<div dir="ltr">I ride. Understand, I'm not trying to cut you down, but you will be extremely lucky to find a bike good enough for the interstate on a $500 budget. For right now, I would recommend putting that in a savings account or tucking it under a pillow until you can get at least $1500. You're probably going to want to go after a Honda or Triumph cruiser, as they tend to be a little more reliable(and affordable). Get something 500cc or over, you need the torque for when you get into a sticky situation as well as for interstate riding. You'll want saddlebags and a small toolkit to take with you, usually a few metric wrenches(since you're looking for a Honda). If you can, try to get one with loud pipes; people generally don't watch for motorcycles, but they can sure as hell hear one.<div>
<br></div><div>When you find a potential buy, you'll want to look at a few things. Especially with older motorcycles, there can possibly be rust on the inside of the tank so bring along a small penlight(also try to keep your gas tank full to prevent that from happening.). Check the oil and coolant. Look at the tires, if they have 1cm < of tread they should be fine for a little while. Check the chain for rust(If it's a chain-drive, I don't know how you can check a shaft-drive.). A little surface-rust shouldn't indicate any problems and should wear off after a few hundred yards of riding. Also be sure to check the rear sprocket while you're down there; if the chain and sprockets haven't been replaced in a while(usually $120 for a kit on ebay), the teeth on the sprocket can start to wear and the ends of the teeth will start to come off. Other than that, standard vehicle stuff - check the lights, breaks, clutch, be sure it goes through all the gears properly, and crank it up to listen.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Get you some gear, too. Fingerless gloves for the summer, insulated gloves(which can be expensive, $60 or more) for the winter. A helmet, obviously. A light leather jacket(NOT a vest) will keep your arms from getting belt-sanded on the asphalt if you wipe out. When winter rolls around, get some chaps and perhaps a heavier leather jacket. Some people swear by lined chaps and jackets, but I find it much easier and affordable to throw on some thermals and a hoodie under the regular gear. You'll want something to cover your ears too. I rode all through last winter for the first time, and you would not believe how cold your ears will get at even 35MPH. Get a few good pairs of sunglasses and clear visors.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Check and oil your chain every week and after a rain if you keep it outside. It should have about 3/4" of play if you try to lift it up from the bottom towards the top. If it has any more, tighten it up. Check your lights at least every month. I check mine every week. Other than that, regular vehicle stuff, check your fluids and be sure that nothing is falling off. You can use regular motor oil in your engine. I have before, but do not recommend it. Only do it if you need some ASAP. The additives in motorcycle oil help out the clutch and using regular oil can cause it to shift hard. Change your oil and filter every 3000 miles. Get a 12v battery tender, you can get one at Harbor Freight for about $10. When it's time to replace the battery, go the extra mile and get one of the gel batteries. They last alot longer. My stepfather has a Honda VTX 1800 with a gel battery, and hasn't had to replace it in 6 years(though he's about due for it now). If you can't afford it, the regular batteries go for about $40 at Walmart.</div>
<div><br></div><div>I think that about covers all the bases.</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 10:57 PM, Richard Bronosky <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:richard@bronosky.com" target="_blank">richard@bronosky.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><p dir="ltr">Thanks. That's encouraging. Now, find me a bike. ;-)</p><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
<p dir="ltr">--Richard Bronosky<br>
Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Swype keyboard<br>
</p></font></span><div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5">
<div class="gmail_quote">On Aug 1, 2013 9:46 PM, "Raylynn Knight" <<a href="mailto:seca900rider@gmail.com" target="_blank">seca900rider@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="auto"><div>I pay just under $300 a year for full coverage on a BMW and liability on another BMW and 2 Yamahas. This includes roadside assistance for all four bikes. Use what you save in insurance cost for safety gear (helmet, riding boots, jacket, pants and gloves). All my bikes are over 850cc and all get better than 35 mpg. The best gets in the upper 40 mpg. If you're mechanically inclined you can do most maintenance yourself. I wouldn't be riding a BMW if I always had to pay the dealers labor rate!<br>
