I got to know a fella who had a malaguti monti field bike when I was abut 14. We would go over the fields on. He then got a TS125 for the hills. I managed to pick up a fizzy for £20 but that too was a field bike.
I didnt want a moped, so I waited until I was 17 and picked up an xs250. Im a short arse at 5.8" so I liked the bulkiness of this bike, and I had watched a neighbour on his xs1100, so it reminded me of that. Turns out it was the only thing I liked about that bike.....
Passed my test on 29/12/81 and picked up a honda 4/4 which I rode about for a bit then I picked up my first Bonnie in April 83, a few weeks before my 19th birthday
Since then I have always had a Triumph, but have a soft spot for Yams, having owned a xs1100 and an xjr1200. There is also a xv535 sitting in my shed, but is officially my sons.
Like most folk, back in the day I used the bikes as my only form of transport and never picked up a car until 1988. Nowadays I tend to only use the bikes in dry weather, although as an 'essential worker' I was not furloughed so used the bikes all through lockdown and it was great on the quiet roads
My only regret was getting rid of the xjr, as that was a superb bike