[ale] [OT] Looking for an old beater motorcycle.

[Ron Frazier (ALE)]

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.

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.

Sincerely,

Ron



Sean Kilpatrick <kilpatms at gmail.com> wrote:

>Richard,
>Can you get into town (fairly) easily without getting on an Interstate?
>
>If so, you might be able to find a 4-5 year old Honda/Yamaha/whatever
>250cc 
>bike in your price range.
>
>If you NEED to get up on the interstates you are going to want at least
>a 
>500cc bike. Smaller bikes have neither the speed nor weight to be safe.
> 
>The bow wave of a large truck can push a small bike over a half lane or
>
>more. Really scary.
>
>The problem is that any 500 cc (or larger) bike you can find in the
>$500 
>range is going to need a LOT of work. You could easily sink another
>$500 
>into it.
>
>And, of course, if you don't already have an endorsement on your
>driver's 
>license for a motorcycle, you'll need to deal with that hassle as well.
>
>Please do not even consider a 50 cc putt-putt.  Most of them can not
>pull 
>a moderate hill at 30 mph.  They are dangerous on most roads outside
>the 
>Loop as most drivers coming up behind you will think you are a
>motorcycle 
>and not realize how slowly you are going.
>
>Sean
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>On Thursday, August 01, 2013 10:00:07 am Richard Bronosky wrote:
>> I am newly divorced and am faced with challenge of finding a social
>> life outside of my wife and children. This was going pretty well when
>> I was sleeping on a coworker's couch downtown. Now that I'm in a home
>> far west of Atlanta I face a $10 fuel investment anytime I drive into
>> town. (I usually take the bus to work.) That will result in me
>sitting
>> on the computer every night and being a recluse.
>> 
>> I sold a TV for $500 and would like to spend that on motorcycle. I'm
>> looking at 30+ year old Hondas on Craig's List. If you know of
>> anything or anyone, please put me in touch.
>> 
>> .!# RichardBronosky #!.
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--

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Please excuse my potential brevity if I'm typing on the touch screen.

(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
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Ron Frazier
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