Motorcycle Forums/Help

[rdurham285]

Hello Everyone,

I know there's the "two wheel hooliagans" thread going, I didnt want to make it go off topic but it made me think this would be a good place to look.

I'm looking for a motorcycle forum to join for reference material on caring/maintaining my bike.

I'm mechanically brilliant when it comes to cars, but I'm in the dark on how to care for a motorcycle as far as fluids, maintenance interval, checking the chain, oil etc. I don't want to go in blindly into a motorcylce shop asking for parts and be uneducated.

I've googled a few but nothing catches me. I doutb there's a specific since my bike is a 1981 model but that's ok.

Thanks everyone.

Pictures to follow when I get the time to start cleaning her up

[Captainmorbid]

There are quite a few bike specific forums, I'd google your year and model and check the origin of the results as most of the results are forum sourced. It depends on how common a model you got. Another good source for maintenance info is the techs at a good bike shop due to the fact that they are enthusiasts too. Or even eBay if you want to find the repair guides or vintage owners manuals(if you didn't get one with your bike). Congrats, and good hunting!

[Reddog99]

1981 model what????

Captainmorbid's right. Find a forum that specializes in your bike's brand, or in older bikes. There's plenty of people like you that have old bikes and they visit many on-line forums.

[iamz]

Yes to what the others have said. You need to find a specific forum for your bike. Many bikes have querks only relating to that particuliar bike. If you just want to know maintainence intervals and what's required, start with an owners manual.

[rdurham285]

Originally Posted by Reddog99

1981 model what????

Captainmorbid's right. Find a forum that specializes in your bike's brand, or in older bikes. There's plenty of people like you that have old bikes and they visit many on-line forums.

Suzuki GN400x.

Can't find anything specific. I dont think I'll keep this much longer than a season anyway. Might upgrade over winter.

[Reddog99]

Just Google "Suzuki GN400". I wasn't looking too hard and still found a wiring diagram and several forum discussions...

[Captainmorbid]

I did some searching, this Motorcycle Forum - Powered by vBulletin, might be worth a browse. You're not kidding on the bike specific for an 81 Zook GN 400 being a Sasquatch! Ah well, keep digging...

[FORDSVTPARTS]

You might want to check with your local Vo-Tech and see if they have a motorcycle repair course.

When I went there were a couple guys that were basically taking the class just to have a warm place to rebuild their bikes over the winter.

I learned a ton during that course, you can work on your own and also practice on the schools machines without having to worry about breaking your own stuff.

-Steve

[rdurham285]

Well,

found nothing specific.

I DID find an owners manual from the forum Capn suggested (thanks) which told me what I wanted to know (oil viscosity and volume), as well as other useful information.

Gotta drain the tank, change the oil, and maybe clean the carb. It ran fine on carb cleaner so I'm hoping the gas just had too much stabilizer in it (he treated 1 gal with enough to treat 10 gal). Probably wait till it's warmer and closer to my safety course so I'm not tempted to ride without a license.

Thanks guys,

-Ryan

[dan-c]

Originally Posted by rdurham285

Well,

found nothing specific.

I DID find an owners manual from the forum Capn suggested (thanks) which told me what I wanted to know (oil viscosity and volume), as well as other useful information.

Gotta drain the tank, change the oil, and maybe clean the carb. It ran fine on carb cleaner so I'm hoping the gas just had too much stabilizer in it (he treated 1 gal with enough to treat 10 gal). Probably wait till it's warmer and closer to my safety course so I'm not tempted to ride without a license.

Thanks guys,

-Ryan

If it runs on choke only the low speed jets are clogged. After you drain the tank and carb, I highly recommend dumping straight Sea Foam in the tank (so it'll flow to the carb), then filling up with gas.
Having a license is way overrated by the way though I've had mine since '73