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Hell yes. I mean it is super cliche but I hope that when my kids are older that I can restore a vintage car with them so we can do Sunday drives. This kicks it

Hell yes. I mean it is super cliche but I hope that when my kids are older that I can restore a vintage car with them so we can do Sunday drives. This kicks it up several orders of magnitude. As an off topic aside, I find working on vehicles highly therapeutic. I finally got into motorcycles several years ago and learned that motorcycle mechanics, compared to car mechanics, are few and far between are usually very busy. If you buy a used bike and don’t want to take it to the dealer for service, you better learn to wrench. Let me tell you, it has been a hugely empowering experience. Unlike modern cars, even modern bikes are relatively easy to work on. I got ones with carburetors, so the most sophisticated computer on them is the LCD clock/trip meter. My second bike came to me not running for $1300 plus a bit for delivery. I still can’t believe that with some hand tools, time, and a shop manual I not only got it working, but improved its performance. I didn’t grow up around any kind of vehicles so learning to do this is a personal achievement for me. Yesterday evening I went for a long random ride and it was really something when the machine you had on the floor of your garage in pieces not that long ago now runs just right as you literally drive into the sunset. Motorcycles really helped me deal with the weight of the past year and just the weight of life in general. They aren’t cheaper than therapy but they definitely are more fun.

michaelgrafl 6y ago
I spent about 2000 Euros on therapy last year. And I'm only going every other week. I might get a motorcycle this year instead to save some money.
- cheeko1234 6y ago
  I got a used 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan from craigslist in March of last year, instead of therapy. One of the best decisions I've made.
- IgorPartola 6y ago
  Both is good. When your bike breaks down and can't be fixed for a month because a mechanic that can rebuild the engine isn't available or the repair is too costly, that can be a real hit to your mental state (trust me, I know). That stuff doesn't usually happen to a therapist. But also a therapist won't make you happy, just less unhappy. A bike will put a smile on your face.
  - elliottkember 6y ago
    And you can have more than one motorcycle!
    - IgorPartola 6y ago
      Best way to do it, honestly. “The weather is nice, I have a day off, but my only bike is broken” really sucks for your mental state.
polishdude20 6y ago
I bet a huge part of the ease of motorcycle maintenance is the fact that you don't need to lean over the side of a car for hours while you're wrenching on stuff! My calves get real sore on those days haha.
- IgorPartola 6y ago
  Yes, on a bike everything is much more accessible and it takes one or maybe two people to disassemble it down to bare bits of metal rather than complex mechanical parts. Try pulling an engine even out of a Camry with just hand tools and your own hands...
burger_moon 6y ago
I used to be a mechanic and owned a shop and was knee deep in car culture, but motorcycles really stole the spotlight as I've aged. They're less fun to work on imo but so much more rewarding to own and drive. I get so much pleasure out of my bikes that other automotive types can't provide. The dollar to smile ratio is also way better.
- IgorPartola 6y ago
  Ha! Dollar/smile ratio is a good metric! What do you ride nowadays?
yumraj 6y ago
Two questions, if you don’t mind: 1) what kind (make, model, year, style) of motorcycle is good to start, that is also easy to repair. 2) how did you learn how to repair them? YouTube, manuals, some class...?
- IgorPartola 6y ago
  1. First, what kind of bike are you eying? And do you want (a) old and needs maintenance so you can feel empowered that you fixed it or (b) new and reliable where only basic maintenance is required? a. For this case, if you are an absolute beginner nothing will beat a Honda Rebel 250. This was my first bike and it's literally two bolts and a nut. There is nothing to it, that's how simple it is mechanically. Its main downside is that its underpowered. But it'a also super light which means it is very easy to maneuver as a beginner. I was an absolute beginner when I started out so for me this was a good choice. If you want something a bit more sporty-looking, get a Kawasaki Ninja 250/300/400 or a Honda CBR300 or a Yamaha R3. Again, simple bikes, not much to them easy wrenching. These will be faster (a Ninja 400 can get you into trouble fast). If you want a standard bike (feet under butt vs in front for cruiser or behind for sport bikes), a TU-250 from Suzuki is a low maintenance choice. If you want a cruiser with a bit more oomf, get a Honda Shadow 750. It'll be heavier but still very manageable unless you are relatively small in stature. They are cheap, plentiful, and being a Honda, very easy to work on. b. If you want more reliable (this is a good way to go because as a new rider the advice is that you should spend more time riding than wrenching), I would get a Kawasaki Vulcan S with ABS for a cruiser, or a Suzuki SV650 for a standard/sport bike. Avoid any bike that has an inline 4 with a total displacement of 600cc. Those bike are proper sport bikes that are not beginner friendly. For example a CBR600 from Honda is going to be stupidly fast compared to a Honda Shadow 750. You can also look at the Honda Rebel 500 ABS. ABS is the key here: bikes without it are more common but the technology really should be on most bikes these days. It makes a big difference when you need to stop fast. If you reply or message me privately with your specific thoughts I might be able to recommend a more specific set of bikes. 2. MC Garage on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9SeHb6U1OQ&list=PLoIkhe-bQcoDvIb1vDJmU2yta55pczpsW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9SeHb6U1OQ&list=PLoIkhe-bQc...) is an excellent start. You can watch the whole series in a couple of hours and have the lay of the land so you'll at least know the terms you need to know and have a general idea of the kinds of things you might need to do. From there, it's really needs-driven. Get a bike, it has a clogged carb. So you need to clean the carb. Get the shop manual for the bike (you can often find the PDF online for free), watch a video or three on how to deal with that particular bike's carb, take it off, get it cleaned. Now you want to fix the leaky front fork leg, so you look up how to service motorcycle forks, and so on. I also highly recommend https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/ https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/ as a resource for both bike info and bike maintenance info. Their wiki is excellent and you can always ask a question. If you want to learn how to ride, take the MSF course: https://msf-usa.org/ https://msf-usa.org/. Then read Proficient Motorcycling (https://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1889540536 https://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guid...). Make sure to get all the gear, head to toe, and always wear it. Motorcycle accidents can get gnarly, and the gear makes a big difference. Hope that helps! P.S.: One of the most entertaining and informative motorcycle info channels on YouTube is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSMdQtn1SuFzCZjfK2C7dQ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSMdQtn1SuFzCZjfK2C7dQ. I don't think you need to even own a bike to enjoy it.
m463 6y ago
I think you've got something there. Although I've never owned a Harley, I suspect being able to upgrade and maintain one yourself is part of the equation for their success. Although the japanese tech tree is pretty amazing it can be a little daunting to deal with a street bike with 4 carbs and 20 valves and whatever else is under the full fairing. Dirt bikes are fun. t-handle wrench ftw. But even with full fairings you can usually get to all the parts of a bike with relative ease - it's all there right in front of you, no climbing underneath something. Parts aren't as heavy or hard to get to (as a car). And it (usually) isn't your main transportation, so you can take it apart and drive to work in your car. (uh.. when we used to drive to work)
- IgorPartola 6y ago
  Heh. I don’t own a Harley, I currently ride a Suzuki cruiser. Most people I know who own Harleys bring them to a dealer. Harleys have become luxury items and so I don’t know anyone who really wrenches on them. In the meantime Japanese bikes are easy and cheap to work on and only require basic hand tools. And multiple carbs aren’t really something that would turn me off from a bike, though if course having just one does make things simpler.
bmsleight_ 6y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_... Pirsig explains that, despite its title, "it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It's not very factual on motorcycles, either." a fictionalized autobiography of a 17-day journey that Pirsig made on a motorcycle from Minnesota to Northern California along with his son Chris
- IgorPartola 6y ago
  One of my favorite books!

