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Do I need to be a competent mechanic?
Hi all,
I have a passion for travel but had never dreamed about going with a bike until 2 years ago, the moment I met a German couple with their bikes when traveling in Iran. I got inspired and started to appreciate the fun that only a motorbike could bring you. When I returned home I learned how to ride and got a license. It has been one year since I had my own motorbike. The idea of overlanding obsesses me every day, it becomes an important goal in my life. But when it comes to reality it seems I'm still very far away from it. Being a junior, clumsy rider with little experience, the only maintenance I can barely do is the oil change. Many of you here are quite professional mechanics, capable of doing almost every repair & replacement work on your own. Relying solely on local shops is unrealistic because of their availability and competence. Therefore I'm doubtful about my dream. Just get a bit frustrated & discouraged. So I'm here looking for your opinions and advice, and what's your thought on the minimum requirement of mechanic proficiency. Many thanks, Kei |
If you have any friends who are mechanics ask them to go through servicing your bike with you, include things like removing wheels, taking forks and shock absorbers out. If this is not an option look out for a night school motorcycle mechanics course.
It is not essential that you know everything about your bike before setting off, I have met people who can just about check the oil and tyre pressures who are on the road, but it will make life easier and save you money and hassle. |
Get a bike and maintain it yourself for awhile. It helps to pick something that has an internet following like the KLR650 so you can get support as you learn. Most maintenance stuff is dead simple and you will catch on quickly. Mostly anything that needs to be done is covered in the owner's manual (which folks never read).
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while servicing the bike buy whatever tools you need to do it properly,read some reports on other materials needed ie epoxies,wire,straps,learn some basic electricity.Be familiar with whatever bike you buy,it weaknesses and fixes your needs but donot fret over it as many times a problem can be over emphasis on the net,perferrably not an old one that alone due to age can come back to bite you in many ways with no mechanical back ground,unless you want to use it as a learning tool.but that takes time.
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"competent"
Try to learn as much as you can but don't delay your trip because you can't take the bike apart and put it back together in the dark. I went to SA with limited knowledge about my bike, was able to replace the starting motor by myself, fix wiring issues, and keep it running well. I sold it in Peru to an Aussie whose best friend took it apart, saw a cracked valve, and insisted they would buy it anyway and wait for a new valve to come. They broke down on the Altiplano. I would suggest to know your limits and use common sense. Have fun.
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you can always hire a mechanic and drag him with you RTW trip ;)
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I would love to become more proficient looking after my bike, but the simple truth is that my current skill set lies elsewhere. I've been travelling during my holidays since I bought the bike in 2010 (and I have been to Africa) and I've not worried too much, just enjoyed the riding. Admittedly, the bike's still fairly new and in good nick, but there will always be someway of finding if needed.
I'd love to learn more. My local evening classes never take place due to the lack of interest of others (there have to be a minimum take up), and my local garage always seem overworked, so asking there's probably a no go. I'd rather not wait until I'm proficient mechanically before setting off somewhere. Yes, learn as much as you can BUT never let lack of knowledge put you off riding in the first place! :D |
Take Mark's advice the get some mechanic's training anyway you can. It really will help you calm down and gain more confidence whilst on the road.
