Rent a uhaul bike trailer to get it home, then have someone you know and trust give it a once over before you do any long distance runs.... tank could be full of sediment just waiting to foul up your fuel filter etc...
You pay per mile with Uhaul vans. 3 hours away will be expensive. Home Depot van rentals are unlimited mileage. Pay per hour or per day. You must already have your own car insurance tho.
I'd agree, except who takes the bike apart unnecessarily after buying it?
Have someone come with you and follow with a truck that can haul it if it breaks down. The best way to find out how it handles and if there's problems is to ride it.
Personal opinion, any used vehicle (bike or car) should have the basics checked/done upon purchase unless you know and trust the seller - Oil, filters, spark plugs and inspect closely brakes, tires etc.
Especially one old enough to have a mortgage and 3 children like this one.
I second this. I'm stupid when it comes to anything mechanic/car related aside from like, roadside emergency stuff. Bought a van last fall as a back up vehicle to take the doggos around in and put my sedan in the shop to get taken care of. "ehh it just needs brakes, tires, and a little body work". A few weeks go by, i take it for the brakes and tires. Behold the rusted out shocks all the way around when they put it on the rack. It rode fine, but the outer shroud of all 4 of my shocks/struts were basically gone. My suspension was literally just the inner mechanics of a shock....
Needless to say, inspections due (PA here), it's not going to pass, and I fucked myself. But live and learn, sometimes the hard way.
100% agree. OP says they will have a chase vehicle, I see no problem with riding it home assuming seller gives a clean bill of health. It looks like it was taken care of, definitely not the typical cafe hack job.
Motorcycling is always an adventure. Either way, OP will have a cool story about the trip.
The few times I've rented a motorcycle trailer from Uhaul, it had to be returned to where it was picked up unlike others you can drop off at a different location. But for the $20 it costs, I figured it's not a big deal if I didn't buy the bike anyway.
Yep same here with Uhaul. They charge a flat rate on trailers, so how far you haul it changes nothing.
I would definitely trailer this bike home and then have a mechanic go through it.
Part of me agrees with you and I'm a big fan of Roadkill and what they do. I had a big adventure in Reno last fall with my clutch master cylinder that cost me 3 days time when I had to order the part off of ebay. I had all the tools before leaving on my trip but I was starting with a bike that I had already gone through. This bike is a complete unknown and the rider doesn't have the experience to deal with those unknowns.
> That is the gamble
That's *half* the gamble. The other is, you know, serious injury and/or death.
A noob rider who is asking this question on reddit (i.e. not mechanically inclined and experienced enough to know the answer) is not qualified to judge the safety readiness of the tires, brakes, etc. You're risking more than just a stranding, even just being distracted by sudden loss of power or something.
Yes. You don't need a special license to drive any trailer under a certain length. I think 40 or 45 feet. There is a weight limit too but it is extremely high.
Yep, most trailers you need no special training or license for. There a is a certain size and weight that changes that but it's very large. It's a bit concerning what you'll see idiots rigged up to, so you really have to trust that someone will only haul a trailer they know they can handle.
I built myself a flat trailer for hauling my ATV before I even had my license, and was pleased to find out I needed nothing special to use it once I did get my license.
I was actually curious if this varies a lot in other countries? Do you need license endorsements for small run of the mill trailers in other places?
1) it’s a bad idea don’t do it
2) first bike enthusiasm is legit and can drive a person to make bad decisions when overcome by excitement - unless you live in a super rural location (US presumed) you can prob exercise some patience and find a bike closer with similar miles and style - don’t let eagerness overwhelm your common sense and good judgement (I say this having done it myself and regretted it )
3) if this is your first bike- from a safety perspective (as a rider with 30 years of riding experience) it is a very risky move to make your first ride a 3 hour death march on a bike of unknown maintenance and safety - between a lack of experience - and some random bolt or carter key you don’t know the last guy forgot to torque correctly or install - you are literally a danger to yourself and possibly could get some on else hurt who may be trying to not run over you as your front caliper dangles by one bolt after the first hour ride and you go through a median into oncoming traffic.
4) learning to ride takes time - get a local bike - take a class - and learn to ride with friends who ride and are responsible riders
5) if you are a young person and like I was you may decide against all advice to “do it anyway “ - then at least trailer it home and once home get someone skilled to Validate the basics of the fundamental safety of the bike - if you don’t know the torque spec for the axle bolts or how to check chain slack - or how to know if the tires are too old by reading codes on them - then their are not qualified
The enthusiasm of a new and first bike can be overwhelming - remember you can not just injure yourself - your mistake could inadvertently cause someone avoiding you in an incident to also get injured themselves - be thoughtful - get educated - and your first rides should be short safety rides after you’d learned in class or at least with cheap cones in empty parking lots.
Please be cautious and consider you are not the only person you put at risk when you enter a road on a bike you aren’t skilled at riding…you have a responsibility to others on the road as well to not jeopardize their safety as well as your own.
I agree with all of this except for finding a closer bike. Sometimes it just makes sense to drive to the next state over as long as you have the means to transport it safely.
Holy shit I can’t believe I’m this far down to get to this comment. Yeah, the bike might break and you might be inconvenienced if you know how to ride, but if you don’t know how to ride starting with a 3 hour ride which I assume includes highways and such is insane. Do a figure eight the parking lot and if you don’t drop it, then ask if you should ride home smh
I rode my first bike home 30 miles in New England in February. I had only ever ridden during an MSF class.
I was white knuckled the whole time and my whole body was clenched from the cold (I was underdressed by a long shot). I was exhausted when I got back after a 45 minutes ride on a Monday morning through low speed back roads. I didn’t see more than 10 other cars the whole way back.
It was awful. I’m glad for the experience and the story but it was stupid, tense, and overall a nerve wracking experience leading up to picking up the bike. The only positive I had was that the bike was brand new so I had confidence the machine wouldn’t fail me.
3 hours…. That’s a long ride for a seasoned vet.
Rent a truck, Ramps and ratchet straps unless you’re comfortable towing a trailer.
Better yet, if your friend rides, drive them down and have them ride it back. You can take it the first or last few miles to get rid of the itch.
I did the same thing. First ride after MSF class (10mph parking lot driving) was riding a 750 home from buying it, and it was a 30 minute drive at night on a hilly, twisty highway with tunnels. Thankfully the bike was mechanically sound, but I'd absolutely overestimated my skills and I was lucky to make it home without mishap. Frozen both from the cold and the terror. I'd never felt so foolish nor been so close to dying from pure stupidity.
I attempted to do the same thing upon buying first bike at 18. Fortunately, the clutch cable snapped before my dumb ass could get out of the parking lot.
Most new riders are involved in some kind of accident the first ninety days of riding. That could be just losing your balance and falling over or head on collision with an 18 wheeler. Get familiar with the bike, road, traffic conditions, and your own abilities day by day. Forget riding it home for your first ride.
This ⬆️. I started riding at 15 . Have had all makes if bikes and everything from crotch rockets to cruisers.
Recently (March '24) bought a 2023 Harley Davidson Nightster RH975. It's been about 16 years since I've last ridden. Pulled up at a light (I'm in WA State and absolutely NOTHING is level here including the roads)
Not being used to the mid controls on this bike, my left foot got caught on the frame - couldn't get loose until last second and by this time I caught her just past center and had to let her continue to the ground. Broke my clutch lever, spun the bar end mirror and hurt my pride. Fortunately some kind and sympathetic cagers got me upright. Anyone can very quickly get into a situation like this or worse. Take time to do slow and low speed practice. I know I'm gonna be parking lot partying this weekend. Send it
If you like being stuck on the side of the road its a great idea. You dont know what the old owner did to it. Dont ride it that far on a first ride my dude.
I forgot to mention that it has about 1600 miles on it. I know that doesn't change much but at that mileage there couldn't be a crazy amount done for it, no?
Dude…. That low of mile for that old of a bike… absolutely do not ride it that far. It has been sitting for extended periods and even if the carb is fresh cleaned and the fluids have recently been drained and refilled the if the header gasket wasnt replaced recently it may have dry rott and would fuck your compression. Its a cool bike and its gonna be a lot of fun, but dont risk it to save $200 bucks on a uhaul.
The odometer could also be wrong. I have an 07 Shadow that has way more miles on it than the odometer shows due to it not working for thousands of miles.
