Being as tight as a fishes @rs3 doesn't pay

[Mr Merde]

Anyone who knows me and knows my bike will realise that I am talking about myself.

Things have gotten very tight over the past year or so financially and I have been putting things off for as long as I can rather than cough up with cash I dont have to spare.

Rising petrol costs really bit into my budget as have all the other increased prices.

It didnt help that my employers decided that I was at the top of the price range for what they saw as my position and decided that I wasnt worth a pay rise this year. I was actually putting my hopes on a litttle increase to make things just a little better for me.

Merde happens.

Anyway back to the story.

10 months ago I needed to replace both sprockets and chain on the bike. This done I was informed that my swinging arm bearings were shot and needed replacing. Previous to this I had had a couple of offs which left the bike cosmetically distressed. Just got the cah together to have the bearings done when the new rear tyre picks up a piece of metal from the Auckland Southern motorway and slices the wall of the tyre. All my savings gone on a those two rear tyres. I thought to myself "take it easy and dont stress the bike and things will last".

Famous last words.

Price increases havre meant that I have been only able to save enough to keep the basic maitenance of the bike under control.

Last night the chain and sprockets let go big time. Now I will have to find the cash to replace these much sooner than I should have. Buggered swinging arm bearings have increased the wear on these parts very dramatically.

As my bike is my sole means of transport and I live way out in the wops I am well and truely stuffed. I have taken the day off trying to sort out a replacement sprocket but none to be had down this end of the world. Not today anyway.

Her indoors has asked me to put together a list of bits I need to replace to actually be riding a vehicle that is road leagal and notr a danger to myself. I was shocked when I sat down and wrote out my list.

Both tyres need replacing, sprockets and chain needed, bike could do with all brake pads replaced and the rear brake could do with a new rotor. Swinging arm bearings need doing. as do the steering head (have these), niumber plate light has gone west and the front brake switch seems to be playing up. Left hand headlight has been smashed by flying debris and I either need to buy a replacement (mega bucks) or look at alternative lighting system (actually cheaper than factory).

While i am at it I may as well take the time to do a complete oil and filter change, change the air filter and replace the spark plugs. Will have a look at the engine tuning also.

So the moral of my story is.......


Dont be like me and try and make do with things as they are, a little bit not looked into at the time needed soon builds up to a lot needed drastically.

Somehow I will come right but till then it is going to be a real struggle.

Chris

[James Deuce]

Sympathise completely and understand entirely.

Sell the wife. They cost lots to feed and clothe.

[MSTRS:Me]

Sympathise completely and understand entirely.

Sell the wife. They cost lots to feed and clothe.

Perhaps just rent her out by the hour? That way there is an income stream instead of one-off lump sum.
Sorry to hear of your troubles MrM...good illustration of the reverse effect of a penny saved...

[avgas]

i can sympathize with you.
I did exactly the same.
The total bill past $3000 a few months ago....and keeps climbing if i want to do the cosmetics.
Getting one of those chinese bikes for a run abouts sounds like a better idea everyday......a cheaper alternative if you will.



I still cant believe you sold your Triton.........

[Waxxa]

Prices for parts and servicing for motorbikes is expensive.

Instead of being hit by huge costs every time I need parts or servicing, I now pay an AP to my local bike shop weekly and it certainly helps the budget and stress levels.

You will always need parts or servicing.

[gijoe1313]

Ahh bugger, those infernal maintenance gremlins always demand to be fed, they get quite spiteful if they are overlooked and find all sorts of ways to vex you

I think you can stop all these shenanigans and just go back to normal operations when you can y'hear?

[jrandom]

Sell the wife.

Sell? You'd never get sweet fuck-all for a used one, so why bother with the hassle of advertising and changing registered ownership?

I just parked mine up on the side of the road and walked away, and I still haven't received a towing bill.

[imdying]

Can't help, user info doesn't say which bike you run!

Can sympathise however, RGV is due for tyres, chain n sprockets, brake pads all round, rear disc, new shocks front n rear, little bit of fibreglass work... will have to wait till next month now though, her indoors is lamenting what I've spent on the other bikes as of late

[xwhatsit]

I feel your pain -- but on a 10x smaller scale, due to owning a 250 single. Still, being a student, I earn less than a 10th of what you do, so it's all relative

I agree with Avgas, you want something like a GN250 (oh, the horror!) to communt on.

[Griffin]

Sell the bike - ride the wife to work...

[Mr Merde]

I feel your pain -- but on a 10x smaller scale, due to owning a 250 single. Still, being a student, I earn less than a 10th of what you do, so it's all relative

I agree with Avgas, you want something like a GN250 (oh, the horror!) to communt on.

At 1000km a week just to and from work I think I would soon wear out a little 250.

[Mr Merde]

Can't help, user info doesn't say which bike you run!

Can sympathise however, RGV is due for tyres, chain n sprockets, brake pads all round, rear disc, new shocks front n rear, little bit of fibreglass work... will have to wait till next month now though, her indoors is lamenting what I've spent on the other bikes as of late

The pain of maintenance.

GS1200SS is my poison.

Picking up sprockets and chain tomorrow morning, dropped 1 tooth on the front and gone up 2 on the back, not too worried about top end but love that arm wrench from aceleration. Bidding on rear rotor on tardme. Sorting out bank loan for other bits and pieces plus bearing replacement.

My chance to take the bike to the next stage, streetfighter. Might as well as the fairing is well stuffed.

May take this weekend to drop inthose warmer cams i've had sitting in the workshop.

[fireball]

At 1000km a week just to and from work I think I would soon wear out a little 250.

i feel your pain, im soon about to start my 1000km a week rides to work in the next couple of weeks and i my lil 250 still hasnt recovered, they can do the mileage they just need more love, more oil, more fuel, actually more of everything

[Mr Merde]

i feel your pain, im soon about to start my 1000km a week rides to work in the next couple of weeks and i my lil 250 still hasnt recovered, they can do the mileage they just need more love, more oil, more fuel, actually more of everything

Also doesnt help that I am 5'10" tall and 100kg. Fat old bugger like me would wear a poor 250 out faster than most.

[fireball]

Also doesnt help that I am 5'10" tall and 100kg. Fat old bugger like me would wear a poor 250 out faster than most.

i can picture it now someone of your stature riding a bike like rawberry (GZ250) 1000km

it wouldnt last long at all, im 5'2 and 50kg and she is a struggle