The kiwi can-do attitude. Is it dead?

[Gubb]

A recent experience in which it took three of us a total of three days to replace one Fork Seal kinda put me off attempting that particular task in the future, particularly when it would have only cost $200 to do.

I bought a hunk of junk bike. Thought I would get it running smoothly in no time. Big mistake. But at least when I started pulling things apart I learned a few things at the same time. Is fun too, but only because I don't have a timeframe to have it ready by. I can do it in my own time, with no-one rushing me. If I need something done to my bike, I usually need it done quickly, which I am not capable of, then i'm more than happy to fork out the cash.

[awayatc]

Of course, motorcycles are interesting, so I'd learn more about fixing them if I had the time, but I don't have the time.

Maybe one day.

An American businessman on holiday in a remote part of the world saw a small fishingboat come back in port early everymorning full of fish.

So he asked the fisherman why he came back so early every day....
F " because I filled her up"
A " why don't you go out again ?"
F " Why would I do that"
A " to make more money off course..."
F " why do I need to make more money ?"
A " So You can buy a bigger boat?"
F " why would I want a bigger boat?"
A " so you make more money"
F " What for ?"
A " To buy more boats, and hire more crew"
F " why would I want to do that ?"
A " so you don't have to work all your life , and can stop working, and you can do whatever you want" says the American exasperated
" Well " says the fisherman, "that's what I am doing right now....."


But yes unfortunately, the do it yourself culture is disappearing......
we sold our lives to the allmighty dollar, and are a lot poorer for it....

[gijoe1313]

Hear hear! In some pockets secluded around the place, there is some tinkering, spannering, cursing and yells of victory or the cursing of failure ... having oil grime in your fingernails or skin tells the story of those who do ...

I know some have the will, but not the skills, others pressed for time ... I would rather do everything myself, but there are times when I have left it to the professionals to get it sorted!

Good thread this!

[Thunder 8]

As a do it yourselfer totally agree. Practical Skills are going out the window and theres a serious shortage of people learning new ones. Having a go and the "fix it with no. 8 wire" was a real kiwi attitude but it seems to be becoming a thing of the past. Obviously not everyone can do but there seems to be way less people willing to try.

[Forest]

A lot of the parts in modern bike engines simply aren't repairable.

This is the price that we pay for advancements in technology and materials science.

[Grahameeboy]

I replaced the rear pads yesterday...

[HornetBoy]

A lot of the parts in modern bike engines simply aren't repairable.

This is the price that we pay for advancements in technology and materials science.

Yep thats probly one of the reasons why the "can do" attitude " in NZ is diminishing quite rapidly,as some of the recent technology on the later bikes is either get it right or your fucked ,why i prefer to stick to carbed bikes actually.

I actually enjoy tinkering and learning through trial and error in terms of fixing the bike and car,if im not riding the bike youll find me in the shed mucking around with chains sprockets bolts etc.
With the bike ,i do all the services myself -valves,carbs all the rest of it ,makes for some long days and sometimes very expensive ones but generally once you get it wrong your clued up for next time (thats if you havent completly buggered the bike )

[awayatc]

I replaced the rear pads yesterday...

So what have you got in the rear now?

[Swoop]

We do, actually, have to blame the schooling system for part of the problem.

The intermediate and high school mentality has been to drive the student into an academic pathway. "Go to university" etc.
If a student was not keen on this, they get ignored.
Until recently there was a common theme of removing the technology block from the high schools. Gone, were metalwork, woodwork, etc.

Some students were actually keen on "trades" and hands-on practical careers. Look at the benefits... A plumber is now one of the highest earning jobs out there!

[Grahameeboy]

So what have you got in the rear now?

Well it slipped in well and had to push a bit and then tighten up....

[awayatc]

We do, actually, have to blame the schooling system for part of the problem.

Not just a small part either, .....
But most importantly I believe "my" generation has borowed from the future without any regard for anybody or anything other then "making profit" .
Apprenticeships got abolished......and now we are paying for this shortsighted selfishness.
Not many young people are coming through in ANY of the more hands on trades. The ones that didn't want or could go through higher education were left with very few options, and the ones who did joined the plundering racket with great vigor....
So the ones who are good at plundering can't be bothered to do it themselves, and the ones that haven't got the means never got the know how......

[Swoop]

Apprenticeships got abolished...

All apart from the joinery trade. They never went away from the system and are now watching as the others have had to return to it.

[Mikkel]

Technology is certainly becomming more and more complex - I'd like to see the 'can-doer' who can fix his/her own cellphone/computer/'pretty anything electronic' if it starts to go tits up.

Modern cars are pretty hard to work on without the correct diagnostics tools - and there isn't any space to do it in either. The 'replacable parts' concept isn't exactly new though, something I reckon we should be grateful for.
Admittedly, bikes are still better than cars in that respect.

Personally I try and do some bits - but there are parts I'm not willing to touch since a fuck-up would be too costly. Besides, good tools are also expensive!

[mashman]

It's not just the Kiwis. I grew up with a BSA in bits in the kitchen as Dad meticulously cleaned it. It was, as so many of you have alluded to, old technology. Todays tool of choice seems to be the soldering iron and whilst we can all, to a certain extent, do things on the bike, car etc... I can't ever remember my dad farkin about with anything electronic... He encouraged me to take part in what he was doing, be it plumbing, electrics etc... and to that end i'll have a pop at anything...

Personally, I can blame the government, but won't, I can blame technology, but won't, I'd prefer to blame the parents. If we don't have time to "have a go" how the hell can we expect the younger generation i.e. our kids and their mates, to do the same, as this really wasn't something that was taught at school. I know there's more and more variables to that, but we say we spend time with our kids, but all we really do is go to the park or the zoo or do some other form of recreational activity. When all is said and done, it's your choice what you choose to do with your kids... it's your choice as to how you spend your time, whether it be working or playing... it's all about choice... and the majority of us seek pleasure and who can blame us... Having said that though, as the kids get older I may well hunt out some of that older technology and start to spend time with them re-building a car, or bike or something to encourage them to use and develop those skills...

I'm obviously full of shit... but i ain't gonna blame anyone or anything else for my kids lack of confidence/knowledge when it comes to tinkering...

[bull]

Another possible reason could be the amount of items these days that come with warranty's. They normally have some fine print or a sticker that says if you are not a professional and you open this or that then you void warranty.

Personally i love to have a go and fix things, not always successful but you at least had a go at it. With the help of Riffer here on the forum ive been doing real simple maintenance to my bike that i didnt do to my other brand new bike(Hyosung 250 due to warranty terms) and its been great to see how easy some of the things are to do.

Reality for me is if its under warranty you bloody well get it replaced or repaired by the place you purchased from. If its not then go for gold and see what bodge you can do to get it working. and yes tools are expensive but what a smile it puts on your face when you get one, and then the next and the next - PRICELESS!