This was my first bike and it was a fucking nightmare. Way too many problems that couldn’t be solved unless I straight up replaced every gasket in the thing
That actually makes it worse... 1600 miles on a 4 decade old bike means it's done on average 40 miles per year. That means long periods of sitting, collecting dust, sediment building up in the tank, filters going bad, tires being old, oil being old etc etc. That bike needs a full service before you do ANY riding on it
I was all in to ride that puppy home till this post. It hasn't been maintained. No telling what wires or rubber lines were chewed on by rodents. Gunked carb, dry rotted tires, brake lines.
Aye I was going to write id just ask the guy if the damn thing has seen any miles recently and what is actually wrong with it and go from there. 3 hours isnt that far at all but 3 hours on a 40 year old bike with 1600 miles, no thanks.
Wonder how many decades old the tires are
If you knew anything about bikes you would totally understand why everyone is telling you not to do this....
Everyone advising you probably has decades of motorcycle experience.... I have about two years....
There is no way for you to "really know" what shape that bike is in until you've taken a few short rides on it yourself and even then something could just be waiting to show itself.
Please be careful...
Why aren't you listening to the bike trailer suggestion? They're cheap.
The LTD 550 has got to be the least desirable collectors bike of all time... they were nothing special new, dime a dozen through the 90's where they get the piss run out of them by every new rider that couldn't afford a Hawk, and have sat in garages and barns ever since waiting for the next person to outgrow and discard them....
It's likely every seal and o-ring is rotten. You really don't want to fight the fuel leak likely to spring from those carbs after about 100 miles when the fresh gas cleans the varnish out. Tires are probably a few decades old, too. That's just dangerous.
When I buy a vintage bike, I have a check list that makes me far more comfortable with long rides.
- Rebuild carbs
- Clean rust out of the tank
- Adjust valves
- Change oil and filter
- Test compression
- Change spark plugs and clean the points
- Replace tires
- Replace wheel bearings and seals
- Rebuild forks
- Replace rear shocks
- Thoroughly clean and lube chain
- Inspect sprockets. Replace if needed.
- Test charging system
- Flush brake fluid
- Thoroughly inspect and test brakes
I'd be willing ride cross country after that. Good luck.
Not the worst idea but 3 hours is a fucking long ride. Everything about reliability and shit aside. Seat time stamina is real and shit gets exhausting. You'll have to stop for gas at least once, maybe twice, and you will be feeling it when you go to hop off and then get back on
Have them ready with the trailer or whatever and go for it tho. Worst case you call it and load it up the rest of the way
The ride home with 1st bike and these few next rides + 1st solo rides had an amazing feeling for me. Felling that we chase for the rest of our lives I believe, knowing damn well we will never gonna feel that kind of joy and excitement ever again
Sketch at best . Tell the owner you are taking it for a test drive and will bring it back clean . Drive it around some first make sure nothing is wrong with it . Goto car wash hand wash it . Touch every part of bike hand wash it , from front to back it will let you know if anything is loose or broke . Best way I have found to inspect bike tires included. CAUTION WARNING, Do not ride that far with weathered cracked tires . Good looking scooter though . For a 82 model it looks like it has had a good garage kept life .
For this bike? Bad idea, personally. 40 year old bikes are just a diceroll of potential issues, which is not something you want while learning.
Find a nice entry level bike locally and go that route, as a personal suggestion.
I did this almost exactly, with my 86 Rebel. Without insurance or registration. It was one of the stupidest things I've ever done, and I would never advise anyone to do it.
It went fine, but it turns out the wheels (yes the wheels, not just the old ass tires) were not in good enough shape to be riding on and I just got incredibly lucky that nothing went wrong. And I had no idea because I had so little riding experience and I was so nervous I just couldn't tell it was riding like shit.
Get it towed directly to your local shop (obviously call them first) and have them check it out and make sure it's road worthy. You should have tow coverage on your insurance anyway.
IF you decide to ignore the warnings, at the very least you should ride it around a parking lot or small back roads for a bit first so you have a low stakes environment to get a feel for that specific bike. And try to get a friend to follow you in their car just in case.
I did it on my Honda Shadow. The trick is just let it be your own ride. Let everyone impatient pass you and pull over if your holding up traffic till you get the hang of it. Stretch the hours out. And whoever took you to the shop should be driving with you as well.
It's a good experience. Just be safe, wear your gear, and take precautions. Also make sure the weather is in your favor too. Also take some rest stops along the way.
An adventure is always worth while. Will it involve a breakdown or two, oh ya. Will you make it home without a trailer? That's a story your grand kids will want to hear. Shadetree Surgeon would do it. I say bring your phone and find a buddy with a trailer just in case it goes sideways, then go for it.
It's a bad idea to do a 3hr road trip on *any* bike you JUST bought. Whether it be your first or 20th bike. You don't know the kind of maintenance the last owner has done to it, and what faults it has that are waiting to go wrong. Max I would do on a new-to-me bike is 30 minutes to an hour, before doing a full service and giving the bike a once-over.
Hearing alot of fear in this comment section from guys who are risk averse. Im not saying don't have a back up plan but an adventure like this comes up once or twice in a life time. Bring tools, back up parts, and a friend to follow you home. It will be a blast whether you make it all the way or not. Plus that bike looks cherry and an Italian tune-up will probably get it running like new! Go for it! Live alittle! 🏍️🏍️
Ikr , some comments on here sketching out all kinds of final destination scenes where you'll die because the owner forgot to tighten brake calipers, lmao. Just print a checklist so you'll know what to check.
Terrible idea. My first ride I was pretty exhausted after just 4 miles, and I couldn't get myself to go over 12mph. I was just too damn high strung/excited/terrified and couldn't get my body to un-tense. I just couldn't relax enough to actually ride that night. Second trip went WAY better but still wasn't able to maintain over 25mph for a few more outings.
I would do it if I had no other choice. You have someone following you so youre covered incase of a breakdown. Ive often played the hours game in my head too. Let me ask this question, how many miles is the 3 hour ride? Did you do as thorough inspection of the bike as possible? Check the oil. Give it a smell. Does it smelled burned? Do the brake pads look good? Does the brake fluid look clear, not dark or foggy. Does the engine sound smooth and quiet from a cold start? There are a lot of comments against your proposal. And Im sure they all mean well. But I assume you are going to be riding this bike over the time you own it for more than three hours. What better way to get some practice while also giving this bike a solid test run. Drive within your limits. Even if the ride take you four hours. Ride safe and learn the bike.
A few miles sure, 3 hours, absolutely not unless you have AAA on speed dial. I have restored many 80s and 90s bikes. Just because it runs and drives does not mean there are not lots of delicate rubber or plastic pieces ready to go out at any time under stress and leave you stranded or worse.
I didn’t ride mine that far but my first ever time on my bike I rode it back 40min on the interstate.
First time ever on a sport bike too I took my MSF on an adventure style bike.
Knew a guy that had that exact same bike. His was not in near as good condition. His was a piece of shit lol. Shot flames, rust, dents, barely started, etc. this is a nice one though!
save your money and do it! don’t listen to the guys in this sub because they are terrified of scraping their elbow. be safe and take it slow. plan on it taking all day. you can do it and you do not need much other than some planning and low speed roads. the only way to get experienced is to go ride. you will learn so much
Came here to say what a bunch of pussies we've all become.
Sounds like great fun. Do it. Take photos. Come back here and rub everyones noses in it.
Have a plan B in case things go wobbly.
If you do, take earplugs and aspirin. Even after a decade of riding the first time I bought a bike a few hours away and decided to ride it home I got a horrible headache from the wind noise on the highway and felt so gross by the time I got home I didn't bother to ride the thing for days.
Get it towed home brother/sister. Get it checked out then learn how it rides my experience with that age and size is pretty underpowered it will most likely follow every crack / tar snake in the road and won’t be the most fun experience. Be safe out there congratulations!
I'd say entirely depends on where you'd be riding.
Slow-ish roads thru small town, sure, highway nah. That assuming bike is fine and you know at least basics.
I would ride it, if it does breakdown you have someone behind you for help and you are closer to home. Most likely everything will be fine. Just do not turn on the reserve until you clean the tank.
Good way to get acquainted with the bike (and probably not touch it again for another 3 weeks).
Take back roads (stay off the highway, you're a noob on an old slow unknown bike) and go slow.
Also a good way to get acquainted with the concrete though. Hospital bills are not cheap but U-Haul trailers are.
You got a lot of naysayers here, and they all have totally legit reasoning and solid advice.
HOWEVER, I have twice now driven 3 hours to pick up a used bike and ride it home sight unseen.
