Looking after your bikes

[merv]

The comments from Cougar about the XR200 prompted me to offer this thread.

Those that know me know I buy bikes new, ride them reasonably hard, but fuss over them and make sure they look like new as much as I can.

The XR200 was a case in point. I bought one in 1983, raced it for 2 years in enduros and then trail rode it and did adventure rides on it until 1998 and did no more than replace a set of clutch plates once, replace the back tyre once, replace the rear wheel bearings twice and the brake shoes once and eventually had to buy a new air cleaner element. In 15 years that wasn't much. You could drop that bike too and it didn't break and that helped. I never so much as bent a lever on it.

That bike was bullet proof, but one of the reasons is I'm a fussy prick. Get it filthy, then clean it and service it with care and it responded with love and devotion. I'm basically saying take that approach and you will feel rewarded. For me it suits my pocket too because I don't spend too much.

See the pics of what it looked like on rides. First pic is after an enduro in Lismore forest 1984, second is at an Onga Onga trail ride 1996 and then what it looked like the day I sold it in 1998 in the last pic - that bike looked like new and I had not refurbished it - just cleaned it meticulously.

I treat all my bikes the same and look after Mrs merv's bikes likewise.

[98tls]

looks great....i am a bit the same and can honestly say i enjoy working on and cleaning my bikes...kind of satisfying i reckon.speaking of cleaning a guy put me onto a great product a while ago....CRC 808 silicone spray works a treat,when everything is clean just spray it on and it really brings things up nice..crap doesnt stick to it either so next time you clean your bike its easier.

[Motu]

We work on opposite ends of the scale Merv.I never buy a bike new,and often not even running - and I prefer that because it means they have given up,I'll get it running in half a day.It means I can pick up a reasonable bike cheap and get some good use out of it.I don't care how they look (I don't care how I look,why should a bike be different?),but I make sure the mechanicals are as good as I can get them.I like to adapt and modify too - all on the cheap,I'm pretty sure if I get it for free I can make it fit on one of my bikes.

I got into motorcycles because they were cheap fun.....I've never been flush with money,maybe I never will be,but that doesn't stop me from getting a shit load of fun out of bikes.I bought the Rickman Metisse in my avatar for $400 in 1974,the bike was 10 yrs old at the time....there is always a bargin waiting for me.

[merv]

Yeah I can see TLS that you are fussing over that TL. Do it and you are rewarded. Treat a bike like a rat, it will probably run like a rat, that's what I am saying here so look after your bikes dudes.

Motu I guess what you are saying is you apply the "fuss" to older bikes that haven't had the care. Either way we are saying similar things, you don't get anything for nothing. I despair at people that let their bikes fail through lack of care and you aren't in that category because you make sure that mechanically they are top notch.

[adam666]

Hey Merv,

nice work. Im pretty new to bikes but have the same philosophy with all my vehicles. not that it always happens that way.

my experience has shown that if you love your machine it will love you back

rebuilding this KLR's top-end has been the most in-depth mechanical work ive ever undertaken but theres alot of satisafaction in being able to tick each job off the list and will be even more satisfying knowing I brought it back to life myself (after years of abuse from army technicians )

a friend of mine has had much sucess with the same ideals and is a real inspiration to me

take care out there, look forward to meeting ya'll soon

cheers
Adam

[merv]

OK Adam get that bike on the road and we'll see you out there.