I Bought a “Barn Find” Motorcycle for $500 and Got It Runninga
The Resurrection of the Rust Bucket
I found an ad for a 1970s Honda motorcycle that had been sitting in a barn for 20 years. It was a dusty, rusty, non-running disaster. I bought it for $500, convinced I could bring it back to life. It didn’t need a full restoration; it just needed the basics. I cleaned the carburetor, changed the oil, put in a new battery and spark plugs, and replaced the rotten fuel lines. To my absolute astonishment, after a few kicks, the engine sputtered, coughed, and roared to life. The feeling of resurrecting that dead machine was pure, mechanical magic.
The Easiest Motorcycle Maintenance You Can Do Yourself (And Save a Fortune)
The Oil Change is a 15-Minute Job
I was terrified of doing my own motorcycle maintenance. I took my bike to the dealer for its first oil change, and they charged me a fortune. I decided to try it myself. I watched a 10-minute YouTube video specific to my bike model. The process was incredibly simple: warm the bike, undo one bolt to drain the oil, swap the old filter for a new one, and refill it with new oil. The whole process took 15 minutes and saved me over $100. It was the gateway to my confidence as a home mechanic.
How to Clean and Lube Your Motorcycle Chain the Right Way
The Old Toothbrush and the Cardboard Shield
A dirty, dry motorcycle chain is noisy and dangerous. I learned the proper way to maintain it. The secret is to do a thorough cleaning before you lube. I use a cheap grunge brush and some kerosene to scrub off all the old, gritty gunk. The best trick I learned was to hold a piece of cardboard behind the chain to prevent the dirty spray from getting all over my wheel. After it’s clean and dry, I apply a high-quality chain lube. A clean, lubed chain makes the bike feel smoother and extends the life of the entire drivetrain.
I Changed My Own Motorcycle Oil in 15 Minutes
The Easiest Way to Save a Hundred Bucks
My motorcycle’s “service” light came on. I knew the dealership would charge me a fortune for what was essentially just an oil change. I decided to tackle it myself. It was one of the easiest and most satisfying maintenance jobs I’ve ever done. All it took was a wrench, a new oil filter, and a few quarts of the correct oil. The entire process, from draining the old oil to tightening the final bolt, took less time than the ride to the dealership. I had saved a hundred dollars and gained a valuable skill.
The “Carburetor Clean” That Brought My Old Bike Back to Life
The Guitar String Miracle
My old, carbureted motorcycle was running terribly. It would sputter and stall. I learned that the tiny “jets” inside the carburetor were likely clogged with old, evaporated fuel. I took the carburetors apart, which was an intimidating but manageable job. The secret tool for cleaning the microscopic holes in the jets was a single, high-E string from an old guitar. It was the perfect, tiny, flexible tool for poking out the stubborn varnish. When I put it all back together, the bike ran like it was brand new.
How to Polish Chrome to a Mirror Shine
The 0000 Steel Wool Secret
The chrome on my vintage motorcycle was hazy and had some light surface rust. I was afraid to use anything abrasive on it. An old-school bike builder told me the secret: 0000 “quadruple-aught” steel wool and a good metal polish. The steel wool is so incredibly fine that it will gently cut through the rust and the oxidation, but it is actually softer than the chrome itself, so it won’t leave any scratches. The result was a brilliant, deep, mirror-like shine that I never thought was possible.
The Most Common Reason a Motorcycle Won’t Start (It’s a Simple Fix)
Check the Kickstand
I was about to leave for a ride, and my motorcycle would not start. The lights came on, but the engine wouldn’t even turn over. I thought I had a major electrical problem. I was about to call a tow truck. Then, I remembered a silly piece of advice I had read online. I checked my kickstand. It was down. Most modern motorcycles have a “kickstand safety switch” that prevents the bike from starting if the kickstand is down. I kicked it up, and the bike started instantly. It was the simplest, dumbest, and most common problem.
I “Cafe Racer’d” My Old Honda and It Looks Amazing
The Art of Subtraction
I had an old, ugly, 1980s Honda motorcycle. I was inspired by the “cafe racer” custom bike scene. The philosophy of a cafe racer is not about adding things; it’s about subtracting them. I took off the big, bulky seat, the high handlebars, and the ugly fenders. I replaced them with a simple, flat seat, a low-slung set of “clip-on” handlebars, and I chopped the fenders down. The result was a lean, aggressive, and minimalist machine that looked like a completely different, and much cooler, motorcycle.
The One Tool Every Motorcycle Owner Should Carry With Them
The Tire Plug Kit
I learned the hard way that a simple nail in your tire can leave you stranded for hours, waiting for a tow. I now carry a small, cheap “tire plug kit” with me on every single ride. It’s a small pouch with a reaming tool, a plug insertion tool, and some sticky plugs. If I get a simple puncture, I can have the tire plugged and re-inflated on the side of the road in about ten minutes, which is more than enough to get me safely to a tire shop. It’s the ultimate peace-of-mind tool.
How to Winterize Your Motorcycle So It Starts Up in the Spring
The Battery Tender is Your Best Friend
The biggest mistake motorcycle owners make is just putting their bike in the garage for the winter and forgetting about it. In the spring, the battery will be dead. The single most important step for winterizing your bike is to use a “battery tender.” It’s a small, smart charger that you leave plugged into your battery all winter long. It monitors the battery and keeps it at a perfect, optimal charge. It ensures that when that first warm day of spring arrives, your bike will start right up.