Maybe I'm an idiot, or just lucky. I don't know.
Not a great idea if you don’t have experience. When I drove my first bike home, I was not ready at all for the highway… specifically big turns in traffic. I was swinging wide in front of cars. You get used to it quick though and should have it down after an hour or two so you could do that. I wouldn’t take it on a trip like that without changing all of the fluids first though. If you can’t do that or get that done, don’t drive it home because you’re taking a chance at ruining the bike internally.
Mate what a sweet find
Your fist ride can be pretty tiring and if you plan on riding it home you should take lots of rest stops and get the bike checked out first
Rubber doesn’t age well and you tires, brake lines all need to be inspected not mention checking the fuel, ignition and charging systems are all up to the job
If you’re mate has a trailer he can bring just in case you can always give it a go, just don’t take any silly risks on old cracked rubber
To answer your question, terrible idea. You might make it, but odds are you'll fuck up and crash.
That being said, my first bike was a 1984 kawasaki Ltd 750. Great choice for a first bike!! Stoked for you!
a uhaul trailer is $14 for the day. it's smarter than being dead.
How old are the tires: are they dry rotting form the inside out and ready to burst? how good are the brakes/brake fluid? do the carbs have gunk floating around that will clog them up? this is an older bike with too many unknowns.
This will be your first bike. Riding is NOT like being in a car. it's very physically demanding. if you are not used to riding long distances, you will tire quickly. Even if you are physically fit, you are not used to riding a motorcycle. its a whole different set of muscles. I say this is dumb up one side and down the other.
Bad idea as others have stated. 2 of 3 low mileage, old bikes I have picked up had a serious problem I found later while inspecting and could’ve been a bad time if found on the road. One was slowly weeping brake fluid but it wasn’t apparent after the PO cleaned the bike for photos, and the other had damage to the clutch cable inside the housing.
The very low mileage and age warrant caution. Could all be fine, but don’t find out the hard way.
I have a brand new bike reserved that's 3.5 hours away and I'll be renting a uhaul trailer for it if my buddies truck isn't available. When it's that far it usually means highway which IMO is the least fun riding especially on a bike like yours. I wouldn't do it. Ride your first bike where it's fun to ride and where you're familiar with.
I was tempted to do the same thing with my first bike purchase. Let me tell you right now this is a terrible idea.
Unless you are a confident rider with experience, that's just too long of a trip. You WILL stall at lights. You will also not be familiar with cornering and the overall feel of the bike.
And the guys on here telling you it has mechanical unknowns are 100% correct. You're better off hauling it back one way or another. I got lucky and the guy drove his bike to my place and had a ride home, which let me approach it slowly and at my own pace.
Just be patient and think this through.
Depends on so much. Does it run good? Do you have gear? Good gear? How much do you care about the risk? Etc etc. My 2 cents, it's an older bike, has it been test riden by yourself or someone you trust? If its good on that, f it, ride it home. No test ride? Then why the heck are you buying it?! So, gear up, take stops when you feel like it, and go slow? Idk man, I can't pick risk assessments for everything. Just do it. Or, just get something to haul it back. But you're here asking the question, so I guess you want to do it. Take all the precautions you can and just ride the frickin thing and enjoy it. You'll be fine
I rode my first bike 3 hours home.
I had ridden ditt bikes as a kid and felt confident that after ten years I could still figure out how a clutch and gears work. When I met the PO it was sketchy in the driveway since I had never ridden a heavy road bike before but luckily I didn't drop it until after I had paid for it and left. He had a newer bike, why he was selling mine, so he took me around the block, I was nervous for like 50 feet and I literally said out loud "oh the ergos are *exactly* the same" and it all came back.
Of course I knew things before I drove out there, like that the tires were in good shape and the bike was being advertised as "ready to ride" so neither my ability nor the bikes ability to make it home were in question.
I rode home in a wicked cross wind and it was like 40°F, hell of a maiden voyage. Wouldn't change a thing.
Ofc that's a horrible idea.
That's a really great bike. It was old AF 20 years ago when I started ripping a little kz550, and we had to do a bit to her to get it road worthy back then!
Middle weights are so much fun, I enjoy and still ride that class today.
Best idea you'll EVER have.......The problem is it'll be painful to ever drive a vehicle again once you ride a bike, arguably more addictive than herion. Borrowed my friends HD Street Glide when my truck broke down 25 years ago and now im 48 with 5 bikes and one truck I have to sometimes drive because I live in the mountains at 6200 ft elevation. Go through bike withdrawal EVERY time.
It’s not bad if you know the condition of the bike is good condition. It’s bad if you are not sure about that, such as the bike is stored in the garage for long time without engine start
If you got a mate behind you and you feel confident maybe, but you never know with an old bike. My first bike (after a postie) was 1981, it broke down all the time, I would have to push it to safety every once in a while. One time I had no option but to ride it 30mins home without a clutch cable. No fun at the time but I laugh about it now. It was sketchy AF
All three times I’ve gone far for a new used bike I’ve had someone in a chase vehicle along with me. Just feels better for that first ride. Plus I get to obsess about how badass I must look to my friend who doesn’t even care about bikes…
Brings back memories, I had a 1980 Kawasaki 750 LTD, Bought brand new, turns out it was the only brand new bike I ever bought. It was a great one. That said, RENT a trailer, van or PU to haul that home!
First bike all you should be doing for the first 3 hours is riding around a parking lot not taking a 3hr ride probably on highways you dont understand following distance yet and how quickly u can stop if you can stop not to mention u probably dont understand defensive riding that good yet you dont know anything yet really bad idea especially on an older bike you dont know what does and doesn’t work on it yet
I’ll tattle on my self. Last two bikes from Sturgis. Both broken in on the ride home. The second one, which I traded the first one in on, road home at the end of rally to ocean shores, Wa. I didn’t play with it, didn’t go over the speed limit, and stopped at 500 miles AT A HARLEY DEALERSHIP, they gave me hell, I have a chieftain but they did it. I had bought the oil change kit in Sturgis, just didn’t want to do it outside myself. I have a shovel head and a road king so that’s how I got help :)
Sorry for all the edits. I should add I’m a very experienced rider even though I’m insane. DO NOT be in a hurry on a new or new to you bike. I have done that trip on my road king like I was on fire. Dumb. On the Winnebago here, I was easy like Sunday morning, hotel stops, etc. take breaks!
https://preview.redd.it/m410lj6ok26d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1988639297aaa42160f44308946479056f7a4383
456.3 pounds wet
Depending on the vehicle you plan to pick it up with you could checkout “motorcycle carriers hitch mount”
There’s a variety of them supporting from 500 to 1,000 pounds
600 pound https://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-capacity-motorcycle-carrier-57720.html
1,000 pound https://wmastore.com/product/1000-lb-motorcycle-tow-hitch-carrier-cargo-shelfs/?utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=XML%20Feed&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=4956
I just went over this exact senerio. Motorcycle trailers are cheap. I drove 3.5 hours to get my girl and there's no way I would have done that first trip. Vulcan nomad 1500.
I did this a few weeks ago. It was not easy. Not a 1 to 1 comparison since my bike is a '21.
If you are going to do it know your route, have whomever drives you up act as support on the way back, and be willing to take more time. 4+ hours since you are not used to the bike and I am assuming that since it is your first you are new to riding.
Heed my 3 weeks of experience.
If you trust the seller and yourself why not?
I rode my 77 kz650 450 km the day I bought it. I went by train to pick it up and came back with the bike. I had a tow truck roadside service for the case of a breakdown but it didn't happen.
Take it easy on the trip, be aware that the 3 hour trip can be a 6 hour one or more. Make stops to check the bike. Get the bike early in the morning so yiu have the qhole day for any inconvenience you may have. Enjoy, put another adventure on the list.
I say why not. I’ve actually loaded a 85 KZ550 into the back of a 01Jeep Cherokee. So make sure you have car big enough to do that JIC. It was empty at the time so you would probably want to take off the tank if it really had to come to it. You should be fine. She’s a beauty.
I rode my first bike home 3 hrs across 3 states, had my wife drive the car but I lost her on the freeway lol. Had about 3 days of riding experience. I was going about 60-65 cause I didn’t know how to deal with oncoming wind and didn’t want to look like a goof tucking @70mph. Would I do it again? Yes. Would I suggest you do? 😉
You gotta learn to ride it at some point. No better way to find the bugs quick so you can get right to fixing it up. Have a chase vehicle that can transport it home if needed. If you’re scared to ride it you shouldn’t have bought it. -School of hard knocks.
