Motorcycles are turning into cars

[ErikY.]

Not to worry: simple's coming back, even simpler than the "old days"
IE: about 1 moving part, non-existent maintenance, massive shitloads of torque.
Build me one that does 130 kph and will get 200 km between coffee breaks and I'm in.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/20/648...csvid=58268521

Cheers,
Erik; enjoying the 3 months of Summer 2010.

[CA Stu]

Originally Posted by pilot

I was with you until you got to the "better fuel mileage" part. Yeah, overall mileage is a little better, but no way is it better in high mileage cars. I had a Honda Civic in 1975 that got 42-45 miles per gallon. Thirty five years later, that's still really high and few cars get that. Cars have gotten a hell of a lot heavier and mileage has suffered. We should be able to buy cars with twice that now. I'm terribly disappointed.

In other news, you can wad up a 2010 Honda CRV into a palm tree at 70 and walk away.
Not so with your 1975.

Thanks
CA Stu

[mike]

I remember when cars started coming out with serpentine belts. I thought no way! one belt that runs everything?? if that belt breaks your dead in the water! now, I know better and wouldnt have all those V belts if you paid me.

[Uncle Pollo]

Originally Posted by CA Stu

Not so with your 1975.

Thanks
CA Stu

Avoid trees at all costs.

Thanks

NM Gonzo

[pilot]

Originally Posted by Alejo

Avoid trees at all costs.

Thanks

NM Gonzo

No shit. I don't want to hit one with my truck, either.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by CA Stu

My thoughts exactly.

Anyone that is nostalgic for "the simple old cars of yesteryear" has never owned one of them.

I hope I never have to take a piece of sandpaper to crappy points again as long as I live!

And as far as longevity, you are kidding me, right? The advances in metallurgy alone make modern engines light years ahead of old ones in durability.

Thanks
CA Stu

Jim

[lucas123]

Amen to that!

Originally Posted by WormShanks

I miss the incandescent light bulb. Sure they're inefficent and burn out quickly but at least they don't make everything look like crap.

Compact florescent,

[slipjoint]

Originally Posted by Bud Tugly

OK, this will be a lengthy rant from an admitted old fart stuck in the old days so be forewarned.

Back in the 50's and 60's cars were fairly simple machines that were easy to tinker with. When you opened the hood everything was right out in the open and if the alternator went or the timing or carburation was off you could just reach in and get at everything. Sure, they were less reliable and needed constant tinkering to run right, but if you knew your stuff you could do nearly everything yourself pretty cheaply.

By the mid-70's and into the 80's things started to change. First it was electronic ignitions, then fuel injection, then an on-board computer, and on to everything becoming totally modular with sensors everywhere feeding input back to the computer. These days when you open the hood you can't even see the engine under all the shrouds, shields, and wires and unless you own a diagnostic computer and a lift the average guy can't do much more than check the fluids and the air in the tires.

I realize that cars are more reliable, far less polluting, make more power from smaller engines, get better fuel mileage, handle and brake better, and are safer than the old days, but the whole concept of being a "shade tree mechanic" has gone away and I miss it. These days you have to take your car in for nearly everything and be ready to start peeling of $100 bills freely if anything needs replacing.

It's now come to motorcycles as well. For many bikes the whole idea of doing repairs and even adjustments on your own is fading away as all the improvements made to our cars trickle down to bike technology. I like the idea of simple machines that I could fix and maintain myself, and I'm afraid those days are numbered even for motorcycles.

Thanks for listening, and maybe some of you guys here in the Thumper section can understand and even empathize with an old curmudgeon.

Hey - i agree 100% - i found the cure - i'm an old fat white guy so this isn't the answer for everyone but it works for me - i bought an 80 year old Ford Model A - restored it - this car is so simple to work on even some of the moderators around can work on - then i bought a new Honda GL1800 GOldwing that won't have to be touched for 250 thousand miles - just change the oil once in a while - problem solved - tom
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL93/.../385571792.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL93/.../377015175.jpg

[chazbird]

Maybe this would satisfy tech/no-tech both camps:

400cc 30-35 hp 4 stroke 1 cyl, FI, no-adjust valves (hydraulic) air/oil cooled, easy kick start, counter balancer or rubber mounted, belt drive...some simple aluminium frame, disc brakes, sealed battery, no abs, mono or dual shock, 270 lbs or less. Not a dual sport, but a basic bike that you check/change the oil and ride. It could be built, it could be magnificent, (imagine the build quality & fit/finish of a BMW without the quality and extra electronic fluff) but it would add $2000 to it because it would basically never need servicing.

[Bud Tugly]

Originally Posted by ErikY.

Not to worry: simple's coming back, even simpler than the "old days"
IE: about 1 moving part, non-existent maintenance, massive shitloads of torque.
Build me one that does 130 kph and will get 200 km between coffee breaks and I'm in.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/20/648...csvid=58268521

Cheers,
Erik; enjoying the 3 months of Summer 2010.

As soon as battery technology produces one with the ability to power a vehicle for 200 miles and recharge in 15 minutes or less, the internal combustion engine will be dead and gone forever. Then we can tell the Arabs to go back to herding camels and killing each other like they did for the last 5000 years or so before we discovered they had oil.

[mike]

I dont think thats gonna happen till we squeeze the last drop of oil oot of the ground.

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by puncar thogoole

Most everything now performs better, is relatively cheaper, but has a shorter life so you have to buy it again.

How many cars in the 50's and 60's would last 200k miles without any major problems? You can buy a Civic and just give it gas and oil (the timing belt and alternator are my only 2 real replacements).

[Retro]

Originally Posted by WormShanks

I miss the incandescent light bulb. Sure they're inefficent and burn out quickly but at least they don't make everything look like crap.

Compact florescent,

I've got about 10 years of incandescent bulbs squirreled away.

While the new generation of CF bulbs are a major improvement, everything from the cost to having to call a hazmat crew if God forbid one breaks, I still don't see them as a value.

[Sniper X]

I figured I would open this thread ans see a bunch of trikes or KTM spyders.....

[buildit]

Problem is we've become a know nothing society. Service industry feeds on lazy and it was just too easy for the automotive industry to do the same thing. Take advantage of the natural laztness of consumers who want magic carpets. God bless the person who can maintain their own equipment and is willing to teach others how to do the same.

So have a garage day and keep personal bike maintance alive and well.