Wife had a lapse in judgement

"youshiftem" (torinosport302) 04/04/2016 at 12:12 • Filed to: None

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And let me buy this.

After countless cars I’ve finally purchased my first bike. Its a 1983 Honda Shadow that I found for next to nothing. Runs great and feels great to ride. It’s terrifying and I love it! I can’t wait to tear it all apart and discover this whole new world of mechanics I’ve never ventured in before.

Nibby > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:13

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Marry her.

Gone > Nibby 04/04/2016 at 12:14

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Again.

Nibby > Gone 04/04/2016 at 12:15

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Daily.

youshiftem > Nibby 04/04/2016 at 12:16

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Agreed.

jimz > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:18

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I’ve got a line on a VT700C which I can get for $500. It has a bad stator (common failure on those is overheating of the connector from stator to the voltage regulator.) I’m thinking of grabbing it just because.

McMike > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:18

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That looks like a VT500. Is it?

youshiftem > McMike 04/04/2016 at 12:21

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It is! And I just learned what that means!

Gone > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:22

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Don’t worry, it’ll work itself out in a few years. Especially if children are involved... Wife loves riding on mine, but my continued existence would be a plus to her. I’m cool with it. Being old(er) and breaking bones/dying is a lot less appealing these days... Frees me up to build another track car, so I’m not out anything though. :)

Xyl0c41n3 > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:22

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That’s not a lapse in judgement, that’s a calculated move to facilitate a kick ass “date night.” :P

Heh. Congrats! It's a great looking bike!

For Sweden > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:24

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That’s not an ugly bike

youshiftem > For Sweden 04/04/2016 at 12:25

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That is not an entirely untrue statement.

bob and john > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:26

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I spy ontario plates.

where abouts are you?

youshiftem > bob and john 04/04/2016 at 12:27

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Near Ottawa, where it is still WAY too cold to be driving anything without a heater.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:30

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Drugging her and her having a lapse of judgement, are not the same thing.

Pickup_man > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:37

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Great bikes, but just one word of warning, any top end engine work requires full engine out of frame service, which is a PITA. If you ever find yourself needing to pull that engine, make triply sure that all is good before it goes back together.

Enjoy riding!

McMike > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 12:38

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My first motorcycle was a 1983 Shadow 500. I swear to god, I think 95% of them were that red color.

They also made a VT500 Ascot at the same time. A little more of a standard Nighthawk looking bike, but with the V twin.

Congrats!... and before you make an ass out of yourself at the parts counter, it had two plugs per cylinder.

I thought the guy was dumb when he tried to sell me four.... I was like, “Dude, (rolls eyes) it’s a V-twin”

youshiftem > McMike 04/04/2016 at 12:57

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yeah I noticed the four plugs, very strange. I had a friend warn me about the shaft drive being more dangerous, I ignored him because a bike already maxes out my dangometer, but do you think this is true? Something about torque effect pushing the wheel under you?

McMike > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 13:20

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I have never heard anything about shaft drive being dangerous.

Shaft drive facts:*

Virtually maintenance free.

More expensive to manufacture.

Harder to change final drive ratios.

Safer because a chain/belt can not break and lock the rear wheel.

Has a little more more drivetrain loss because the engine output has to change directions twice. (except with a longitudinal engine layout like a BMW or a Goldwing).

While chains and belts are more popular, quite a few bikes have shaft drive these days.

*accepting corrections from anyone, this is just what I remember.

BJ > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 13:38

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Not really dangerous, but it does have a slightly different dynamic when you re-apply power after coasting a bit. Try this at low speeds, see how it feels:

In an alley or on a quiet street, get up to “not falling over speed” in second gear.

Gently let off the throttle.

Coast a tiny bit, then re-apply power - not roughly, not too gently.

If you have experience on chain-drive bikes, you’ll notice something different. With the shaft drive, there is a slight delay as the slack in the drive is picked up, and then it grabs and goes.

At speed, on a highway corner, this effect could be more exciting than desired. Just remember to come back on the throttle gently to close up the slack and you’ll be fine.

BJ > McMike 04/04/2016 at 13:40

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As I replied directly to youshiftem, there is a bit of slack in the shaft drive that needs to be picked up when coming off of a coast. I never had any problems with it, and never had any trouble adjusting between chain and shaft drive bikes, but I was also pretty cautious most of the time.

Number one on your list is the number one reason to own a shaft drive bike. I always had trouble with chains.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 13:57

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I like the way you describe how your wife let you do this.

That is the perfect way to describe the last time my wife let me buy a car. It was a lapse in judgment , and she is awesome for that.

Hammerdown > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 14:48

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I had the 750 from the same year for my first bike. They’re fun!

Hammerdown > McMike 04/04/2016 at 14:55

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Some purists thing that the jacking of the shaft drive is dangerous, but you’re right, I’ve never had a problem. In higher horsepower/torque situations they’ll act differently under load than a chain or belt, but it’s negligible.

I’ve owned 3 shaft drive bikes, including a V65 Magna. When you opened it up it would lift the seat/frame up a little. It was as if the shaft pushed the wheel down and the frame up (it’s difficult to explain how it felt). It was cool and noticeable, but not dangerous.

McMike > Hammerdown 04/04/2016 at 15:06

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After two shaft bikes, I now have a belt-drive bike. There’s always a little bit of lash in all of them.

Then again, they’re lazy cruisers...

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 15:21

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Hammerdown > McMike 04/04/2016 at 15:24

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Exactly, the ease of maintenance outweighs the lash big time.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > youshiftem 04/04/2016 at 16:13

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That bike is so 80's!