Ease of maintenance.

[yoda731]

Hey, folks. Thanks as always for being such a tremendous resource to noobs like me.

I don't have anything to compare it with, but so far my '81 CX500 strikes me as being ridiculously well laid-out with regards to doing the maintenance. The front and back brakes each have easy to see indicators to reveal their wear. The plugs and valves on the transverse mounted V-twin are right out in the open. The oil filter & drain plug are on the very front of the block. There are two engine cover bolts that can be easily removed both to turn the camshaft while adjusting the valves, and to read an indicator that tells you where you are in the cycle (makes it easy to find "Top Dead Center"). Its a liquid-cooled bike, but changing the coolant is pretty simple, as is changing the rear drive oil. Similarly, all the cable adjustments are out in the open, ready for tweaking. The air filter is under the seat, which is a simple two-bolt removal job.

Is this the rule or the exception for most bikes? Also, I'd love to have you each identify bikes you have or have had, and how easy they were to maintain.

Thanks!
JC

[CORSCO]

The problem with newer bikes (technology) is less space to work in.
Here are some gripes withsome models.
1.XVS1100..you all know this one..remove front pipe to change oil.
2.Some CBR's...Frame cross member right over spark plugs
3.VTX1800...No quick disconnect fuel lines and have to remove tank to get to radiator cap
4.All Honda ATV's..F'n plastic clips everywhere. And the Rubicon, or Rincon with the 90 degree angle oil fill spout.
5.06 R6...remove shift linkage to change oil filter.
6.Older Intruders...battery under bike in front of rear tire. And their throttle linkages.
7.FZ6...battery under fuel tank.
All for now, gotta get back to work.

[TechTMW]

Any BMW airhead is the easiest bike in the world to maintain.

period.

[CORSCO]

TechBMW, do you work at a BMW only shop. What else is a big seller in Italy?

[yoda731]

Any BMW airhead is the easiest bike in the world to maintain.

period.

What is an airhead? (Eh, with regards to your post... )

[-Holiday]

Any BMW airhead is the easiest bike in the world to maintain.

period.

What is an airhead? (Eh, with regards to your post... )

a term referring to BMW's earlier air cooled engines. Before they were oil cooled. Its a term given to them by owners, not really an official name.

[-Holiday]

here is wikipedias definition:

irheads are the typical BMW 247 BMW-engine type that were built from 1932 up to 1995. These air cooled motorcycles are quite comfortable to ride and easy to keep in condition. The airhead design was replaced by the oilhead.

While the term Airheads provides description of the type 247 engine produced by BMW until 1995, an airhead can also be someone who rides these machines. Airheads are a collective group of people with a shared passion for these machines, which are no longer produced by BMW. People who ride these machines are known for their courteous, safe motorcycling, and penchant for wearing complete safety gear. Airheads share knowledge about the motorcycles and how to maintain them. As of 2006, there are approximately 8000 current members of the international Airhead group, with about 3000 active members.

[nike_soccer]

the only time ive never done my own mateince was when i seized a piston.

[yoda731]

the only time ive never done my own mateince was when i seized a piston.

I just about seized one looking at those pictures in your signature...

[Tyrone ORourke]

My current bike is a 1981 Jawa 350cc-634. Easiest bike in the world to maintain given a little knowledge.
I could basically strip her on the side of the road and build her up again in a few hours.
Brakes have nice wear indicatords on the drum plates. Engine access is great!
She is a air-cooled two stroke, so that makes things very simple to begin with, but anyway:
Lots of space between tank and heads, so plug chops are easy.
Each cylinder(two of them) has a seperate head, so replacing blown head gaskets takes a few minutes. Shes running on premix, so nothing to worry about oil, and the gearbox oil is easy to change, with the drain bolt easy to reach.
Only real problem is chain adjustment. She comes fit with a fully enclosed chain case, with no real way of seeing the chain.

My other bike, a '69 Honda S90 is quite harder to maintain in comparission. Mainly the butter soft alloy of the engine casings means extreme care must be taken to make sure that nothing gets stripped.