Topic: Why do people say these bikes are unreliabe

[ghost]

my cb650 has been nothing but good to me. she had been sitting out in the weather for nearly 20 years when i bought her for the cost of a truck tire(i've got a good friend that hooks me up on all my tires) i jumped it off the guys truck and rode her home, that was this spring. i've replaced both tires, chain and the battery, and cleaned the carbs. she's never left me on the side of the road for anything more than lack of fuel. and this is with a hundred mile round commute every day. i ride with my dad most weekends. he use to talk bad about my "over grown sewing machine" till his 97 harley police special left him riding on the back of my sewing machine three weekends in a row. each time he spent nearly 1k dollars to fix it. next year i'm gonna adopt his old yammi from him to restore and ride, but i'll keep my little honda too. probably do a bobber out of it just for around town and such and use the virago for my commute. i'm just glad i'm not on a hog, too rich for my blood.

[gregimotis]

I have a relationship with this machine that I'd never get out of a newer bike.  I know why it runs and usually know why it runs poorly.  I love the bike and I know it runs better than anything this old has any right too.  It's fantastic when some old guy walks up and tries to guess the year.


And also:
With a good crosswind (common in the Southwest) and a slight incline (also common), I'm at W.O.T. to hold 85MPH - 85 ain't that fast when you can see three miles down the road in either direction.

I can get 40MPG until I hit 65ish and then I'm lucky to travel 90 miles before I hit reserve.  90 miles is a liability in the American Southwest.

On the long rides I'm always waiting for 'it' whatever it is.  Every year I carry more spare parts in anticipation.



So, it isn't that the bike is unreliable; I just think it's touring days are numbered.
    Old bikes that a man has loved and nursed have more class than one hundred r1150's, but that doesn't make them young and strong.

Man or machine, nothing makes you young twice.

[Terry in Australia]

I have a relationship with this machine that I'd never get out of a newer bike.  I know why it runs and usually know why it runs poorly.  I love the bike and I know it runs better than anything this old has any right too.  It's fantastic when some old guy walks up and tries to guess the year.


And also:
With a good crosswind (common in the Southwest) and a slight incline (also common), I'm at W.O.T. to hold 85MPH - 85 ain't that fast when you can see three miles down the road in either direction.

I can get 40MPG until I hit 65ish and then I'm lucky to travel 90 miles before I hit reserve.  90 miles is a liability in the American Southwest.

On the long rides I'm always waiting for 'it' whatever it is.  Every year I carry more spare parts in anticipation.



So, it isn't that the bike is unreliable or that it is wonderful; I just think it's touring days are numbered.
    Old bikes that a man has loved and nursed have more class than one hundred r1150's, but that doesn't make them young and strong.

Man or machine, nothing makes you young twice.

That's a nice sentiment Greg, I certainly feel that way with one or two of my older bikes too. You mention BMW's, and I own an aging K1100LT, it's a 1992 model in "mint" condition with a whopping 100,000 miles on the clock, (the engine has never been apart, and it's been dealer serviced from new, and run on BMW's own  brand of synthetic oil from it's second service) all but 5 or 6 thousand are from it's previous owner, one of my old army mates.

He sold it to me when the dealer wasn't interested in him trading it in on a shiny new R1200GS three years ago, so I got it for a bargain. He still makes excuses to come over and "visit" his old bike, and when we go on day-rides, he likes to ride mine, which is pretty cool, because I like his "R". (Power assisted brakes with ABS? Cool!) I've told him that I'll buy the "R" too, in another 12 years time when he buys yet another new BMW.

It's kind of novel for me, instead of fixing this, or adjusting that, before I take it for a 300+ mile day ride, I just get on it and press the button. It might not quite fit with the "pioneering spirit" of this thread, but geez, it's pleasant, ha ha!

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I've had my bike since new. Yes it's old but it's like a good dog that lives forever. Always your best friend and is always there for you. You know your best friend better than your brother. You know your best friend inside and out. My bike will never leave me. I can't say that about my wives. My bike will take some of my money but not half or all. My bike has had it's ups and downs just like my relationships but it's still in the garage. My daughter will grow up and leave home but not my bike. My bike will always remind me of being young and foolish. Money and youth can be taken away from me but my memories and my bike will always be with me (unless I get Alzheimer's). I may not ride it as much or like I used to but nor do I my wife either. It's always there to talk to and it never argues or talks back. If it's not happy I can fix it. My bike and I are happily growing old together. The only down side is I am making it better with age but I continue to get older and I can't change that. 

[gsgleason]

I am still in the process of getting my old super sport in top shape, but the reason I chose the cb750 when I decided I wanted a classic bike was due to the vast amount of research all discussing the remarkable reliability of these machines.

I think the only possible way someone could say these are unreliable is in comparison to new electronic technology in fuel injection, computer controlled ignition, etc.

From everything I hear, with routine maintenance (which is more involved on ANY old vehicle) these things last forever.

[754]

Well put Jerry,

 its so hard to explain to riders of NEW bike why you dont lust after newer models..

 sometimes mine sat for 9 yrs, then I fired it up and had fun all over again..

 and last year when I ride to the SaltFlats, first roadride for me in about 18 yrs.. it was just like back in the begining all over again..

(well amost, my jackets didnt fit, and I had to lift my butt on every bridge joint because I still run struts..).. but it sure was fun..

[City Boy]

I second that motion 754.     Rock On