12 Laws Of Motorcycle Restoration 

Personal reflections on 50 years of motorcycle restoration 

1. Everything is broken. Trust in this and you will never be disappointed. 

2. Someone in the past has done something to the bike that has the potential to kill you. Your job is to find out what that is and fix it before it does. 

3. Don’t believe the “for sale” ads: be prepared to be very disappointed when you actually see the bike in person and up close. A claimed “rebuilt engine” means the sparkplugs were changed….maybe. 

4. Get the manual before you do anything. You have no business touching the bike until after you have read the manual cover to cover……several times. 

5. There is no substitute for the right tool. Break down and buy one since you’ll probably need it more than once. 

6. Nothing on a motorcycle requires the use of a hammer. Anything struck with a hammer will break regardless of how lightly hit. 

7. Dealers will not have the part you need for your bike. Dealers will have plenty of parts you don’t need since they are the ones that never break. 

8. You can never tell what a part is going to cost. Expect to be   surprised both ways. 

9. A failing $1.00 part is capable of destroying a $1000.00 engine. Always replace the cheap stuff (gaskets, o-rings, springs, etc.) whether it needs it or not. 

10. There are some bikes that are not a bargain even if you get them for free. Pass them by unless you already own one and need a “parts bike”. See #11 below. 

11. There is no such thing as a “parts bike”. All the parts you will need for your bike will already be broken or have been stripped off any “parts bike” since they are the first ones to break. See #10 above. 

12. If your bike is older than the age of the dealer’s mechanic you are probably a better candidate to restore your bike than the dealer’s mechanic. Be prepared to do it yourself. 

John Arbeeny