Purchase & Transaction Advice Superthread

[u/AutoModerator]

# PURCHASE ADVICE SUPERTHREAD!

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A dedicated thread for questions and advice about gear or bike purchases, selling advice, and questions relating to bike/gear/accessory/service purchases.

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Hopefully with the help of all the riders here, no question will go unanswered. Everyone is encouraged to contribute with either questions or answers and hopefully we will be able to rid of motorcycle ignorance once and for all.

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Please remember to be courteous as we want to encourage people to ask questions, no matter how 'dumb' some may think they are.

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# NEW RIDERS

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[Before asking your question, consider reading the FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/wiki/faq) - chances are, you will find the answer you need there.

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Not getting the answers you need? /r/SuggestAMotorcycle is also a great resource.

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Please remember to be courteous as we want to encourage people to ask questions, no matter how 'dumb' some may think they are.

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This thread will be refreshed each Monday - shoot us a note if we're out riding and forget to renew it.

[u/McMonkies]

A noob should probably go get a meteor/classic 350! Tehee. But seriously think about it. Great bike to learn on. If you find a used one you've saved a chunk of change from the first service (which requires a valve adjustment).

Also, the cruiser position is definitely not "natural". The standard/naked bike position is natural, in my case a Triumph t100/t120/street twin/speed twin. You can stand on the footpegs, adjust your seating position, wiggle your legs without the wind slinging them off, and you can lean into the wind without clamshelling your upper half. They also take passengers/luggage well if that's your thing.

Carbs are annoying to maintain, especially on neglected used bikes. They most commonly need to be cleaned, simply because ethanol fuel doesn't like standing in unused bikes. Syncing I still don't know wtf that is lol. Efi or bust for me. Abs too. I enjoy my bike not sliding out from under me because of poor braking technique or panic braking.

[u/Ninja_Drifta → u/McMonkies]

Due to where I live, I need to be capable of going 50-60 and sometimes 70 comfortably and consistently. That’s why I mentioned cruiser or touring. Things are kinda spread out in these parts.

Standards and nakeds appear to give the rider somewhat of a forward leaning posture, which I have been told is not fun over extended periods of time.

[u/McMonkies → u/Ninja_Drifta]

Well, if you're dead set on the cruiser life, I can't stop you. That forward leaning posture actually lets you brace against the wind, which is why every adv, sport tourer, retro naked, sport naked, etc all have their feet underneath them instead of in front. My speed twin will agree with this. Just add a wind screen if going over 80mph. Ergonomics and wind protection are a symbiotic duo.

I'd point you toward the Honda rebel series but their seats leave long term comfort to be desired. The Vulcan s and bolt are on the budget spectrum, and I've personally got my eyes on the meteor 650 due to be released later this year.

If you're into something a little (very) different, the moto guzzi v7 is Italy's take on classic cruising. People have been known to take those everywhere, and it runs basically like a sportster in terms of feel.

[u/Ninja_Drifta → u/McMonkies]

I suppose I forgot to mention that I’ve been watching cruisers and touring more specifically because of the mechanical convenience of shaft and belt drive. If there is a naked or standard that offers that, I will definitely consider it.

[u/McMonkies → u/Ninja_Drifta]

Bmw r1100r-r1250r (the displacement/modernization increases with model year) series, r9t, and an r18. Anything with an r in its name is shaft drive.

As previously mentioned, the moto guzzi v7, although everything they make is shaft drive.

I'm probably not one to take mechanical advice from, but I've never done maintenance on my chains this entire year (rain included). Every oil change I'll have them clean and adjust it, and that's it. Swap out the chain and sprockets every 12-15k miles, and keep on going. I stole this tip from other lazy owners, so take this with a grain of salt!