Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point

[daugen]

215 - 217 Ural Gear-Up - Picture 613989 | motorcycle review @ Top Speed
Interesting, a Siberian copy of a BMW sidecar and probably first used in the Russian army. Likely
to be durable and heavy. MCJ says easy to work on...
18 grand will buy a lot of touring bike

 

[Gem99ultra]

If you're 66, born in '50 or 51, how did you get your license in 1965. You would have been 14 (or 15 depending on when your B'day is). Are there states that issue licenses at 14,15?

Back in "The Day" you could get your license in Texas at age 14; I did. Had to take classroom driver's ed for a beginners license. Then anyone with a beginner's license was eligible for a regular driver's license.

That's all changed now though - no more licensed 14 year olds...

 

[RedNeckGeek]

215 - 217 Ural Gear-Up - Picture 613989 | motorcycle review @ Top Speed
Interesting, a Siberian copy of a BMW sidecar and probably first used in the Russian army. Likely
to be durable and heavy. MCJ says easy to work on...
18 grand will buy a lot of touring bike

It's a good thing it's easy to work on that Ural, Drew, because the people I know that have one work on 'em a LOT! The new ones are better than they used to be, but it's not like you could throw a leg over one and go coast-to-coast without anything more than an oil change and a valve adjustment. Oh, and you'll be taking your time if you do tackle such a trip: comfortable crusing speed is about 50MPH with a sidecar.:laughing:

 

[Coyote machine]

Have a gazillion $ of Snap on and other brand tools to do everything on Earth and some other small planets. Most sit collecting dust these days, including Volvo, Saab and Mercedes Benz special high $ tools. Owned and ran a foreign auto sales and repair facility for over 10 years, up to 1987 when I sold the property and auctioned off all the no longer needed equipment.
Only tools I need now, with exception of for my Kioti tractor and 2007 Suzuki ATV, are a phone and masterblaster credit card. I'm not touching my Yamaha 4 stroke 225HP outboard, except possibly to change the oil and filter, but the jury's out on that one too, for now. $20+ K for that motor in 2012! Wow, don't want to mess with it beyond 'routine' maintenance if I am smart.
Absolutely the manufacturers make the cars/bikes/boat engines to be serviced at the dealer's only. Just like leasing brings the cars back to their lots as clean resalable units. Volvo dash cluster, for instance can only be changed out by dealer. It has to be synced with a troll in Trollhatten for it to match the VIN # of the car, by their secure servers.
New age baby!:confused3:

 

[PJSprog]

215 - 217 Ural Gear-Up - Picture 613989 | motorcycle review @ Top Speed
Interesting, a Siberian copy of a BMW sidecar and probably first used in the Russian army. Likely
to be durable and heavy. MCJ says easy to work on...
18 grand will buy a lot of touring bike

Back in the early '90s when I had my BMW R100RT, the dealer in St. Louis also sold Ural sidecars. I always thought that was curious. Maybe there's some corporate or design licensing connection there.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Back in the early '90s when I had my BMW R100RT, the dealer in St. Louis also sold Ural sidecars. I always thought that was curious. Maybe there's some corporate or design licensing connection there.

I think selling Ural sidecars was, and probably still is, more of an economic proposition just because they are a LOT less expensive than other available makes. And they're readily available as well. Unfortunately, they are no more reliable than the Ural motorcycles.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Back in the early '90s when I had my BMW R100RT, the dealer in St. Louis also sold Ural sidecars. I always thought that was curious. Maybe there's some corporate or design licensing connection there.

You are dead-on right. Russia took/stole the BMW design and tools from Germany after the Big War. They could not afford re-tooling and continued using 1945 tooling until it wore out, and worse. Ural's are about as modern as my Harley Many BMW shops still sell Ural's. Still, I love 'em all. They remind me of my 1960 Fordson-Dexta, Ole Blue.

 

[woodlandfarms]

If you're 66, born in '50 or 51, how did you get your license in 1965. You would have been 14 (or 15 depending on when your B'day is). Are there states that issue licenses at 14,15?

I got a Farm Permit when I was 12 in Wyoming, 13 Had a motorcycle license that let me on the road 24 hours. Not sure when I got my first drivers license (I did have to have a "Permit" for a year if I remember correctly - I think the permit was when I was 14) but given our area in Wyoming, no one really cared.

This would have been in the late 70's. Then again, I could be making it all up as that memory fades.

 

[George2615]

Lots of interesting info about age to obtain a license in different states. I learn something new every day. Waaaaay back when I was working on the farm after school at the age of 10 the farmer had us drive his vehicles on the road. He said we didn't need a license. He was probably wrong but we never got stopped.

 

[bspeedy]

The OP and many others have talked of the hard bikes to work on, are there easier ones? As I get older, the
mind is willing but the body doesn't fit in tiny places any more. And bikes are amazingly miniaturized, lot more stuff on the handlebars and in the rear, with ABS disc brakes and other systems, complicated powerful lighting, stereos, communication systems, etc., most I'm sure trying to stay down low for handling.
Am honestly curious if one bike manufacturer making a cruising bike intentionally designs for easier user maintenance, a better user "interface", with OBD I'm sure.

How about a Triumph Bonneville? Air cooled parallel twin, standard seating position, low seat height and weight. Dead simple and a joy to ride. Good used one can be found for 6 grand or less.