I say fuck the naysayers. The best way to log hours, miles, and experience is to USE your bike. I would 100% ride it back, with some caveats:
1. Tell the buyer your plan and gauge their reaction. Have they been maintaining it or has it been sitting in a garage for years? If the latter, I’d be much more cautious.
2. Make sure it’s road legal. A mechanical inspection prior to the trip (or purchase) is a good idea. You can usually get these done on the day and as a condition of purchase.
3. Take it NICE AND SLOW. Don’t get cocky. Take turns and corners slow. Accelerate and brake slow. Stop often for breaks. Your muscles aren’t used to it yet and doing be surprised if you need to stop every 10-30 mins. Make sure your friend is prepared for that so you don’t feel pressured to keep riding when your hands are sore or numb.
4. Make sure you’ve got all the gear. Don’t half-ass it. Do it right.
5. Don’t do it if it’s raining or the forecast indicates a chance of rain.
Terrible idea. Buy a new or used 300 from any of the big four Japanese brands that was made within the last few years. They're everywhere and reliable.
My first bike was similar, a 82 Kawasaki 440ltd. Ride it home, my first time on a motorcycle, an hour or highway on Vancouver Island over a mountain. Didn't even have a license yet.
Is it a bad idea? Yes. Can you? I dunno, depends on how quick you learn. Should you? Most definitely not.
Would I do it again if I could go back in time? Absofuckinglutely. It was awesome and terrifying and remains a core memory 30 years later.
So you shouldn't, but if I where in your shoes I totally would - and did.
Don't be fooled water pump if liquid cooled will fail hoses wil burst even fuel lines let alone brake lines. Your better off getting a higher mileage bike for that age at least the seals aren't dry plus the tires will blow out about a half hour in most likely.
Trailer it.
I'd say maybe you could do it if the bike was new and you had time to practice for a few hours somewhere safe before trying. But that's a 42 yo bike, I wouldn't drive it for 100 feet before getting it inspected.
Well, you can have it checked first by a legit shop for anything that can be wrong. If everything is okay then you can plan your route to include rest stops. As long as its not in the middle of nowhere, it would be pretty much doable.
I mean, i'd def check the bike to make sure everything is good on it before starting a longer journey like that, on older bikes, it's actuslly worth it to check all bolts just to make sure the thing hasn't and won't rattle itself apart
I would agree with other commenters here. Your proposal has too many unknown variables. The bike could fail during the ride. Same for you, you could get tired on an unknown bike as a newbie and make mistakes. Just rent a van and put the bike in the back. When at home, have it checked/maintained and start with short rides.
I bought a motorcycle having never ridden one before but understanding the concept from watching others. I drove off the lot going home and only crashed 2 years later. Your mileage might vary. Be smart about it... enjoy life, I sure did.
If you do ride it home and your bike sputters and dies but you still have fuel check the fuel petcock and put it to Res (reserve) then find a gas station and filler up just remember to take it back off of Res or the next time you will be out of gas
Also watch the anime Super Cub then go explore; this anime will give you a good understanding of riding’s ups and downs. For us old farts it’s a trip down memory lane for you just starting out it will give you shit to think about
I drove my first motorcycle (triumph thruxton rs 1200) home. It was a 5h trip with a brand new bike which needed break in…. As long as you are careful you can do anything you want. Save money on the delivery and enjoy a great ride back home
If possible, I would ask a experienced friend or family member to ride it home and have a car as a rescue vehicle in case it breaks down.
You said first bike, so I am assuming no experience other than some basic training. 3 hours is a long ride for someone with no experience.
No.
If this is your first bike then you most likely have never ride one on the street for any significant length of time and don't know when your body is telling you to take a break.
As others said you should trailer it home regardless; fuel tank sediment, dry-rotted vacuum/fuel lines could be waiting to disintegrate, tires, and a whole host of other things could fuck over even an experience rider - let alone someone new that never encountered such issues or knowledge how to react.
I personally wouldn’t. Without a very thorough look at all the possible failure points.
Remember, it’s not a car - catastrophic failure in a car, you can still throw on your hazards and pull over. Even in extreme cases like a tire blow out or broken suspension.
On a bike, not always the case.
That’s not to say I would never ride home a bike. But be selective of what you trust your life too.
I trusted mine to a well maintained 4yr old BMW GS on 2yr old rubber with plenty of tread.
Not a 40+ yr old Kawi
Someone may have already said this, but I want you to take a real deep breath and ask yourself if you’re ready to saddle up on a bike that’s older than you are.
That motorcycle is 42 years old. It’s a carbureted in-line four cylinder, making if memory serves me correctly a little over 50 hp and about 30 foot pounds of torque. I think it weighed 440 pounds. The power and the torque are manageable, although you do have to deal with the peakiness of an in-line four. But the real problem is as mentioned it’s 42 years old. Everything made of rubber on that bike needs to have been replaced. Lines seals the works. It has four carburetors. Have you ever rebuilt a carburetor? It’s a simple but fiddly process and you’ve got four of them which need to be synced by the way.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good looking bike and its day. It was a pretty damn good bike. Hell it’s probably not even a bad bike today but it’s old. You would be better off picking up one of Honda’s 500’s (rebel, cbr, cb, cbx).
Rent a uhaul bike trailer to get it home, then have someone you know and trust give it a once over before you do any long distance runs.... tank could be full of sediment just waiting to foul up your fuel filter etc...
I second this!! I've been having fuel issues and took my tank off and low and behold. There was brown water near the bottom.
Or a van and just strap it in like you would in the bed of a pickup. Sometimes vans are dirt cheap.
You pay per mile with Uhaul vans. 3 hours away will be expensive. Home Depot van rentals are unlimited mileage. Pay per hour or per day. You must already have your own car insurance tho.
I'd agree, except who takes the bike apart unnecessarily after buying it? Have someone come with you and follow with a truck that can haul it if it breaks down. The best way to find out how it handles and if there's problems is to ride it.
Personal opinion, any used vehicle (bike or car) should have the basics checked/done upon purchase unless you know and trust the seller - Oil, filters, spark plugs and inspect closely brakes, tires etc. Especially one old enough to have a mortgage and 3 children like this one.
I second this. I'm stupid when it comes to anything mechanic/car related aside from like, roadside emergency stuff. Bought a van last fall as a back up vehicle to take the doggos around in and put my sedan in the shop to get taken care of. "ehh it just needs brakes, tires, and a little body work". A few weeks go by, i take it for the brakes and tires. Behold the rusted out shocks all the way around when they put it on the rack. It rode fine, but the outer shroud of all 4 of my shocks/struts were basically gone. My suspension was literally just the inner mechanics of a shock.... Needless to say, inspections due (PA here), it's not going to pass, and I fucked myself. But live and learn, sometimes the hard way.
100% agree. OP says they will have a chase vehicle, I see no problem with riding it home assuming seller gives a clean bill of health. It looks like it was taken care of, definitely not the typical cafe hack job. Motorcycling is always an adventure. Either way, OP will have a cool story about the trip.
And pick up the trailer in the City you are picking it up in to save you some $$
They can even have the person ride the bike to the u-haul location as a meet up, shows it runs and rides ok too.
The few times I've rented a motorcycle trailer from Uhaul, it had to be returned to where it was picked up unlike others you can drop off at a different location. But for the $20 it costs, I figured it's not a big deal if I didn't buy the bike anyway.
Yep same here with Uhaul. They charge a flat rate on trailers, so how far you haul it changes nothing. I would definitely trailer this bike home and then have a mechanic go through it.
I do all of my own maintenance and have been riding for 42 years and there are too many unknowns with a decades old bike for me to do it.
That’s half the fun
Part of me agrees with you and I'm a big fan of Roadkill and what they do. I had a big adventure in Reno last fall with my clutch master cylinder that cost me 3 days time when I had to order the part off of ebay. I had all the tools before leaving on my trip but I was starting with a bike that I had already gone through. This bike is a complete unknown and the rider doesn't have the experience to deal with those unknowns.
Sounds like an awesome adventure with scope for spontateous education oportunities.
Part of education is learning from the teacher's experience.
For an experienced person, yes. For a new rider... no
Uhaul trailers are cheap.
I did this recently and it cost me $25 for the day.
Way cheaper than a 3hr drive in a tow truck. That is the gamble he is taking on a 42yr old motorcycle No way id do this personally
AAA motorcycle coverage is clutch.
