Aww c'mon mate, do it yourself! Kiwi (biker) DIY thread

**Brian d marge** · 26th July 2010, 02:18

Originally Posted by bogan

hmmm, i reckon there are more things better left to people with the right tools than those with the right experience, bloody satisfying to learn some new diy skills

and the wallets to pay for the messes they create

Stephen

**Grubber** · 26th July 2010, 08:06

I stripped down my 97 Harley WG and custom painted the frame. Took me 3 hours to strip it. Nothin like the old school style.

**nallac** · 26th July 2010, 08:26

Originally Posted by doc

A sporty was such a simple engine till that Buell bloke came along and complicated everything.Thats why you just play with the tools now , aye

At least mister Buell managed to extract some much needed horsepower.

Just waiting for some parts to turn up ex the US for a big time birthday for my Toy.
Top end gaskets,pistons & rings,clutch & primary chain,might do the update oil pump gear while
i'm in there.

**vifferman** · 26th July 2010, 09:23

Being a DIYer is, in some ways, the bane of my existence. I can afford to pay to have things done, but knowing I can do them myself, I tend to do them myself.
Biggest jobs tackled were building the garage and adding a third on to my first house. Next biggest would be completely renovating the kitchen of our house in Roundabouta (the city formerly know as Tauranga). This involved closing in two doorways, removing the H/W cylinder and the cupboard it was in, and the wall attached to the cupboard, and building the whole kitchen from scratch (apart from the benchtops). This included tiling, stained glass work, the cabinetry, plumbing, wiring, painting, varnishing, plastering, etc etc.
So... working on the bike is relatively easy, but I don't do tyre changes (although I have in the past). 'Bout time I paid someone else to do it, I reckon...

**bogan** · 26th July 2010, 09:26

Originally Posted by Grubber

I stripped down my 97 Harley WG and custom painted the frame. Took me 3 hours to strip it. Nothin like the old school style.

haha, there was probly only 3 bolts left, rest shook out beforehand

have done similar on an old rm80, excluding drying time only took about a day!

**F5 Dave** · 26th July 2010, 09:29

Originally Posted by bogan

I'm wondering whether the kiwi diy attitude is still alive and kicking, I figure bikers should be more diy oriented than you average kiwi. So what have ya done/attempted, and how did it turn out?

Well I was feeling kinda frisky, but the wife had a headache. . .

**SMOKEU** · 26th July 2010, 09:50

Originally Posted by Gremlin

show me the inside of a computer no worries. Don't show me the inside of an engine, I have no idea how it goes together. Working on bikes = suicide for me...

Same; I can assemble a computer piece by piece even when I'm really pissed and it will still work!

**Grubber** · 26th July 2010, 11:14

Originally Posted by bogan

haha, there was probly only 3 bolts left, rest shook out beforehand

have done similar on an old rm80, excluding drying time only took about a day!

Funny enough, it was pretty damn good like that. Everything tight as a button. Good project though. Enjoyed that side of Harley but hated the ride. They handled like shit right from new and still do. Hence the Triumph now....much better!

**jim.cox** · 26th July 2010, 11:39

Originally Posted by bogan

So what have ya done/attempted, and how did it turn out?

Built myself a house

Was definately a learning experience

**HenryDorsetCase** · 26th July 2010, 12:13

Ive done a LOT of DIY over the years as well. Having said that I did contract out some of the stuff (like rang window companies and said: get rid of this shit and put in new DG windows). Havent needed to for a while now, but kept all the tools... as you do.

I used them this weekend as it happens: but only for a couple little jobs.

Bike-wise I have had a few cracks at things but tend to buy newish, reliable-ish stuff now that doesnt need much work.

**Little Miss Trouble** · 26th July 2010, 12:44

I've always liked to understand how things work & make things myself, not afraid to get my hands dirty etc so now that I own a bike that isn't under warrenty I've learnt a bit already to do with wiring etc, next job is to do oil/filter/plugs etc
I don't have many tools myself yet so do a trade off - garage usage & knowledge for bourbon

**bogan** · 26th July 2010, 12:50

Originally Posted by jim.cox

Built myself a house

Was definately a learning experience

can imagine it would be, hope to find out myself eventually! Much experience beforehand or just jump in the deep end?

Originally Posted by Little Miss Trouble

I've always liked to understand how things work & make things myself, not afraid to get my hands dirty etc so now that I own a bike that isn't under warrenty I've learnt a bit already to do with wiring etc, next job is to do oil/filter/plugs etc
I don't have many tools myself yet so do a trade off - garage usage & knowledge for bourbon

Sounds like a good deal all round, especially if the helper is only a supervisor (sits on shed couch drinking free bourbon and telling a wench to wrench!) don't spose you live near palmy?

**Kornholio** · 26th July 2010, 12:52

Originally Posted by Little Miss Trouble

next job is to do oil/filter/plugs etc
I don't have many tools myself yet so do a trade off - garage usage & knowledge for bourbon

Nodrog Racing would be the man to see for that

**Little Miss Trouble** · 26th July 2010, 13:10

Originally Posted by bogan

can imagine it would be, hope to find out myself eventually! Much experience beforehand or just jump in the deep end?

Sounds like a good deal all round, especially if the helper is only a supervisor (sits on shed couch drinking free bourbon and telling a wench to wrench!) don't spose you live near palmy?

So far I'm more of the helper but it won't take long for that to change