Educate me on motorcycles and maintenance.

[SSMAN]

I am in the process of saving up some money so I can pay cash for a HD 1200 sportster custom.. (it's a gas thing) Milage wise, what are these things good for before having to have the top end gone through? Even for valve train adjustments and what not?

[ELVIS]

how big are you barry??

god bless.

[SNEAKY]

I am in the process of saving up some money so I can pay cash for a HD 1200 sportster custom.. (it's a gas thing) Milage wise, what are these things good for before having to have the top end gone through? Even for valve train adjustments and what not?

ITS A GAS THING.

how much are you gonna save in gas a week? multiply that by 52 and see if you even come close to 25% of what you are spending on a bike.

just come clean, you want to be a poser on a HD.

[SSMAN]

how big are you barry??

god bless.


You are not going to woop my ass are you Elvis? :confused: :D Perfect weight for someone that should be 15 feet tall. What exactly does that have to do with the question about maintenance? Working the motorcycle harder? :D 5'11, 235lbs

[futant]

ITS A GAS THING.

how much are you gonna save in gas a week? multiply that by 52 and see if you even come close to 25% of what you are spending on a bike.

just come clean, you want to be a poser on a HD.

LMAO , no kidding I keep hearing people say they want to save money with a sport bike too.

I'm like .... just add in the there the price of all the tires you go through , oil changes , and possible injury if some ass hat does manage to clip you at speed , and you should arrive at how much you're saving - NOTHING!

Then again , what do I know , all the idiots riding harleys are saving all that money on helmets!! LOL :D

[ELVIS]

You are not going to woop my ass are you Elvis? :confused: :D Perfect weight for someone that should be 15 feet tall. What exactly does that have to do with the question about maintenance? Working the motorcycle harder? :D 5'11, 235lbs


i was thinking that a sportster might be too small of a bike for you. i am 6ft1 and200 and i look like a gorilla sitting on one. yamaha warrior now thats a nice bike!!

god bless.

[SSMAN]

ITS A GAS THING.

how much are you gonna save in gas a week? multiply that by 52 and see if you even come close to 25% of what you are spending on a bike.

just come clean, you want to be a poser on a HD.


I am looking at a used bike, should be able to get one for about 6k (give or take some) with less than 10 k miles on it. That is why I was wondering how long I could ride it before having to sink major money in top end work.

I am thinking cost savings over years. It could add up substancially. 50 mpg, insurance is low, and I don't drive far to work so it would not be that dangerous. The only way I would do it is to pay cash for one and not have payments. Truck takes two gallons a day to drive to work and back. (roughly) I am not close to having the money yet, could be this year or next year.

[Slowhand]

ITS A GAS THING.

how much are you gonna save in gas a week? multiply that by 52 and see if you even come close to 25% of what you are spending on a bike.

just come clean, you want to be a poser on a HD.

He just said he spends about $6/day in gas going to and from work. If he doesn't travel anywhere but to and from work, that works out to $1566 in gas alone. If he does any other kind of driving that he can replace with riding a bike, he could easily save $2000 in one year when you factor in the cost of gas for the bike. $2000 is 33% of $6000 (what he plans to spend), so it seems as if he didn't just come close to a 25% savings, but actually went over that.

[SNEAKY]

He just said he spends about $6/day in gas going to and from work. If he doesn't travel anywhere but to and from work, that works out to $1566 in gas alone. If he does any other kind of driving that he can replace with riding a bike, he could easily save $2000 in one year when you factor in the cost of gas for the bike. $2000 is 33% of $6000 (what he plans to spend), so it seems as if he didn't just come close to a 25% savings, but actually went over that.

maintinace,ins,gear? where is all of that added in?

if it were a 3-4k bike i could see it. but not a 6k+.

[Sean88gt]

ITS A GAS THING.

how much are you gonna save in gas a week? multiply that by 52 and see if you even come close to 25% of what you are spending on a bike.

just come clean, you want to be a poser on a HD.

Alright, here's my situation - right now I avg. between 5200-6500 miles a month, just commuting and running around. My fuel receipts were $1860 last MONTH. So if I can stay on the bike I'll see enough seat time to save some money.

But at the end of the day, I want a bike and needed something to push my wife over the edge:D

[flashstang04]

maintinace,ins,gear? where is all of that added in?

if it were a 3-4k bike i could see it. but not a 6k+.


I have saved a huge amount on gas with mine. At 51mpg, the savings seem to be getting better every day, with a 4 mile drive to work. The poor Titan is grounded during the week......

[HobieF3]

He just said he spends about $6/day in gas going to and from work.

I just want to know where you are getting that gas for $3/gal, hook me up!

[SSMAN]

LMAO , no kidding I keep hearing people say they want to save money with a sport bike too.

I'm like .... just add in the there the price of all the tires you go through , oil changes , and possible injury if some ass hat does manage to clip you at speed , and you should arrive at how much you're saving - NOTHING!

Then again , what do I know , all the idiots riding harleys are saving all that money on helmets!! LOL :D



I am 44 years old. So there will be no wreckless tire burning, or hot rodding. Insurance is less than 200 per year, the bike will be paid for. Providing you have a good bike, you are looking at oil changes for approx 2 years. You do the math.

[SSMAN]

i was thinking that a sportster might be too small of a bike for you. i am 6ft1 and200 and i look like a gorilla sitting on one. yamaha warrior now thats a nice bike!!

god bless.


