Am I smart enough?

[JT]

OK here is a strange question:
I have very little experience with motors, mostly limited to high school automechanics class.

The question is: Even with the manuals available, am I smart enough to read them and maintain one of these bikes? I'm not even thinking about restoration, just diagnosing and fixing things as they come up. I have a doctorate, but I'm pretty sure a 40 year old bike will outsmart me. Where should a mechanical idiot start?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[davomoto]

I think a better question may be " am I patient enough" . One does not need to be a rocket scientist to work on these old Hondas. Patience, perserverance, and knowing when to ask for help are probably the most important attributes!

davomoto

[greg78gs750]

yes, you are. if i can figure it out, anyone can. now, to be fair, my bike isnt actually running, in fact, the motor is in neatly labeled ziploc bags right now. still.....

the thing with old bikes is that the maintenance is rarely "routine". you go in to to one thing, and you find 3 more that need doing. it is the proverbial can of worms. the trick is to really enjoy wrenching, at least as much as the riding. cause chances are, you are going to be doing a considerable amount of it. this is why any self respecting amateur motorcycle mechanic needs 2 bikes, at least....

i took a msf class with my wife to get her hooked enough to want her own bike just so i could get a second....hers is the one in the baggies!!!

greg