> That is the gamble That's *half* the gamble. The other is, you know, serious injury and/or death. A noob rider who is asking this question on reddit (i.e. not mechanically inclined and experienced enough to know the answer) is not qualified to judge the safety readiness of the tires, brakes, etc. You're risking more than just a stranding, even just being distracted by sudden loss of power or something.
I might do it, but (1) I'm not a noob, and (2) I'm old enough to know better but still not care. :-)
Can you drive a trailer with any normal license in the US?
You can't drive a trailer. Trailers are to be towed.
Yes. You don't need a special license to drive any trailer under a certain length. I think 40 or 45 feet. There is a weight limit too but it is extremely high.
Yep, most trailers you need no special training or license for. There a is a certain size and weight that changes that but it's very large. It's a bit concerning what you'll see idiots rigged up to, so you really have to trust that someone will only haul a trailer they know they can handle. I built myself a flat trailer for hauling my ATV before I even had my license, and was pleased to find out I needed nothing special to use it once I did get my license. I was actually curious if this varies a lot in other countries? Do you need license endorsements for small run of the mill trailers in other places?
1) it’s a bad idea don’t do it 2) first bike enthusiasm is legit and can drive a person to make bad decisions when overcome by excitement - unless you live in a super rural location (US presumed) you can prob exercise some patience and find a bike closer with similar miles and style - don’t let eagerness overwhelm your common sense and good judgement (I say this having done it myself and regretted it ) 3) if this is your first bike- from a safety perspective (as a rider with 30 years of riding experience) it is a very risky move to make your first ride a 3 hour death march on a bike of unknown maintenance and safety - between a lack of experience - and some random bolt or carter key you don’t know the last guy forgot to torque correctly or install - you are literally a danger to yourself and possibly could get some on else hurt who may be trying to not run over you as your front caliper dangles by one bolt after the first hour ride and you go through a median into oncoming traffic. 4) learning to ride takes time - get a local bike - take a class - and learn to ride with friends who ride and are responsible riders 5) if you are a young person and like I was you may decide against all advice to “do it anyway “ - then at least trailer it home and once home get someone skilled to Validate the basics of the fundamental safety of the bike - if you don’t know the torque spec for the axle bolts or how to check chain slack - or how to know if the tires are too old by reading codes on them - then their are not qualified The enthusiasm of a new and first bike can be overwhelming - remember you can not just injure yourself - your mistake could inadvertently cause someone avoiding you in an incident to also get injured themselves - be thoughtful - get educated - and your first rides should be short safety rides after you’d learned in class or at least with cheap cones in empty parking lots. Please be cautious and consider you are not the only person you put at risk when you enter a road on a bike you aren’t skilled at riding…you have a responsibility to others on the road as well to not jeopardize their safety as well as your own.
I agree with all of this except for finding a closer bike. Sometimes it just makes sense to drive to the next state over as long as you have the means to transport it safely.
Agreed. Sometimes the deal of a lifetime includes crossing state lines
Often you said sometime but where I am it's OFTEN 🤣
If you ain’t ever ridden before DO NOT make your first ride a 3 hour ride home seriously you’re asking for trouble if you do
Holy shit I can’t believe I’m this far down to get to this comment. Yeah, the bike might break and you might be inconvenienced if you know how to ride, but if you don’t know how to ride starting with a 3 hour ride which I assume includes highways and such is insane. Do a figure eight the parking lot and if you don’t drop it, then ask if you should ride home smh
And on a 40+ years old bike, wth
I rode my first bike home 30 miles in New England in February. I had only ever ridden during an MSF class. I was white knuckled the whole time and my whole body was clenched from the cold (I was underdressed by a long shot). I was exhausted when I got back after a 45 minutes ride on a Monday morning through low speed back roads. I didn’t see more than 10 other cars the whole way back. It was awful. I’m glad for the experience and the story but it was stupid, tense, and overall a nerve wracking experience leading up to picking up the bike. The only positive I had was that the bike was brand new so I had confidence the machine wouldn’t fail me. 3 hours…. That’s a long ride for a seasoned vet. Rent a truck, Ramps and ratchet straps unless you’re comfortable towing a trailer. Better yet, if your friend rides, drive them down and have them ride it back. You can take it the first or last few miles to get rid of the itch.
I did the same thing. First ride after MSF class (10mph parking lot driving) was riding a 750 home from buying it, and it was a 30 minute drive at night on a hilly, twisty highway with tunnels. Thankfully the bike was mechanically sound, but I'd absolutely overestimated my skills and I was lucky to make it home without mishap. Frozen both from the cold and the terror. I'd never felt so foolish nor been so close to dying from pure stupidity.
I attempted to do the same thing upon buying first bike at 18. Fortunately, the clutch cable snapped before my dumb ass could get out of the parking lot.
Most new riders are involved in some kind of accident the first ninety days of riding. That could be just losing your balance and falling over or head on collision with an 18 wheeler. Get familiar with the bike, road, traffic conditions, and your own abilities day by day. Forget riding it home for your first ride.
This ⬆️. I started riding at 15 . Have had all makes if bikes and everything from crotch rockets to cruisers. Recently (March '24) bought a 2023 Harley Davidson Nightster RH975. It's been about 16 years since I've last ridden. Pulled up at a light (I'm in WA State and absolutely NOTHING is level here including the roads) Not being used to the mid controls on this bike, my left foot got caught on the frame - couldn't get loose until last second and by this time I caught her just past center and had to let her continue to the ground. Broke my clutch lever, spun the bar end mirror and hurt my pride. Fortunately some kind and sympathetic cagers got me upright. Anyone can very quickly get into a situation like this or worse. Take time to do slow and low speed practice. I know I'm gonna be parking lot partying this weekend. Send it
If you like being stuck on the side of the road its a great idea. You dont know what the old owner did to it. Dont ride it that far on a first ride my dude.
I forgot to mention that it has about 1600 miles on it. I know that doesn't change much but at that mileage there couldn't be a crazy amount done for it, no?
1600 miles on a 40yo bike.. fkn nope. Get it to a mechanic and have them look it over.
Dude…. That low of mile for that old of a bike… absolutely do not ride it that far. It has been sitting for extended periods and even if the carb is fresh cleaned and the fluids have recently been drained and refilled the if the header gasket wasnt replaced recently it may have dry rott and would fuck your compression. Its a cool bike and its gonna be a lot of fun, but dont risk it to save $200 bucks on a uhaul.
The odometer could also be wrong. I have an 07 Shadow that has way more miles on it than the odometer shows due to it not working for thousands of miles.
It could be but id think that odometer might actually be right, that bike is in gorgeous shape
$200 is even super high. For a 3 hour drive your biggest expense would be fuel.
This was my first bike and it was a fucking nightmare. Way too many problems that couldn’t be solved unless I straight up replaced every gasket in the thing
Might’ve rolled over as well. 80s bike I’m more than willing to bet it has a mechanical odometer that reads to 99,999.9 before starting over again
As well as moisture in the brake fluid, and God only knows what other concerns there are. UHaul is the way
That actually makes it worse... 1600 miles on a 4 decade old bike means it's done on average 40 miles per year. That means long periods of sitting, collecting dust, sediment building up in the tank, filters going bad, tires being old, oil being old etc etc. That bike needs a full service before you do ANY riding on it
Or it's done 101,600 miles and clicked over
I was all in to ride that puppy home till this post. It hasn't been maintained. No telling what wires or rubber lines were chewed on by rodents. Gunked carb, dry rotted tires, brake lines.
Aye I was going to write id just ask the guy if the damn thing has seen any miles recently and what is actually wrong with it and go from there. 3 hours isnt that far at all but 3 hours on a 40 year old bike with 1600 miles, no thanks. Wonder how many decades old the tires are
If you knew anything about bikes you would totally understand why everyone is telling you not to do this.... Everyone advising you probably has decades of motorcycle experience.... I have about two years.... There is no way for you to "really know" what shape that bike is in until you've taken a few short rides on it yourself and even then something could just be waiting to show itself. Please be careful... Why aren't you listening to the bike trailer suggestion? They're cheap.
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The LTD 550 has got to be the least desirable collectors bike of all time... they were nothing special new, dime a dozen through the 90's where they get the piss run out of them by every new rider that couldn't afford a Hawk, and have sat in garages and barns ever since waiting for the next person to outgrow and discard them....