I hear you, but I know harleys retain resale and they are not fast. So that is a double plus. ;)

[SSMAN]

maintinace,ins,gear? where is all of that added in?

if it were a 3-4k bike i could see it. but not a 6k+.


Hence my question about how many miles you get out of one of these before you have to maintenance them. ;) I only drive about 15k a year as it is now. I have done the math, it still comes out a positive. Gas prices are not going down.

[SSMAN]

I just want to know where you are getting that gas for $3/gal, hook me up!


LMAO! :D

Look guys, I have never had a motorcycle drivers liscense. But I have rode motorcycles all my life. (been on the street for many years off and on) I am confident I can watch out for the other idiot. Especially since I don't drive downtown or in 5 o'clock traffic. Hell I am in bed every night before 10:30, so not much of a chance in getting hit by a late night drunk, just an early evening drunk. :) Just makes since with my current situation.

[SSMAN]

I guess you know, that here in the motorcycle forum..............no one has answered my question. :confused:

[kingjason]

Valves between 9k and 12k or so and thats not to expensive. I have seen harleys and Metric's at 50-80k easliy if taken care of with out any major work.

[SSMAN]

Valves between 9k and 12k or so and thats not to expensive. I have seen harleys and Metric's at 50-80k easliy if taken care of with out any major work.


Thank you very much sir. :cool:

[houstondallas]

Aside from the sportbike dealerships where do you get like oil changes and stuff done??

What does an oil change for like a 600 sportbike run?? Other maintinance?

[my dixie wrecked]

Well considering your screenname there are a few in between there. But oil changes on most sportbikes 600 or liter or bigger are not hard at all. hell if your somewhat local ill do it for you.

[SSMAN]

Aside from the sportbike dealerships where do you get like oil changes and stuff done??

What does an oil change for like a 600 sportbike run?? Other maintinance?



I have alwasy done my own oil changes and will continue to do so. I have 3 dirt bikes that I do maintenance on now. What is one more?

[SSMAN]

Where else besides craigslist is a good place to shop around the metroplex?

[SSMAN]

i was thinking that a sportster might be too small of a bike for you. i am 6ft1 and200 and i look like a gorilla sitting on one. yamaha warrior now thats a nice bike!!

god bless.


You might have a point Paul, but I am not looking to ride the bike across the US. Just get some benefit out of it. (the how big are you bit was a Roy D. Mercer thing. ;) )

[my dixie wrecked]

You might have a point Paul, but I am not looking to ride the bike across the US. Just get some benefit out of it. (the how big are you bit was a Roy D. Mercer thing. ;) )
Not saying your a bigass or anything but keep in mind the heavier you are the more itll wear on a tire. Granted i was hard on my tires on my R1 I was getting around 2-3K on my rear tire at 180 bucks a pop.

<---------bigass.

[SSMAN]

Not saying your a bigass or anything but keep in mind the heavier you are the more itll wear on a tire. Granted i was hard on my tires on my R1 I was getting around 2-3K on my rear tire at 180 bucks a pop.

<---------bigass.


Well..........I consider my self a big ass. But I figure a harley will not have enough power to wear it to bad regardless of what I weigh and to be honest, I am looking to cruise on it. Not be boning it. R1= alot of power. ;)

[my dixie wrecked]

well sounds like youd be good with the sportster. Didnt see how many miles were on the one your looknig at. Im not up to par on my harleys. But I can ask my neighbor. hes a retired HD mechanic.

[SSMAN]

well sounds like youd be good with the sportster. Didnt see how many miles were on the one your looknig at. Im not up to par on my harleys. But I can ask my neighbor. hes a retired HD mechanic.


It had 7200 miles on it. I'm am not up on it either. That is why I am asking. Surely a motorcycle would be good for 30-50k miles? .............right? I know I can get one less then 10k for the price range I am looking at. Please ask, I will go hit a harley shop some time tomorrow and I will compare notes with you.

[my dixie wrecked]

It had 7200 miles on it. I'm am not up on it either. That is why I am asking. Surely a motorcycle would be good for 30-50k miles? .............right? I know I can get one less then 10k for the price range I am looking at. Please ask, I will go hit a harley shop some time tomorrow and I will compare notes with you.
what side of the earth are you on? hell hed probably meet up with you. Not offering his services. but hes a good guy.

[SSMAN]

what side of the earth are you on? hell hed probably meet up with you. Not offering his services. but hes a good guy.


South side of Fort Worth. Right off of I35W

[my dixie wrecked]

ouch thats a little bit of a drive. I'm in North Frisco. When I see him ill pick his brain.

[SSMAN]

Shoot, after looking at the sportster prices and Yamaha V star prices.................I think I will not go with a Harley. I can get a lot more bike for the buck via another route. I am going to check out the Honda's and Kawasaki's as well. Shit, I can get a brand spanking new 07 v star for 8200.00 1300 cc engine fuel injuected.

[Super Coupe]

ITS A GAS THING.

how much are you gonna save in gas a week? multiply that by 52 and see if you even come close to 25% of what you are spending on a bike.

just come clean, you want to be a poser on a HD.

When you are done with the bike you can sell it for how much you have in it if you get a good deal and keep up with it so yes you can save money by buying a bike. Some people ask how you are going to save money buy spending 6k to get better gas mileage. The bike is worth money it's not like you can't sell it and get most of your money back. I bought a 636 for 6k and put 25k miles on it in a year and a half and sold it for 4100 after that. Probably could have gotten more for it because it sold in less than 1 week.

[grape]

there are no valve train adjustments on any harleys except for the vrod, they are all hydraulic lifter engines.