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Originally posted by yaser_kb100
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I never owned a RE but used to ride a cousins 1982 model quiet a bit and that bike still hold a very special place in my heart.
Agreed that the new engines/bikes are more efficient, powerful etc but when it comes to reliability, I would say that the older models weren't that bad either. The proof that we still see so many of the oldies speaks about their long lasting build.
I don't know, maybe its just the way I try to look at things - but in todays fast paced life, I think we have less time for the ones we think we love and when it breaks down, we rate it unreliable. Any new bike(can also be substituted with wife/friend/relation) will ride perfectly for the first couple of years even if you don't give it the time apart from just the rides. But after that we will have to spend time on it to nurture and deepen the bond.
I have a friend whose dad has been riding his bullet since I have known him(i:e 18yrs) and even today his Bullet is in immaculate condition, all stock. Every sunday morning you can still find him cleaning his bike and he does the minor fixes himself and when it has to be serviced, he is with the bike all the time at the mechanics place getting some grease on his palms. Once his dad wasn't keeping well and the service was due to he gave us the bike to get it serviced. He himself wrote a complete list of things that have to be done and instructed us to stay there all the time and mark the list done as they happen. Back then it appeared he was overdoing it. But today when I look back I think I have a lot to learn from him.
In these 18yrs, I have seen quiet a few guys who have changed bikes 3-4 times. Short term relationships with their bikes, barely lasting 3-5yrs. First year they are very happy and excited, towards the end of 2nd year when minor problems/repairs start, they are unhappy and by the 3rd/4th year they are frustrated and want to get rid of it and get a new one.
Would I be wrong in concluding that maybe its our lack of patience these days that we are interpreting as the reliability issues in the bikes(relations)?
One other reason I see is, so many models being launched and older (read 5yrs) models being stopped that is causing problem finding spares and hence maintenance.
Coming back to the bullet, not so long ago I rode a friends new Bullet and was impressed with its smoothness and performance, especially the braking BUT somehow it wasn't able to leave that effect on me as the OLD bullet which brought out the MAN in me everytime I had to Kick Start it
and then the thump gave me the boost(was it my Ego?). Again maybe its just me but I feel that off late they(not specific to the Bullet but everything in general) have been providing buttons for way too many things. We need a button for everything and then we wonder why we are getting dull/obese. Hope they don't come up with a bed full of buttons or maybe they already have.
Agreed that the new engines/bikes are more efficient, powerful etc but when it comes to reliability, I would say that the older models weren't that bad either. The proof that we still see so many of the oldies speaks about their long lasting build.
I don't know, maybe its just the way I try to look at things - but in todays fast paced life, I think we have less time for the ones we think we love and when it breaks down, we rate it unreliable. Any new bike(can also be substituted with wife/friend/relation) will ride perfectly for the first couple of years even if you don't give it the time apart from just the rides. But after that we will have to spend time on it to nurture and deepen the bond.
I have a friend whose dad has been riding his bullet since I have known him(i:e 18yrs) and even today his Bullet is in immaculate condition, all stock. Every sunday morning you can still find him cleaning his bike and he does the minor fixes himself and when it has to be serviced, he is with the bike all the time at the mechanics place getting some grease on his palms. Once his dad wasn't keeping well and the service was due to he gave us the bike to get it serviced. He himself wrote a complete list of things that have to be done and instructed us to stay there all the time and mark the list done as they happen. Back then it appeared he was overdoing it. But today when I look back I think I have a lot to learn from him.
In these 18yrs, I have seen quiet a few guys who have changed bikes 3-4 times. Short term relationships with their bikes, barely lasting 3-5yrs. First year they are very happy and excited, towards the end of 2nd year when minor problems/repairs start, they are unhappy and by the 3rd/4th year they are frustrated and want to get rid of it and get a new one.
Would I be wrong in concluding that maybe its our lack of patience these days that we are interpreting as the reliability issues in the bikes(relations)?
One other reason I see is, so many models being launched and older (read 5yrs) models being stopped that is causing problem finding spares and hence maintenance.
Coming back to the bullet, not so long ago I rode a friends new Bullet and was impressed with its smoothness and performance, especially the braking BUT somehow it wasn't able to leave that effect on me as the OLD bullet which brought out the MAN in me everytime I had to Kick Start it
and then the thump gave me the boost(was it my Ego?). Again maybe its just me but I feel that off late they(not specific to the Bullet but everything in general) have been providing buttons for way too many things. We need a button for everything and then we wonder why we are getting dull/obese. Hope they don't come up with a bed full of buttons or maybe they already have.
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