> basically that's a collector's bike right now. Ain't nobody collecting these. :D
I think I used to own this bike, are you in New England
Did you happen to sell your kz550 off Craigslist 7 years ago
well i’m a dumbass so i’d go for it but definitely trailer it🤣
Bad idea. Just rent a uhaul.
I certainly didn't. You've bought a bike. An extra 100-200 to get it hauled home isn't going to break you.
It's likely every seal and o-ring is rotten. You really don't want to fight the fuel leak likely to spring from those carbs after about 100 miles when the fresh gas cleans the varnish out. Tires are probably a few decades old, too. That's just dangerous. When I buy a vintage bike, I have a check list that makes me far more comfortable with long rides. - Rebuild carbs - Clean rust out of the tank - Adjust valves - Change oil and filter - Test compression - Change spark plugs and clean the points - Replace tires - Replace wheel bearings and seals - Rebuild forks - Replace rear shocks - Thoroughly clean and lube chain - Inspect sprockets. Replace if needed. - Test charging system - Flush brake fluid - Thoroughly inspect and test brakes I'd be willing ride cross country after that. Good luck.
Not the worst idea but 3 hours is a fucking long ride. Everything about reliability and shit aside. Seat time stamina is real and shit gets exhausting. You'll have to stop for gas at least once, maybe twice, and you will be feeling it when you go to hop off and then get back on Have them ready with the trailer or whatever and go for it tho. Worst case you call it and load it up the rest of the way
30 mins yeah, 3 hrs...I'll pass.
The ride home with 1st bike and these few next rides + 1st solo rides had an amazing feeling for me. Felling that we chase for the rest of our lives I believe, knowing damn well we will never gonna feel that kind of joy and excitement ever again
Sketch at best . Tell the owner you are taking it for a test drive and will bring it back clean . Drive it around some first make sure nothing is wrong with it . Goto car wash hand wash it . Touch every part of bike hand wash it , from front to back it will let you know if anything is loose or broke . Best way I have found to inspect bike tires included. CAUTION WARNING, Do not ride that far with weathered cracked tires . Good looking scooter though . For a 82 model it looks like it has had a good garage kept life .
A ride you’ll never forget. I don’t know your experience or confidence level but I can say you won’t forget it. Best of luck. You’re gonna be fine.
That’s what I’m saying. Do it.
For this bike? Bad idea, personally. 40 year old bikes are just a diceroll of potential issues, which is not something you want while learning. Find a nice entry level bike locally and go that route, as a personal suggestion.
I did this almost exactly, with my 86 Rebel. Without insurance or registration. It was one of the stupidest things I've ever done, and I would never advise anyone to do it. It went fine, but it turns out the wheels (yes the wheels, not just the old ass tires) were not in good enough shape to be riding on and I just got incredibly lucky that nothing went wrong. And I had no idea because I had so little riding experience and I was so nervous I just couldn't tell it was riding like shit. Get it towed directly to your local shop (obviously call them first) and have them check it out and make sure it's road worthy. You should have tow coverage on your insurance anyway. IF you decide to ignore the warnings, at the very least you should ride it around a parking lot or small back roads for a bit first so you have a low stakes environment to get a feel for that specific bike. And try to get a friend to follow you in their car just in case.
I did it on my Honda Shadow. The trick is just let it be your own ride. Let everyone impatient pass you and pull over if your holding up traffic till you get the hang of it. Stretch the hours out. And whoever took you to the shop should be driving with you as well. It's a good experience. Just be safe, wear your gear, and take precautions. Also make sure the weather is in your favor too. Also take some rest stops along the way.
An adventure is always worth while. Will it involve a breakdown or two, oh ya. Will you make it home without a trailer? That's a story your grand kids will want to hear. Shadetree Surgeon would do it. I say bring your phone and find a buddy with a trailer just in case it goes sideways, then go for it.
You will be able to do it. I rode a 440 from my home in Leavenworth KS to Wichita KS, about 4 hour ride.
Do it! Be careful and take breaks
My 1st bike is a GSX-S750, I rode it home for a 4 hour trip from the dealership. It won't be bad as long as you keep you squid demon in check
It's a bad idea to do a 3hr road trip on *any* bike you JUST bought. Whether it be your first or 20th bike. You don't know the kind of maintenance the last owner has done to it, and what faults it has that are waiting to go wrong. Max I would do on a new-to-me bike is 30 minutes to an hour, before doing a full service and giving the bike a once-over.
No problem at all so long as you recognize it will likely become your last bike a couple hours into the trip.
Hearing alot of fear in this comment section from guys who are risk averse. Im not saying don't have a back up plan but an adventure like this comes up once or twice in a life time. Bring tools, back up parts, and a friend to follow you home. It will be a blast whether you make it all the way or not. Plus that bike looks cherry and an Italian tune-up will probably get it running like new! Go for it! Live alittle! 🏍️🏍️
Redditors are so fucking lame sometimes. Yeah, stuff will probably go wrong. But I bet it will be an experience that OP will remember forever.
100% agree. I guess it really depends on his values 🤷🏼♂️
Ikr , some comments on here sketching out all kinds of final destination scenes where you'll die because the owner forgot to tighten brake calipers, lmao. Just print a checklist so you'll know what to check.
Terrible idea. My first ride I was pretty exhausted after just 4 miles, and I couldn't get myself to go over 12mph. I was just too damn high strung/excited/terrified and couldn't get my body to un-tense. I just couldn't relax enough to actually ride that night. Second trip went WAY better but still wasn't able to maintain over 25mph for a few more outings.
I would do it if I had no other choice. You have someone following you so youre covered incase of a breakdown. Ive often played the hours game in my head too. Let me ask this question, how many miles is the 3 hour ride? Did you do as thorough inspection of the bike as possible? Check the oil. Give it a smell. Does it smelled burned? Do the brake pads look good? Does the brake fluid look clear, not dark or foggy. Does the engine sound smooth and quiet from a cold start? There are a lot of comments against your proposal. And Im sure they all mean well. But I assume you are going to be riding this bike over the time you own it for more than three hours. What better way to get some practice while also giving this bike a solid test run. Drive within your limits. Even if the ride take you four hours. Ride safe and learn the bike.
Not a bad at all, did the same thing. Take your time, and drive safely
A few miles sure, 3 hours, absolutely not unless you have AAA on speed dial. I have restored many 80s and 90s bikes. Just because it runs and drives does not mean there are not lots of delicate rubber or plastic pieces ready to go out at any time under stress and leave you stranded or worse.
Even if everything else goes great you'll regret it when all the bugs you hit wind up ruining your fork seals.
I didn’t ride mine that far but my first ever time on my bike I rode it back 40min on the interstate. First time ever on a sport bike too I took my MSF on an adventure style bike.
Knew a guy that had that exact same bike. His was not in near as good condition. His was a piece of shit lol. Shot flames, rust, dents, barely started, etc. this is a nice one though!
save your money and do it! don’t listen to the guys in this sub because they are terrified of scraping their elbow. be safe and take it slow. plan on it taking all day. you can do it and you do not need much other than some planning and low speed roads. the only way to get experienced is to go ride. you will learn so much
The fact that you have to ask means it’s a bad idea
Do you know how to ride? Also, you can take breaks while riding
Bad ideas are the start of all good adventures
Came here to say what a bunch of pussies we've all become. Sounds like great fun. Do it. Take photos. Come back here and rub everyones noses in it. Have a plan B in case things go wobbly.
Unless this bike was running and not stored for a long time - check oil levels and I would say go for it.
What the hell is wrong with this sub ? You bought your first bike and then not gonna drive it ? Cmon....
If you have to ask....
Sounds like a fun adventure you’ll never forget. On the other hand, it might be a fun adventure you’ll never forget.
If you do, take earplugs and aspirin. Even after a decade of riding the first time I bought a bike a few hours away and decided to ride it home I got a horrible headache from the wind noise on the highway and felt so gross by the time I got home I didn't bother to ride the thing for days.
Get it towed home brother/sister. Get it checked out then learn how it rides my experience with that age and size is pretty underpowered it will most likely follow every crack / tar snake in the road and won’t be the most fun experience. Be safe out there congratulations!
I'd say entirely depends on where you'd be riding. Slow-ish roads thru small town, sure, highway nah. That assuming bike is fine and you know at least basics.
I would ride it, if it does breakdown you have someone behind you for help and you are closer to home. Most likely everything will be fine. Just do not turn on the reserve until you clean the tank.
It's not a bad idea. You're buying it to ride, right?
Do it, bunch of virgins in here.
