Owning a vintage motorcycle/scooter can be a fun and exciting experience. However, there are a few things to keep in mind in regards to the maintenance and upkeep of a vintage machine. Knowing these before hand will help in understanding what to expect from your vehicle and knowing the limits of what you are willing to take on because…
- Vintage motorcycle/scooters are just that, old. You should treat it as that, old.
- You have a vehicle with parts that are 10, 20, 40 years old or more, unless you replace every part, you will always have something wearing out.
- Things can and will break down, and this can be expensive to maintain and repair.
- Many early Japanese and European bikes were absolute ‘Classics’ when they were released and an equal amount had inherent mechanical faults. Some bikes seem to stand up to the ravages of time and some definitely do not. Some bikes are relatively easy to get parts for and others are downright impossible.
- Today’s fuel contains as much as 15% Ethanol along with other harmful additives, which can quickly cause carburetion problems for your vintage machine if left sitting for more than a couple of weeks. Stabil added to the gas tank is not enough; float bowls MUST be drained to help prevent the clogging of the jets and passageways inside your carburetor, due to the evaporation and varnishing of fuel.
At BlueCat Motors, we pride ourselves in being honest – so if you commit to owning a vintage vehicle, we want you to be aware of the costs that WILL be involved.
Luckily, you’re in good hands at BlueCat Motors. We do our best to go over every machine, and let you, the owner (if in for repair) or the buyer know ahead of time what the machine may or may not need to the best of our abilities.
The world of vintage motorcycles is worth all the time and energy and money one needs to put into it. In the end, there is nothing like the feeling and sound of driving a vintage ride. By getting a handle on what it means to have a machine and understanding completely the time, energy, money, and constant care your machine needs to keep it on the road, you’ll be better prepared to accept whatever comes your way.
We are always here to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Here at BlueCat Motors, Customer Service is our number one priority!