michaelgrafl 6y ago

I spent about 2000 Euros on therapy last year. And I'm only going every other week. I might get a motorcycle this year instead to save some money.

cheeko1234 6y ago
I got a used 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan from craigslist in March of last year, instead of therapy. One of the best decisions I've made.
IgorPartola 6y ago
Both is good. When your bike breaks down and can't be fixed for a month because a mechanic that can rebuild the engine isn't available or the repair is too costly, that can be a real hit to your mental state (trust me, I know). That stuff doesn't usually happen to a therapist. But also a therapist won't make you happy, just less unhappy. A bike will put a smile on your face.
- elliottkember 6y ago
  And you can have more than one motorcycle!
  - IgorPartola 6y ago
    Best way to do it, honestly. “The weather is nice, I have a day off, but my only bike is broken” really sucks for your mental state.

polishdude20 6y ago

I bet a huge part of the ease of motorcycle maintenance is the fact that you don't need to lean over the side of a car for hours while you're wrenching on stuff! My calves get real sore on those days haha.

IgorPartola 6y ago
Yes, on a bike everything is much more accessible and it takes one or maybe two people to disassemble it down to bare bits of metal rather than complex mechanical parts. Try pulling an engine even out of a Camry with just hand tools and your own hands...

burger_moon 6y ago

I used to be a mechanic and owned a shop and was knee deep in car culture, but motorcycles really stole the spotlight as I've aged. They're less fun to work on imo but so much more rewarding to own and drive. I get so much pleasure out of my bikes that other automotive types can't provide. The dollar to smile ratio is also way better.

