How to Get Started on a Project Bike

My friend passed away two weeks ago after being rear ended while on his motorcycle. He was someone who always wore padding and never drove recklessly. Just mentioning this to let everyone know that you MUST drive as if you’re invisible because most of the time you really are, and that most motorcycle crashes are often the fault of the person in a car, so safety is not always guaranteed. Stay safe out there everyone <3

I feel like I can tell Jer is really in his element this video, like he's way more direct with info and jumping point to point efficiently

Hey Jeremiah and Donut! The motorcycle content on Donut is something that I have been itching for and hope it continues. I work at a motorcycle dealership in San Francisco called Scuderia West. Would love to get you guys to come up and make a video about getting into a dealership and shopping for a new or used bike or scooter. We sell new Aprilia, KTM, Royal Enfield, and Vespas! And a ton of used bikes as well. Some of the best beginner bikes in the game along with top of the line track bikes litter our showroom. I am the apparel specialist and would love to talk about that and then show you the service department and the work they do back there. I own a KTM 790 Duke I'd be happy to let you rip around SF and some of the best motorcycle roads in the world just outside of SF. Please reach out and we can talk! Thanks Joey

PLEASE KEEP GIVING THIS MAN MOTORCYCLE STUFF TO DO! Just bought a project bike and i prefer the visuals you all give and the simplified way Jeremiah explains things compared to what else is out there. This stuff is needed!

I'm a daily motorcycle rider and I'm so glad Jeremiah's dream of bringing motorcycles to Donut has finally come to realization. Wow! Great job creating an overview of how to get into motorcycles for people who might be considering one, you made time to talk about safety gear, and covered how to thoroughly check a used bike before you buy it, as well as how to select the right bike for you. I'm excited to see more motorcycle content from Donut.

I am LIVING for this 2 wheeled content- let’s go Jer!

Just a heads up for those looking into riding. Softer tires last about 3000 miles and cost around $400 a set. Also bikes need a lot of upkeep as far as simple maintenance. Think chain maintenance, proper pressure in tires, close attention to the brakes, clutch cable, etc. With all that being said, it is an amazing experience.

Love the motorcycle content! I had a 2017 R3 and it was a blast. The 300cc class of sport bikes are a ton of fun cause you can go full throttle often without going to jail. The R3's engine has a lot of character and is a joy to wind out to its 12,000 rpm redline

Important note: DOT doesn't actually certify helmets, they just write the standard. A DOT sticker just means the manufacturer self-certifies the helmet meets the standard. There is enforcement however, DOT does random sample testing to verify compliance. If you want greater assurance of the safety level of a helmet, look for a Snell certification sticker. The Snell foundation DOES test helmets themselves before issuing a certification, and these standards are significantly higher than DOT standards(for example, DOT will certify a skullcap type helmet, but Snell will only certify one with full face coverage)

It's great to see Jerry get this kind of show, excited to see how this goes!

Ton of valuable information. 1 very useful piece you omitted was when you are going to check it out ask the seller to make sure it’s cold when you get there. A cold start up shows problems that a warm start up can often mask. I know this 1st hand from my 1st bike. If the temperature on the bike is already reading or above 120 degree when you initially start it it means the bike was not fully cooled down and the owner could have tried to warm it up to mask issues.

Hell of a job Jerry. I’ve also been riding since about 6, granted I’m 22. Great job explaining the whole checklist. I love how you went through and gave people an idea of how the fluid gauges looked. Helps the first timers. Ride on bro 😎🤙🏼

Would love to see a series where you get the crew going through their motorcycle licenses, finding bikes at a set budget, working on them fixing/adding things then go through some challenges to see who did the best. Maybe do a giveaway/raffle type thing for the winning bike, the other bikes get put back on the market, better than they were before etc. Earn the cash back or something

I'd love too see a hi vs low on motorcycles. I think it would be a cool series

Just starting my first project bike in “retirement”. Last bike was a very built 600cc Norton. Going with a Triumph triple and maybe a good timing slip. This video is going on my list of project related vids. -Matt’s dad

I really appreciate how informative this video is for beginner riders. I grew up at a motorcycle shop during the late 90s and heard plenty of horror stories of people reaching beyond their means. Take it slow and start with something slow to learn how people react to motorcycles and understanding safety. It’s not always “loud pipes save lives”

the emotion when he said he's been trying to get this greenlit for 3 years was too real. i might finally go back and work on my bike along side these guys

Important things to note about safety gear: DOT ratings are certified by the manufacturer rather than a third party, and they're not even required to actually do the tests, just certify that the helmet could pass the rather low standard. A DOT sticker doesn't say much more than that it is legally a helmet. You're best off looking for an ECE or Snell rated helmet, since they actually require third party verification, and have more modern standards for protection, best of the best are FIM homologated helmets, which are rated for racing use. Also, gear does deteriorate over time. Sun exposure, general wear and tear, and just plain age will degrade protection over time. It's generally recommended to replace your gear every 5 years or so, more often if it sees heavy use.

Jeremiah on the rhythm when it comes to motorcycles. All on point, never left anything on the basics. More of these kind of 2 wheel content. Probably do a build series.

Yes! Congrats for being able to talk about bikes, Jeremiah. Project bikes tend to be a bit more intimidating than cars because the margin for error is smaller (higher chance to get hurt if you make some mistake), but so cool either way. Just over a year ago I've gotten myself a crashed 03 Honda Hornet (599) as my second bike and first with "high" displacement. Working on her has been so rewarding and my expenses are just near the market price for that model while already having her modified to my taste and all painted and nice. Just can't wait to have her all ready so I can take her for a ride.