Back in the day, motorcycling was:

1) mixing oil in with the gas (2 stroke smokers);
2) seriously burning every part of your body on various engine/exhaust parts (while #3 ...);
3) learning mechanics on the side of the road, during ANY trip over 50 miles;
4) being screamed at by your mate's parents to park your bike down the street because it leaks oil;
5) being screamed at by your own parents because your bike leaks oil, is too noisy and is a family embarrassment;
6) carrying extra oil, just in case (and oil came in tin cans, so you also need a can opener);
7) Oil filters are what? No, seriously, this thing has an air filter? Really?
8) riding on tubed, bias-ply tires, usually mounted on wheels missing a spoke, or two;
9) surviving ownership of a Kawa 750 triple (aka the widowmaker);
10) mistakenly buying any continental Europe bike, which completely disintegrated after a few months;
11) never being caught on anything Made in Japan (unreliable sewing machines);
12) learning that a warranty meant the only "guarantee" you have is to be told to F Off by the dealer ... except with Japanese bikes;
13) finally buying a Honda CB750 because, well, it was so much better;
14) knowing how to true a wheel, adjust carbs, and weld pieces back together;
15) ATGATT was an open face helmet, sunglasses, work gloves, Dayton boots and Levi jeans;
16) swearing that as soon as you can afford a car, you're dumping the f'n PITA, POS bike, and never looking back;
17) changing your mind about the car, and buying an XT250 because it is more "practical" and more "sensible";
18) only knowing "bad" girls because "good" girls would never ride on a motorcycle;
19) learning that "good girls" actually aren't (i.e., once no one was watching); and,
20) god dammit - I swear I'm getting a car as soon as possible.

Today, motorcycling is:

1) cars on 2 wheels, with available air conditioning, air bags, 8 speaker stereo systems, sat radio, GPS, ABS, shaft drive, electronically-adusted windscreens, hydraulic center stands, power mirrors, liquid-cooled engines ... and the list goes on;
2) Protective riding gear that rivals Ice Hockey gear;
3) Pretty girls in dealerships (ANY girl in a bike shop during the 70s would've probably been ... well, you know);
4) 20K (or more) maintenance intervals;
5) tubeless tires;
6) accessories / add-ons that, collectively, cost as much as (or more than) the bike;
7) color-coordinated everything;
8) prices that rival cars; and,
9) still learning about the "good girl" / "bad girl" conundrum.

Now, I enjoy the creature-comforts (and minimal maintenance) as much as the next guy, but ...

... riding Chinese bikes kinda reminds me of the old days ... riding around on bikes that are cheap, unreliable, poorly made, dangerous, out-dated technology, and only for the bad boys or the poor boys.

But this is changing fast, even in China.

Let's enjoy the crap while we can! It is what memories are made of.

PS: By the way, did I miss anything?