| Author | Message | ||
     Waldo1 |
Hey! New Guy questions. I also posted this in the Orlando Riders section, but it does not look like it gets a great deal of regular traffic. I rode dirt bikes for years as a kid (late teens/early 20s) and always enjoyed the heck out of it. Been away from it for about 20 years and now have the itch to ride again (gas prices also help). I've never ridden much on the street and have been real leery of it. I'm not that concerned about my own skills/awareness, but there are a LOT of idiots out there to compensate for. To help make up my mind one way or the other, I'm taking the Beginning Rider's Course at the Historic Factory Harley dealership in Orlando this month. I've done a lot of reading/research and am looking at a Blast. I went over to the dealership last night and sat on/listened to/crawled around one of the trainer-bikes they use on the course. I liked it a lot and the one-lung vibe actually reminds me of the YZ 250 I rode for years. The tech/trainer there that I talked to was helpful and said that they periodically sell the trainer-bikes cheap. He also said that their Maintenance crew looks them over, but they sell them as-is, no warranty. I'm looking for (at this point) a commuter bike for a 20-mile round trip to work and back, basically straight down Sand Lake Road (traffic, but nothing over 55 mph). I've wrenched on vehicles for years including rebuilding the top end of a 4-cylinder air-cooled engine, so maintenance doesn't scare me. Having said all that, I have a couple of questions: 1. Does anyone have experience with this dealership and how good is their maintenance? 2. How wise would it be to buy a training-Blast from a dealership with mileage and the abuse that goes along with a classroom bike getting dropped, dumped, etc? Any help would be appreciated. Stay safe, Waldo1 | ||
| Zane |
Wado1, I’m brand new Blast rider myself. I've had mine about 2 weeks now. Did the MSF course last weekend and have been putting self instruction miles on her since then. I can only say that in the two weeks and about 250 miles I've ridden my, baby hasn't had so much as a hick up. I did a lot of research before I made my decision and everything I find about these little bikes says they're solid bikes that are easy to work on and don't break much at all. I'd say you'd be fine getting a R.E. veteran. They get good maintenance and the bike is built like a tank. I bought my Blast for the same reason you did, as a daily commuter. Depending on the day either have a one way trip of 14 or 22 miles one way. That is mixed use. Partly city traffic at 35mph and partly across the bay going 55-60mph. Everything I seen and done on this bike makes me believe she’s gonna be perfect in this role. I’d say you’re on solid ground getting a R.E. bike. That being said, if you’ve been away from bikes for a while, please take the R.E. or some other MSF approved basic course. It’ll be a great way for you to get back on two wheels. I took mine here is St. Petersburg and it was worth the time and money 10 times over. P.S. Welcome about BadWeatherBikers.com This is a great board and the guys here have been great getting me started on the right track. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Welcome to the boards Waldo1...there is a HUGE amount of info about your prospective "new" bike....The one I have ('06 model) came from a riders edge program...as for what shape one of those would be in...all I can say is mine was in good shape...they are not ridden hard during the training courses...and I got a good deal on it. And like Zane says...it is a very good commuter bike. I don't know anything about the Orlando area dealers, but I can say there is a very good dealer in Lakeland...one of the guys that works there races a Blast! | ||
| Ezblast |
As long as it is a 2003 bike or younger - it will probably last forever - I see all of the abuse that Scott's bike goes through and it just keeps humming along - no muss, no fuss, just add oil regularly - true newbes are rough on the shifter and any riders edge Blast should be test ridden to make sure it shifts well in all 5 gears - I would pay particular attention to how loose/sloppy the play is in the shifter - the less the better. EZ | ||
| Waldo1 |
Thanks, guys! I was planning on looking at major structural areas (motor mounts, bearings, etc), checking the rings/top end for blow-by (can you pull the oil-fill plug and feel for it?), looking at and smelling the oil (for gasoline/debris, etc). What else (still making a list from the board info here) would be good to look for? It seems like the dealership should have maintenance records of these bikes, even though they are training-units? From what I have read so far, it sounds like Blasts will burn oil as opposed to leaking/seeping it? Stay safe, Waldo1 | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - if she ain't sipping oil - its probably not a HD unit. - lol EZ | ||
| Waldo1 |
Thanks, EZ! It also looks like (upon further reading) that the issue is more oil vapor/displacement rather than actual 'burning' through bad rings/into the combustion chamber. My gut-check at this point is that if I get a good feel from the folks at this dealership and I don't find major/obvious problems in a used/trainer Blast, I'd be smart to buy it if the price was right? Especially if the dealership can produce maintenance records for this bike for the period that they have used it as a training-aid. I know that there are no guarantees, but you don't get a guarrantee from anyone when you buy a used bike from a private party, either. How about this question: How many miles are "high" miles on a training bike, when you consider engine lugging, bike being rdden/dropped by novices etc? Stay Safe, Waldo1 | ||
| Ezblast |
Thats true - above 5000 rpms my bike starts puking oil, and since I'm always above 5000 rpms - lol - I go through oil - I've done all the common and a few uncommon tricks to lessen it, but the bikes still have a small diet of oil on a regular basis - if I can ever get that beat - I'd be a happy camper for sure! EZ | ||
| Fast1075 |
I now have about 600 miles on mine...bought it with 2,500 miles...after a 200 mile ride last Saturday where I spent a considerable amount of time at WOT combined with last night's hard 80 mile ride...it has used maybe 2 oz of oil. Prior to that where all the miles were around town and commuting at 55-60...it used no oil at all.. |
