Returning Riders

[Ken C]

I've been seeing a ton of older bikes from the eighties rolling around lately. I recognized this as a response to fuel prices. People are dragging out their old bikes and hitting the road. Yikes!
This pretty much sums it up:
roadracingworld.com

[hammadown]

excellent article. My dad was thinking about getting a bike again. He's one of those "use mostly the rear brake" people. I'm going to get him in the msf if he gets back on one, and show him just how much front you can use.

[OreoGaborio]

good stuff.

[Jaynnus]

I have seen a ton of vintage bikes around...a ton more bikes at the local general store...and a ton of people rocking scooters.

There is a family on my street that just purchased 3 scooters. I can't even imagine how this will work out...they have difficulty walking But, trying to do my part...I have already started talking to them and trying to educate them on some basic safety. Luckly, they are open to hearing it all...unluckily, they really are clueless. They just want to save money on gas for around town stuff.

[GixerJockey]

I've been noticing the same thing. I'm getting tons of calls from customers looking to get old GS's running again. My parts department is ordering carb parts, cables and intake boots for 80's motorcycles like it was their only purpose in life. Suddenly there are skinny, bias-ply tires piled up in the hallway waiting to be mounted on rusty spoked or pitted aluminum wheels.

It's a tough situation actually. Most (if not all) dealership service departments will not touch the old stuff. Most set a cutoff at 10-12 years old. At todays hourly service rates, it's very easy to run up a repair bill that far exceeds the value of the entire motorcycle. Plus... Most of these 20+ year old motorcycles are just too much of a liability for us to even think about touching. We simply CAN NOT certify that these machines are completly safe for road use.


The other thing that the article mentioned was the lack of availibility of new, small displacement motorcycles. My dealership is in central Ct. Right now, there is not a 2008 DR-Z400SM available within a 400 mile radius. Maybe further. Last Saturday I spend 9 hours, round trip, going to southen NJ to pick up 2 DR-Z400s. Try to find a Bergman 400 scooter right now... Go ahead, I dare you... I can't even get my hands on 50cc scooters from any reputable manufacturer.


A customer was in the store the other day and was shocked that we didn't have a face shield in stock for his "very popular brand of helmet", as he put it... It was a Bell... It was over 15 years old... When I told him that he should have thrown it out 10 years ago... He looked at me like I had a third eye.

[OreoGaborio]

A customer was in the store the other day and was shocked that we didn't have a face shield in stock for his "very popular brand of helmet", as he put it... It was a Bell... It was over 15 years old... When I told him that he should have thrown it out 10 years ago... He looked at me like I had a third eye.

HA! wow...

[Jaynnus]

My first street helmet was a Bell!!

[Crash Dummy Denno]

I've been noticing the same thing. I'm getting tons of calls from customers looking to get old GS's running again. My parts department is ordering carb parts, cables and intake boots for 80's motorcycles like it was their only purpose in life. Suddenly there are skinny, bias-ply tires piled up in the hallway waiting to be mounted on rusty spoked or pitted aluminum wheels.

It's a tough situation actually. Most (if not all) dealership service departments will not touch the old stuff. Most set a cutoff at 10-12 years old. At todays hourly service rates, it's very easy to run up a repair bill that far exceeds the value of the entire motorcycle. Plus... Most of these 20+ year old motorcycles are just too much of a liability for us to even think about touching. We simply CAN NOT certify that these machines are completly safe for road use.


The other thing that the article mentioned was the lack of availibility of new, small displacement motorcycles. My dealership is in central Ct. Right now, there is not a 2008 DR-Z400SM available within a 400 mile radius. Maybe further. Last Saturday I spend 9 hours, round trip, going to southen NJ to pick up 2 DR-Z400s. Try to find a Bergman 400 scooter right now... Go ahead, I dare you... I can't even get my hands on 50cc scooters from any reputable manufacturer.


A customer was in the store the other day and was shocked that we didn't have a face shield in stock for his "very popular brand of helmet", as he put it... It was a Bell... It was over 15 years old... When I told him that he should have thrown it out 10 years ago... He looked at me like I had a third eye.

quiet day down there noel?

[Doc]

I get that same eye when I tell people that they need to replace it every 5 years.

[spicy]

Bell's coming back. i read in one of the moto mags a couple months ago that Bell is debuting a new top of the line motorcycle helmet pitted to do battle with the Arai/Suomy "pretty expensive" class of helmets

[Evil_Weasel]

i've been thinking of buying a nice 70s or 80s bike just to save gas and enjoy some puttering about. thus i have been keeping an eye on the vintage bikes on CL. about a month and a half ago there were tons of cheap old bikes. now as summer goes along there are fewer and fewer it seems. i hope there is one left for me when i'm ready to buy.

fourtunatly i do all my own maint. so i don't have to worry about making some anti old bike, douche trout like noel nervouse.

