First rides & sketchy glory 🛠️

🚦That first bike hit harder than heartbreak

I still remember mine. A clapped-out ‘82 Yamaha Virago with a starter that worked sometimes and brakes that worked never. Bought it off a guy named “Toothless Rick” behind a pawn shop. Cash only. No title. Just vibes.

First time I fired her up, the pipes shot sparks, and the neighbors called the cops. I didn’t care. That bike was mine. She taught me everything — how to ride, how to crash, how to walk it off, and how to swear creatively in four languages.

I wouldn’t trade that ride for anything… except maybe two working brake calipers and a fresh rear tire.

🧨 Why your first bike still haunts you

There’s somethin’ sacred about that first two-wheeled mistake. Whether it was a Craigslist special, a hand-me-down from your drunk uncle, or a brand-new ride you didn't deserve — that machine burned a mark into your soul.

🛠️ It taught you pain = progress

That first ride was janky as hell, but it made you a better biker. You learned to listen to your bike. Feel it. Smell when something’s off. You weren’t just riding — you were surviving. That's where the real learning kicks in.

🔥 The “ride or die” mentality was born

It didn’t matter if the suspension was shot or if it leaked more oil than a Harley with a hangover — you rode that thing like it was your ticket to Valhalla. And every sketchy ride was a chapter in your biker origin story.

💀 You'd ride it again... but smarter

Would you ride it again today? Hell yeah. But this time, you'd be wearing a real helmet, not a novelty skullcap from a gas station. Experience doesn’t kill nostalgia — it just dresses it up in armored kevlar and better choices.

💡 Pro tip: Don’t trust a speedo on a used bike 🧟‍♂️

If that odometer says “6,000 miles” but the handlebars shake like a chihuahua on meth — that ain’t mileage. That’s trauma. Trust the grime. Trust the scars. Trust your gut — it’s been down this road before.

🎤 Your turn, wrench jockey...

I wanna hear about your first mistake on wheels. What was it? How’d you end up with it? Would you throw a leg over it again — or would it kill you faster than your ex’s cooking?

Hit reply and spill the story. I’ll feature the wildest ones in a future ride log. Don’t hold back. The more busted the bike, the better.

Ride Smart, Ride Strong,
Blake "Iron Sage" Rivers

P.S. If your first ride didn't involve some back alley, bad judgment, or backfiring pipes… are you even a biker?