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New old rider

946 views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  Elk 
#1 ·
I'm 57 years old and back riding again after a 35 year (or so) hiatus. I bought a barely-ridden 2008 V-Star 1300 June 23 after completing my rider safety course and getting my motorcycle endorsement. Currently driving the "lot rot" bugs out, doing my own maintenance and fixes and could use some wisdom from the forum. Don't know how much I can contribute bike-wise, but I'm always ready with an opinion or life-experience anecdotes! I look forward to participating.
 
#2 ·
Hi frankcoolbroth,

Welcome to the forums from the Netherlands!

Funny, I was in a similar situation, 5 years ago. I hadn't ridden a motorcycle 'for almost 30 years to the day, and got an XVS1300, as the V-star 1300 is known over here. Since then I have "graduated" to a by now highly customized XV1900 Midnight Star (Roadliner) :), and am enjoying it greatly.

The forum members are really very helpful, so if you have a question, do ask. I am sure someone will jump in to answer any questions you may have.

Please do post some pics of your ride. We all love admiring our members' bikes :).

Kind regards, Wim
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the welcome, Wim! I posted 2 pics in my garage, one of the bike and the other of the tank gunk that was the result of YEARS of not being ridden. That pic shows the gunk and rust left AFTER THE 5TH RINSE OF THE TANK using gas or Sea Foam! it's a wonder the bike ran at all. I got a POR-15 kit to restore the tank and a new petcock (the filter screens were gone in the old one) and will be sealing the tank in the coming days.
 
#4 ·
Welcome from Atlantic Canada, Frank. I also got back into riding after a long hiatus with a barely used 1100. Fortunately it had been ridden every season, just not a lot.

Looks like you got yourself one sweet ride there but that is one pile o'crap in your tank. I'm surprised you were able to get it started too. Those "barn finds" are nice low mileage bikes but they sometimes need a lot of care to get them back in good running condition. Sounds like you're on the right track and she'll be as good as new in no time.
 
#5 ·
#6 ·
I said I wouldn't buy a Harley because I'm not a Harley mechanic, now I'm eating my words getting the bugs out of this V-Star! :) NorthernRider, if you're anything like my Minnesota biker brothers I'd bet you ride most of the year despite the cold. Strap a ski to the front, spike tire on the back, snowmobile suit and off you go!! Love Canada - I grew up in Minnesota, lived in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, for about a year and traveled the Western Provinces fairly extensively but never made it out to the Maritime provinces. For the record, I still remember all the words to "O Canada"!

Getting some good feedback on fixing my bike's issues from others on another thread ("1300 XVS - Cuts out while riding"). Hope this will help me get her back right.

lesblank, thanks for the threads. I got on 1 or 2 polls before you sent them to me and I enjoyed the others. There is so much on here I won't have time to see it all, the suggestions are much appreciated. Oh, and sorry about that Longhorns/Cincinnati game - hope you're a TCU fan! (Couldn't help myself, sorry!)
 
#7 ·
lesblank, thanks for the threads. I got on 1 or 2 polls before you sent them to me and I enjoyed the others. There is so much on here I won't have time to see it all, the suggestions are much appreciated. Oh, and sorry about that Longhorns/Cincinnati game - hope you're a TCU fan! (Couldn't help myself, sorry!)
I'm a University of Houston alumni and so far we are good this year.
 
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