The bad weekend

[knightnorth]

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?

Working on your own bike is different depending on what kind of bike you have. I had a Suzuki Intruder - almost impossible to get to anything. After a long winter I had to jump the battery. It was so tough to get to the battery I grounded it by putting a screw driver in the negative bolt and attaching the negative wire to the screw driver.

Some bikes can be absolute pleasures to work on like HD or Victory. Everything is in the right place and easy to work on. I can do a complete oil change in under 30 min on my new bike.

Bikes can save you money too. My Intruder only cost $4,200 new. I got 40-50 MPG (depends on wind). When I sold the Intruder 3 years later I got $4,000 for it. My Victory is getting between 55-60 MPG depending on wind but Victory is top of the line in fuel econ.

I change the oil every 4,000 - 5,000 miles. At 220 a day 5 times a week I can change it about ever 4-5 weeks. More usually 5 because I keep the bike in the garage on rainy days and that saves on my bike miles. Do what you gotta do you know - I'm sure not moving closer to DC - too expensive.

[sammis]

Hi Knightsworth

I feel for you, I just spent the last week driving my truck.

Last Monday morning on the way to work, running down the interstate around 60-65, I went to downshift and my clutch cable snapped.

Fortunately I was in the right lane of a four lane section and was able to pull over and kill the bike without problems.

The bad part. The local motorcycle shop morons don't have a clue on how to stock parts. I won't even let them touch my bike after one of them kept my roomates bike for a month without even fixing the problems he took it in for.

Ordered two cables (one spare) from a dealer out of town and got it today. Took 10 minutes at most to put it on. spare one goes in the saddlebags now.



Freedom!!!

[badwhale]

Working on your own bike is different depending on what kind of bike you have. I had a Suzuki Intruder - almost impossible to get to anything. After a long winter I had to jump the battery. It was so tough to get to the battery I grounded it by putting a screw driver in the negative bolt and attaching the negative wire to the screw driver.

Some bikes can be absolute pleasures to work on like HD or Victory. Everything is in the right place and easy to work on. I can do a complete oil change in under 30 min on my new bike.

Bikes can save you money too. My Intruder only cost $4,200 new. I got 40-50 MPG (depends on wind). When I sold the Intruder 3 years later I got $4,000 for it. My Victory is getting between 55-60 MPG depending on wind but Victory is top of the line in fuel econ.

I change the oil every 4,000 - 5,000 miles. At 220 a day 5 times a week I can change it about ever 4-5 weeks. More usually 5 because I keep the bike in the garage on rainy days and that saves on my bike miles. Do what you gotta do you know - I'm sure not moving closer to DC - too expensive.

First, just an FYI on the groudn thing. As long as your bike isn't positive ground (like my silly brit bikes), you can ground off of ANYTHING attached to the frame. It doesn't have to be the battery neg. I gather you don't have that bike anymore.

Second, yes bikes are economical means of transporatation, but this really should be the icing on the cake to the experience you get riding / wrenching on your own.

Will

[Eville]

Second, yes bikes are economical means of transporatation, but this really should be the icing on the cake to the experience you get riding / wrenching on your own.

Will

QFT

I have never heard of anyone being forced to ride a bike.