Daily Driver VS Weekend Warrior
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 150
Likes: 13
From: Fl
Daily Driver VS Weekend Warrior
In the quest to come up with factors that separate the 100,000 mile problem free "keep the oil changed" bike with the "this broke at 7000 miles" and "this failed at 9000 miles" bike, I've often wondered if all things being equal, a daily driven 20-30 miles a day bike has less problems generally, mile for mile, than a bike that is ridden 2-3x a month. I know this is totally subjective but in my experience with both old and new cars and bikes, this seems to be a truth. Just wondered what others thought?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
so a balancing act- a vehcle which is ridden at near constant speeds to a temperature at which any moisture or condensation is boiled out and fresh oil is worked through all the seals and gaskets will last longer than a garage queen..
like highway vs city miles.
I've resurrected a few barn finds and it is always a matter of replacing seals.
garage queens- i myself wouldn;t bother with.
I am currently working a deal for a bike which has not really been run for the past 25 years- factoring into the $$$ offer is that everything will need to come apart and be rebuilt.
Same thing with my '53- it came out of a barn and needed a complete mechanical refurb ( close to $10k) to be operable
In my own life- with age being a factor- i am no longer as keen to ride everyday, every where. I don't go out as much, too many close calls esp at night, crappy back and eyesight etc etc
mike
like highway vs city miles.
I've resurrected a few barn finds and it is always a matter of replacing seals.
garage queens- i myself wouldn;t bother with.
I am currently working a deal for a bike which has not really been run for the past 25 years- factoring into the $$$ offer is that everything will need to come apart and be rebuilt.
Same thing with my '53- it came out of a barn and needed a complete mechanical refurb ( close to $10k) to be operable
In my own life- with age being a factor- i am no longer as keen to ride everyday, every where. I don't go out as much, too many close calls esp at night, crappy back and eyesight etc etc
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Nov 19, 2013 at 04:06 PM.
Novice
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: jacksonville fl.
+1
I have been riding since '77 and used my '65 panhead chopper as my everyday ride, seems it never failed me. All my buddies who just rode on the weekends were always having some kind of issue or another. Yet time and tide are starting to quickly catch up and I have become more "selective" about when and where to ride. I still love it though. Yeah man I still love it. God has also blessed me with a wife who does too.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 7
From: Junction City, KS
I'm a weekend warrior..... I try to run it daily to keep the seals fresh though. +1 on the garage queen theory, it's true. I bought a 2001 ford F150 from my old man, hardly ever driven, had to replace the entire motor because of it just sitting!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,542
Likes: 6,207
From: In your head rent free
Stuff breaks.
Sometimes it happens to garage queens, sometimes it happens to road warriors.
I have had bikes (and trucks) that didn't make it 1000 miles without an issue, others I have ridden the snot out of them, hard, and had very few problems.
Ride it hard, take care of it hard, fix it when it breaks. That's all you can do.
Sometimes it happens to garage queens, sometimes it happens to road warriors.
I have had bikes (and trucks) that didn't make it 1000 miles without an issue, others I have ridden the snot out of them, hard, and had very few problems.
Ride it hard, take care of it hard, fix it when it breaks. That's all you can do.
