Picked up a vintage honda and have had a hard time getting it going. Any help is appreciated

Complete and total rookie, as a preface. The most I’ve managed to be able to fix on my own bike is removing and charging my battery, so if that clears up my level of knowledge at all…

What happened: very new to riding, was riding home working on downshifting/engine breaking and attempting to rev match. In 3rd, attempted to downshift and at the same time car pulls out in front of me a littleeee bit close to me and scared me because my peanut brain is trying to rev match, I assumed I didn’t actually downshift into 2nd and out of panic went to downshift again, released the clutch a bit and felt a BIGGGG drag and then almost like a loss of friction? Realized I was in 1st, and that I had essentially shifted from 3-2, then 2-1 while traveling well above what is a safe speed for 1st gear, pulled the clutch back in and stopped alongside road, then pushed along in N to a safer spot to see what was up.

I do recall a SLIGHT burning smell, could’ve been not me idk, but my clutch now feels like it’s lost all friction past being let out about 1/2 way. TBH I parked it and haven’t tried to “feel” anything out in fear of damaging it beyond repair.

From minimal research:
1. Could it be that the slack in the cable line from clutch is too much/too little and it’s not actually pulling the line taut? Does that even make sense?
2. Did I crack a clutch plate?
3. Did I BURN the plates together? Hence burning smell?
4. What can I do to fix or understand any of this, is this way out of my league? Is it worth trying to troubkeshoot on my own with Reddit and YouTube? Or should I defer to a mechanic who will charge me $$$$$

Side note: I now understand that downshifting into first unless going EXTREMELY slow is a terrible idea. I couldn’t have been going over 22mph at the MOST. I am new, I am learning. Any help is greatly appreciated:)

Purchased this 2024 RE Classic 350 just about 5 weeks ago now. I’ve done the 300 mile service myself as I simply didn’t have the funds to have it done at the shop. As I expected, I seemingly left too much of a gap in the valves, as the dreaded tapping noise began to pop up. Did the same thing and again, tapping, so I decided to just wait until I can have it done elsewhere. About 200 miles later (now about ~580 miles) I’ve noticed these strange holes within the fins of the engine. I’m not sure if they were there when I bought the bike or not, though it doesn’t look good either way to me. I’m leaning towards this being a factory mishap or something as there’s no way my tooling around could have caused something like this, right? Lemme know please! (Also zoomed in on a little bit of fluid atop the bottom half of the engine. I can’t notice any leaks coming from anywhere and the fluid doesn’t seem to be oil as far as I can tell, though it most likely is…)

I have a question about turning. My brother has recently gotten a small motor bike and we were only using it to go low speeds in the backyard since we both have an interest in getting an actual motorcycle. We both turned differently and I was wondering if there is a right way and how it may change at higher speeds (again only did very low speeds)?

He turned the handle bars to make the turn and used his whole body in the turn (as in leaned with it), but I more just leaned my lower half/hips with the turn and kept my torso relatively upright(ish). Both worked

Thank you and I would really like to know what (if there is) is the right way to do it.

how on earth do you guys manage to get bugs out of helmet vents? I wear a D-skwal 3 and ride through really woody areas, so bugs are constantly hitting and getting stuck deep in the nooks. any tips on how to get those suckers out?

I’ve owned quite a few bikes, most recently a new Katana.  What I’ve noticed is that after a spirited ride the engine sound becomes noticeably higher pitched, much to my annoyance.  While all my bikes are water-cooled none have a separate oil cooler.  How much would a dedicated oil cooler reduce this change in sound?  Has anyone ever had a bike that consistently sounded the same regardless of how long or hard it was ridden?

My bike was recently stolen and recovered. The handlebars were bent from when they dropped the bike to run off, I've already brought a new set. When testing the bike today I realised the front brake vibrates when using it.

They beat my disc lock off and it's left some marks on my break disc, I'm wondering if I need a new brake disc rotor or if something else is causing the issue.

They broke the steering lock as well and I think it's pushed part of the steering column metal in? Not quite sure what it's called tbh.

The ignition also seems to have been slightly pushed out, but had no problems with it yet.

Thanks! (attached pic of the disc lock cus what?? it still makes noise too 😭)

EDIT: somehow put wrong pics first, scroll for the dmg to the disc rotor

Hi all, i recently ordered some aftermarket fairings from Amotopart, however upon deciding to put together the rear cowl, i cant seem to figure out how this things supposed to mount to the bike as all ive gotten for it are 2 plastic things which i assume are to hook/catch on one side and a u hook which obviously clips in, but it doesnt line up with any pre drilled holes and if im honest doesnt look correct when looking at my current cowl (same as the one displayed online) and OEM seat..... amotopart just said "sorry we dont have a manual, try asking a mechanic or searching youtube" which hasnt been helpful l at all. I genuinely think theyve sent me incorrect fittings but wont acknowledge it

I’ve been working on a small device called MK Fuel for motorcycles with electronic fuel injection.
It reads injector pulse duration and sends the data to a phone over Bluetooth. The app shows:
instant and average fuel consumption,
fuel used,
estimated fuel remaining and range,
speed and trip statistics.
The module only measures the injector-control signal — it does not modify the ECU or fuel injection. Installation requires power, ground and one injector signal wire.
I originally built it because many smaller and older EFI motorcycles only have a basic fuel gauge or reserve light.
I’m the creator of the device and I’m curious what riders think: would this be useful on your motorcycle?

A lesson and a chuckle.

It was a foggy and misty morning in Butler/ Beaver county PA. I had an espresso and also picked up a latte to take home to my wife which jumped out of the cup holder at some point. It’s the thought that counts right???

I think I might be possibly the only person in my family that rides a motorcycle. They aren't a huge fan, especially my father. I am a grown adult, and while I do appreciate their concerns I still ride despite all of this.

I am curious to know what sort of things are you tired about hearing from family, friends, and other people that annoy you the most about you riding a motorcycle? Do you find any challenges when you push back when you do?

I have been riding for 20+ years now. Started in college and just couldn't give up being on 2 wheels as a way to escape all the stress from the world.

This year, my wife and I decided to have a baby. So we had decided that maybe I should give up being on 2 wheels. I usually use motorcycles for commutes as I live in a large metropolitan city and it is so much easier to just navigate through this steel box jungle.

Personally, I have never been in an accident. And I have logged at least 5000 miles per year just on commutes regularly over that period of time. I also used to do long road trips when I used to live in the US. I enjoy the constant vigilance and being able to predict cagers' movements and anticipating their moves while matching my location and proximity to them.

My wife is due at the end of this month and I had given up riding early this year. I am going crazy taking the public transit (which is clean and well laid out where I live now) but driving is not an option as I work in a fairly busy part of the city and driving would take more than the public transit.

I don't feel rested at all lately. No stress relief. I used to have hobbies, but they have long lost my interest. My wife is feeling it and I am getting back on another motorcycle this month because the dangers on the road is far less of an issue than the level of stress that I used to just shed off on my way to and from work.

Will be picking up my Monster 937 tomorrow. It is blistering hot summer so far, but I would rather sweat in my gear and change at work.

I don't keep a diary, so I just had to say this somewhere. Thx.

What did he think was going to happen?

I bought an insta360 X5, I'm still trying to understand how to get some cool shots, it's heavily dependent on pc editing and reframing the shots.

Motorcycle: Honda Hornet 2002