[Max]

It is very easy to tie up several thousand dollars just to make an old garage or barn bike safe and get it running….if you can find parts.

[Max]

Check out this article. http://www.max-metal.com/riding-tips/riding-on-a-gravel-road/

[Max]

When it comes time to repair, can you still find parts?

[Max]

My wife and I take long trips. A lot of motels are in questionable areas. I use a xena disc lock with a built in alarm. If someone jiggles the bike or rolls it, it gives off a 130db scream. I also lock the fork, use a second padlock disc lock, and a 12 foot plastic coated cable either through the wheels or cabled to a post. Even fasteneing to a downspout is good. Downspouts make a lot of noise when disturbed. I also use a locking gas cap to keep someone from contaminating fuel.

[Max]

A good article on riding street bikes on gravel. http://www.max-metal.com/riding-tips/riding-on-a-gravel-road/

[Max]

This is a good article on how to handle a street bike on dirt. http://max-metal.com/riding-tips/riding-on-a-gravel-road/

[Max]

Most front fenders have extra support under the fender. This acts as a fork stiffener to prevent the fork legs from “walking” and the bike from feeling as squirley on some road surfaces like gravel, grooved road surfaces or gouges in the pavement.

[Max]

Deverix,

I don’t know if I am an expert or not. Some people think I am just an opinionated old f _ _ t.

I have never used Sea Foam. I am not a fan of carb cleaners and fuel stabilizers. Using carb/fuel system cleaners is not a substitute for a clean fuel system. If grit gets in the system, it will stay in the system even after the use of carb cleaners. It seems that most of the time when cleaners have been used, the problem was not solved and the carbs had to be cleaned by a mechanic anyway. I have had to change carburetor slides on bikes that used fuel stabilizers/preservatives because the rubber diaphram had become hardened, not soft and pliable. Even though the diaphram is not in direct contact with the liquid fuel, it is exposed to the vapors.

Most brand name fuels have sufficient cleaners as they come out of the pump. I use premium unless it is not available. Then I use mid-grade.

Make sure the fuel system has been flushed and cleaned (tank, fuel lines, and carb). Fuel tanks can be drained, removed from the bike, dissassembled and flushed with water using a garden nozzle. I usually catch the water coming out in a white plastic bucket. That way I can see what kind of junk the tank has collected. When stuff is no longer showing up on the bottom of the bucket, the job is done. Shake out as much water as possible and leave the tank in the sun for however long it takes to make sure it is completely dry inside. Use an in-line fuel filter. Buy brand name fuels and avoid gasohol if it is possible in your area. In my area everthing has alcohol. If you fill your bike out of a gas can, make sure the inside of the can is clean.

If the rest of the fuel system is contaminated with sand, rust, etc. and not cleaned, cleaning the carbs is not going to last long.

If you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself, it may cost a few dollars having a shop do it, but done properly, the results are worth it. If you do this yourself, take the necessary precautions for working with gasoline and gasoline fumes.

[Max]

Deverix,
I run a motorcycle shop and over the last couple of years, clogged carbs have become a more common issue. Part of the issue seems to be a reaction of the various gasahol mixes with the materials in the carb leaving either a white powder that swells up when wet with gas, or a green goo about like syrup. For the alcohol problem, the only solution is to make sure that the bike is operated every several weeks. If you use a gas can, make sure it is clean.

Most fuel systems cleaners have a high alcohol content and can potentially make the problems worse.

I have found that in most cases the tank and fuel lines need to be cleaned and flushed also. This will get rid of all the loose rust, dirt, and other junk that can find it’s way to the carbs. If the motorcycle does not come equipped with a fuel filter, the addition of a fuel filter is cheap insurance. If they will fit in the available space and the line size is correct, the two I like are the stock filter used on the Yamaha V Star 1100 or the stock filter used on the Honda Shadow 1100’s. They are paper element filters and do a good job.

Good luck.

[Max]

For more than two years, my wife and I have been developing a totally new concept motorcycle seat gel pad design. In our other non-biker life I am an engineer/motorcycle shop owner and my wife is a product designer. We began working on this project as the result of a 5500 mile trip using standard slab type gel pads but the pain was still almost crippling.

The new pads are called Ride Easy and the website is now operating. http://www.Ride-Easy.com. Over 10,000 seat miles of riding have gone into the development and testing of the Ride Easy motorcycle seat gel pads.

We just got back from a 2600 mile ride with 650 mile 13 hour days. We rode two days to our destination, stayed three days and rode two days back home. What we both experienced at the end of the 650 mile days using the Ride Easy pad is a slight stiffness but no numbness or pain. For perspective, I would be stiff sitting on my living room couch for 13 hours. The sensation was about the same as riding in a car for the same length of time.

The Ride Easy gel pad design is totally new. The way it works is a totally new concept. We have Patent Pending on the design. I too have a tailbone hurting problem. The operator pads are relieved in the tailbone area to minimize tailbone pressure. My wife rode on the narrow passenger seat using a Ride Easy gel pad for the entire trip also. It works for the operator and it works for the passenger. It is the only gel pad or motorcycle seat I have ever ridden on for 650 miles in a day and gotten just a little stiff.

I believe the Ride Easy motorcycle seat gel pad is the answer to biker butt.

The pad is so new there is very little feedback. Ride Easy Products has a Facebook page for users to record their experiences. Sales are picking up. Feedback should be coming soon.

I looked all over the forum for vendor rules and found non. I have no intention of abusing guidelines. Please advise if this type of post is not allowable. Thanks.

[Author]

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