Try to buy as NEW a bike as you can afford. Learn it well, take shorter trips to start off and do basic maintenance on the road. Build a good basic tool kit as you progress. Start doing maintenance at home with only your travel tools. All this will help. There are good mechanics all over the world. The trick is to find the good ones. Hubb and other Online forums can help source qualified mechs. Ask for specific help for specific places before you get there. Keep notes. But if you buy a simple, straightforward bike, then most basic maintenance can be done with minimal training and some decent tools. If your bike choice is good, problems should be very few beyond regular maintenance, tires, chain/sprockets, oil changes. More you learn the better. Riding If you are a "clumsy" rider ...that is not good :nono: You'll need to get better. But how? Two ways: Take up dirt bike riding ...take real dirt bike classes using SMALL bikes. Forget the posers on the big BMW's ... little trail bike is what you want to learn on. YES ... these learned skills will cross over to ANY bike you ride. Do track days on the race track or a good On Track rider training course. Some provide a bike, some you use your own. Huge value as skills builder. Both these exercises will ramp up your learning curve quickly, your skills will improve 100%. But riding a bike your general traffic sense and defensive driving skills need to be top notch too. Ask anyone who's ridden through India, Asia or parts of Latin America. INSANE drivers. You need to be playing with a FULL DECK to survive those conditions. Do all you can to get better ... Don't wait and think you can "learn on the road". Get in the training and practice NOW. bier |
Hello Kei,
Sounds to me like you are on the right track, You know your limitations but you are thinking about it. Put the effort into learning a few base skills and you will be more prepared than some. At the least you should know how to do a basic service and oil change - on top of that being able to change a tyre and fix a puncture is a must. Most things that break you can see so it's easy to replace.......fault diagnosis is usually the problem the not so experienced fall down on. The fact is that modern bikes are usually reliable engine wise and if it does need work you can seldom fix it on the side of the road. Concentrate on all the ancillary stuff and electrical fault diagnosis. Like Molly says.... your riding is the biggest hill to climb. Get all the training you can afford but nothing beats hours in the saddle. Ride the bike all you can in all conditions. Don't worry about it all any way, if you breakdown - you will meet new friends and have a tale to tell. |
I suspect many of us here got to be competent mechanics not through professional training (T. Ted excepted) but by trial and error - fixing whatever we could at the side of the road and either abandoning the bike or getting it recovered when we couldn't.
I've done all of that and whatever facility I have to fix things comes not from any innate ability but from a need driven mainly by desperation and a decades long trail of broken parts, stripped threads, bodges, lash ups and work arounds littering the roads of Europe. I know which end of a spanner to use because it was either that or walk. These days bikes are a lot more reliable than they used to be (believe me, they really are!) so most breakdowns come from either incident (ie you fall off the bike ) or wear n tear (ie some other bit falls off the bike or fails). It's unusual to have a complete "meltdown" where a core part (like a crank or gearbox) fails and there's nothing you can do. Not unknown, just unusual. Most of the time when things go wrong it's not the fault itself that's the problem but the time it takes to get it fixed when you're on a time limited trip. The distress comes from seeing your schedule and plans vanish rather than the cost of the part or the need to find a mechanic. It's far more psychological than monetary. My advice is to buy something intrinsically reliable (no piston holing or crank shredding two strokes like I started on), ride it within its limits (cruise at no more than about 70% of whatever the mags got as a top speed. 0r the speed limit, whichever comes first) and wear some ear plugs to stop you worrying about innocuous rattles and knocks. There's always an element of the unknown with this, but that's the point. If it was a certainty it wouldn't be as interesting to do. |
I don't think you need to be a competent mechanic at all, no. More fun not to be.
In reality you're not taking with you the tools to do serious work. If you've got a basic toolkit and some duct tape, cable ties and quick weld you're good to go. The things that can happen and be in your control will be dependant on how many spares, tools and crap you can carry. Puncture, carb issues, chain, cables, electrics, broken levers, leaks, drips, cracks, clogged filters or bad fuel. Anything more than that you're gonna need a big toolkit and lotsa spares to tackle, so just better to take it to someone unless you're really into working on bikes and carrying shed loads of equipment. Spend your money and time saved buying a fuel injected, reliable bike and hooking up a Scott oiler (or buy a shaftie), handguards, and get it fully looked over by a proper mechanic who's aware you're going on a trip of however many thousand miles. |
P.s. people learn all this stuff because they enjoy it. Motorcycles aren't intrinsically unreliable or prone to breaking. And even when they do you usually get enough warning or can keep doing until you're somewhere sometime can help.
