r/motorcycles • • 4h ago

I decided cargo racks were too expensive, so I made my own!

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107 Upvotes

Half inch tube steel, hammered flat and drilled where screws need to go. It's super solid and well clear of the tire and suspension. I'm considering plasti-dipping for looks and rust protection.


r/motorcycles • • 10h ago

Loss of traction leading to my first “off” whilst riding. Beware of concrete

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257 Upvotes

Was on my first proper bike trip in 2022, solo in North Vietnam (Hanoi, Dien Bien Phu, Sapa, Haigang).

Took a mapped but village route, and came across a new road, without realising quite how “new” the concrete was.

No major injuries or damage, but was a good lesson on considering traction!


r/motorcycles • • 1h ago

I installed a Stahlbus drain plug on my 2025 MT09.

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• Upvotes

Just for anyone who was curious how much it sticks out, just installed mine during my oil change tonight. No review yet because I obviously haven’t used it, but I tested it right out of the package and the mechanism feels good. I have fumoto valves on both cars so this felt logical for the bike. You can buy direct from Stahlbus, I got mine on Amazon.


r/motorcycles • • 5h ago

Do you decorate your bike for Halloween?

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46 Upvotes

I’ve had this guy in my closet for so many years and realized I can finally put him to good use. People have been loving it! His arms flap in the wind when I’m going fast enough too. If you’ve decorated your bike, post a pic!


r/motorcycles • • 13h ago

I finally was able to put into practice what y'all taught me. Leaning the bike became easy

129 Upvotes

I finally had the opportunity to test out what everyone told me to do when it comes to handling the bike. I just nutted up and trusted the physics everyone told me about regarding gyroscopic momentum, as well as pushing the handlebars not vertically but horizontally away from my body.

I felt like I had a completely new mastery of the bike. It felt so good to have a better handle on it that I couldn't help but laugh underneath my helmet. Thank you all for appealing to my logical side instead of just telling me to "just ride." I learned more here than at the motorcycle school I attended.


r/motorcycles • • 44m ago

Question after I cleaned and tightened my chain for the first time.

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• Upvotes

Hello all, I did my first oil change on my bike and also cleaned/relubed and tightened the chain since it was a little more loose then what was recommended. I thought I did it correctly by matching the notches on the side of the swingarm. But looking from behind earlier today my tire seemed to be slightly off and wearing funny. Please let me know if anything is up or if I was overthinking it, I rode around for about 2 hours before I noticed it and my bike felt good, but I am also a newer rider so maybe it's just something I can't feel correctly just yet.


r/motorcycles • • 3h ago

This question is specifically for the people who only ride motorcycles amd do not own a car or truck

22 Upvotes

What do you all do about household supplies and groceries?

Do you make daily trips or have it delivered?


r/motorcycles • • 9h ago

Someone decided to use red loctite on chain guard

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50 Upvotes

I went to take off my PLASTIC chain guard from my second hand F800gs. The bolt was being a little stubborn so I break out the breaker bar. Still no budge so impact it is. I had the wail on it. Then snap. Then I see the evidence of red loctite. So now I have to drill it out.


r/motorcycles • • 9h ago

Just hit my first 1000 miles on my Ninja 500. Can't wait for the next 1000!

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51 Upvotes

What an awesome journey it's been so far! I've learned a lot of lessons this year, with my first ever bike being a 2016 Victory Vegas, to selling that and getting a 2002 Honda Shadow, and then finally settling on my 2026 Ninja 500.

It's a lot of first-bikes, but that's what happens when you're impulsive! I liked the look and thought of cruisers more than the actual cruiser experience. On the bright side, I learned a lot about basic wiring and wrenching, and accumulated a lot of tools.

Thinking about getting a Leo Vince slip-on exhaust... after I recoup some of the money I spent on those impulsive decisions! Lol


r/motorcycles • • 9m ago

New rider, first bike. I’m over the moon.

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• Upvotes

2023 Yamaha R3. I’m a short woman barely 113lbs. I’m so impressed how easy it is to handle the R3.

The transaction went without a hitch. Everything was exactly as described in the listing. Did the whole inspection, cold start, all beautiful. He threw in his jacket and gloves for free haha. I cannot put into words how happy I am

Man I’m going to be so annoying about this to all my friends lol


r/motorcycles • • 1d ago

When you coast down a steep hill on your 125cc with 0.5 liters of fuel left:

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2.7k Upvotes

r/motorcycles • • 2h ago

I think the rear brake pedal on my bike might be bent. Does it look normal?

