just want to vent. It's beautiful riding in summer here in So Cal. Not for me. Complications from left knee surgery and spinal stenosis has left me barely able to stand/walk since January. Hoping for corrective surgery sometime soon but it's tuff with crappy insurance. Hard to ride when you can't stand up. I keep telling myself that it will be OK to ride. Then I think how stupid I would feel when I pull up to light, put my foot down and knee gives out. Besides the damage , I doubt I could pick her back up. So I wait. But after 6 months I really wanna ride. Anything I need to know about oil/gas/battery when the time comes? People tell me I'm too old to ride and I should get a 3 wheeler Spyder type thing. Naw, I don't think so, I'll just keep the 14 covered up in garage and wait for surgery.

TIB

Sorry to hear this but don't do it bro, I know you want to ride but that unstable knee can easily cause a fall at a stop sign or light. Better to wait until it's healed completely or had corrective surgery.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/22/2022 @ 9:35 PM *

Best thing I've found for inactive winter months is just go out in the garage and crank the bike up at least every two weeks and run it up to operating temperature. I've been doing this for 16 years now with 8 bikes in the garage, never have had to use a trickle charger and it keeps seals lubricated, battery charged up, etc. Worst thing for any machine is too sit idle for long periods as you probably already know. Get some fresh fuel in it from time to time also, that stuff will get stale over time. The bike is made to be run, so run it!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/22/2022 @ 9:34 PM *

In my opinion, if you live in a cold climate, do not start it up unless you're going to ride it. You will get condensation in the motor if it's lower than 60° F and that's how it will sit the rest of the winter. You'll see the oil on the sight glass. If it's really cold out, the engine won't even get up to normal temperature by idling.

I feel your pain. I'm still rehabbing from a tibia plateau fracture and surgery on my left knee.
There's one thing you can try. When I get stop or get off the bike, I make sure to use my right ( good) leg.
I had to adjust my thinking because I usually put the left down. I also got a thumb shifter for my bike.

Mad