You probably have a car you get services every once in a while and never had much trouble with. Its the same deal just service a bit more. Also motorcycles are pretty easy to chuck in the back of a van or lorry so even in a worst case scenario you're not going to be stuck too long. I don't know why local shops would be incompetent, they're probably going to be a lot more proficient than most here. I'm not saying don't learn your bike a bit ie. What fluids it takes and common problems but you don't need to take mechanic classes IMO. |
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All depends on how much time you've got and what you're prepared to invest, but asking a mate to show you how it's done is a great idea. I know mechanics don't like having someone look over their shoulder, but even paying your mechanic to do this might give you the confidence. And it's just about confidence. And if you're prepared to invest the time, correspondence courses like this can be great: Online Motorcycle Mechanic School Training Course | Penn Foster They go through all the basics as well as practical and even discuss tool requirements. And you get to learn at your own pace |
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Much of the world's shops are car mechanics, not bikes. In Asia and other areas, more bikes, so all good. But even there ... There are good ... and bad. Trust me on this one mate. The suggestion to take "mechanic classes" was ONLY meant for the OP to learn the bare basics you've listed in your post above. No Novice mechanic is going to learn to do a total rebuild in a month long class anyway, not a chance. We're only suggesting he learn the BARE basics ... which the OP does not currently know. Stuff you take for granted (see your long list) he, apparently has never done, he's never owned a bike or ridden much either. So it's baby steps here. But I agree with your point: It's absurd to carry all the crap to do a major repair. Carry just enough to do very basic maintenance. (Oil changes, tires, chain, sprockets, bearings (maybe) fuses, battery, bulbs, that's about it. Spares might consist of a spare cable or two, tubes, front sprocket, bulbs, fuses, set of brake pads, fork seals and a spare Nut/Bolt kit. Anything serious, seek out the best guy you can lay hands on and PRAY. If a new rider starts with a new, near new or very well set up bike, then a lot of common problems will be avoided straight away. A travel bike should start a major trip with: New tires/tubes Fresh Oil/filter Valves recently checked new battery, all electrics checked confirmed good New chain and sprockets. (quality items, no Crap) All bearings checked and serviced. New brake pads and brakes serviced. That's about it. Hit the road, do what you can along the way. :scooter: |
I wouldn't be comfortable going more than 1,000 km away without knowing how to plug a tire or change a tube and patch the puncture so I'd still be ready for the next. It's the problem that can pop up anywhere with no warning. Mollydog hinted that new tires reduce the chance of puncture but on a longer trip worn tires are inevitable.
As far as learning -- a lot of mechanical repairs have the same steps and require a feel for the parts that comes only from practice. How tight to tighten a bolt or screw into steel or aluminum. The oil change from the OP will be cleaner when a mechanic knows the feel of a drain bolt that has just one last thread engaged -- another half-turn and oil's coming out. The feel of a part that requires some force and a part that's being forced where it shouldn't be are different. A class may help with some of this, but practice can help over a longer period and throw in an occasional lesson on troubleshooting. I agree with twowheels03 that it's GREAT to know limitations and think about how to go forward. I hope the plan isn't to start with the first long trip being RTW; I'd say start with learning to fix tires and shorter trips then work patiently through the maintenance procedures as miles pile up. |
You're right mollydog but I'm just saying its not at all likely something will go wrong with a well prepped bike and that can be done by any cherry picked mechanic. That's going to negate all little problems like cables, bearing and chain issues.
Then the guy can change oil which is pretty good so presumably he knows how to swap a fuse (although I've never ever had a fuse blow on anything I've been riding ever). The only thing worth learning if he has a tubeless bike (many aren't) is to take off and on the tyre and patch it. I just don't know where this whole if you want to be a biker or tour you need to learn mechanics thing came from. If you know some REAL basics you're good. And even if you don't you'll be fine and someone will always help out of the goodness of their heart or for cash :D Of course if you're a cheapskate (no judgement wife's Scottish) or like fiddling with things or are going to be riding to the north pole off road where your only option is to fix it yourself then learn everything and take a trailer full of spares. |
These kinds of posts always end up with a bunch of time served road warriors with wrenches for fingers arguing about the number of breakdowns you can fit on the head of a pin while the o.p. hides under a blanket somewhere.
Anyone who's read ZAMM will know that part of it is about whether you should DIY intervene to keep a bike running at its peak or trust that the manufacturers service schedules, carried out correctly by qualified professional service "technicians" is all that's necessary. In the book BMW is German for leave it alone. In reality the o.p. can trade off time and / or money against knowledge - as long as he's sticking to what you'd loosely call the 1st world (NA, EU, Oz, etc). If the bike stops (and it isn't fuel) call a rescue service. They'll arrive (eventually) and once they've stopped laughing they'll either fix the problem or take the bike somewhere where it can be fixed. People do this in cars all the time. If the o.p's. trip is under 500km - knowing how to put fuel in is all you need (IMHO). 500 - 2000km? - work out how to check your oil / where to put the new stuff if necessary. 2000- 5000km? - add checking tyres and coolant (if it's a w/c engine) + how to check chain tension. If any of these need adjusting, find a dealer. If it's over 5K km or it's to some of the more interesting parts of the planet then, yes, some ability to intervene would be desirable, but a different mindset rather than specific wrenching skills is probably the most important change needed. Bikes are essentially simple mechanisms and there will be almost always someone around who can fix whatever goes wrong. Ignorance isn't quite bliss but better than than worrying yourself to a standstill and not going at all. |
Thanks so much for all of your suggestions.
