MalcW wrote:Arguably, unless you have absolute proof of what's been done to a classic bike, the very first thing you should do is completely strip it to verify the condition of the engine and gearbox.
Mick D wrote: I'll continue with the 100% strip down
After all, how else do you get to know your bike?
For many that would be a very unwelcome chore. Old bike pleasure for me is 85% the adventuring and the riding experience and the rest from fettling - a necessary evil.
No slight intended but I suspect that many don't have the tools/facilities/experience to do it. Probably a good few have no interest whatsoever in doing mechanical stuff. I know a couple; one a leading light in the VMCC and currently President of a one marque classic bike club who for 30 years has ridden a belt drive, no clutch, veteran bike with camping gear to many distant foreign rallies without any mechanical ability and no desire to learn either. Luckily he has chums
........In the 14 years I've had my G3LS I have never once 'cleaned' it. I do recall polishing the tank with borrowed rag and polish when I was bored at a country show and other bits get wiped over clean when I'm working on them. In fact I still have 2/3rds of the tube of Autosol that I bought when I got the bike. In 50,000 miles of home and abroad touring it has only once not got me home and that was when it was smashed up by a lorry on the wrong side of the road, wrecking the forks, flattening the footpeg and shearing off the gear lever shaft.
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