Who rides motorcycles?

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Very nice.

Sadly I broke my wrist, yes, riding like a hooligan on a dual purpose trying to super motard on knobby tires, and I can't ride sportbikes very far at all anymore. Can't put weight on right hand for long.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I think you explained why those bikes have become popular. If you live in the city, suburbs, congested areas… those bikes are not just more practical, but more fun in those conditions. The same reason one would not dual sport a CBR or GSXR.

I’ve had as much fun on an R3 wide open on twisty roads as I have a liter bike. It’s just different. I suppose this is why we don’t all drive a Ferrari as our daily driver.

I’d personally love a supermoto as an urban bike. I’m sure plenty would disagree… but I’m not here to judge their choice of entertainment.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

Roads around here, you better have 10 inches of suspension travel . I don’t know what they spend the road tax money on, but it sure isn’t the roads.

I like the look of sport bikes, but prefer the riding position of naked bikes, especially wrist angle of the bars.

The only downside is the sail effect at higher speeds with the lack of wind protection.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Roads around here, you better have 10 inches of suspension travel . I don’t know what they spend the road tax money on, but it sure isn’t the roads.

I like the look of sport bikes, but prefer the riding position of naked bikes, especially wrist angle of the bars.

The only downside is the sail effect at higher speeds with the lack of wind protection.

I’ve always been partial to naked bikes too. I’ve owned my 2014 FZ09 longer than any other bike in my life. I have 5 bikes, and overall it is just the most enjoyable. Ever since my Speed Triple, I’ve had a real affinity for three cylinder bikes. I’d just never own another Triumph.

 

[scootr]

Speaking of Triumphs I just took the 1200 Speedmaster out for a spin. 50 miles of twisty canyon roads. Well you just never know what you will see out there

 

[JasperFrank]

Yes, my local Yam dealer would not work on my '80 bike after they sold me the parts needed. Wrote a local yelp review. They soon went out of business.

So my friend has a Ducati Hypermotard 1100. It needs new fork seals.
He called the dealer in Houston. They said they don't work on bikes over 10 years old.
The bike is a cream puff with only maybe 8000 miles.

Have any of you heard of dealers refusing to work on older bikes?

IIRC, the service advisor might have told him something like, "if you take off and just bring the forks, we can work on it" but friend said they later recanted that.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

I have heard people complaining Harley dealers won’t work on older bikes as well. Sort of ironic.

 

[BleedingOrange]

I don,t get it. What is the difference working on an older bike versus a new bike, or are they trying to get customers to trade in the older stuff so they can sell more bikes ? Why would they have this policy ?

 

[mikester]

Its the insurance companies, lawyers, and bean counters driving this. Soon you will need to wear your helmet inside you car and in the bathroom if they have their way.

 

[scootr]

I don,t get it. What is the difference working on an older bike versus a new bike, or are they trying to get customers to trade in the older stuff so they can sell more bikes ? Why would they have this policy ?

I can think of a few problems that may arise. Like younger mechanics not schooled in old technology and diminishing parts supply. Not saying it's right, just saying mechanics today are taught to plug and play not fix.

 

[The Gaul]

Very nice.

Sadly I broke my wrist, yes, riding like a hooligan on a dual purpose trying to super motard on knobby tires, and I can't ride sportbikes very far at all anymore. Can't put weight on right hand for long.

Have you tried (heli-) bar risers ?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I have not. When I had my 92 FZ 1000, I bought the first Yamaha R1 in Texas (because I had some insider knowledge). That was the only time I had 2 sport bikes at once. But alas, my wrist just couldn't handle long durations. I even have some trouble with it on my FJR 1300.

Maybe I'll succumb and get a bike with ape hangers. LOL.

If I were in your shoes, I would have trouble deciding which to ride when I went out to the garage.

 

[scootr]

When you have trouble deciding which to ride or ride the FUN one...it's time to sell something.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I don't sell simply because these bikes, used, are what they cost me new, years ago. New bike prices have exploded.

 

[scootr]

I don't sell simply because these bikes, used, are what they cost me new, years ago. New bike prices have exploded.

A bike or a car is only worth how much you enjoy it. If I stop using them I sell them. I have a friend who keeps everything he buys forever...sorta limits what he gets to own but he's happy, and I'm happy buying and selling. I owned some nice cars that way even if it was for just 2 or 5 yrs. And yes, new bike and car prices have soared. Have you priced a new diesel pick up in the last 5 yrs?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Oh I still enjoy them. They all offer a different experience. One is a 1125cc V twin sport bike. One is a 849cc triple naked bike. One is a 321cc parallel twin sport bike. Two are motocross bikes.

I just like variety. They don't see a lot of use, because it's divided up... But they see use

 

[JasperFrank]

I was give the liability excuse. What frosted me was that the parts counter guys knew I wanted the new tires mounted and the bearings replaced. Which I could have just bought on line for far less. And it wasn't till I had made an extra trip, bringing in the perfectly cleaned and waxed rims that, the mechanic then called me to say his manager would not let him mount the tires or change out the bearings on anything older than 10 years! And this was the only Yamaha dealership in town. It was a hard lesson. But I did figure out how to do the work my self and get the wheel weights right and torqued the bolts to the correct values using a service manual.
The strangest part is that the 2021 SR 400, which they had one on the show room floor, was basically the same as my SR 500. And I had to needle the mechanic as to if he would work on a 2010 SR. He said, no, they will not let him work on any thing older than 10 years. Even though the 2010 SRs and, the one they were selling in 2021, were the same exact spec bike.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Independent shops would do the work I assume

 

[not2old]

A bike or a car is only worth how much you enjoy it. If I stop using them I sell them. I have a friend who keeps everything he buys forever...sorta limits what he gets to own but he's happy, and I'm happy buying and selling. I owned some nice cars that way even if it was for just 2 or 5 yrs. And yes, new bike and car prices have soared. Have you priced a new diesel pick up in the last 5 yrs?

I bought a new F350 Lariat diesel last year and paid more than what I paid for each of my first two houses.

 

[Grumpycat]

I don,t get it. What is the difference working on an older bike versus a new bike, or are they trying to get customers to trade in the older stuff so they can sell more bikes ? Why would they have this policy ?

The older it is the more likely to be modified, meaning you have to reverse engineer what has been done to understand whether that is part of the problem or not. This is a huge problem encountered servicing dirtbike suspensions.

And then there is the difficulty in getting parts.

If you have enough business working in the easy new stuff you can afford losing the business of those with old, as long as you don’t worry about offending a potential sale of a new motorcycle.