Good way to get acquainted with the bike (and probably not touch it again for another 3 weeks). Take back roads (stay off the highway, you're a noob on an old slow unknown bike) and go slow. Also a good way to get acquainted with the concrete though. Hospital bills are not cheap but U-Haul trailers are.
Mount that bitch and make memories. It's meant to be ridden so ride it.
You got a lot of naysayers here, and they all have totally legit reasoning and solid advice. HOWEVER, I have twice now driven 3 hours to pick up a used bike and ride it home sight unseen. Maybe I'm an idiot, or just lucky. I don't know.
If he dies, he dies.
Not a great idea if you don’t have experience. When I drove my first bike home, I was not ready at all for the highway… specifically big turns in traffic. I was swinging wide in front of cars. You get used to it quick though and should have it down after an hour or two so you could do that. I wouldn’t take it on a trip like that without changing all of the fluids first though. If you can’t do that or get that done, don’t drive it home because you’re taking a chance at ruining the bike internally.
Do you trust your skills? If no, then it's a bad idea. If yes then go right ahead.
Mate what a sweet find Your fist ride can be pretty tiring and if you plan on riding it home you should take lots of rest stops and get the bike checked out first Rubber doesn’t age well and you tires, brake lines all need to be inspected not mention checking the fuel, ignition and charging systems are all up to the job If you’re mate has a trailer he can bring just in case you can always give it a go, just don’t take any silly risks on old cracked rubber
Four years ago I rode an 82 KZ 550 2 hours. Tires were unknown age, chain was dry. I’m not a ghost. Make your decision based on your experience.
It's fine if you could stay off the interstate.
Live life adventurously. A credit card and a cell phone solves almost any problem.
To answer your question, terrible idea. You might make it, but odds are you'll fuck up and crash. That being said, my first bike was a 1984 kawasaki Ltd 750. Great choice for a first bike!! Stoked for you!
How much riding have you done? If none then NO don’t.
Ain't no thing! You're only an hour from home now already! 👍
Bad
a uhaul trailer is $14 for the day. it's smarter than being dead. How old are the tires: are they dry rotting form the inside out and ready to burst? how good are the brakes/brake fluid? do the carbs have gunk floating around that will clog them up? this is an older bike with too many unknowns. This will be your first bike. Riding is NOT like being in a car. it's very physically demanding. if you are not used to riding long distances, you will tire quickly. Even if you are physically fit, you are not used to riding a motorcycle. its a whole different set of muscles. I say this is dumb up one side and down the other.
Bad idea as others have stated. 2 of 3 low mileage, old bikes I have picked up had a serious problem I found later while inspecting and could’ve been a bad time if found on the road. One was slowly weeping brake fluid but it wasn’t apparent after the PO cleaned the bike for photos, and the other had damage to the clutch cable inside the housing. The very low mileage and age warrant caution. Could all be fine, but don’t find out the hard way.
Spend a day in the closest town, get it checked and serviced in one day and see what they find. If all good ride it
Also, if you have to ask here, probably means you know it's a bad idea
Nice kawi, awesome choice of first bike, enjoy it bro!
I have a brand new bike reserved that's 3.5 hours away and I'll be renting a uhaul trailer for it if my buddies truck isn't available. When it's that far it usually means highway which IMO is the least fun riding especially on a bike like yours. I wouldn't do it. Ride your first bike where it's fun to ride and where you're familiar with.
I was tempted to do the same thing with my first bike purchase. Let me tell you right now this is a terrible idea. Unless you are a confident rider with experience, that's just too long of a trip. You WILL stall at lights. You will also not be familiar with cornering and the overall feel of the bike. And the guys on here telling you it has mechanical unknowns are 100% correct. You're better off hauling it back one way or another. I got lucky and the guy drove his bike to my place and had a ride home, which let me approach it slowly and at my own pace. Just be patient and think this through.
Depends on so much. Does it run good? Do you have gear? Good gear? How much do you care about the risk? Etc etc. My 2 cents, it's an older bike, has it been test riden by yourself or someone you trust? If its good on that, f it, ride it home. No test ride? Then why the heck are you buying it?! So, gear up, take stops when you feel like it, and go slow? Idk man, I can't pick risk assessments for everything. Just do it. Or, just get something to haul it back. But you're here asking the question, so I guess you want to do it. Take all the precautions you can and just ride the frickin thing and enjoy it. You'll be fine
I rode my first bike 3 hours home. I had ridden ditt bikes as a kid and felt confident that after ten years I could still figure out how a clutch and gears work. When I met the PO it was sketchy in the driveway since I had never ridden a heavy road bike before but luckily I didn't drop it until after I had paid for it and left. He had a newer bike, why he was selling mine, so he took me around the block, I was nervous for like 50 feet and I literally said out loud "oh the ergos are *exactly* the same" and it all came back. Of course I knew things before I drove out there, like that the tires were in good shape and the bike was being advertised as "ready to ride" so neither my ability nor the bikes ability to make it home were in question. I rode home in a wicked cross wind and it was like 40°F, hell of a maiden voyage. Wouldn't change a thing.
Ofc that's a horrible idea. That's a really great bike. It was old AF 20 years ago when I started ripping a little kz550, and we had to do a bit to her to get it road worthy back then! Middle weights are so much fun, I enjoy and still ride that class today.
Black Beauty
The best way to find out is to get her out on the road, u/realGuitarBoi . Anything's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there.
No advice but just wanted to say, looks like a beautiful bike.
Best idea you'll EVER have.......The problem is it'll be painful to ever drive a vehicle again once you ride a bike, arguably more addictive than herion. Borrowed my friends HD Street Glide when my truck broke down 25 years ago and now im 48 with 5 bikes and one truck I have to sometimes drive because I live in the mountains at 6200 ft elevation. Go through bike withdrawal EVERY time.
Carbureter engine problems in between if ur good at repairing or love those then take it on for long ride // is the engine completely rebuilt?
It’s not bad if you know the condition of the bike is good condition. It’s bad if you are not sure about that, such as the bike is stored in the garage for long time without engine start
If you can have someone follow you with a truck or van.
If you got a mate behind you and you feel confident maybe, but you never know with an old bike. My first bike (after a postie) was 1981, it broke down all the time, I would have to push it to safety every once in a while. One time I had no option but to ride it 30mins home without a clutch cable. No fun at the time but I laugh about it now. It was sketchy AF
Get AAA first. Get it in general. It's saved me so many times
That was my first street bike back in 1984! I LOVED that bike. Congrats!
Do it in 6hrs and stay off the highway...I had a LTD 750 about that old and it was sketch on the highway.
All three times I’ve gone far for a new used bike I’ve had someone in a chase vehicle along with me. Just feels better for that first ride. Plus I get to obsess about how badass I must look to my friend who doesn’t even care about bikes…
Look it over, and if it looks good and the seller doesn't seem like a methhead, why not? The thing looks pretty clean.
Brings back memories, I had a 1980 Kawasaki 750 LTD, Bought brand new, turns out it was the only brand new bike I ever bought. It was a great one. That said, RENT a trailer, van or PU to haul that home!
First bike all you should be doing for the first 3 hours is riding around a parking lot not taking a 3hr ride probably on highways you dont understand following distance yet and how quickly u can stop if you can stop not to mention u probably dont understand defensive riding that good yet you dont know anything yet really bad idea especially on an older bike you dont know what does and doesn’t work on it yet
I’ll tattle on my self. Last two bikes from Sturgis. Both broken in on the ride home. The second one, which I traded the first one in on, road home at the end of rally to ocean shores, Wa. I didn’t play with it, didn’t go over the speed limit, and stopped at 500 miles AT A HARLEY DEALERSHIP, they gave me hell, I have a chieftain but they did it. I had bought the oil change kit in Sturgis, just didn’t want to do it outside myself. I have a shovel head and a road king so that’s how I got help :) Sorry for all the edits. I should add I’m a very experienced rider even though I’m insane. DO NOT be in a hurry on a new or new to you bike. I have done that trip on my road king like I was on fire. Dumb. On the Winnebago here, I was easy like Sunday morning, hotel stops, etc. take breaks! https://preview.redd.it/m410lj6ok26d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1988639297aaa42160f44308946479056f7a4383
456.3 pounds wet Depending on the vehicle you plan to pick it up with you could checkout “motorcycle carriers hitch mount” There’s a variety of them supporting from 500 to 1,000 pounds 600 pound https://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-capacity-motorcycle-carrier-57720.html 1,000 pound https://wmastore.com/product/1000-lb-motorcycle-tow-hitch-carrier-cargo-shelfs/?utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=XML%20Feed&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=4956
I just went over this exact senerio. Motorcycle trailers are cheap. I drove 3.5 hours to get my girl and there's no way I would have done that first trip. Vulcan nomad 1500.
