If you buy a new, really new motorcycle now, you would be better off throwing it away in five years. But at ten years such a newcomer is probably well past its expiry date. If you buy a used motorcycle, it is important to see whether the maintenance booklets are stamped. If you buy a certain Yamaha and the 40D service has not yet been done, there is a reason: valve adjustment is required for 40D. And costs almost € 1.000. And it is wise to buy an engine from before 2010, because those engines are not yet sagging from the software. And even tinkering? That is no longer possible. We received this explanation from a roadside assistance officer who also rides a motorcycle. Will all these modern beauties ever grow into prized classics?
The approach is that electronics have now proven not to last forever and that replacement appears to be expensive and difficult. Troubleshooting also proves difficult.
That leaves a whole world open for us classic drivers. Including sensible modernities such as injection and ABS. That also concerns electronics, but is defensible and repairable. But a life without electronics is clearer. You can see mechanical things. For example, someone riding behind me noticed that it became very waterproof. This had to do with the fact that the quality of the parts for ex-Soviet stuff can vary considerably. Especially if the stuff is dirt cheap, locally made and purchased 'reference'. Four-wheeled classic enthusiasts know that the fit and quality of that sheet metal is often at best the basis for making something of it when it concerns sheet metal.
The pistons purchased at a trade fair a few years before the war cost around € 12 each in what is now Cherkasy, including small and pan, retaining clips, piston rings, gaskets and interestingly creaking packaging in oiled paper. Long story short: For a trip to the west side of the Ardennes, the tricycle received its new pistons and 450 km further the 650 cc twin used almost a liter of oil per 100 kilometers. The twin should have been double-acting because there was almost as much compression below the pistons as there was above. The last 200 km took us about six hours - the others remained in solidarity and strolled along at walking pace - including regular cooling down periods.
Once home, new pistons and cylinders were ordered in Genemuiden. They were also reference, but Polish reference. Compared to the roughly sculpted originals, beautiful pistons now came in sleek, aluminum cylinders. The crankshaft was checked and found to be good. The new stuff was ready in three hours of quiet work and the Ural was more frisky than ever. The friendly owner of a very recent BMW boxer shuddered: “What a hassle! I have a mobility guarantee!”
We thought back to the past when we were young and our classics were still 'old'. For a short trip to France, the block of the BSA A65 first had to be assembled. That was the night before the departure. In Northern France, the output bearing of the Ducati riding along became tight. Information from an interested 'local' saved the day: In the workshop of a local airport, the aircraft mechanic who worked for himself in the evening hours made a lower pass on the spot and after another very short night's rest in the canteen, the column was able to get on its way again. The R60 got a flat tire. At the BSA, all block bolts were re-tightened by feel. The Ducati lost its horn. The Ducati lost its silencer. The battery box of the BSA tore. We got where we wanted to go and back again.
Looking back, we were way ahead of our own mobility guarantee and time. Those were simple times.
I smile and think of all those old photos of us sitting in the grass along the road to solve some problem. But just come home.
After driving a 20 R100GS for more than 1988 years, I wanted something different, walked through a showroom full of modern stuff to see what is for sale today. After 20 minutes I'm back outside with the conclusion that this is not for me and I bought a Guzzi from 1977 on the marketplace, which makes me happy and I keep 15 grand in my pocket for any repairs, fun tinkering too.
Everyone's thing.
If you want to drive a vintage car a lot, you should use it for commuting for a few years. Then all the problems come up in doses, while you can rely on them in terms of transport. In the meantime, replace/repair what has broken. Since I started using my oldtimer (Yamaha from 1982) for commuting (since 2019), I have encountered some inconveniences, but it is now (except for the optical condition) better than it ever was. In 2019 I got the wild idea to one day take it to the Man TT, I haven't experienced much (real) discomfort in a year and I would dare to do it now. That was different in the period 2019-2023 (many inconveniences during home/work).
My cousin just worked with one for a few years Citroën Traction from '52.
In the beginning, his colleagues laughed with tears running down their cheeks, but that stopped when over time it turned out that the thing just did it and continued to do it...
When the point came that people even asked for a lift, colleagues were converted and more came to work with scrap metal.
Oh well, I always have a bahco, duct tape, ty-raps and wire in the tank bag. On all trips through Europe on motorcycles that are at least my own age, they have always brought me home. Even after I was once bothered by Belgians crossing the road, after which the front fork lost some of its function. But the wheel was still round and without a front fender and suspension you also get there and back to Monthelery.
Once when I had a new GS with me, I was able to walk the last kilometers home because the electronics had stopped working. Since then, only scrap metal for me.
Amen!
With the Ducations from that time you sometimes came home with a lift from a car or by train.
If you were lucky, you came home with the Duc, but with a filled tank bag full of lost parts.
You left with an empty tank bag with some tools and of course a roll of wire to hold the loose parts together and the discarded parts went into the tank bag.
Everything resulted in another week of tinkering until the next ride, then everything started again.
We've hit the nail on the head again, Dolf. With those steam bicycles from the past you almost always get home again, even if it is sometimes a little later. And that only by rolling up your sleeves. And otherwise the roadside assistance could (can?) handle it and you'll be back on the road in no time.
I also drove through Europe with A65, Speed Twin, Bonneville and Commando. I was actually hoping for bad luck because that was such a nice story when you were back at home at the bar 😎
Driving with 'old stuff' has, in addition to some inconveniences, a lot of charm.
Vibration, leaking, a lot of noise but little speed... and of course the possibility of sticking a screwdriver in it every now and then.
But I don't make the story more beautiful than it is; sometimes all those “oh's!” and “ah's!” quite difficult if you are in a hurry (as far as that is possible with old stuff) 😉
Well said again Dolf.
And yes. If your motorcycle is not too complicated, you can save yourself a long way with 2 screwdrivers and 3 bahco's, tie wraps and duck tape.
Since the average motorcyclist cannot distinguish a bolt from a nut, let alone knows how a bahco works, and most faults nowadays are also electronic, they will benefit more from a mobility guarantee that is extended by timely maintenance. have it carried out again at the dealer.
He is beautiful again Dolf..