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I am new here and new to sport bikes.
I normally ride a Harley but I sold it the beginning of the year because I messed up my back and thought I would not be riding any more. I have been ridding Harleys for about 40 years. Well here I am doing a lot better and figuring I could ride again. So I started looking at Craigslist. I decided I would get a scooter. Tried out an almost new Honda Helix with less than 1500 miles. No could do. I guess they are ok for some but not for me. Next up a Suzuki Phantom 250. Brought over from Asia. You can't find them here or any place else but Asia. It looks like a Virago 250 but has a disk brake in the front and back along with mag wheels instead of spokes and drum. It was a rag but let me know I wanted something bigger. I decided I could handle a 500 to 1100 ok. Yesterday I saw this
I checked out Katanas on line and it said they were nice sport touring bikes. I thought I would like to give it a try now that I have been retired so I bought it. What was I thinking? It too is a rag [the guy with the 250 wanted the same amount for it. I probably should have gone with it.] but it had almost brand new tires on it worth over $400 new. He said something about messing with the clutch and dropping a spring. I thought it's rough but I could fix the clutch and ride it for a while and if I did not like it I could sell it and get something else.
Here I am yesterday with the bike loaded on my truck. Oh by the way I am 65. OMG what was I thinking????
I look happy there because I am. That saying about the best two days are when you by it and sell it come to mind.
Here are some more pictures of it.
Now when I was there buying it, it started right up and ran great. Everything but the clutch and the front blinkers worked. I unloaded it and parked it on the driveway. About an hour later I notice a few drops of oil.
Today there is a large puddle of oil. I am guessing that I must have knocked something lose yesterday. After I took the body panels off I found the clutch cover missing three screws... no jokes here please..... and about two inches of the gasket sticking outside the cover. I took the body panels off after trying to figure out how to get the seat off. That was fun in it's self.... not. After I got the seat off I found a clutch spring where the battery is.
Before there was a lot of oil on the ground earlier this morning after getting all the body panels off, by that I mean two panels as thats all there is, I started it back up. Once again it started right up but had to ad the choke until it warmed up then it purrred like a kitten. However the turn signals are in flasher mode now and I can't get them to turn off. Now I know that this wasn't a problem yesterday. I found that out this morning when I took off the body panels. The front turn signals were not connected then. I need help sorting it out. Ok I just plain need help. Forget about the bike.
Notice the big gaps in the body work. Oh this will have you in stitches. See the drivers peg that has been broken off. It was like that when I bought. He was using a bolt stuck in one of the holes for a peg. I will have to get a picture of it. Alcohol will do that to you. Oh forgot to mention that he's an alcoholic or so he told me. It's a long story and I fell for it hook, line and sinker. No I did not see any red flags. ROFLMAO I think I can tell my doctors they can cut back on my meds though.
I almost forgot. I don't know where my head was on this next one. I always check the tank. Snap no I didn't. I'll get a picture tomorrow of it.
Now I've got Kat fever. I'm waiting until Monday to get the title in my name before I start buying parts for it though. I've been through that before. I'll wait and see if I ride or part it. Got the parts bookmark for sure. Hope it turns out to be a rider.
I have been reading the forum and checking things out. So far the only thing that has me scratching my head is the emergency blinkers won't shut off. You can bet I will be looking for more help as I go along.
I normally ride a Harley but I sold it the beginning of the year because I messed up my back and thought I would not be riding any more. I have been ridding Harleys for about 40 years. Well here I am doing a lot better and figuring I could ride again. So I started looking at Craigslist. I decided I would get a scooter. Tried out an almost new Honda Helix with less than 1500 miles. No could do. I guess they are ok for some but not for me. Next up a Suzuki Phantom 250. Brought over from Asia. You can't find them here or any place else but Asia. It looks like a Virago 250 but has a disk brake in the front and back along with mag wheels instead of spokes and drum. It was a rag but let me know I wanted something bigger. I decided I could handle a 500 to 1100 ok. Yesterday I saw this
I checked out Katanas on line and it said they were nice sport touring bikes. I thought I would like to give it a try now that I have been retired so I bought it. What was I thinking? It too is a rag [the guy with the 250 wanted the same amount for it. I probably should have gone with it.] but it had almost brand new tires on it worth over $400 new. He said something about messing with the clutch and dropping a spring. I thought it's rough but I could fix the clutch and ride it for a while and if I did not like it I could sell it and get something else.
Here I am yesterday with the bike loaded on my truck. Oh by the way I am 65. OMG what was I thinking????
I look happy there because I am. That saying about the best two days are when you by it and sell it come to mind.
Here are some more pictures of it.
Now when I was there buying it, it started right up and ran great. Everything but the clutch and the front blinkers worked. I unloaded it and parked it on the driveway. About an hour later I notice a few drops of oil.
Today there is a large puddle of oil. I am guessing that I must have knocked something lose yesterday. After I took the body panels off I found the clutch cover missing three screws... no jokes here please..... and about two inches of the gasket sticking outside the cover. I took the body panels off after trying to figure out how to get the seat off. That was fun in it's self.... not. After I got the seat off I found a clutch spring where the battery is.
Before there was a lot of oil on the ground earlier this morning after getting all the body panels off, by that I mean two panels as thats all there is, I started it back up. Once again it started right up but had to ad the choke until it warmed up then it purrred like a kitten. However the turn signals are in flasher mode now and I can't get them to turn off. Now I know that this wasn't a problem yesterday. I found that out this morning when I took off the body panels. The front turn signals were not connected then. I need help sorting it out. Ok I just plain need help. Forget about the bike.
Notice the big gaps in the body work. Oh this will have you in stitches. See the drivers peg that has been broken off. It was like that when I bought. He was using a bolt stuck in one of the holes for a peg. I will have to get a picture of it. Alcohol will do that to you. Oh forgot to mention that he's an alcoholic or so he told me. It's a long story and I fell for it hook, line and sinker. No I did not see any red flags. ROFLMAO I think I can tell my doctors they can cut back on my meds though.
I almost forgot. I don't know where my head was on this next one. I always check the tank. Snap no I didn't. I'll get a picture tomorrow of it.
Now I've got Kat fever. I'm waiting until Monday to get the title in my name before I start buying parts for it though. I've been through that before. I'll wait and see if I ride or part it. Got the parts bookmark for sure. Hope it turns out to be a rider.
I have been reading the forum and checking things out. So far the only thing that has me scratching my head is the emergency blinkers won't shut off. You can bet I will be looking for more help as I go along.
Well snap, that did not work.
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