Re: As a child, what was the best/most memorable Christmas gift you ever received?

Great sport to pass down. I am the next generation to receive the love of riding. My dad bought a an Indian in the early 50s. On his way home, he dropped it crossing the RR tracks in front of my grandmom's. He said he wasn't sure which hurt worse - the wreck or my grandmom laying into him for buying "such a fool thing."

I then rode pillion on his Triumph T120s in the early 1970s. He had two but quit trying to keep them after both were stolen.

I was on Yams through the 70s. Dirt bikes. A YZ125 before a 250. For a couple of years in the early 80s I was without. But in 1984, I wanted to return to bikes, this time street. I looked at and almost bought a 1969 Triumph Trident with original aquamarine paint. It was too tall for me so I passed on what is now a collector's bike. I bought a Honda Nighthawk and rode it all over SC and once to Pa to see a girlfriend.

But since I've ridden Triumphs: two Triumph T140s and this year a 2011 Bonneville SE. I'm in my 50s as well. Although my dad has passed on and I've restored his 1973 Bonnie, kicking those monsters is getting to be a challenge.

Keep 'em upright. Hope you and your boys can enjoy the sport for years to come.

StMattTiger

Letterman [291]

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Dec 21, 2015, 5:10 PM

Memorable. Most were now, and the reason is, I suppose, is that most folk in those wonderful Christmases have already gone on to better Christmases.

But your question probably wasn't asking for that. I remember one year getting out of bed and checking the living room to see if we had had a visit from Ol' St. Nick. After carefully creeping down the stairs, I peeked - nothing. Couldn't see any difference in the furniture, etc

5 a.m. I sneaked down the stairs again. Peeeeked around the corner - nothing. "Maybe Santa really does see you all year 'round," I thought. Not good.

5:30 a.m. This isn't looking good.

6 a.m. Maybe we're last on the schedule.

6:20ish or so, one last try. I descend all of the steps and enter the living room, still under the cover of darkness. I bumped into what would turn out to be my sister's bicycle! He came to our house after all!

Talk about relief. I really hadn't had my best year that year, either. I knew he still watched. I just though the felt sorry for me since my siblings had apparently been angels judging by the piles of toys. Maybe he doesn't see everything. Hmm.

But the toy I most remember looking forward to and receiving for Christmas some may not have ever heard of. It was called a Vertebird. It was a little battery-powered helicopter that came with an Apollo-type space capsule and astronaut that you attempted to retrieve using the helicopter.

Anyway, that was it. Merry Christmas to all.

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As a child, what was the best/most memorable Christmas gift you ever received?