My first ride

Was a 1964 Yamaha 80cc single cylinder exactly like the one pictured below.

The one I had suffered from a broken shift lock housing which meant we spent a lot of time in second gear. It had no side cover so you held the clutch, reached down to the left and gently slid the shift rod out until you felt it notch into second gear. you then tightened  the lock bolt and you were ready to go. 

For a bike stuck in second gear it put on some miles. Whether it was whipping through the woods, crossing roads and streams or just doing laps in the yard. on this point I have to say my parents had a lot of patience and understanding. What was once a manicured yard turned into a 12' wide swath of dirt around the entire house except where the paved driveway was. The start was at the back door, you flew down the driveway, leaned it over into the yard throwing dirt rooster tails through a 180 degree loop, then crank it straight across the front yard, across the front walk, then a choice of two 180 degree turns, both ran down hill, the closer then ran up a roughly 6 foot tall hill on an angle before bringing you back on the start straight. The second route took you out further out, then straight up between two rocks onto a natural ramp which would launch you in the air. You would normally clear 12 to 14 feet before coming down onto the pavement with a not resounding crunch as those little scooter shocks took the hit. 

Hours and hours, everyday, that bike took me and the neighborhood kids around the house, racing to catch the exhaust trail from the previous lap. (2 cycle, and we never knew the correct mixer of oil to gas).

It really must have sucked for the neighbors.