, the sounds of bikes being started before a race to get them warmed up. Glass of hot chocolate in your hand as you look outside hoping for the wind to stop blowing. The smoldering fire pit early Sunday morining as the smoke slowly drifts through the camp and you have to wipe the dew off you seat   read more

Someitmes I can not believe that I am amost fifty and will do so in a little over a year. This year I will officially have been riding a motorcycle for 40 years. It doesn't seem that long ago and sometimes it seems ages ago that I got my first dirt bike. I am not sure what year Yamaha I had for my first bike but believe it was failry new and may have been a 67. Yamaha are still around but many bikes that were being ridden back then have faded in the blowing desert wind. Remember Greeves, CZ, American Eagle or how about a Hodaka? Montessa's, Ossa, Maico, Bultaco or my favorite, the Penton   read more

I don't really care what side of the political spectrum you sit on but if you think our Healthcare do not need an over haul you must be living a spectacular life with no worries. Or make a lot of damn money and just don't care what happens to those of us that work but have no benefits. Why should someone be in debt the rest of their lives because they ended up in the hospital with no insurance? How about the person who looses their insurance because their spouse dies and the insurance came through them. Then, because you have a pre-existing condition no one will insure you. Next thing we are   read more

Since I have been writing on Hubpages on some of the 2010 motorcycles that have come out it makes me wish I was able to go out and buy a new motorcycle. Maybe buy two since I would like to have a street bike and possibly a dual sport to run on the dirt roads here in Iowa. My dream street bike, as always would be a Ducati Monster and still undecided on what I would ride off-road. There is a motocrosser that I like that has a seat height were I can actually get my leg over but it is a 110cc bike. I haven't ridden anything that small since I was a kid, but seat heights were lower back them. The   read more

When I was younger I was behind in my reading due to two three operations to correct my elongated eye muslce's. Back in the early 60's they waited until you were a little older to do this. My first operation was done at age 2 and one eye had to be done a second time which was done towards my third birthday. I struggled for years learning to read and questioning if what I was seeing was the "real" way something looked. When I entered 10 grade I was reading at a sixth grade level and this was causing me problems on being a good student. I was put in a reading class and my Mom signed a waiver   read more

Don't want to be a "debbie downer" but it will happen. Terrorist will slip through the cracks when it comes to flying. This is a global issue with some countries not cooperating or not having the funds to fight terrorism. More than 4 Million people fly daily on 50 thousand flights a day worldwide. Do you see the problem? We also have agencies in this country that do not share information and other countries that do not share information. To have every country on the same page, with the same desire to stop terrorism is impossible given the current global attitude by those that can't or don   read more

Today, like most every day, just over 44,000 of the world's most experienced airline pilots employed by the 9 largest airlines in the United States will accept full responsibility for over 1.5 million lives sitting behind their locked cockpit doors. Over the next 24 hours, these unnoticed pilots will make over 13,500 take-offs literally around the world. Through every imaginable type of weather, they will be in command of over 36,000 hours of flight time. And, if today is like most days, you will never hear or read about even one of those flights. There is nothing simple about putting hundreds   read more

Just something short since I am thinking of it.Whether you ride a street bike, dual sport or dirt bike remember that after each ride go over that bike. What I have done for years which my Dad made us do. After each ride wash the bike and go over it as you clean it. This is a good time to make sure everything is in it place. After you are done wahing and drying it, lube the chain, clean the air filter, etc. I would especially do this if you have been out pounding the trails or the motocross track. Better to be safe than sorry. If you are racing there is nothing worse than getting out there   read more

I just wrote a Hub about trying to find a dirt bike that we as women and short men can ride without needing a step ladder. Looking at bikes and doing research online is amazed at how tall bikes have gotten over the years. I have not ridden anything smaller that a 175cc for over 20 years but it seems that if you want a dirt bike a smaller engine would be the answer. It's not. There are thing that can be done to help shorten that seat height. Some of what you can do is easy; some would take some work and money. My big beef is why the manufacturers make it easier for shorter riders to have a dirt   read more