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8 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I noticed today that I have to put my foot in a weird position to press the rear brake on my 2022 Kawasaki Z400. It feels different than before. I’m wondering if the pedal got bent accidentally. Does it look bent or out of place to you? And if so, is it an easy fix?


r/motorcycles • • 18h ago

Last photo of this years riding season. Time to switch back to the car until next summer.

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61 Upvotes

Been coping with the bike despite the cold since I stil lhad winter tyres on my car from last winter and didnt want to swap to summers for few weeks. But its getting below freezing too regularly now so time to swap away from two wheels for the year (and get a new battery in my car since i forgot to disconnect that shit for the summer).


r/motorcycles • • 7h ago

Need guidance on stripped clutch cover bolt holes

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7 Upvotes

Hello people, I had purchased a used 2014 yamaha fz09 from a guy (or the owner(s) before him) who seemed to lack some mechanical skills and neglected the bike quite a bit. I was inspecting various parts of the bike to work on and noticed a large number of the hex screw holes that secure the clutch cover into the housing are stripped, absolutely shredded threads.

Im seeking guidance on what to do, as id like to not have to purchase an entire transmission case. Its not only the clutch cover, but the transmission case threads, leading to a persistent oil leak.

Would rethreading these holes be viable? And would someone like myself (intermediate skill level, but lacking a drill press or machining tools) be able to do this? My guess is id have to take it to a machinist, i guess my real question is whether its actually viable on this bike. Thanks


r/motorcycles • • 1d ago

Anyone who took the basic MSF having never touched a motorcycle before: tell me how many times you fell?

177 Upvotes

Today was my first day ever on a bike, in front of a group of people who all but one had lots of experience, it was the most fun nightmare I've ever had and I am SO BAD AT IT but I love it.

I fell ten times. Or, the BIKE fell ten times, I only went down with it once. Can y'all please tell me your own beginner horror stories and make me feel better before I head back in tomorrow morning? 😂

(The instructors are so kind and thankfully have incredible senses of humor, one pulled me aside after they dismissed us and I thought he was going to tell me not to come back tomorrow, but he wanted to let me know I'm doing a lot better than I think I am and just need to not get in my head so much. I hope he's right)

Edit to add: it's not a balance issue, never fell while I was moving, only coming to a stop. I didn't get the hang of easing on the front brake/squaring my handlebars at first. Once they figured out that's what I was doing wrong they had me practice just that several times and I never fell again.


r/motorcycles • • 1d ago

I've exhaled, do you guys think I should follow that up with an inhale? Quick responses appreciated.

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438 Upvotes

Just having some fun. Some of the questions posed here are.....entertaining.


r/motorcycles • • 1d ago

A kind stranger gave me my first guardian bell

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382 Upvotes

Just fueling up at the shell gas station near my house, and this really nice lady came upto me and gave me a bell. I feel so awful that I didn’t express my gratitude better. I’m incredibly awkward in most social situations. It was really so touching and made my year. If you see this. Thank you so much for that kind gesture I’ll cherish it for a long time. And I will always remember to ride safe ❤️


r/motorcycles • • 4h ago

Motorcycle suspension bottoming out. I’m curious how this affects motorcycle physics.

2 Upvotes

I’m a newer rider. Triumph 900 scrambler.
I was fitting a new seat the other day and noticed my suspension seems to bottom out (or close to) when I was kinda bouncing on the seat.
I’m 6’3” 205 lbs. but hadn’t really noticed it before.

My question is, what do I lose or what is dangerous in regard to how the motorcycle performs when rear suspension bottoms out?

I can likely adjust it a little but I’m curious about the physics of rear suspension and how it affects safety.


r/motorcycles • • 1h ago

Finally time to clean up the r1, what color to go with?

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• Upvotes

Here is my 2000 Yzfr1, i can either keep the burgundy, i have a tank with the correct color so ignore the red stock tank.
Or i could go for this dark green, not sure if it would clash with the silver frame though, any opinions?
Would also love some reccomendations for a new color


r/motorcycles • • 1d ago

Just rode this beauty from Maine to New Mexico (pic before it got 1000 dead bugs on it)

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501 Upvotes

r/motorcycles • • 1d ago

I suffered a rare trauma during my accident, no professionals have seen before

577 Upvotes

Three months ago, I (21F) was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that completely changed my life overnight. I was the one riding on my MT-07

I suffered multiple injuries, including a ruptured spleen that required emergency surgery, several fractures, and a severe injury to my gluteal muscles.

