Thursday, January 25, 2018
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Monday, January 15, 2018
Motorcycle purchase and maintenance.
Any half wit with a Toys R Us toolkit and a subscription to Custom Magazine can destroy a motorcycle.
When purchasing bike.
Check for clean bike, if it has been waxed recently, but not necessarily yesterday. This is a plus.Any dirt, unless the bike has just come off a dirt track, is a minus.
Check for rounded fasteners, check for rust, also check for rusted fasteners. Not finding those is a plus.
Check for oil leaks, especially on just washed bike. Not finding oil leak is a plus.
Check for incorrect fasteners, if 7 out of 10 screws are stainless Hex head, but 3 are rusted Phillips, it is a minus.
Check brakes, If owner has super duper race brake pads, ask if the bike has been raced. If he says no, ask why he has super duper race brake pads. If he answers "to get better brakes" assume the bike has been raced, but on the road. This is a minus.
Check tires for uneven wear and mismatching tire pressure. Ask the owner what tire pressure he recommends, if different from manufacturers recommendations ask why. Any reply to that question is wrong. If the tires are new ask to see the old ones, also ask why they are new. If they were bought to make the bike easier to sell they are the cheapest and worst tires the owner could buy. If on the other hand the tires are good type it is a plus.
Check the chicken strips. You want about 1 cm (1/2 inch) chicken strips, that indicates confident and experienced, but careful owner. No chicken strips indicate someone who rides on the edge (literally), and has probably dropped the bike more than once. More than 3 cm indicates new rider who has no idea of the maintenance needed and has probably dropped the bike more than once. Brand new tires should not have formed chicken strips.
Check if the wheels line up. If they don't, it is a minus.
Check the brake levers, if they are aftermarket ask why. Any reply to that question that includes price is a minus. How can you trust someone who buys cheap aftermarket stuff to stop the bike?
Check the exhaust. Loud pipes are indication of low intelligence, but high self esteem owner. They create and hide possible engine and maintenance problems, they make it harder to hear oncoming traffic, and also mean that you get more tired when riding the bike. Original exhaust is plus. If the owner says "dyno" walk away.
Check the paint. If it has been resprayed ask why. Then very carefully check the paintjob for faults.
Check the suspension, any loose or too tight "movement" is a fail.
When purchasing bike.
Check for clean bike, if it has been waxed recently, but not necessarily yesterday. This is a plus.Any dirt, unless the bike has just come off a dirt track, is a minus.
Check for rounded fasteners, check for rust, also check for rusted fasteners. Not finding those is a plus.
Check for oil leaks, especially on just washed bike. Not finding oil leak is a plus.
Check for incorrect fasteners, if 7 out of 10 screws are stainless Hex head, but 3 are rusted Phillips, it is a minus.
Check brakes, If owner has super duper race brake pads, ask if the bike has been raced. If he says no, ask why he has super duper race brake pads. If he answers "to get better brakes" assume the bike has been raced, but on the road. This is a minus.
Check tires for uneven wear and mismatching tire pressure. Ask the owner what tire pressure he recommends, if different from manufacturers recommendations ask why. Any reply to that question is wrong. If the tires are new ask to see the old ones, also ask why they are new. If they were bought to make the bike easier to sell they are the cheapest and worst tires the owner could buy. If on the other hand the tires are good type it is a plus.
Check the chicken strips. You want about 1 cm (1/2 inch) chicken strips, that indicates confident and experienced, but careful owner. No chicken strips indicate someone who rides on the edge (literally), and has probably dropped the bike more than once. More than 3 cm indicates new rider who has no idea of the maintenance needed and has probably dropped the bike more than once. Brand new tires should not have formed chicken strips.
Check if the wheels line up. If they don't, it is a minus.
Check the brake levers, if they are aftermarket ask why. Any reply to that question that includes price is a minus. How can you trust someone who buys cheap aftermarket stuff to stop the bike?
Check the exhaust. Loud pipes are indication of low intelligence, but high self esteem owner. They create and hide possible engine and maintenance problems, they make it harder to hear oncoming traffic, and also mean that you get more tired when riding the bike. Original exhaust is plus. If the owner says "dyno" walk away.
Check the paint. If it has been resprayed ask why. Then very carefully check the paintjob for faults.
Check the suspension, any loose or too tight "movement" is a fail.
Quality.
Thanks to large corporations the word Quality has changed from Craftsmanship and Pride to the Lowest Standard a customer will accept.
It used to be, "buy cheap, buy twice".
It used to be, buy expensive quality to guarantee long lasting product. Now it is, buy expensive, return to manufacturer for fix, argue with manufacturer over warranty, stop using product, let it rot in your garage while you keep using the cheap product you bought for few days emergency use.
Now it is "buy cheap, buy the insurance, get it replaced if fails".
It used to be, "buy cheap, buy twice".
It used to be, buy expensive quality to guarantee long lasting product. Now it is, buy expensive, return to manufacturer for fix, argue with manufacturer over warranty, stop using product, let it rot in your garage while you keep using the cheap product you bought for few days emergency use.
Now it is "buy cheap, buy the insurance, get it replaced if fails".
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