Do you do your bike maintenance

[orangeback]

I do all of my own work. Only thing i pay for is going in side the engine. leave that for a bike teck.

[paturoa]

Yep do all of my own on all of my bikes. The only thing I have paid for is tyre changes and got Kerry at Motohaus to fit a new chain - riveted

[Matt Bleck]

I'll do the basic shit, oil change, filters, plugs etc.

[Bonez]

I do all of my own work. Only thing i pay for is going in side the engine. leave that for a bike teck.If I get pissed off an fed up trouble shooting I'll resort to the "professionals". Nice have a second opion. Rebuilt two engines. They're still running to this day. Both done over 100,000kms. Only main and big end bearings and some machining done by those that know what they're doing. Not too hard to pull down and put back together. 3 dimensional jigsaw puzzles really. Other than that do most of my own spanner work.

[Ixion]

I'll do everything except tyre changes .Cos the machines make it so much easier, it's not worth the hassle. Would if I needed to. and multicylinder twostroke crank reconditions. I've done singles, I'd attempt a twin (especially a Yamaha), at three cylinders I know my limits.

[Motu]

If I paid someone to fix my bike...then I could make a thread on KB about what a useless prick he is and threaten to take him to the Small Claims Court.

[DEATH_INC.]

I do all my own shit, from tightening shit up to rebuilding shocks and forks etc.......

[Jeaves]

Do it all except tyre changes .

[Colapop]

Starting to learn more about it. I reckon I can do mostly about everything given the right tools and a little guidance. Got a speedo cable to fix at the mo.

[Gremlin]

I do the absolute basics (tyres pressures, chain maintenance, basic electrical)... I figure if I attempt much more, I'll either kill myself in the process, or as an after effect, when I try to ride it.

Oil and fluids would be a hassle, as nowhere to dump.

I work to keep the mechs (or bike shop bosses) in a lifestyle they would like to become accustomed to :yes:

[vamr]

Same boat as Colapop, have been hammering away at problems as they come up. Kind of iffy without a manual but no dramas so far.

[Steam]

I don't know much but I am going to attack my clutch in the coming months, unknown territory, I go in armed only with a scanned workshop manual, a bunch of old but useful tools, and a willingness to call the shop to come pick it up if I totally mess up.

[crash harry]

Do all my own work except tyre changes - though I recently paid someone $20 to fit a new chain cos I couldn't be bothered.

[sunhuntin]

i have good mechanics, and always go there. only thing ive done, aside from cleaning, is top up the oil [out of about 4 attempts, with 3 different bikes, ive only filled correctly once, but i blame the lean.]
in saying that, id love to sit in on a service oneday and find out whats done. but that would mean hanging around the workshop all day, plus with having to go to work...not viable, but would love to.

[apteryx_haasti]

I don't do more than tyre pressures and keeping it clean at the moment, but I am doing a bike maintenance course next month and would like to learn more so I understand how things work and can fix stuff and do my own oil and chain and such like.

Do I get a gold star for being the first gal to reply?? [EDIT: D'oh! Gold stars to sunhuntin please. ]:gob:

[Steam]

Do I get a gold star for being the first gal to reply??

Yes, you do!

[The Stranger]

Depends on the machine.
Mostly do my own, but if it is under warranty or I feel that there is value in being able to show a service history on resale I get a shop to do the work.

[BarBender]

I'm a ride em - you fix em type of guy.

Can do the basics - but dont have the experience nor inclination to do the serious stuff safely myself.

[Goblin]

I do most of my own work. Recently I have done steering head bearings(on my road bike), wheel bearings...front and rear(the rear I ended up taking up the road to get a 'pro' to remove the old bearings), overhauled the front brakes on the racer, cleaned out carbies and made a new airfilter. Cleaned the tank out, replaced the fuel filter, oil filter and oil. Thought the fuel pump was poked so bought a new one and fitted it. Changed the plugs several times and tried different coils and CDI unit. Put the speedo back on and now it goes like a rocket! Tyres, I take the wheel off and take them to Andrew who fits them for a good price...free!
My CBR thrives on neglect but I have done all the usual chains and sprockets, brakepads, oil changes etc.:innocent:

[Satch]

I do it all myself and i mean all. Hey if you get it wrong the first time youll learn the seccond. Life is all about learning. Rebuilding engines is just one of its lessons

[Big Dog]

Used to do all mine.
Don't currently have a workshop just a gravel driveway and a carport.
If it is going to require longer terrm removal of panels than an hour or so or it involves cracking the cases I leave it to the pro's.

If I still had a scratched up carbed bike I would still be doing anything that did not risk getting gravel dust in my fluids.

If I had all my tools back (stolen out of a car a couple of years ago) and a place to take panels off I would still do everything I could work out.

Just can't be good value to save $150 to do $500 damage to the paintwork.

In a perfect world I would earn enough to keep a workshop, but I don't.

[wilber]

I have done plugs ,filter, oils adjusted chain but leave engine stuff to experts.

[Motu]

Considering what I do for a living,it'd be a bit embarrassing not to work on my bikes,although I have worked with mechanics who didn't work on their own cars....but they weren't car mechanics.To me,working on my bikes is as important as riding them...I'm as happy spending an afternoon assembling the cases as going for a ride.I have no road bikes going at the moment,my only concern is that I can't work on them,not that they need work and I can't ride.I have a close friend I've known for over 30 years,but hardly ever see him ride,and have possibly never ridden with him.But his life is full of bikes,you can't move in his workshop,they even hang from the roof beams...he gets more pleasure from the building than the riding.

I've only sent my bike to the bikeshop once - I was young and the parts were not available....but I was smart enough to know my way around that,I booked it into the same shop and had it repaired in a couple of days.Like most I don't do built up cranks,but that's about it.I have my own tyre machine,but won't have it forever - however I will take the bike adapters with me and will be able to do motorcycle tyres on any old corgi machine.

I'll still be working on bikes when I'm too old and crippled to ride....I'll always have that...

[Patch]

I do all my own shit, from tightening shit up to rebuilding shocks and forks etc.......

This 'ere chap is pretty damn good too. Gives free advice an all e.g. there is a missing bolt here, an tighten this one up too while ya at it. :niceone: Even diagnosed the possible cause of my little problem I had the other day.

Bloody marvelous havin mates like this. If only I could remember which bolts he pointed out :scratch: Pity there is no fix for the loose screw the Dr. found the other day :Punk:



Due to the silly season it is, apparently there are some quite good discounts to be had on some fine wenches in some of the city's finest service departments. Just a rumour I heard, so shop around won't ya :blip:

[gijoe1313]

Like all things I do, I want to be able to do it myself - love tinkering with the ol'tools and getting in and see what makes things tick! If I'm pressed for time, I will get others to do the work (but it makes me mutter how I should be doing it!)

The great thing about working on bikes is the immediate and ease of access to the parts! I've worked on four wheel vehicles before and found it fun, however I've noticed when I've been working on my bike, my grin is wider!

[T.W.R]

Do the whole lot on my own bikes, all bar specialist stuff only due to lack of access to appropriate tools. Done a few ground up rebuilds on different machines I've owned in the past all with good results apart from an old rat XR250 that I managed to handgrenade at full noise :innocent:

my theory is "If something goes wrong I can only point the finger at one person, Me" and if you want to get to know your bike properly know it inside out.

[Jantar]

I take my bike to the shop for any work that has to done by an authorised dealer to keep the warranty valid, any work that require special tools, and for tyres and WoF.

Everything else I do myself. ie basic maitenence, chains, sprockets, brakes, fitting accessories, routine inspections, etc.

[erik]

I try to do everything myself, often with advice from people on KB. Some stuff I've needed help with like welding, straightening bits with a blowtorch, or changing fork seals.
I've tried changing tyres myself, done a few, but it's so much easier to let the shop do them...

[bluninja]

If I had the tools and the workshop I'd do everything myself just for the hell of it. Especially after finding bad maintenance done by some mechanics I've used.

Still it would take me a lot longer as I don't do it every day.......bit like some other enjoyable pastimes:innocent:

[Brian d marge]

If I paid someone to fix my bike...then I could make a thread on KB about what a useless prick he is and threaten to take him to the Small Claims Court.

Aint that the truth

Me I design the things ,,, luckly I am crap at it so you wont see it in production ,,,but I take solace that those who work in a real job , can do a shit load worse than I can ,,and I have the proof in front of me !!!!

Stephen

[scracha]

I always say stick to what you're good at or enjoy.

When pushed I can do mechnical stuff (I'm not great but anyone can follow a Haynes manual) but to honest, I just hate getting my hands dirty. I can think of nothing worse than spending my weekend stripping my bike. When I was a poor student I had to rebuild a couple of engines but now I don't need to.

Put it this way, I'd rather spend 3 hours doing my job that I enjoy to pay for the 2 hours it takes someone who enjoys fixing bikes (as opposed to the 10 hours it would take me).

[ceebie13]

I'm of the opinion that if I look after the bike, then it will look after me. So the attention to detail that the CB receives is second to none. Every accessible nook and cranny gets cleaned and polished. She gets a "birthday" pretty much every weekend. Having read Merv's instructions in the "Maintenance" section, I'm thinking that I will do the usual "A" service stuff myself from now on. (Sod the warranty requirements). Tyre pressures, chain lube, oil checks, brake pad replacement, bulb replacement etc are all fairly straightforward so I'll happily do that too, but engine internals I will leave to the experts. Presently, the bike has only covered 4500K so by the time we get back from our N.Island tour next month she will be ready for a good seeing to. And so will the bike!

[riffer]

I do what I have the tools to do, which means everything except tyre change, chain, cam regrinds, etc.

I'll pretty much give everything else a go.

[Storm]

I do the basic stuff- oil changes, chain, tighten up loose bits. Fiddling with carbs or other technical shite, I leave to the professionals- it took me 10 hours, complete with mates and much head scratching to work out I didnt have a clue and it took the bike shop 30mins to fix up my cockups and make it run sweet
I learned my lesson- they fix bikes, I wire houses.

[Flyingpony]

I'll do everything that I've got the tools, time and knowledge to do, but I'll leave tyres and inside engines to the professionals - at least for the moment. I'm no where near considering rebuilding cranks etc.

[Ghost Lemur]

I chose the third option although it's not quite correct.

At the moment I do as much as I can with the skills and tools I have (oil changes, filters, plug, etc), but am working towards being able to do everything myself. I spend quite a bit of time with my mechanic (Linton @ DAS) discussing options, how-to's. Because my bike is rare and technical info even rarer, it's not the best option to learn on. I've got a TS185 hack for a mate of mine. It runs but needs some work (exaust, rear brake, general tidy up) so I'm practicing on that.

Would also like to get a trials bike as a project.

Ultimately in the future I'd like to have a well kitted gargre and the skills/know-how to work on my own bike and even have a couple of projects constantly on the go.

Never been into mechanical work (cars) but with bikes it's different. I get a great deal of pleasure working on them, as Motu said, almost as much as riding them. Not sure why that is, just happy it is.

On this subject. Been looking for an evening motorcycle mechanics course in Christchurch, but haven't been able to find anything. Is there anything down here? I figured the Polytech would run something (the Trades are supposed to be their bread & butter) but could even see any reference to fulltime Motorcycle courses let alone, evening ones.

If there is nothing currently it might be worth getting something together (like the Auckland crew did).

[Ghost Lemur]

I chose the third option although it's not quite correct.

At the moment I do as much as I can with the skills and tools I have (oil changes, filters, plug, etc), but am working towards being able to do everything myself. I spend quite a bit of time with my mechanic (Linton @ DAS) discussing options, how-to's. Because my bike is rare and technical info even rarer, it's not the best option to learn on. I've got a TS185 hack for a mate of mine. It runs but needs some work (exaust, rear brake, general tidy up) so I'm practicing on that.

Would also like to get a trials bike as a project.

Ultimately in the future I'd like to have a well kitted gargre and the skills/know-how to work on my own bike and even have a couple of projects constantly on the go.

Never been into mechanical work (cars) but with bikes it's different. I get a great deal of pleasure working on them, as Motu said, almost as much as riding them. Not sure why that is, just happy it is.

On this subject. Been looking for an evening motorcycle mechanics course in Christchurch, but haven't been able to find anything. Is there anything down here? I figured the Polytech would run something (the Trades are supposed to be their bread & butter) but could even see any reference to fulltime Motorcycle courses let alone, evening ones.

If there is nothing currently it might be worth getting something together (like the Auckland crew did).

[terbang]

Bike mechanic in a previous life so I do all of my own except the tyres and warranty stuff.

[Crisis management]

I do everything, but both the bikes are technical retards and don't have exciting stuff like fuel injection and computers...there is little I can damage fatally!

For me this is part of riding bikes and adds to the enjoyment of owning them.:yes:

[Bonez]

I wire houses.May have a purk job for ya in the new year if interested.

[Lissa]

I do nothing to my bike except clean her and put petrol in. hmm chain lubed her once... just clocked 1000kms (brandnew bike) so I am going to take it into the shop and get them to look at her, and give me some tips on what to do in the maintence department.

[merv]

Hey Lissa lube the chain about every 1000km so if you haven't got one yet go buy a can of spray on chain lube.

[lukelin250]

as much as i can considering i dont have a manual. if anyone does have one or knows where i can get one for a cbr rr 250, please let me know. thankyou

[Trudes]

Oil the chain and have assisted in tightening it once but aside from the day to day up keep, and attaching new bling, we don't do any other service type stuff. BUTTTTT, am planning on changing this thanks to Merv and another helpful teacher (who will remain nameless in case he doesn't wish to be named) who has offered to teach me!! Yahhhh, can't wait to be let loose with the tools!!!:shit:

[merv]

Remember this is like sex - the bikes prefer the soft sensual touch - nice and easy with the screwing and no stripping of the aluminium and they will reward you with loyal responses.

[Trudes]

Remember like sex - prefer the soft sensual touch - nice and easy with the screwing and stripping and will reward you with loyal responses.

Must remember that, don't screw so hard if you want loyal responses.

[Bonez]

Remember this is like sex - the bikes prefer the soft sensual touch - nice and easy with the screwing and no stripping of the aluminium and they will reward you with loyal responses.Hmmm some prefer just a romp in the paddock, get down and dirty as it where. Other a poke and a prod. Dover's are all bent.

[madmal64]

Oil changes, filters, plugs chain etc.. all no problem. Have replaced the seals in the clutch slave cylinder.
Im not to keen on engine rebuilding, doing valves etc leave work to the pros.
It more of a time and energy thing for me. I would like to do more but my workshop and tools would require a bit of an upgrade.

[knight rider]

while we're on the subject can anyone show me how to change my oil? I'll pay the person $30 I'll buy the oil & filter of course. I Need to learn how to do it & am sick of having to get bikes shops to do it

I'm in Elsdon Porirua

pm me if interested

Thanks

[jade]

I do most of my own work, including bodywork.
Owning a 2 stroke you tend to need a good set of tools and need to teach yourself maintenence
When I got my first nsr I knew absolutely nothing about mechanics, asked questions to people at work, read books and tinkered with my bike at home, got to know my bike, Have opened cylinders and done piston rings and gaskets before but with my aprilia's I would prefer to pay someone to do it so It is under warranty, I would strip the bike first to save money though, - I want to learn how to do it all though - i will.

[mart1]

I do all my own work on my dirt bikes, but draw the line at poking around inside the r1. just the basics. oil, filter, chains, sprokets etc. I buy a workshop manual for all my bikes, saves mistakes and time.

[madmal64]

while we're on the subject can anyone show me how to change my oil? I'll pay the person $30 I'll buy the oil & filter of course. I Need to learn how to do it & am sick of having to get bikes shops to do it

I'm in Elsdon Porirua

pm me if interested

Thanks

No sweat Im just up the road from you. Happy to.

[SuperDave]

I'll do most of the simple stuff myself - plugs, oil, oil filter, brake pads and general adjustments. But I'll leave all the internal engine work and tyre changes to the shops. I've never done sprockets and chain cause I've always had them done whilst the tyres have been fitted just for the convenience of it all.

Just bought myself a decent set of tools so I want to start doing more of the work myself...or at least give it a go and then when I fuck up take it to a professional to remedy :eek:

[Ghost Lemur]

Did my first air filter change (including tracking down a part no. for it). Extremely satisfying.

Next up is gear box oil change.

[Brett]

I used to do all the work on my ZXR, but am too busy with work now to do work on the gsxr myself. I happily pay a shop to do it and remove a little bit of pressure from my life. Although, sometimes working on a bike is a very therapeutic activity.

[Pixie]

I don't trust grease monkeys to touch my vehicles.
They can't even be relied on to check that the countershaft nut is tight at the first service

[madmal64]

I happily pay a shop to do it and remove a little bit of pressure from my life. Although, sometimes working on a bike is a very therapeutic activity.

Totally agree. Life is busy for me also, but there is something about a couple of hours in the garage tinkering with my bike that is good for the soul