So you want to ride a motorcycle?
The choices are many and come in all shapes and sizes. And much like the auto industry (and a fine wine) many vintages. You can go to your local dealer and buy a relatively showroom new bike or one with some seasons on it and still in perfect condition. There is a temptation to find something cheap and call it good. The problem with that mindset is that you are not buying a lawn mower, you are buying a performance machine capable of propelling your butt close to 100 miles per hour (if you’re luck). So here are >>>>><<<<< things to know when you drop the hammer on a new machine.
- RELIABILITY: Lets face it. Fuel injection is Oh So Nice. No Carbs to tune. An engine designed to run, not be fiddled with
- BRITTLE COMPONENTS: Have you tried removing screws and bolts that are locked and seized ? It doesn’t end well. By the time you get things taken apart you’ll need a bag of new bolts, screws, and maybe some Prozac
- SUSPENSION: Just like automotive components, motorcycle technology has improved over the years. Terms like compression, dampening, and rebound will be clear.
- PARTS: Nothing lasts forever. Parts don’t grow on trees. So after a couple of decades, parts get harder and harder to find. And when you do, they may be specific to a range of bike years, not just 1 year or model. So while the part may fit , it will likely not fit the way you think it should .
These are just a few things to consider, but you can see that some are financial and some are safety related.