motorcycle

[ben]

This post is a little bit like the other two about buying cars...

Here's the deal: I've been pro rec'd for BDCP and anticipate getting paid soon. The extra money would make it really easy for me to buy a new vehicle if that's what I decide to do with it. I've been seriously considering instead getting a motorcycle and keeping the truck I have for a few more years. No, I'm not trying to be the next Maverick... I'm looking at getting a cruiser anyway. The thought of getting a motorcycle brings me to some questions.

1. Where would I keep my bike while at OCS? I know I can keep a car (truck) there, but I wouldn't feel safe leaving a new bike out in the parking lot for 13 weeks.

2. Assuming that I'm in Pensacola for a while (I'm SNA), do I need to worry much about rust? Does it rain there a lot? What about salt spray from the ocean?

3. What if I were to be assigned an overseas tour of duty? I know that'd be a long time from now, but I'd rather not have to sell all my stuff while I'm gone for 2 years. When people are stationed overseas what do they do with their stuff (cars, large furniture, that kind of thing)?


I could get a new truck instead of getting a bike, but if I were going to get a truck I'd probably wait till after commissioning.

So really I'm looking for advice in two areas- should I buy a bike now or later, and if I do buy one now what will happen to it while I'm at OCS/sea tour/overseas ect?

I'll probably come up with some more questions soon.

Also, I could just save the money for later. But where's the fun in that?

 

[JKD]

2. Put a cover on the Motorcycle, and you shouldn't have a problem. You'll have some residual rust on the break rotors, but that will rub off the first time you ride it. It's no different than putting it up for the winter. Plan on getting some fuel stabilizer. The gas will be stale after that amount of time (I wouldn't leave it with a full tank. maybe half full - then you can add some new gas to what's in the tank) Also check the manual on how to run the motorcycle before storage. Some like you to shut off the gas valve and run it dry.

3. I left my car with family when I was on deployment. The higher cost option is to put it in storage.

 

[EODDave]

I must disagree with one point. It is very important to top off your tank with fuel before storing it. The reason is moisture. If your tank is half full, moisture has more surface area on your tank inwhich to condense. This is a bad thing for two reasons. 1 it will rust your tank and 2 the fuel will settle in the bottom and when you turn the fuel valve back on, that water is going right into your float bowls in your carb. You do want to turn the fuel valve on the tank to the off position and run your engine until it dies. This clears all the fuel out of the carb and keeps it from gumming up. Just my two cents worth.

Dave

 

[JKD]

I've wondered about the inside of the tank. I see the point of having the tank full. I normally ride mine throughout the winter (I'm in western TN - not much of a winter). I guess the fuel stabilizer will help enough with the stale gas (rust in the tank would be much worse).

 

[EODDave]

Yep,

We had a guy here die about two weeks or so ago. Not wearing a helmet.

Dave

 

[turbospider2k]

New bike shouldn't have much trouble with fluids - it's when you get something aged that you need to worry about fuel (top it up), brake fluid (gathers moisture) and so on.

Just get a full-zip cover for it and it should store forever. And don't die because of it.

 

[Banjo33]

I too say wait. I bought my bike about 2 months ago. At least 2 hours of nearly everyday, you can't ride, because it rains (in the summer at least). For the last two weeks it's rained on and off all day. If you're bringing your truck too, that wouldn't be such a problem. But, you can't carry a passenger (if you try and pick up a girl 9 out of 10 of them aren't going to get on that bike with you (especially without an extra helmet)--besides if you were to meet one, you probably wouldn't be in any condition to ride the bike in the first place). Get the truck, the bike can wait.

 

[jaerose]

To heck with the truck...get a van and throw in a matress. You can then be known as 'that guy with the party bus!' =)

JR

 

[Hudson]

Better cover the whole inside with shag carpeting. Also get a little disco ball and a lava lamp.

 

[jaerose]

Yeah...and lock the back doors so they cannot open and put a built-in bar in front of them. Have seating around the outside (like a limo) and cut out a moon roof...or just make it have a convertible top. Maybe instead of a matress we should have a roulette wheel...have it be a casino environment =) Heck, we'll make a business of it all and call it "High Roller's Mobile Casino." Maybe not...

JR

 

[ben]

I can tell that my weekends might be a little too fuzzy to remember...

"No, I'm placing YOU under arrest!" as I am escorted to the squad car in handcuffs-


Seriously though thanks for the tips yall. I'll probably stick it out with the truck I've got now and wait to buy my ensignmobile until I'm antually an Ensign.


---The van blueprints are in the works.

 

[46Driver]

Get the truck and wait until you deploy to buy a bike (if you want a Harley) OMSC (Overseas Miltary Sales Corporation) comes on board the ship in ports like Rota and sells you H-D, Ford, GM, and Chryslers at almost cost - much better than what you will pay at the Harley dealership here in Pcola. And if you do have a bike here, the man to see if you want it fixed or hopped up is George Breckenridge at the House of Thunder in Gulf Breeze. He use to be the chief mech at the Harley dealership - and when he left, a lot of the customers did too. Honest guy and knows how to turn a wrench.

 

[ben]

So how does the OMSC thing work? Obviously you'd have to take delivery after you're back on dry land. If everything so cheap why doesn't everyone buy from them?

Thanks for the tip. Got a bike?

 

[46Driver]

OMSC comes on board the ship. They only have a limited number of bikes in stock - you have to take what they have (which means you want to get to them before the carrier arrives with 5000 people!). When you return from deployment, you pick up the bike at the dealership you told OMSC to ship it to. Expect to write a check for about $3000 as a down payment. Also, you have to sign a contract promising that you will not resell the bike within 1 year.

Bought a '96 Superglide on my second deployment and sold it (for a profit) after I got my '98 Sinister Blue Pearl FatBoy on my third MedFloat. Love the bike! Good Luck - and be careful. Another reason not to get a bike until AFTER you get your wings!

PS: Jet Jocks ride rice rockets - Helo Bubbas cruise on Harleys!

 

[ben]

46

I'm definitely not in the market for a rice burner. I've been looking at HD a lot and here recently have taken a liking to the new Victory Vegas model. Any words of wisdom?


Also, on a totally separate note:
I have no earthly idea what airframe I would choose (given the unlikely opportunity - needs of the Navy.) Any advice for a rookie who's got everything ahead of him? All I can figure is that I'll study my butt of and take whatever I get. The general feel I've picked up on from the (few) actual NA's on this site is that I will love whatever Iget. Agree?

I've started working on my PPL just to get a feel for things. I've found some aspects of flight to be easier than I anticipated and others are more difficult. I like it so far and know it will be a great career, besides the fact that I get to serve as a Navy Officer.

Other advice?

How was the transfer from helo to airline?