How Vintage owners spend their time.
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I don't do much maintenace to keep her going. Just a good going through once a year, usually during Winter hybernation, then ride all year when I can. I'm only a weekend rider and occasional evenings, so I don't get to put on as much time on the bike as I'd like.
Don't do much wrenching during the season. I try to ride as much as possible, though there's not too much time to spare with a 5 year old in the house. I work on the bikes during the winter and have 3 that's ready to go anytime (4 next season). My experience is that if you do a resto from scratch, and do all the important engine work such as crank, gearbox etc, you don't have to do any major repairs when you're supposed to be riding.
Forgot about that one! :-Dmore time surfing ebay for spare parts........
You want to spend 5K restoring them to OEM condition, that's what you want to do. :biggrin:I ride my newer bikes and look at the old ones. Not sure what I want to do with them.
my vintage bike is a 82 1100 suzuki. my modern bike is a 1500 vulcan. yes, I do spend more time working on the suzuki than I do the vulcan and riding it less than the vulcan but thats the price you pay for keeping an old bike going (unless you just think of it as a beater). I really enjoy having and working on what I consider a classic.
I have learned more from this bike than I did my Shadow. Somehow it means more that I fixed it than if someone else did it.my vintage bike is a 82 1100 suzuki. my modern bike is a 1500 vulcan. yes, I do spend more time working on the suzuki than I do the vulcan and riding it less than the vulcan but thats the price you pay for keeping an old bike going (unless you just think of it as a beater). I really enjoy having and working on what I consider a classic.
Looking at old bikes and the leather clad boys that wear them is close enough!you left out internet porn...
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My bike ran great last summer. I have been lucky with only a few minor issues that needed fixed. What my bike needs is some paint and a thourogh cleaning.
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During the all too short riding season, I don't do much more than routine maintenance - chain adjusting, checking pressures - those kind of things. I do seem to spend an awful lot of time telling people what my 1973 Turbo'd Z1 is as the tank has no name on it, and the side covers just say "Turbo".
In the winter, I often will work on bikes just to learn about them. Each year I try and buy a different bike as a learning experience. In the past few years that's iincluded Suzuki GS750's, Honda CB750's (SOHC & DOHC), a Yamaha Virago 1100, Suzuki GS1100 shaft, Kawasaki KV75 and a few more. I ride them for a while the next year to understand the bike better before selling it off.
In the winter, I often will work on bikes just to learn about them. Each year I try and buy a different bike as a learning experience. In the past few years that's iincluded Suzuki GS750's, Honda CB750's (SOHC & DOHC), a Yamaha Virago 1100, Suzuki GS1100 shaft, Kawasaki KV75 and a few more. I ride them for a while the next year to understand the bike better before selling it off.
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520 Posts
Since I got it running, I haven't seen much of it, my middle son and his wife have it for when they go camping / fishing... overall the bike is functional - but it does still need some work - especially the steering head bearings. I've already replaced the chain / sprockets, wheel bearings, cleaned / rebuilt the carb, installed new tires and more...How's that KV coming along, Jeff ?
One thing when you work on a variety of bikes - you see just how good (or how bad) some of the designs are.
I would certainly recommend working on a few different makes and models to get a better appreciation for motorcycles...
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