For the general motorcycle enthusiast, a little bit of knowledge can go a long way. In terms of any discussion of the cafe racers 
of the 60s, one of the best ways to fake one’s way into some pretty interesting conversations is to remember that the old bikes leaked oil. This isn’t necessarily true for all makes and all models, but it’s true enough that by mentioning the oil, most older bikers will be off and running with long stories about the best bike they ever had, the scariest moment on the road, and a lot of enigmatic smiles.
It was a different time, perhaps. Although there are still serious riders with mechanical interests, the ones who will start with a book on auto repair and work their way up to replacing heads on the engine, they are few and far between. The new bikes, including the modern classics , are generally easier to maintain, for the rider as well as for the mechanic. That’s not to say there are no problems, of course. Every motorcycle will have issues if ridden long enough because, even if it doesn’t go down (knock on the shiny side and keep it up), things eventually get loose or wear down. Tightening and replacing are always part of the deal, and fine adjustments will keep the bike alive for a very long time.
No matter how new or how old the motorcycle, then, a solid motorcycle manual is going to come in handy for everyone who rides. Those who are riding the new classics probably are well aware that the oil leaking is no longer a problem, but there is another very significant change in the last few years. The old school carburetors that give these bikes some of their most distinctively gorgeous features are now decorative features only. They’ve kept the covers so that the profile is very much the same as it was in the early 60s, but they are now fuel injected. It’s a very important distinction. While the benefits are obvious, with increased fuel efficiency, and a more dependable engine for cold weather, there are some things that are lost. The most nostalgic biker will likely have a profound sense of pride for the hours spent learning how to fix their own carburetors, and new riders will find that a little bit of information on repair will come in very handy. It may never come to good practical use, but it will certainly pay off in more than one conversation with veteran bikers, going over how things were “way back when,” to discover that it’s not very far away at all.