Ride Safe Out There... - Page 2

**Chopper Rick** · 12-31-2005, 03:59 AM

"On the rear fender struts, would it be cheaper to buy used ones & have them re-chromed or even just black them out ? "

Gearjammer, it would be cheaper to buy them used if you can find them. Everytime i've looked all i come across are struts for a 250. I may just have to fab some up myself.

**GearJammer** · 12-31-2005, 12:43 PM

It might actually be cooler to fab your own anyways, Chopper Rick. You'd have a one-off set that no one else has.

Some flat plate stock cut to the needed length, holes drilled where needed & spacers welded behind the struts to run the mounting hardware thru. You could even shape the top & bottom edges of the flat plate with a design pattern of your own. Might look pretty trick!

**Snorebaby** · 01-15-2006, 12:28 AM

I was kinda bored and running through some of the topics I haven't read yet and come across this question from GJ "Does anyone know the price of the '86/'87 450's when brand new ? Or the 250's '85/'86/'87 ? Just wondering how the average current price of $2500 for the 450's compares?"

Since I bought my '86 450 (off the showroom floor with 1.3 miles on it) in March of '87 I paid $2100. So they hold there value. I guess with only a 2yr run on 450's that they are more collector material and likely to hold there value when not heavily modified (if you are willing to part with it).

As for myself, it is my first bought bike (had others through the years in the family) and I probably will never get rid of it. I guess I just LOVE it too much, or maybe a pack rat. I will probably hand it down to my daughter. She loves it too and can't wait for me to get it running

. She just turned 15 and while we were at the DMV getting her car learner's permit, I made a comment to my wife about the Motorcycle handbook. Told her that I guess it would be the next thing to do when our daughter has her regular license. That look I got could stop a herd of elephant's

. She don't know that I am planning on buying a used 250 next year for her to learn on. I think the 450 is a little heavy for her to begin on. She is only 5'4" and the 250 would suit her better. Plus, I really don't want her dropping the 450. It is not pretty to see a grown man cry!!

**GearJammer** · 01-15-2006, 12:55 AM

Interesting post, Snorey...

Thanx for that info on the new 450 prices from back then. Going by that, they sure are holding their value quite well & in some cases pulling in even more than original price.

That's VERY cool that you're going to turn your daughter onto riding! Can also understand your wife's concerns. I turned my son onto riding & have to admit, the thought of him getting hurt (or worse) comes to mind now & again. My OL also rides after being influenced by my "corrupting her morals", LOL! & I think about her well-being also. But Life is for living & one has to live it! The feeling of being in the wind far outweighs the risks for me personally. Hell, if I couldn't ride anymore, ain't sure what I'd do. Not the type to take up knitting! LOL!

Good forethought on your part about starting her out on the 250, Brother. These 450's sure seem to be top-heavy. Not a problem once in motion, but pretty dicey at stops "sometimes". Have dropped this 450 twice: Once trucking it home as it wasn't registered yet & the tie-downs came loose! The 2nd time was rolling it into the shop & it fell away from me & I had to let her drop....*ouch* (Thankfully no damage done)

**Snorebaby** · 01-15-2006, 03:04 AM

I have thought of the concerns also and they scare me. But it is something I think she will love to do. She has ridden jetski's and 4wheelers with friends the past 2 yrs and even has her Jetski permit (boater safety permit for anyone under 16 without a valid drivers license) and does well with them. She is not a "thrill seeker", more of a cruiser like her ol' Dad

. Even though she will play on a jetski or 4wheeler, she is cautious (if that makes sense). So I think she will be a great biker. Something she can do on the weekends to enjoy. Time will tell when I start riding her on the back of the 450 this summer if it is something she wants to do. If it is, then next summer we will take a MSC together.

The wife used to passenger until she was learning to ride her brothers 450 (his was black) and she dropped it in a slow speed turn/braking situation. No harm to her or the bike, but from then on she didn't want to ride. She won't even get on a jetski. She is only 5'2'" and I think it was just too big for her to learn on. That is one reason I want to start my daughter on a 250.

**GearJammer** · 01-15-2006, 12:58 PM

It sounds like your daughter has the right balance in attitude. There's a time for fun without being reckless & a time when safety should be the priority.

When I started riding there was no such thing as an MSC course even being offerred. We all had to learn on our own. Have seen many people suggest larger bikes as starter bikes & it makes me cringe. My very 1st bike & the one I learned to ride on was a 750cc Triumph triple (one very FAST bike in it's day). Thankfully, I survived long enough to even take the m/c license riding test! LOL! (And I had had some close calls out there trying to learn the riding skills)

This may sound hypocritical, but even tho' I learned on the 750cc, I'd STILL recommend nothing larger than a 250cc as a starter bike, but that's just me.

**Chopper Rick** · 01-19-2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snorebaby

I was kinda bored and running through some of the topics I haven't read yet and come across this question from GJ "Does anyone know the price of the '86/'87 450's when brand new ? Or the 250's '85/'86/'87 ? Just wondering how the average current price of $2500 for the 450's compares?"

Since I bought my '86 450 (off the showroom floor with 1.3 miles on it) in March of '87 I paid $2100. So they hold there value. I guess with only a 2yr run on 450's that they are more collector material and likely to hold there value when not heavily modified (if you are willing to part with it).

As for myself, it is my first bought bike (had others through the years in the family) and I probably will never get rid of it. I guess I just LOVE it too much, or maybe a pack rat. I will probably hand it down to my daughter. She loves it too and can't wait for me to get it running

. She just turned 15 and while we were at the DMV getting her car learner's permit, I made a comment to my wife about the Motorcycle handbook. Told her that I guess it would be the next thing to do when our daughter has her regular license. That look I got could stop a herd of elephant's

. She don't know that I am planning on buying a used 250 next year for her to learn on. I think the 450 is a little heavy for her to begin on. She is only 5'4" and the 250 would suit her better. Plus, I really don't want her dropping the 450. It is not pretty to see a grown man cry!!

I'm the 3rd owner of my 87 450 & when i purchased it came with the original paperwork from the first owner. The first owner purchased the bike in May of 87 at a Honda Dealer in Escondido, Ca for $2198.00.