<br>Ray Knight<div><br></div></div><div><br>On Aug 1, 2013, at 12:48 PM, Adrya Stembridge <<a href="mailto:adrya.stembridge@gmail.com" target="_blank">adrya.stembridge@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite">
<div><div dir="ltr">I am a motorcyclist and these are good points. One other thing to consider is insurance. My KTM is fully covered at around $300/yr. Liability on my small car is around $500/yr. Full coverage on the same car was over $1000/yr. <div>
<br></div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 12:29 PM, Ron Frazier (ALE) <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:atllinuxenthinfo@techstarship.com" target="_blank">atllinuxenthinfo@techstarship.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">I am not a motorcyclist, so what I'm about to say is hearsay. At one point in the past, there was a situation where I needed to change cars and I saw a somewhat reasonably priced motorcycle at a thrift store. I was considering buying it. I talked to a local motorcycle mechanic who also races them. And I talked to a friend who used to own one. I became convinced that I'd have to add about $ 1000 to the cost of the bike to get a really good helmet and really good riders safety gear / clothing. The mechanic said it's not if you lay it down and go sliding, it's when. Flimsy fabric won't protect your body parts. I also figured another few hundred $$ for driver training. My friend said the tires only last about 20K miles, and there's a good bit of routine maintenance. He said you don't save that much over a small car.<br>
<br>
In the end, I decided to go with a conventional car. Someone more familiar with motorcycles can elaborate on these issues. That's what I heard for what it's worth.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
<br>
Ron<br>
<div><div><br>
<br>
<br>
Sean Kilpatrick <<a href="mailto:kilpatms@gmail.com" target="_blank">kilpatms@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
>Richard,<br>
>Can you get into town (fairly) easily without getting on an Interstate?<br>
><br>
>If so, you might be able to find a 4-5 year old Honda/Yamaha/whatever<br>
>250cc<br>
>bike in your price range.<br>
><br>
>If you NEED to get up on the interstates you are going to want at least<br>
>a<br>
>500cc bike. Smaller bikes have neither the speed nor weight to be safe.<br>
><br>
>The bow wave of a large truck can push a small bike over a half lane or<br>
><br>
>more. Really scary.<br>
><br>
>The problem is that any 500 cc (or larger) bike you can find in the<br>
>$500<br>
>range is going to need a LOT of work. You could easily sink another<br>
>$500<br>
>into it.<br>
><br>
>And, of course, if you don't already have an endorsement on your<br>
>driver's<br>
>license for a motorcycle, you'll need to deal with that hassle as well.<br>
><br>
>Please do not even consider a 50 cc putt-putt. Most of them can not<br>
>pull<br>
>a moderate hill at 30 mph. They are dangerous on most roads outside<br>
>the<br>
>Loop as most drivers coming up behind you will think you are a<br>
>motorcycle<br>
>and not realize how slowly you are going.<br>
><br>
>Sean<br>
><br>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
><br>
><br>
>On Thursday, August 01, 2013 10:00:07 am Richard Bronosky wrote:<br>
>> I am newly divorced and am faced with challenge of finding a social<br>
>> life outside of my wife and children. This was going pretty well when<br>
>> I was sleeping on a coworker's couch downtown. Now that I'm in a home<br>
>> far west of Atlanta I face a $10 fuel investment anytime I drive into<br>
>> town. (I usually take the bus to work.) That will result in me<br>
>sitting<br>
>> on the computer every night and being a recluse.<br>
>><br>
>> I sold a TV for $500 and would like to spend that on motorcycle. I'm<br>
>> looking at 30+ year old Hondas on Craig's List. If you know of<br>
>> anything or anyone, please put me in touch.<br>
>><br>
>> .!# RichardBronosky #!.<br>
>> _______________________________________________<br>
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><br>
</div></div>>------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<div>><br>
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</div><div>--<br>
<br>
Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9 Mail.<br>
Please excuse my potential brevity if I'm typing on the touch screen.<br>
<br>
(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to<br>
call on the phone. I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy<br>
mailing lists and such. I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)<br>
<br>
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