I did this a few weeks ago. It was not easy. Not a 1 to 1 comparison since my bike is a '21. If you are going to do it know your route, have whomever drives you up act as support on the way back, and be willing to take more time. 4+ hours since you are not used to the bike and I am assuming that since it is your first you are new to riding. Heed my 3 weeks of experience.
TBH I would rent a truck or uhaul. You never rode it, you don't know what awaits you.
If you trust the seller and yourself why not? I rode my 77 kz650 450 km the day I bought it. I went by train to pick it up and came back with the bike. I had a tow truck roadside service for the case of a breakdown but it didn't happen. Take it easy on the trip, be aware that the 3 hour trip can be a 6 hour one or more. Make stops to check the bike. Get the bike early in the morning so yiu have the qhole day for any inconvenience you may have. Enjoy, put another adventure on the list.
Condition of the tires, brakes, chain/sprockets, carbs, etc on a 42 year old bike? Doesn’t seem like a good idea.
I say why not. I’ve actually loaded a 85 KZ550 into the back of a 01Jeep Cherokee. So make sure you have car big enough to do that JIC. It was empty at the time so you would probably want to take off the tank if it really had to come to it. You should be fine. She’s a beauty.
Do you know how to countersteer? If the answer is "no", BAD IDEA.
I rode my first bike home 3 hrs across 3 states, had my wife drive the car but I lost her on the freeway lol. Had about 3 days of riding experience. I was going about 60-65 cause I didn’t know how to deal with oncoming wind and didn’t want to look like a goof tucking @70mph. Would I do it again? Yes. Would I suggest you do? 😉
A bike that old, no, so much could go wrong and you don't know the bike at all, you don't even know much in riding yet, bad idea
You gotta learn to ride it at some point. No better way to find the bugs quick so you can get right to fixing it up. Have a chase vehicle that can transport it home if needed. If you’re scared to ride it you shouldn’t have bought it. -School of hard knocks.
Great experience, crack on.
I say fuck the naysayers. The best way to log hours, miles, and experience is to USE your bike. I would 100% ride it back, with some caveats: 1. Tell the buyer your plan and gauge their reaction. Have they been maintaining it or has it been sitting in a garage for years? If the latter, I’d be much more cautious. 2. Make sure it’s road legal. A mechanical inspection prior to the trip (or purchase) is a good idea. You can usually get these done on the day and as a condition of purchase. 3. Take it NICE AND SLOW. Don’t get cocky. Take turns and corners slow. Accelerate and brake slow. Stop often for breaks. Your muscles aren’t used to it yet and doing be surprised if you need to stop every 10-30 mins. Make sure your friend is prepared for that so you don’t feel pressured to keep riding when your hands are sore or numb. 4. Make sure you’ve got all the gear. Don’t half-ass it. Do it right. 5. Don’t do it if it’s raining or the forecast indicates a chance of rain.
Take a trailer but load it up after getting a ride in. You don’t need to go the whole way but check it out
Terrible idea. Buy a new or used 300 from any of the big four Japanese brands that was made within the last few years. They're everywhere and reliable.
My first bike was similar, a 82 Kawasaki 440ltd. Ride it home, my first time on a motorcycle, an hour or highway on Vancouver Island over a mountain. Didn't even have a license yet. Is it a bad idea? Yes. Can you? I dunno, depends on how quick you learn. Should you? Most definitely not. Would I do it again if I could go back in time? Absofuckinglutely. It was awesome and terrifying and remains a core memory 30 years later. So you shouldn't, but if I where in your shoes I totally would - and did.
Don't be fooled water pump if liquid cooled will fail hoses wil burst even fuel lines let alone brake lines. Your better off getting a higher mileage bike for that age at least the seals aren't dry plus the tires will blow out about a half hour in most likely. Trailer it.
How many fucking times does this question need to be asked. Use the godamn search feature!
It would be a great experience, but your butt will kill you.😃
If you have riding experience sure, do it, but otherwise it's not a good idea.
I'd say maybe you could do it if the bike was new and you had time to practice for a few hours somewhere safe before trying. But that's a 42 yo bike, I wouldn't drive it for 100 feet before getting it inspected.
I did and didn’t die so you can as well
Do it but be ready for a very high probability of getting stuck at the side of the road and have a plan for it.
Well, you can have it checked first by a legit shop for anything that can be wrong. If everything is okay then you can plan your route to include rest stops. As long as its not in the middle of nowhere, it would be pretty much doable.
As someone whos currently fixing up a 70's Honda, by now everythings been taken apart once and everything is loose. Even things like head bolts/nuts.
Does it run? Yup.. hop on and ride. 👍🏻
I mean, i'd def check the bike to make sure everything is good on it before starting a longer journey like that, on older bikes, it's actuslly worth it to check all bolts just to make sure the thing hasn't and won't rattle itself apart
It's a noob move to ride any 42 year old starter bike 3 hours before getting to know it and ensuring maintenance is up to date.
I would agree with other commenters here. Your proposal has too many unknown variables. The bike could fail during the ride. Same for you, you could get tired on an unknown bike as a newbie and make mistakes. Just rent a van and put the bike in the back. When at home, have it checked/maintained and start with short rides.
I bought a motorcycle having never ridden one before but understanding the concept from watching others. I drove off the lot going home and only crashed 2 years later. Your mileage might vary. Be smart about it... enjoy life, I sure did.
Get the bike home first. A fall is a fall but you may have to walk home. Practice on your time after you aren't so far from home.
That’s exactly what I did with my first bike. Was scary. But awesome.
I’d just ride it. Bikes are meant for adventure, go on an adventure.
Send it.
Ride it!!!!
Send it brother
If you do ride it home and your bike sputters and dies but you still have fuel check the fuel petcock and put it to Res (reserve) then find a gas station and filler up just remember to take it back off of Res or the next time you will be out of gas Also watch the anime Super Cub then go explore; this anime will give you a good understanding of riding’s ups and downs. For us old farts it’s a trip down memory lane for you just starting out it will give you shit to think about
Old bike that you don't know anything about is not a reliable ride yet. Rent a trailer.
I drove my first motorcycle (triumph thruxton rs 1200) home. It was a 5h trip with a brand new bike which needed break in…. As long as you are careful you can do anything you want. Save money on the delivery and enjoy a great ride back home
If possible, I would ask a experienced friend or family member to ride it home and have a car as a rescue vehicle in case it breaks down. You said first bike, so I am assuming no experience other than some basic training. 3 hours is a long ride for someone with no experience.
Do it get to know your bike.
No. If this is your first bike then you most likely have never ride one on the street for any significant length of time and don't know when your body is telling you to take a break. As others said you should trailer it home regardless; fuel tank sediment, dry-rotted vacuum/fuel lines could be waiting to disintegrate, tires, and a whole host of other things could fuck over even an experience rider - let alone someone new that never encountered such issues or knowledge how to react.
I personally wouldn’t. Without a very thorough look at all the possible failure points. Remember, it’s not a car - catastrophic failure in a car, you can still throw on your hazards and pull over. Even in extreme cases like a tire blow out or broken suspension. On a bike, not always the case. That’s not to say I would never ride home a bike. But be selective of what you trust your life too. I trusted mine to a well maintained 4yr old BMW GS on 2yr old rubber with plenty of tread. Not a 40+ yr old Kawi
Someone may have already said this, but I want you to take a real deep breath and ask yourself if you’re ready to saddle up on a bike that’s older than you are. That motorcycle is 42 years old. It’s a carbureted in-line four cylinder, making if memory serves me correctly a little over 50 hp and about 30 foot pounds of torque. I think it weighed 440 pounds. The power and the torque are manageable, although you do have to deal with the peakiness of an in-line four. But the real problem is as mentioned it’s 42 years old. Everything made of rubber on that bike needs to have been replaced. Lines seals the works. It has four carburetors. Have you ever rebuilt a carburetor? It’s a simple but fiddly process and you’ve got four of them which need to be synced by the way. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good looking bike and its day. It was a pretty damn good bike. Hell it’s probably not even a bad bike today but it’s old. You would be better off picking up one of Honda’s 500’s (rebel, cbr, cb, cbx).
Really really really bad idea.