The reason I love here is the people are always willing to teach and share. :thumbup1: I think I'll delay my trip a little bit since I'm underprepared and have to look for some training in bike maintenance. I attended a knowledge class organized by a bike shop a month ago. The content was useful however limited to basic theory only. Zero hands-on experience. I was shown the dissembled engine, transmission etc., and learned some basic fault & wear diagnosis. What I need most is practice. Hopefully I can find somebody helping me. :rolleyes2: |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2yywDcqJd0 |
Hi Kei,
Where are you based ? fill out your location in your profile, then local people might offer to assist you from the HUBB! Don't worry about knowing how to repair your motorcycle, I have met many motorcycle travellers who had no clue or interest in working on their bikes and getting their hands dirty, some in the middle of the South American Altiplano - broken down by the side of the road, they had a tent, food, water and were quite happy!!! Whilst Im not disputing that having the knowledge/tools/spare parts is a good idea, also having an attitude that "I can sort out any situation" is another great "tool" to carry with you. 9 times out of 10, someone will come along and be able to assist you without a long delay. I have personally had some of my best travel experiences whilst relying on peoples assistance, most people WANT to help - and end up as good friends. If you travel in your own little "bubble" and never accept any help you will miss a valuable aspect of travelling. I worry more about breaking down in a "first" world country more - I don't have AMA/RAC/AA roadside rescue- not many people stop and assist these days as everyone is "too busy to help" , In so called 2nd and 3rd world countries - most people stop and help, that is the way it works. Don't limit your motorcycle adventures because you cant fix your motorcycle - get out, ride, enjoy yourself and have the attitude that "I can sort out any situation" You could also contact a local to you HUBB community and see if there is anyone willing to show you a few things about servicing/repairs, look under the "connect tab" at the top of the page and then "contact a community" they might also be able to ride with you and help you improve your skills. Good Luck! |
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"But if you buy a simple, straightforward bike, then most basic maintenance can be done with minimal training and some decent tools. If your bike choice is good, problems should be very few beyond regular maintenance, tires, chain/sprockets, oil changes. More you learn the better." |
I was in the exact same situation as you. I had a dream to drive to the end of the world on a motorcycle, but never drove a motorcycle.
I took the course and got my permit and I left for my trip, from Montreal to Ushuaia, only 2 months after I got my permit and in that two months I managed to crash and destroy my first bike (total lost), I was fortunatly not hurt badly (nothing major). Got a new bike and left. I was clearly not experienced enough as a driver when I left for my trip. I had a few spills and a very scary one on a volcano in Costa-Rica. I was riding with a more experienced rider and was trying to keep up. I eventually met a motorcycle safety course instructor in Peru and drove with him for a week while picking his brain for tricks and tips on how to ride. From that moment on, for the rest of my trip, I felt much more safe on my bike and was enjoying my trip and riding way better. I never had another fall since then and I rode through all kinds of terrains, up and down infinite twisties up and down mountains. In insight I consider I've been lucky to not hurt myself more because even though I knew my skill level was not great, I was still trying to catch up with more experienced riders when in groups. I was still looking to push my limits and drive fast and was getting overly confident sometime because I thought I drove this far, I'm now proficient, but the reality is I couldn't be proficient without learning the right way to ride. It's possible to accumulate a lot of miles and still not be a proficient rider. That being said, I met riders with poor controls of their bike and they rode all the way down and survived with no crash, because they knew their limits and respected their fear. I met a guy, so shaky on his bike, I couldn't believe he made it this far, he was driving very slow and very carefully. He made it, all the way to Argentina and in one piece. I could not do that because I'm a bit reckless and impatient in nature so driving slow all the way down was not an option for me. You need to figure out where you can place yourself in this axis of prudent to reckless and be honest about it. You can always choose the small displacement route and go for a 250cc and less motorbike, lot's of fun to be had slowing the pace and taking in the scenery a bit more. Lots of thread about it on the HUBB and ADVrider. A smaller bike is going to be safer for someone with limited riding experience, that's