The bad weekend

**badwhale** · 04-27-2009, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by mrtr33

Where do you live? You could always take the doors off.....

I have always had a fascination with motorcycles. Never owned one. Up until about a year and a half ago, I kept away from them because I didn't think I was mature enough. Now that I'm confident in that, the money, and other things aren't there. My fascination isn't so much the speed, as I'm the asshole that drives just under the speed limit in my truck, but fixing the bike itself. I envision riding back highways, ala Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I would love to somehow get into learning how a bike works, but I seriously have no idea where to even begin. I thought I'd start with something simple, and I tend to think academically first. There are no small-engine repair community classes being taught near me now, and I'd hate to spend money on a book if I had no options for hands-on. My dad's lawnmower is newer, but he didn't take care of it - I was hoping when he gets rid of it and gets another, that maybe then I could just take it apart and see how it works, much like how I got into computers, almost 20 years ago. I guess I think in my mind that, at least theoretically, if I can troubleshoot computers, I can also eventually get to a point of troubleshooting engines.

I've seen broken down bikes on the local craigslist, but I'm nervous about those. I'm reasonably sure I know what's wrong with my dad's lawnmower, but feel way over my head jumping right to motorcycles.

Anyone got any advice?

Mark,

If you take a pragmatic approach to engines, they are IMHO much more simple to diagnose than computers. So, you have a head start there.

Broke down motorcycles? Nah. I wouldn't get one of those for your firsty. Get one that runs, as you'll be working on whatever it is eventually. Even if it runs good, there's always stuff to tinker on.
Now, if you're going something pretty modern (90s & up Kaw, Yama, Honda, you prolly won't have to do anything with it till it totally goes south.)

Overall: My advice would be to get something more modern, learn to ride, enjoy that for a while and then you can delve into a fixer-upper while you still have one to ride.

Will

**prophetic_joe** · 04-27-2009, 12:59 PM

If it makes you feel any better I hooked up the battery on my Honda Nighthawk yesterday and after just a few minutes of tinkering and changing a fuse it started right up and sounded great. My bad comes from the fact that I don't have a license yet so no driving for me.