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Yamaha XMAX (YP300)
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Jeff in Kentucky
ParticipantA bike with carbs takes a while to warm up to run well from a stop, so it is best for a beginner to let the engine idle for several minutes before taking off, and most people do not want to wait that long, with the bike almost or actually stalling as a result, especially for someone learning how to use the throttle and the clutch at the same time. People sometimes forget to push the choke knob in all the way, dirtying the spark plugs and the exhaust. The newest fuel injection for bikes is more like the newest cars, much more smooth than it used to be.
Fuel injection makes the engine more powerful across the full rpm range, with better gas mileage and less pollution than the same engine with one or more carbs, and winter storage without adding a fuel stabilizer is less of a problem. Carbs often vibrate enough to slowly change the pilot mixture screw settings, and more than one carb needs synching between the carbs periodically to keep the engine running smooth and with the most power. I am buying a 2008 motorcycle with 4 carbs, a 2000 design and the last before that model switched to fuel injection, because I can get it for a lower price and I know how to work on carbs.
It is simpler to fix a carb problem or rejet for intake and exhaust changes, instead of being computer savvy enough and having the tools needed to fix and adjust electronic fuel injection. Carb work just takes a couple of screwdrivers, some liquid cleaner and a can of pressurized air to blow out dirt, maybe some thin plastic broom strands to push dirt out of narrow passages, and some oil filled clear plastic tubes for synching (and a dyno machine to tune it faster for racing, or the slower try it and change it and try it method).
How many new cars are now sold with carbs? I think the answer is zero. In maybe 5 years you probably will not be able to buy a street-legal bike from Japan or Europe that still has the old toilet-tank style carbs. Many people were surprised that the 2008 redesign of the 250 Ninja did not include fuel injection in the US- it was included for most of the rest of the world, where the exhaust standards are stricter or places like India where a 250 is a high-end luxury bike- most have between 50 and 150cc there.
ParticipantThe only little street bike available from the biggest companies selling in the US (not including scooters):
A good article worth reposting, especially since many people think a 250cc or 500cc motorcycle is way too small and underpowered for even a beginner on 60 mph roads:
ParticipantTo prevent or cure a sour smell, try using Febreze spray. It does work better for preventing than curing. This spray is much easier and safer for leather and many plastic fabrics than soap and water, and is very good at preventing sweat odors, and at least reducing existing oily sweat smells.
ParticipantI know one mechanic that takes chains off every few months, cleans the sprockets and soaks the chain in half Castrol Superclean concrete cleaner and half water, hangs it up to dry for awhile, then sprays WD-40 on the chain to dry it more (WD-40 might damage O-rings if left on by itself for hours). Then right after he soaks the chain overnight in a pan of Amsoil synthetic gear lube. He uses the BelRay Superclean chain oil spray the rest of the time. He does this for street bikes and for motocross racers. He uses a clip-type master link for bikes with 60 horsepower or less, and uses a new clip every time he puts the clip back on.
ParticipantMost adult beginners would be better off with an automatic scooter for safety and luggage space, but our culture is all about bigger and more stylish are better- very few 250cc motorcycles are being sold in the US. This is starting to change some, especially if gasoline gets to 4 dollars a gallon again, like it did after we attacked Afghanistan and Iraq.
Most of Consumer Reports online is by subscription, but here is a short free article:
ParticipantNice photos. Another small bike, converting a Suzuki S40 from a cruiser to a cafe racer style. The beauty of these is you can get one 5 years old for a very low price and in good condition, and they are easy to get parts for and to maintain. They are good for 60 mph roads:
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/05/19/ryca-cs-1-suzuki-s40-cafe-conversion
ParticipantBelow is the least expensive chain lube that works well. I use it except for long trips, when I bring a small spray can of Maxima Chain Wax in my luggage (I recently bought a small spray can of Amsoil Metal Protector to try on my next long trip).
I get the Dupont Teflon spray at a Lowes home improvement big-box store for a very reasonable price. I like the PB Blaster penetrating oil spray can for cleaning the chain- it is safe for O-rings, with an old sock to wipe down the chain and sprockets after spraying it.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm
One more chain article:
ParticipantMost owners manuals state that you should lube the chain every 500 miles, but I think it is wiser to lube the chain more often. In Europe, many touring riders add an automatic chain oiler that drips oil onto the chain every few minutes.
Here is an article:
Participantbrand new bike, crashes within about 2 seconds after leaving the dealership- too much throttle and too much lean for that tiny turn causing a slow speed high-side- at least he had on the proper (and color matching fashion) gear. Also, the back tire was new and cold, with a lot less grip than normal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9zNUPDmnz4&feature=fvwrel
I started with dirt bikes from 8 to 15 years old, so by the time I was 21 and decided to see if my 1978 650 Yamaha would really do 105 mph on pavement, it was a bit safer:
March 3, 2011 at 11:57 pm in reply to: wear a helmet, no matter how stupid your state laws are #29332ParticipantThe problem with having new riders wear a helmet for the first year or two is that many new riders break the law, and are only caught after they crash and get hurt. The most famous examples are Arnold Shwarzennegger with his less than full face helmets, former Terminator movie star and ex- California governator; and Ben Rothlisburger, Packers quarterback (I know the spelling is wrong for their foreign last names).
Here is one article about Big Ben, it makes you wonder if he would have done better during the last Superbowl, if he did not break his face and rattle his brain in 2006 while a noobie on a 1,300cc Hayabusa with no fricken helmet on in city traffic, not even one of those goofy Nazi helmets with no liner and a spike on top:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2490987
Here is an article about The Ahnold’s crash:
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/arnold_schwarzeneggar_crash/index.html
ParticipantThere is also the 500cc Royal Enfield, or the older 750cc Honda Nighthawk for quite a bit more weight and power, along with several older Universal Japanese Motorcycles (UJMs), or the Triumph copy 1978 XS650 Yamaha I used to own. Here is a Kawasaki 650 parallel twin from not too long ago below, also a Triumph copy. Marlon Brando rode a Triumph in the 1950s Wild One movie, and they won a lot of races and sold a lot of streetbikes in the 50s and 60s. The Honda CB750 four changed everything in 1969 for racing and fast streetbikes:
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/retro_bike_comparison/index.html
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Participanton a supermoto track with two famous racers and one friend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBXIuUdsZBg
and what can go wrong on a Triumph Bonneville and you take a huge risk, if you look close you can see his broken thigh bone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYGGCVE2lKY&feature=related
the most lean and then recover I have ever seen:
ParticipantMcQueen’s best movies to me were The Great Escape, Bullitt, and Papillon- the Papillon book is a lot better than the movie. Here is the motorcycle jump scene from The Great Escape:
February 25, 2011 at 11:23 pm in reply to: New goodies (beware Dial-Up – Long Post with Pics) #29304ParticipantYes, I wear the Shift Racing Enforcer Knee/Shin Guards for $13 plus shipping (I got mine at a motorcycle shop for about $20).
I wear mine year round, under my nylon pants.
One review- “I wear these under jeans when the weather is hot. I was using a set of shin/knee guards from Fly Racing, but they were not vented. These allow air to pass through, making them much more comfortable.”
February 24, 2011 at 11:24 pm in reply to: New goodies (beware Dial-Up – Long Post with Pics) #29292ParticipantI have similar nylon pants, and put these knee and shin armor pads under the pants (The link needs to be copy and pasted into a search engine like Google):
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