[RandyO]

problem with asian bikes over 10 years old is that parts are becoming obsolete

hell, some parts for 1st gen SV650s are already obsolete and have been for a couple years

[TBOX]

I've been working on getting my 78 triumph bonnieville on the road. Not looking forward to kickstarting the 30 yr old 750 motor.

[butcher bergs]

problem with asian bikes over 10 years old is that parts are becoming obsolete

It can occur with any bike, not just the Asian ones. They're required (by law) to make parts for up to 10 years after the date of manufacture...after that, supplying parts for a given model becomes optional.

Sister's '86 CB700 needed a banjo bolt for the oiler on the shaft drive. Looked all over the place for one and ended up having to cross-reference a master cylinder banjo from another bike. It was quite an interesting experience.

[GixerJockey]

i've been thinking of buying a nice 70s or 80s bike just to save gas and enjoy some puttering about. thus i have been keeping an eye on the vintage bikes on CL. about a month and a half ago there were tons of cheap old bikes. now as summer goes along there are fewer and fewer it seems. i hope there is one left for me when i'm ready to buy.

fourtunatly i do all my own maint. so i don't have to worry about making some anti old bike, douche trout like noel nervouse.

I know suck a place to acquire such a motorcycle... Seriously...

Give me a call and limp your broken, midget ass down here and get you a great old girl...

[butcher bergs]

I know suck a place to acquire such a motorcycle...

That's how I got my bikes......suck a place......

[GixerJockey]

That's how I got my bikes......suck a place......

Whoops...

[beet]

What ya got Noel, I got tons of parts...

I know suck a place to acquire such a motorcycle... Seriously...

Give me a call and limp your broken, midget ass down here and get you a great old girl...

[Brit-Triple]

I work in the "tough part of town" in boston, I was telling people that you see the people who cut through some dangerous areas in their cars with the pack mentality. Windows rolled up with a/c on and oblivious to everything around them. Cause, if you don't look nothing bad will happen

now these same people are picking up scooters and bicycles at record numbers, and I suggested that they will do the same thing, put ads on craigslist to make a commuter pack. If the gas gets to $5 or more, will you see the brake-down lane on the highway become the LV lane (little vehicle). I don't know, but not everyone is going to want to commute 30+ miles by only taking back roads.

(I will move this to another posting as I think I totally hijacked this one)
http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...tml#post526323

[Ken C]

From Consumer Reports:
More than one quarter of consumers have considered the ultimate
vehicle downsize-giving up two wheels. Among them, 18 percent have
contemplated a motorcycle and 14 percent were drawn to motor scooters. Men and respondents aged 18-34 were most fond of this alternative.

[Cyclenutz]

problem with asian bikes over 10 years old is that parts are becoming obsolete

hell, some parts for 1st gen SV650s are already obsolete and have been for a couple years

In Japan there is a law that they have to make parts available for ten years after a bikes manufacture date.

[Evil_Weasel]

it's just too bad none of that 18% has any idea what they are getting into. all they see are the dollars signs at the pump. people with no idea how to ride or any care to actually learn. they don't love motorcycles they love saving a buck.

the trick with owning these older things is you have to be determind, creative and a good mechanic to keep them alive and road worthy. some one that has had the same lovingly cared for CB750 since highschool will have no problem keeping it up and running. the guy that buys one on CL for a cheap commuter will never find parts...and probably won't be willing to make the investment on parts. the guy who has a thing for classic bikes sees no logical problem with putting 300 dollar reproduction brakes on a 500 dollar motorcycle. the guy saving gas pennies will just ride around on horribly worn/warpped brakes.

[vfr99999]

Bell Helmets now made in China

[virtualbong]

I have definitely noticed this. I would ride more too, but the afternoon's have been so unsettled that I don't take a chance getting stuck in down pours, so I drive to work even though the mornings are nice.

I also have seen a lot of scooters around my area. I have to say...its very convenient but I don't think I could rock a scooter unless I was riding it for fun around an island or something.

[gregp]

I have noticed this "movement" for sometime now. Personally, I love it! I love seeing old 70's and 80's bikes still ripping around!
So, I just picked one up yesterday. I bought a 1982 KZ750E for $500. Sure, it only makes 70 HP, and the rear tire is a 120-18. I still absolutely love it!
I've got a bit of tinkering ahead of me, but that is part of the fun! Parts are still available, for the most part. E-Bay is playing a big part here.
The bottom line is that the bike is fun to ride, and cheap. No radiators, no fairings, no suspension, no power...um, yea, I'm getting off track here....
Anyway, I can walk past an '08 R-6 or CBR and not even look in its general direction, but if I see a pristine CB-900F I will walk over to it and admire it for a while. I will even take interest in an old CB or CL-350 if it is a looker.
For some of you guys, when you get a bit older you will understand.