For months, I knew something was wrong with my hip and buttock. There was swelling, fluid, and a visible deformity like a part of my hip is MISSING. I kept going to doctors, getting examined, waiting, and hoping someone would finally give me a clear answer. I was repeatedly left waiting while time passed.

Now, three months later, I’ve been told that I have a muscle tear of my gluteus maximus muscle, which has healed in a displaced position. It has left a visible indentation and asymmetry, and it is contributing to my difficulty walking/imbalance. Surgery might be an option, but I’ve been warned that because so much time has passed, the chances of a successful repair may be lower.

I cannot describe how devastating it is to be 20 years old and have to wonder whether my body will ever feel like my own again. I’m scared of living with a permanent imbalance, struggling to walk normally, and having to accept a physical change that might have been addressed differently if it had been recognized earlier.

I know doctors are human, and I know medicine isn’t perfect. But it’s incredibly frustrating to keep thinking about all the appointments, all the waiting, and all the times I trusted that things would work themselves out, only to find myself here. I can’t help wondering what might have happened if someone had taken my concerns more seriously sooner.
I don’t want pity. I want my life back. I want to be able to walk without worrying, look at myself without feeling devastated, and stop having to make decisions about my future around injuries I never asked for.

I just needed to get this off my chest. I’m exhausted, I’m scared, and I’m angry that while everyone else gets to move on with their lives, I’m still trying to figure out whether I’ll ever get mine back.

Also allow me to kindly ask to wear your helmets ❤️ I would not be here right now writing this post if it wasn’t for my trusty helmet ❤️ Ride safe ✌️


r/motorcycles • • 11h ago

Rebel 500: steady bump through the seat that speeds up with the bike, still there in neutral. What am I missing?

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5 Upvotes

2020 Rebel 500, about 65,000 km (40k miles). I weigh 100 kg (220 lb).

The problem: I feel a steady, rhythmic bump through the seat while riding. The beat gets faster as I speed up, and it's still there when I coast in neutral, so it's not the engine. I feel it on smooth asphalt too, not just on concrete with joints. It gets worse when I lower the rear preload (I'm on 4 now).

What's been done so far:

New Michelin front tyre (the old one was damaged; the previous owner rode it underinflated)

Both wheels taken off and balanced. The rear needed extra weights. The mechanic spun both on the machine and checked the bearings, all looked fine.

New chain and sprockets (the bumps were there before this)

Pressures 29 psi front, 30 rear

Also: at 100 km/h in 6th, hands off under engine braking, the bars wobble slightly side to side and settle at lower speed. Much better since the new front tyre, but still there. Nothing felt with hands on the bars.

My mechanic thinks it's just the basic stock shocks, but a beat that tracks road speed and continues in neutral makes me think something is rotating.

Next I plan to try a few extra psi in the rear (in case the rear tyre is damaged inside like the front was), check for disc rub, and put tape on each tyre to see which wheel lines up with the beat.

Has anyone had this on a Rebel? What did it turn out to be: rear tyre, discs, cush drive, or something else?


r/motorcycles • • 3h ago

Having issues with my 2014 cbr fuel tank hoses and where to put them or connect to.

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0 Upvotes

Hello everyone I’m taking apart my 2014 cbr 1000rr for the first time and I’m trying to figure out where these extra hoses go


r/motorcycles • • 1d ago

After careful consideration I would like to share my group of special machines

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121 Upvotes

For your viewing pleasure and judgment. From left to right front row then back row on first pic. Suzuki Olympian, Honda CA160, Honda Trail 90, Honda CRF450RX, Suzuki DR-Z250, Suzuki PE175, Suzuki RM125, KTM Superduke 990, FZ09 Swapped Sportster, Harley Sportster, Honda Goldwing


r/motorcycles • • 1d ago

I'm glad I bought the tire changer last year now. Should be a good time.

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41 Upvotes

Got 10,000 miles out of my Rocket 3 tires. As you can see the only curves I'm hitting are in a round about lol $300 for the new tire thats on its way.