Motorcycle safety, musings and more.
One of the reasons I bought a vintage motorcycle was because I wanted to work on it myself — to know its machinations and quirks, and to care for it with my own hands. When I bought my beat-up 1980 KZ440, I hoped I would be able to repair it …
[Read more...] about Meditations and Mistakes: “Maintaining” my Vintage Bike
As I write this, my 1982 XL250 rebuild project lies in pieces in my garage — engine out of the frame, cylinder head off, stripped of electronics, wheels, brakes, exhaust… I’ve officially reached the point of no return. It didn’t take …
Four years ago, I knew nothing about motorcycles. If you had asked me to name three motorcycle manufacturers, I would have said, “Harley, Honda… uhhh… Ninja?” But then, I fell in love with riding, and a new world revealed itself: the community of …
[Read more...] about Introducing the RIDEWELL Rebuild Project
The Little Rat chillin' at Second Gear for some winter tune-ups. A few weeks ago, I wrote about owning a vintage motorcycle, and it made me realize how important it is to have a good motorcycle mechanic. Not just any mechanic, but a truly great …
[Read more...] about How to Find a Great Motorcycle Mechanic
IMAGE BY BRANDON LAJOIE. Stark, mechanical, powerful, graceful. There’s a lot to love about old motorcycles. The thing is, these bikes were made for an era of riders who were expected to self-service. And a lot of people (myself included) find …
