I've been viewing this site for a few years, but didn't have an account until recently. This is my first bike, and i've learned a lot about tracing down problems. SpeedFreak inspired me to put all my progress here into a build thread (don't know the guy, never talked to me, but I respect a build that progresses across multiple years. As you will shortly see, my technical skills are minimal compared to most of the other guys on here, but here is what I've got.)
in 2009 I bought a bike that looked quite a lot like this one pictured (not my photo). It didn't have turn signals, the charging system had some problems, and the starter had been disconnected, but it ran really well. The guy was an old Honda Tech out of Atlanta. I'd never ridden on the road before, but Alabama isn't super picky so they gave me a MC license anyway. I bought some gloves and a hard hat and went to check the thing out. The guy gave me a quick riding lesson, and let me ride the thing around his neighborhood for a few minutes before helping me load it onto the hitch rack on the back of my suburban. Super sweet guy - even offered to help me work on it if I brought it back up to ATL.
about 30 miles from home my suburban dies on the side of the road and I my cell is dead . . . (or maybe I was going to be late for a date - I'm terrible about trying to cram too many things into a day) so I ride the thing home. 75mph was terrifying and trucks were blowing me all over the place, but I got home . . . and went to get my truck (out of gas - broken gauge it ends up).
Drove the thing around for 6 months before it goes out of tune/ clogs the carbs/ whatever. I didn't do a damn thing to keep it running and ignored the honda techs suggestion to seal the tank or get fuel filters (what a dumb kid I am)
Park it in a barn for 2 years and start seeking out help to fix it. I deliver sandwiches for JJs at this point so I'm pretty cash poor. I'd worked a lot on my old Audi, and was a very competent bicycle mechanic, so I figure I can do motorcycles . . . not the case. I'm bad at everything. Long story short, I figure a bunch of things out, and get the bike back on the road. Charging is still bunk and the battery dies constantly but it runs. Pulling from my bicycle experience, I flip some sport bars and get laughed at by all the kids at recess, but I like the way the bike looks with drop bars, and the riding position suits my tastes.
I'd hated the factory tail box thing - so derpy, so I'd replaced it with something that was laying around at my LMS. - here she is running (finally) but not charging.
in 2009 I bought a bike that looked quite a lot like this one pictured (not my photo). It didn't have turn signals, the charging system had some problems, and the starter had been disconnected, but it ran really well. The guy was an old Honda Tech out of Atlanta. I'd never ridden on the road before, but Alabama isn't super picky so they gave me a MC license anyway. I bought some gloves and a hard hat and went to check the thing out. The guy gave me a quick riding lesson, and let me ride the thing around his neighborhood for a few minutes before helping me load it onto the hitch rack on the back of my suburban. Super sweet guy - even offered to help me work on it if I brought it back up to ATL.
about 30 miles from home my suburban dies on the side of the road and I my cell is dead . . . (or maybe I was going to be late for a date - I'm terrible about trying to cram too many things into a day) so I ride the thing home. 75mph was terrifying and trucks were blowing me all over the place, but I got home . . . and went to get my truck (out of gas - broken gauge it ends up).
Drove the thing around for 6 months before it goes out of tune/ clogs the carbs/ whatever. I didn't do a damn thing to keep it running and ignored the honda techs suggestion to seal the tank or get fuel filters (what a dumb kid I am)
Park it in a barn for 2 years and start seeking out help to fix it. I deliver sandwiches for JJs at this point so I'm pretty cash poor. I'd worked a lot on my old Audi, and was a very competent bicycle mechanic, so I figure I can do motorcycles . . . not the case. I'm bad at everything. Long story short, I figure a bunch of things out, and get the bike back on the road. Charging is still bunk and the battery dies constantly but it runs. Pulling from my bicycle experience, I flip some sport bars and get laughed at by all the kids at recess, but I like the way the bike looks with drop bars, and the riding position suits my tastes.
I'd hated the factory tail box thing - so derpy, so I'd replaced it with something that was laying around at my LMS. - here she is running (finally) but not charging.