IgorPartola 6y ago
Ha! Dollar/smile ratio is a good metric! What do you ride nowadays?

yumraj 6y ago

Two questions, if you don’t mind: 1) what kind (make, model, year, style) of motorcycle is good to start, that is also easy to repair. 2) how did you learn how to repair them? YouTube, manuals, some class...?

IgorPartola 6y ago
1. First, what kind of bike are you eying? And do you want (a) old and needs maintenance so you can feel empowered that you fixed it or (b) new and reliable where only basic maintenance is required? a. For this case, if you are an absolute beginner nothing will beat a Honda Rebel 250. This was my first bike and it's literally two bolts and a nut. There is nothing to it, that's how simple it is mechanically. Its main downside is that its underpowered. But it'a also super light which means it is very easy to maneuver as a beginner. I was an absolute beginner when I started out so for me this was a good choice. If you want something a bit more sporty-looking, get a Kawasaki Ninja 250/300/400 or a Honda CBR300 or a Yamaha R3. Again, simple bikes, not much to them easy wrenching. These will be faster (a Ninja 400 can get you into trouble fast). If you want a standard bike (feet under butt vs in front for cruiser or behind for sport bikes), a TU-250 from Suzuki is a low maintenance choice. If you want a cruiser with a bit more oomf, get a Honda Shadow 750. It'll be heavier but still very manageable unless you are relatively small in stature. They are cheap, plentiful, and being a Honda, very easy to work on. b. If you want more reliable (this is a good way to go because as a new rider the advice is that you should spend more time riding than wrenching), I would get a Kawasaki Vulcan S with ABS for a cruiser, or a Suzuki SV650 for a standard/sport bike. Avoid any bike that has an inline 4 with a total displacement of 600cc. Those bike are proper sport bikes that are not beginner friendly. For example a CBR600 from Honda is going to be stupidly fast compared to a Honda Shadow 750. You can also look at the Honda Rebel 500 ABS. ABS is the key here: bikes without it are more common but the technology really should be on most bikes these days. It makes a big difference when you need to stop fast. If you reply or message me privately with your specific thoughts I might be able to recommend a more specific set of bikes. 2. MC Garage on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9SeHb6U1OQ&list=PLoIkhe-bQcoDvIb1vDJmU2yta55pczpsW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9SeHb6U1OQ&list=PLoIkhe-bQc...) is an excellent start. You can watch the whole series in a couple of hours and have the lay of the land so you'll at least know the terms you need to know and have a general idea of the kinds of things you might need to do. From there, it's really needs-driven. Get a bike, it has a clogged carb. So you need to clean the carb. Get the shop manual for the bike (you can often find the PDF online for free), watch a video or three on how to deal with that particular bike's carb, take it off, get it cleaned. Now you want to fix the leaky front fork leg, so you look up how to service motorcycle forks, and so on. I also highly recommend https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/ https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/ as a resource for both bike info and bike maintenance info. Their wiki is excellent and you can always ask a question. If you want to learn how to ride, take the MSF course: https://msf-usa.org/ https://msf-usa.org/. Then read Proficient Motorcycling (https://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1889540536 https://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guid...). Make sure to get all the gear, head to toe, and always wear it. Motorcycle accidents can get gnarly, and the gear makes a big difference. Hope that helps! P.S.: One of the most entertaining and informative motorcycle info channels on YouTube is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSMdQtn1SuFzCZjfK2C7dQ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSMdQtn1SuFzCZjfK2C7dQ. I don't think you need to even own a bike to enjoy it.

m463 6y ago

I think you've got something there. Although I've never owned a Harley, I suspect being able to upgrade and maintain one yourself is part of the equation for their success. Although the japanese tech tree is pretty amazing it can be a little daunting to deal with a street bike with 4 carbs and 20 valves and whatever else is under the full fairing. Dirt bikes are fun. t-handle wrench ftw. But even with full fairings you can usually get to all the parts of a bike with relative ease - it's all there right in front of you, no climbing underneath something. Parts aren't as heavy or hard to get to (as a car). And it (usually) isn't your main transportation, so you can take it apart and drive to work in your car. (uh.. when we used to drive to work)

IgorPartola 6y ago
Heh. I don’t own a Harley, I currently ride a Suzuki cruiser. Most people I know who own Harleys bring them to a dealer. Harleys have become luxury items and so I don’t know anyone who really wrenches on them. In the meantime Japanese bikes are easy and cheap to work on and only require basic hand tools. And multiple carbs aren’t really something that would turn me off from a bike, though if course having just one does make things simpler.

bmsleight_ 6y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_... Pirsig explains that, despite its title, "it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It's not very factual on motorcycles, either." a fictionalized autobiography of a 17-day journey that Pirsig made on a motorcycle from Minnesota to Northern California along with his son Chris

IgorPartola 6y ago
One of my favorite books!