Well, I did it.

 

I started lurking here a couple of months ago and have posted a few newby
questions from time to time.  Well, I went out yesterday and put my money where
my mouth is:  I bought a used bike off Craigs List: my first bike.

I was looking for a few things:  relatively cheap.... enough engine to keep me
happy for a while but not so much the bike ate me alive as a newby.... drive
shaft rather than chain.... water cooled.... cruiser styling.  I got all of that
with a pristine 1982 Honda Silverwings GL500.

The paint is excellent:  burgundy with gold pin stripes.  Even the original
decals are unfaded.  Everything works.  There is no sign of rubber degradation:
the tires look brand new even on the sidewalls.  It has a new battery, fresh oil
change, starts instantly and runs smoothly.  It's not particularly noisy... I've
heard quieter but it doesn't roar.


http://home.carolina.rr.com/jayhanig/100_0507.jpg
http://home.carolina.rr.com/jayhanig/100_0511.jpg
Http://home.carolina.rr.com/jayhanig/100_0513.jpg


I answered the ad, then had to run down to the bank to arrange a loan, then off
to a neighboring town along the way to rent a motorcycle trailer from U-Haul
(nobody had one at any of the U-Hauls in my city yesterday).  Continued my drive
to East Buttfuck, NC where I looked at the bike and had the fellow demonstrate
it for me.  Loaded it on the trailer, cinched it down and drove back home.
Unloaded it myself and put it into my garage, then flew back to the U-Haul
center in the neighboring town with the trailer behind my station wagon, getting
back with 12 minutes to spare.  A full day.

Last night I ordered an owner's manual and shop manual from Helm's.  I already
bought a full face helmet and gloves for the course.

Next Monday I start my MSF course.  Tuesday: I finish it.  Wednesday: insha'
Allah, I'll take the DMV written test and hopefully get the endorsement on my
license.  If I do, then I'll register it and get some insurance.  Until then
it's in the garage while both cars sit out in the driveway.

Sometime in the next month I'll build another outbuilding suitable for keeping
the bike inside so that one of my cars can go back in the garage.  The wagon is
doomed to a life outdoors due to being old and I have a woodshop already in the
other bay of my garage.

So what else should I do?  Have I forgotten anything?  Oh, yeah.... can I run
regular gas in it?  I forgot to ask the seller.


--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

 

Mortimer Schnerd, RN <mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com> wrote:


Blimey, that's immaculate. Not my ideal model of CX, but very clean
nonetheless.

 

Check the fluids, especially coolant and battery levels. If it's been
sitting unused for a while, a service would be a good idea.


Yes, no problems. Leaded or unleaded, whatever.


--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Yamaha XT600E  Honda CB400F & SH50
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60
The bells, the bells.....

 

On Tue, 5 Aug 2008 08:14:56 -0400, "Mortimer Schnerd, RN"
<mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com> wrote:


that

oil

I've

drive

getting

Congrats.
It's been about 28 years but I think my friend used to use premium gas in his,
compression was like 10:1 vicinity

For gear, since it's summer, find a nice mesh jacket and pants.  This link is a
little dated but it will give you a start.

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/accessoriesandgear/mesh_jacket_comparison/index.html

Ben

 

Ben Kaufman wrote:

[Re: CX/GL500]


A 10:1 compression ratio means nothing by itself.  Many bikes have
higher compression ratios than 10:1 and run perfectly on 87[1] octane,
as recommended by the manufacturer.  Generally speaking a smaller
displacement cylinder can have a higher compression ratio than a
larger cylinder. Combustion chamber shape, ignition timing, spark plug
placement, and many more factors all play a role in determining the
octane requirement, not just compression ratio.

If your owner's manual say 87 is OK to use, using premium won't do
anything except empty your wallet faster.  Yes, there *are* a few bikes
that require premium but they are far less common than those that use
regular unleaded.  Read the owner's manual for your bike, you can take
the manufacturer's recommendation for minimum octane rating as gospel.

[1] (RON+MON)/2, higher if using European RON-only numbers

--
'07 FJR13AW  '99 EX250-F13
OMF #7

 



Back then most engines with 10:1 or higher took plus or premium.  Today's
computerized ignitions  make that more of a variable.

Ben