why in some places new riders can only ride smaller displacement bikes. You have options, you can do your trip with the skill set you have now, but be smart about it. As for mechanical competence, I was like you, a complete newbie. I asked a friend of mine to show me the basics. I had a KLR650 so for me the essentials were to know how to change the oil, adjust, clean and lube the chain, fix the master link on a chain, clean air filter and how to change/repair a tube. That's it. That's the strict minimum and that's all you need if you choose to ride a bulletproof bike like the KLR. You can learn all this in a few hours from an experienced rider. Like others have said in this thread before me, the mechanical part is the easy part, the riding skills are much more important. Poor mechanical skills can lead at worst to an interesting story of you stranded in a village with cheerful characters, while poor riding skills, well, you know where this goes... |
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There's something to be said for modern bikes. I was strictly in the carb or I won't buy it camp but I've pretty much reversed my opinion :eek: Suspension, vibrations and brakes among other things have also come a long way. |
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IMO- it's about confidence. If you're a worry-head (and some people just naturally are), you won't have fun with these "what-if's" banging around in the back of your head. Do something about it (i.e. prep etc.), but I agree with Gipper- much more important to go and enjoy yourself than missing out because you may or may not break down etc. That said- for some people, the prep is part of the 'enjoy yourself' and there is a certain amount of satisfaction in learning new skills. :funmeteryes: It's amazing what you can do if the 'need arises'. My adopted philosophy from Helge Pederson: there's no problem so big that stopping, making a cup of coffee and thinking about it will make it worse. It's amazing what solutions present itself in the 15min coffee-break! :smartass: |
Two good sayings spring to mind.
"Prevention is better than cure".. And "If it ain't broken, fix it until it is". Ok the last one isn't relevant but I like it anyway. Do you need to be a good mechanic. No, not really. Just find one to go with you :smartass: |
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And I do appreciate everybody's advice and encouragement. To me the dream and passion still outweighs the worry and frustration. Will try my best, learn and practice as much as I can. |
Hello
Don't worry to much. All you need to know is how to use a screwdriver and a wrench. Not to forget the good old hammer and duct tape, fixes nearly everything. If you go to remote places you should be able to remove the wheels, if you have tubes. As said before get a relatively new bike, best japanese, nothing to hightech. A lot of bikers with nearly pro mechanical skills will never hit the road because they know that they can't take there torque-limiting wrench and fix a broken gearbox in the middle of nowhere. On my 24 month RTW I had to rely on local mechanics to service my bike. Met some incredible idiots but my XT660Z Tenere didn't mind. You have the dream, that's all you need, make it happen. sushi |
I can change a tyre on my 4x4, change an fuel filtre or something similar, but not much more. I know that I need help if something happens.
I can live with that. I need also help when I need a doctor. At home I also need help when something in my flat is broken. I can`t repair my washing machine, my dishwasher, can not fix my toilet flushing, cannot fix my heater, i cannot fix my TV. In my daily live I regulary need help if something goes wrong. I drive a new car with much electronic stuff. I know that I have to get the car to a capital, if something is wrong abroad. When we read some travelblogs, we see too these older less electronical cars who needs to be carried away. For shure it is good when you know that you can fix some issues by yourself. Too it is helpful when also the guys in the smaller towns are able to repair your vehicle. But it is not required for travelling. Go out and enjoy. :funmeteryes: Surfy |
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Do a few thousand miles on dirt roads and you'll wish you did more than change the oil. Don't listen to him Kei, you learn all you can. |
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As for weak areas that need addressing that is part of the research when picking the right bike I never changed a tire or did a oil change before i set off on my trip last year and yes " I did a few thousand miles on dirt roads " Its no black art learning as you go, the main thing is to just GO! |
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If I were British I guess I'd wonder why the whole world isn't riding old CX500 Honda messenger bikes! :eek3: Quote:
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So get some training if you have time and motivation. Would I postpone a departure date due to lack of training? NO WAY! GO GO GO !!! bier |
Simple really.
