Subject: Re: LONG DISTANCE LOOP FRAME
Author: Robert Hawkes
Date: Dec 12, 2001, 6:22 PM
Post ID: 1709142300
David,
What you said is deep and well said. Yes, we don't want a bike that "falls
apart faster than a Chinese motorcycle" as they saying goes (or Harley for
that matter). And too much reliability leads to boredom, for me. Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: <psabr-@aol.com>
To: <Loopfram-@topica.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: LONG DISTANCE LOOP FRAME
| ============================================================ Enter to Win Free Maid Service and More from Pfizer! Win Free Maid Service for 6 Months, a "Day of Beauty" or a Palm Handheld! Enter Now! http://click.topica.com/caaaeHNb1dfltb1FlG8a/Pfizer ============================================================ OK, Since we have introduced discussions on books and Guzzi vs BMW/Goldwing, |
with "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". A book of Philosophy
intertwined with a study of motorcycles and their riders. The reading can
be dry at times, so be forewarned. The author (Pirsig) rides an old
motorcycle and performs routine and roadside maintenance because it is an
anticipated and expected part of the entire riding experience. He
understands that his bike is a collection of interoperating systems that all
tie together to make the bike run. If one system fails then the entire
"system" fails. Troubleshooting and analysis of problems adds to his
pleasure.
His riding partners are on BMW's. They enjoy riding but consider repair |
inherently take away from the experience if you have to do them yourself.
Their bikes either run or they don't. They do not with to analyze even the
simplest problems since they look at the bike as a single entity. When it's
broke, it's broke and someone with that knowledge must fix it. I read this
book before ever getting a motorcycle and early on, identified that I would
never be satisfied with a bike that I did not have the ability to work on
myself. It is that reputation of low maintenance and longevity that gives
me little desire to own a BMW, Although I respect their bikes greatly. My
experience with HD is that one must perform the same basic tasks (i.e.
replace primary cover bolts) nearly everytime the bike is ridden. That, to
me, is silly stuff. I want a machine that when properly "repaired", will
hold that state reliably until another "repair" is needed. Moto Guzzi fits
nicely somewhere between the two. Generally when a repair must me made
repeatedly to a Guzzi, then perhaps there are other factors which must be
contributing to the problem. We can see this, in that many of us have
started with neglected bikes, but with time and persistence, the bikes end
up being very reliable and consistent. The owners grow in knowledge and
through familiarity and experience, begin to anti
cipate when items must be worked on and why. This may be a little deep and long-winded, but in my mind, it is this |
together.
To paraphrase the author one one of my favorite statements: "When working on a motorcycle, the first and foremost tool one must have |
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