JK308
Registered
Hello everyone!
I have been signed up and trolling for a bit and figured I might as well introduce myself. My name is Jon Koopman, am 47 years old, and live in Western Idaho. I started riding when I was about 10 years old on anything I could sneak away on but mostly dirt bikes. In my mid teens I did a bit of racing on RM 125s and had a great time until one particularly bad crash that caused my mother to revoke her blessings for the activity. Needless to say I continued riding and racing behind her back...I'm sure she knew but she never said anything.
Just after I married my lovely wife in 1990 I bought my first two street bikes, '84 and '85 Honda V65 Magnas. Nice machines but I wanted to learn how to sport ride. Next came an unloved '95 GSX-R 750. Not sure why I picked it but something about it spoke to me at the time. I rode the 750 for about three years and brought it back to the beauty it should have been maintained as all along. Next came a brand new 2001 GSX-R 1000. What a machine! During my three years on the 1000 I joined a great group of mature and talented sport riders in the Boise area who taught me how to truly enjoy such a beast. That bike took me on weekend rides through the canyons, week-long road trips, and several track days. Various family and financial pressures forced me to sell it in 2004.
Ten years later, the three kids all grown, it was finally time for another bike. As I am older now, I wanted something more comfortable, yet still able to get the job done with a good twist as only a long-stroke motor can. I had always been fascinated with the Hayabusa but only knew what I had read on spec sheets...wrinkling my nose at the wet weight numbers...no, I had never ridden one. We found a well-cared for '07 at a local dealer...all black and stunning. The sales guy is family and was eager for me to take it for a ride...evil genius that one is. I was amazed at how easily it maneuvers at slow speed. I swear it loses 100 pounds once it's rolling and, oh my, does it move! A few signatures and I am on my way home with a grin I had not known in years. In my best Richard Hammond voice I proclaimed "...and I shall call her, Betty!"
I'm not the sort that looks to modify my vehicles. Whenever one of my friends points out some "cool" mod for my old 3 series, my response is: "If it needed it, it would have come from Bavaria already attached". So with that in mind, mods will be few. Some 1" bar risers are on the way and I am now trying to fabricate a mount for my V1. Possibly some new cans in the future as well.
The org is awesome and I am pleased to be among so many knowledgeable, like-minded riders! :bigsmile:
I have been signed up and trolling for a bit and figured I might as well introduce myself. My name is Jon Koopman, am 47 years old, and live in Western Idaho. I started riding when I was about 10 years old on anything I could sneak away on but mostly dirt bikes. In my mid teens I did a bit of racing on RM 125s and had a great time until one particularly bad crash that caused my mother to revoke her blessings for the activity. Needless to say I continued riding and racing behind her back...I'm sure she knew but she never said anything.
Just after I married my lovely wife in 1990 I bought my first two street bikes, '84 and '85 Honda V65 Magnas. Nice machines but I wanted to learn how to sport ride. Next came an unloved '95 GSX-R 750. Not sure why I picked it but something about it spoke to me at the time. I rode the 750 for about three years and brought it back to the beauty it should have been maintained as all along. Next came a brand new 2001 GSX-R 1000. What a machine! During my three years on the 1000 I joined a great group of mature and talented sport riders in the Boise area who taught me how to truly enjoy such a beast. That bike took me on weekend rides through the canyons, week-long road trips, and several track days. Various family and financial pressures forced me to sell it in 2004.
Ten years later, the three kids all grown, it was finally time for another bike. As I am older now, I wanted something more comfortable, yet still able to get the job done with a good twist as only a long-stroke motor can. I had always been fascinated with the Hayabusa but only knew what I had read on spec sheets...wrinkling my nose at the wet weight numbers...no, I had never ridden one. We found a well-cared for '07 at a local dealer...all black and stunning. The sales guy is family and was eager for me to take it for a ride...evil genius that one is. I was amazed at how easily it maneuvers at slow speed. I swear it loses 100 pounds once it's rolling and, oh my, does it move! A few signatures and I am on my way home with a grin I had not known in years. In my best Richard Hammond voice I proclaimed "...and I shall call her, Betty!"
I'm not the sort that looks to modify my vehicles. Whenever one of my friends points out some "cool" mod for my old 3 series, my response is: "If it needed it, it would have come from Bavaria already attached". So with that in mind, mods will be few. Some 1" bar risers are on the way and I am now trying to fabricate a mount for my V1. Possibly some new cans in the future as well.
The org is awesome and I am pleased to be among so many knowledgeable, like-minded riders! :bigsmile:
