Mechanics are your friends

[Dodgyiti]

Getting your bike fixed at the bikeshop.
I hear time and again how some people have great trouble with motorcycle mechanics, whilst others have nothing but good to say about the very same people.
Something I had difficulty understanding, being in the trades myself.
Then I realised that some of you get out of school or uni and go straight behind a desk or counter, and have little knowlege on how to deal with tradesmen.
If you do intend on getting your bike serviced and repaired by a professional, it is important that you build a good relationship with these people. After all, they hold your beloved toy in their grubby hands, and are human like you.
Here are a few tips;

1, Ask how busy they are when booking in, this will give you a good indicator on when the job will get done, if you do build a good relationship, yours may get done ahead of someone who has pissed them off.

2, Try not to stand over the mechanic when he is working on your bike, even if you think you are making conversation- in most cases the guy just wants to get the job done without some stranger breathing down their neck. It is best to drop it off and wait untill THEY call you.

3, If you must go and check how your bike is comming along, if it's a big job- never come in empty handed. A packet of chockky bikkies for their smoko never goes amiss. And that sort of gesture gets remembered.

4, Never, ever touch a tradesmans tools, unless you are invited to- these are not just piles of oil covered metal, but the mans livelyhood.

5, Try and clean your bike before bringing it in, especially if it is an oil dribbling problem - it's no fun having to do the dishes before you have to cook a meal eh?

6, Don't haggle on the price, unless you really think you are getting tucked. Some things take time, especially intermittent problems and wiring disasters. That sort of thing is remembered too.

7, If you can, thank the mechanic when you come in to pay, or after you have been for a ride. Often it is a thankless job for them, and all they get to hear are peoples stories of woe, and when will it be ready.

8, Be nice, you are after all, dealing with another person who has feelings and is not just a machine.

OK, I expect a lot more good advice to be posted after this by people in the industry, every tradesman has their pet customer hates. Plus, when you undertake an apprentiship you are not signing up for a customer relations job, you just want to fix things and get your wages on Thursday. There are good and bad mechanics as with everythin in life, it is up to you to find a good one, treat them well, and establish a good working relationship that could last years. I know of car owners that have followed mechanics from company to company over years, sometimes into their retirement, to continue getting a good job from the right people.

[justsomeguy]

My mechanic used to work next door to me in central auckland.

I now have to drive to Riverhead to go say Hi. But it's worth it. Definetly worth it.

Great points there Big D.

The reason by bike was leaking was cos the alternator gasket was torn creating a gap in the join.

Thanks for all your help

[WINJA]

PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDER TRADES REGAURDING DEALING WITH PEOPLE BEING A MOTORCYCLE MECHANIC. DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET OR LIMITED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT REPAIRS AND TIME TAKEN.
SOME MECHANICS DO THE TRADE NO FAVOURS THOUGH THERES A LOT OF ROGUES OUT THERE.
MY WORST DEALING WITH A MECHANIC WAS WITH A 1000K OLD GSXR 1000 K3ON ITS FIRST SERVICE ,HE WAS CARELESS AND RAN MY NEW BIKE COMPLETLY OUT OF OIL, THATS RIGHT A DRY SUMP.SUPOSE EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES

[2_SL0]

Biggest thing I can say is treat them nicely, the days of your local mechanic being a dimwitted monkey man, are long gone. Treat them with respect they are NOT your slave. You maybe paying the bill at the end but YOUR not God.

[John]

Treat them like humans, most people just think of them as some sort of spanner monkey scum.

I always isolate a problem before I bring it in to save him having to swear and curse trying to figure what the hells wrong with it, but I never fiddle, one thing mechanics hate and thats a botched home job, makes their job 1000x harder.

So to add to the list, try isolate your problems and be direct with what you would like them to check, dont just wander in and tell them its running 'shit' say, 'oh I think my carbs are out of ballance' ' I think my valves may need the clearences done', 'My cams arent sounding to healthy'. It makes them abit happier to know that the customer is trying to help make there already hard job easier.

I always stay on good terms with my mech, and it shows, if I need something done he will get it done by the end of the day.

Bloody legend.

[NC]

Not at 75 fuckin dollars an hour!

[John]

Not at 75 fuckin dollars an hour!

I know woman that charge more, and are treated some what like humans.

Thank your stars that these people know their stuff and can get things done quick smart.

[NC]

I know woman that charge more, and are treated some what like humans.

Thank your stars that these people know their stuff and can get things done quick smart.

Spose they are like hookers...cause they are fucking me over...

[Motu]

Thank you - I've been in this game 35 yrs this month,worked on everything from chainsaws to Kenworths,mostly I've enjoyed it,and the reason I still do it is because I just keep learning everyday,this is the reason we are on earth - I learn everything I need to know in life from being a motor mechanic.My brother is a mechanic,my cousin 5 days older is a mechanic,my father was a mechanic,my grandfather was a mechanic....

I have never understool the suspicion and contempt we are held by to the public.I have worked for many companies and had lots of workmates - sure I've worked with some guys,and one or two girls who are not too bright,some not too good in the job,but I've never worked with a mechanic who knowingly did something wrong,purposly stuff up a job,mislead a customer.Likewise I have never worked for any company that knowingly set out to mislead and rip off customers.Oh,I'm sure you've all got your tales of woe - but you are only seeing it from your side,I have a different view....I was there...

1) Planning the daily work load is the most important job in the workshop,that's why the most experianced mechanic has this job - and yes,valued customers are given priority,one of the perks of not complaining and saying thank you...

2) Never,ever watch him working on your vehicle,this is a huge insult - but if you are invited,that's an honour...treat it as such.

3) The most important advice given so far.

4) A BIG no no!!! They are MUCH more than just tools,each one is imtimitly known,two identical looking tools will have totaly different functions...don't mix them up! And for Christs sake,if you do have to go into a mechanics tool box - put it back where you found it! I have no idea why mortals can't do this,but it REALLY pisses a mechanic off,and lets him know you are a total fucktard!

5) You will be charged for the mechanics TIME,the less time he spends on your bike/car means it will cost you less.

6) You wanna piss me off? Question the bill,shit,I'm fucking angry just thinking about it.But it's ok if you are Indian or Asian,we have already put 20% on the bill,so you can haggle 10% off no problems.

7) Aw sucks,you didn't have to say that,just trying to help y'know....

8) Speak for yourself - I know machines...it takes one to know one...

9) This is my addition - everyone is human we all stuff up,maybe you have too...glass houses and stuff like that eh?

[Ixion]

Not at 75 fuckin dollars an hour!

Know how many years it takes to become an A grade mechanic?How much a mechanics tool kit would cost if you had to buy it all at once (no-one ever does of course they are accumulated over the years)?

How much modern diagnostic and workshop equipment costs (think - tens, maybe hundreds of thousands - for each item)?

How many hours each year has to be spent on courses and getting qualifications and certifications ? and the never ending paper work

$75 / hour is cheap. I charge $90 or $120 in my job.

Especially when the professional will do in one hour what it would take me 4 hours to do (I'll probably still do it myself and take the 4 hours, because I enjoy doing it, and I do know how. But that's another matter)

The labourer is worthy of his hire.

[TwoSeven]

I would agree with relationships with your local bike shop(s) are important. Its important to remember that they get most of their income from service and spares.

In the UK for example its illegal to allow a customer in the workshop for health and safety reasons, yet here often the workshop is out in front of the shop.

Personally I like to use qualified mechanics (ie. they have the logbooks), but they seem to be rare here, so its a matter of examining the work quality and if you like it - go back. Things I look for are bolts and gaskets being re-used that shouldnt be. Loctite used where it shouldnt, or the wrong kind used. No use of copperslip (or other alternative). If I have a new bike then I'm fussy, but for most of my old machines I couldnt really be bothered so long as they go.

For Honda motorcycles everything is quoted in F.R.T. (flat rate time), you'll see it in the [parts] manuals. Basically, its the time a qualified mechanic should take to do a particular job - every part has an associated FRT that states how long it takes to service it (including complete assemblies). The shop then multiplies that by the hourly rate in order to price the job. Not sure if Honda still use it - havn't asked of late. But what it used to mean was that someone who couldnt or wouldn't give a quote, wasnt factory trained. I wouldnt walk into a bike shop and start quoting it, you'd get a kick in the nuts, but its useful to know when you find you've been saddled with a massive bill for a simple job.

When you get a job docket, it should say whats done, times taken [optional] and price out any new parts. A good shop should ask you if you want the old bits back (except for oil and perishables). I also find it usefull if they give me an indication of whats likely to be next on the list (the chap that does my warrent usually does), so I can save up and get it fixed (I always replace worn with new - never re-use - it stops the bike from getting run down).

You should clean your bike before you take it in - its polite and also gives you the chance to check it to see what state its in. Expect it to come back clean (thats what apprentices are for ) although not on really busy days.

Be wary of a mechanic wearing overalls that are covered in oil. Personally I expect them to be in shirt and trousers, but some people like overalls. The reason is a good mechanic wont get dirty.

Speaking of dirt, another sign someone has had some formal training is that their work area and tool box is always spotless, no tools are left lying around, even in the middle of the most difficult job. Watch to see if they clean their tools before they put them down as they use them. Just watch someone who has been on a race team for example - it fun counting how many times the floor gets swept.

Here, parts are not always available. Sometimes I source them myself from the parts manual and supply them to the person doing the job, somtimes its two weeks from japan, sometimes its overnight from the north island. That tends to dictate how long your bike sits in the shop.

If you can, pre-order the bits and book the time. For example it might take a few days to source tires or chain/sprockets - so order them, put down a good deposit (I pre-pay for them) and book the time when you need to bring your bike in.

Fridays and Saturdays are not good as the other 2000 people also want their bikes fixed. Monday afternoons and tuesdays are often the quiet times.

Some bike shops have a cut off time for ordering parts. Find out what it is (often its 1pm or 4pm). Mainly for the courier, but also because of the bizare sytems in use - for older bikes, if the local wharehouse doesnt have the bit, then an email has to go back to japan and the japanese only tend to deal in exact part numbers. Hence sometimes it can take a few days to get a price on something.

A full service will never get done if you ask for it It usually costs a bucket load and wastes a lot of time, so often shops just do what they think needs done. A good way to get around this is to specify the tasks and ask them to write down the state of the bits (or tolerences) - you will pay for it since your chewing up more time that they could be putting on other bikes, but at the end of the day, you know whats done and what state things are in.

Never let a relative work on your bike - from the bike shops point of view, they get fussy and take too long, from your point of view, they are likely to bugger something up.

Thats just my thoughts.

[Dodgyiti]

3) The most important advice given so far.

8) Speak for yourself - I know machines...it takes one to know one...

9) This is my addition - everyone is human we all stuff up,maybe you have too...glass houses and stuff like that eh?

Good on you Mr Motu,
So ya like the chokkie bikkies eh?
I have always found they go down a treat with tradesmen. Of course 10 or more years ago it used to be a dozen beers, but in this day and age I would not encourage folks with booze when they have to drive home at the end of the day, and not so many tradesmen drink now either. But everybody likes the bikkies, and I buy the quality ones like Chit-Chats and not the budjet cheapies.
As for no 8, I was just saying it because I have seen , and have been, treated like less than human, been looked down upon by customers as this lessser being.
Nice comments everyone, hopefully this will change an attitude or two

[Velox]

Thank your stars that these people know their stuff and can get things done quick smart.

I've got heaps of respect for most of the mechanics out there, but I've also def. been stuffed around by a few too!
Makes you learn how to do your own work though, which is good.

[Zapf]

6) You wanna piss me off? Question the bill,shit,I'm fucking angry just thinking about it.But it's ok if you are Indian or Asian,we have already put 20% on the bill,so you can haggle 10% off no problems.

So can I get a discount if I come see you?

[Redstar]

I have the greatest respect for Motorcycle mechanics I thick firstly because if I could live my life again I would be one, and because its a hard area of mechanical engineering to master, It has the advanced sophistiction of motor mechanics but on a small scale.
A basic service Oil plugs and filter should be cheap as anyone can do it and to charge $65 /hr is frankly a rip off but when it comes to a piston job then its worth every cent. The problem is that the charge is time based not difficulty based. I would rather pay $100 / hr for something tricky and $20/hr for average monkey work. but thats not how its structured and I Cant change that. the good guys in the industry recognise this principle and charge accordingly the Big franchise cant do this as they work on a fixed overhead charge method.
I went to the US and saw a sigh.

"$50/hr labour"
"$70/hr if you want to watch"
$$100/hr if you want to help"

Actually $70 is a fair deal?