Buy a simple bike with low mileage and which has been well maintained. Then have it checked by a GOOD mechanic. Learn how to do simple repairs and simple maintenance. Just the obvious ones. It's really not that hard at all to check your oil, chain etc and learn how fix a puncture. I am CERTAIN that 90% of all breakdowns are people letting their bikes run low on oil, really stretching maintenance out far too long or when it actually matters, really having no idea how to change a puncture. I blame a lot of this on the whole "That bike's bulletproof" forum and media chatter. It makes many folk totally nonchalant..... Blasé. It's a machine with a million working parts. Things need maintaining. No matter how "Bullet Proof" it's claimed to be. Check these boxes and then you'd have to be really unlucky to be stuck anywhere. And if you have a simple bike, A LOT more people can help you fix it if you can't do it yourself. This is why the big, expensive exotic bikes loaded with gadgets and electronics are the WORST bikes to go long distance travelling on. Unless of course you can just throw ridiculous amounts of cash a problem that you can't solve yourself. And that's why so many BMW's make it around the world. With enough money, you can be rescued from anywhere. Almost. |
Thanks again for the advice:thumbup1:
I have decided to go with a Japanese 250cc enduro, a/c engine simple enough :D |
A TTR or XR?
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Do I need to be a competent mechanic?
Kei,
I started my trip without the faintest idea of how to change a tire, why your bike won't start after you drop it, no spanish beyond una cerveza gracias and well, only the vaguest idea of how to put my tent up. Seven months, three countries and 12,000k later me and my Japanese 250 Enduro are going better than ever, I speak competent Spanish for my needs, and largely thanks to this website and YouTube, can have my wheels off in a few minutes, do basic maintenance myself and feel pretty confident riding finding my way around whatever the road conditions. Not saying I'm great or anything - still a n00b to all this but it can be done, even by me who is certainly not the sort of person that fancies himself as the practical, hands-on type at all - throw caution to the wind a bit but plan to the best of your ability nevertheless - but most of all just get out here and do it. I've learnt so many useful skills in the past several months and have had a great time too :) |
Good post but again since when is Japanese 250 enduro a way to refer to what bike you have !
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Oh ya I'm riding a Honda SL230 (2002) currently, but I'm also interested in XR250. Will have a try if possible. They differ in a little power and seat height.
And SL230 doesn't need an oil filter. |
Hi,
We all started with no knowledge. So .. what basics are good to start your trip with? A first aid course - for yourself! Fix a flat tyre .. probably more frequent than the oil change :( But it will also let you change tyres. Oil change .. which you have Air filter - clean and change Valve setting Change clutch cable (with this you'll also be able to change the accelerator cable/s) Change battery Change rear shock Those would be a reasonable minimum .. you can learn on the road .. others have .. some have not and had to rely on locals... sometimes good .. sometimes bad. They all survived so it does not really truly matter. The first aid course is probably more important to your well being .. So the really important thing Just GO! :) Even on the SL .. people ride bicycles around the world .. |
or you can watch YouTube to learn how to do it
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The more you have in your knowledge tool box the less the misery later,unless it is counted as adventure but there is plenty of that around ,so I just call some of it as foolishness- when the machine is left go until it breaks for whatever reason.Motorcycling is not plug n play.
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Another thought
There is the other option. Buy a popular model running used bike to practice on.
Something that you can abuse and in the worst case scenario..... dump. Too many of us try to 'keep it new' as opposed to realizing that a bike is nothing more than a tool to get us on the road. Try not to let a shiny new paint job interfere with the turning of a wrench. At least buy a used lawn mower engine from the junk yard and take it apart. What's there to lose? Best way to learn is by doing. |
I might be stating the obvious here, but looking through this thread, one contact you need to make has not been suggested ( if it has, I've missed it somewhere and apologise).
Contaxct the manufacturer and tell them what you are going to do with your bike and ask them if they can either give you a half days maintenance course on the bike, or suggest a dealer who can help you. I have not come across a Manuf yet who won't help. it's their product and it's good publicity for them if they do it. Also you may end up with some free spare parts for your trip. |
Really happy and grateful for all of your help & ideas
I'm currently re-thinking about the bike choice as my 12-year-old SL230 suffered a little bit of oil leak. Though it has been fixed easily by smearing gasket maker (not done by me of course), this makes me think about switching to a brand new bike. Maybe Yamaha XT250, fuel injected. |
If you can afford it.. why not do it at once? If I could afford a new bike I would opt for it. Cool bike by the way.. although the older models look way better I think.
Aside from all. A new bike can also fail. It's always good to know a bit of basic knowledge of the bike. Brake pads wear just as fast on a new bike as they do on an old one... Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory. |
Just to add to this.....
I have learn how to clean out a carb and rebuild with new parts and learnt where all the parts are from information and people on this forum. Learn as you go. Started first time and ran sweet! |
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