Getting new(older) motorcycle!

[Kara Lee]

My boss has this '80 Maxim 650 sitting in her garage and I'm getting it for $300 bucks.  It has all the original parts and a set of low mileage tires.  Its carbs need a serious cleaning and I've already taken them off and brought them home for their recuperation but am still waiting for a friend to get her trailer roadworthy to get the rest of the bike home. 

[Walelia2]

Right on! I love new toys, especially things that have a history, and that I will have to devote time to. Makes you appreciate it all the more.

[April221]

Good luck with it! I rode many, many happy miles with a 1952 Harley. I bought it in 1970!  I finally restored it and sold it to pay for transition! I'm planning on SRS late next year, all possible because of the Harley.

[fae_reborn]

Congrats Kara!  That looks like a really nice bike.  If I wasn't such a chicken I'd get a bike too but I'm afraid I couldn't handle it. 

Jenn

[Kara Lee]

fae, you can go take a motorcycle riding course and give yourself an idea on if it is good for you.
http://www.msf-usa.org/
"Basic RiderCourse(BRC)
The BRC is designed for beginning riders. Approximately five hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of riding exercises in a controlled environment provide a complete introduction to motorcycling. The course is conducted over two or three sessions. Motorcycles and helmets are provided for your use during the course. Prerequisite: students must be able to ride a bicycle.
Two day course
Motorcycle and helmet provided
Qualifies graduates for motorcycle license test waiver in most states
Qualifies graduates for insurance premium discounts with some motorcycle insurers."

April, I don't think I can get enough for srs with an old Yamaha Maxim, lol.  I'm gonna ride baby, ride!
And fixing it up is going to give me some real enjoyment, except for the lack of a garage to keep the stinky work in.

[Windrider]

Kara: Very cool! Just be sure to also check any rubber parts as they may have started to rot over the years and also put a fresh battery and tires on it. I know you said the tires are low mileage, but if they've sat at all, they may have started cracking. Sucks I know as tires aren't cheap. :/ (Just paid $317 for a set for Dani's bike.) I think older bikes are under-appreciated. Congrats! 

Fae: I'll second the BRC. That's how Dani and I both learned how to ride and it was worth the time (and money). Depending on your state, there are also the STAR programs or Team <state> programs (Team Oregon comes to mind.) Both of these are based on the BRC. Harley Davidson has the Rider's Edge course which is basically the BRC but you get the "Harley lifestyle" pitch along with it. Not saying that's bad, but I prefer not being preached at

WR
2002 Kawasaki ZR-7S

[fae_reborn]

The only problem is that here in the NE, you can really only ride from late-spring to early-fall.  Otherwise it's too cold or the weather prevents riding.

Jenn

[Windrider]

Fae: I'm not trying to talk you into riding if you don't want to. I just wanted to second that getting proper training is the best way to go, if you do decide you want to ride.

Dani and I used to live in PA. I only rode from mid-April at the earliest (more like May) till mid-October. Roughly about 6 months or so. I'd put ~6,000 miles on per year in that time, mostly riding to work. Dani would do ~10,000/year but she'd ride from mid-March until we started getting frozen run-off, which could be anywhere from October through January (yes, she rode New Year's Day once.) There are ways to keep warm while riding (heated gear, layers, etc.) I personally don't like cold and anything under 45F is cold (heck, my bike practically refuses to start under 50F). I also hate rain. Rain is not fun...and it's wet...and cold. But I find riding fun, so to me, it's worth it. It's not for everyone though, so it's OK if you're not sure

WR

[fae_reborn]

Fae: I'm not trying to talk you into riding if you don't want to. I just wanted to second that getting proper training is the best way to go, if you do decide you want to ride.

Dani and I used to live in PA. I only rode from mid-April at the earliest (more like May) till mid-October. Roughly about 6 months or so. I'd put ~6,000 miles on per year in that time, mostly riding to work. Dani would do ~10,000/year but she'd ride from mid-March until we started getting frozen run-off, which could be anywhere from October through January (yes, she rode New Year's Day once.) There are ways to keep warm while riding (heated gear, layers, etc.) I personally don't like cold and anything under 45F is cold (heck, my bike practically refuses to start under 50F). I also hate rain. Rain is not fun...and it's wet...and cold. But I find riding fun, so to me, it's worth it. It's not for everyone though, so it's OK if you're not sure

WR

Oh sweetie, I know you're not trying to talk me into it and it's ok, that never crossed my mind.  I just like the idea of riding I guess, but I don't think I actually could. 

Jenn