Bike maintenance?

[Number One]

I think all the boys on here who say pay the $30 to get it changed at a shop OR I wouldn't EVER change my own tyres..should hand in their man cards It isn't that hard...I do it regularly myself mostly unassisted on both the SV650 AND our two bucket race bikes.

If you have the tools needed (tyre levers and bead breaker minimum) get someone who knows what they are doing to show you and watch you do it a few times and you are away...it ain't rocket science (or Ohlins suspension ) FFS

[Str8 Jacket]

You da man #1. You da man!

[Number One]

You da man #1. You da man!

I know Clearly bigger balls than some of the guys anyway meh

[howdamnhard]

Changing a tyre isn't common mechanical knowledge - not for a motorbike anyway. FWIW its a bit of a bitch and well worth the $30 you get charged to have a bike shop fit and balance it!

What he said,not worth the bother unless you really have to.

[Nasty]

Totally da'man Number One ... and good looking too!!

[Number One]

Totally da'man Number One ... and good looking too!!

What are you after?

[Nasty]

What are you after?

Ya son .. I pick him up around 10.30

Programme is:
Zoo opens - 9.30am
Talk at Monkey Island 10.15am
Animal training in Wild Theatre 10.45am
Sausage sizzle begins 11am
Sunbears talk 11.30am
Chimps talk 12noon
Giraffes talk 12.30pm
Tahi the kiwi talk 1.15pm
Sausage sizzle ends 2pm
Tigers talk 2pm
Reptiles talk 2.30pm
Cotton top tamarins talk 3pm
Pelicans talk 3.30pm
Zoo closes 5pm

[Number One]

Ya son .. I pick him up around 10.30

he's yours! Bring him home VERY sleepy

[3umph]

I think all the boys on here who say pay the $30 to get it changed at a shop OR I wouldn't EVER change my own tyres..should hand in their man cards It isn't that hard...I do it regularly myself mostly unassisted on both the SV650 AND our two bucket race bikes.

If you have the tools needed (tyre levers and bead breaker minimum) get someone who knows what they are doing to show you and watch you do it a few times and you are away...it ain't rocket science (or Ohlins suspension ) FFS

If I was racing a bike then that would be a different story about changing tyres... but since I am not and dont want to dammage my polished rims I'll get them changed at a shop

[vifferman]

Apart from that ... find someone who knows what they are doing, I am sure Jrandom would help, and get them to help you do what you need. .

I hope you meant "help to find someone who knows what they're doing".
Last I knew, j the random was a self-confessed "mechanical numpty".
Knows heaps of other stuff though, and is one of the toppest thinking people I know.

As for changing tyres - I learned to do that when working on a gummint farm (basically it's just a step up from changing/repairing bicycle tyres, which I could do when I was 10). But despite knowing how, I never bother. Be different if you're an off-roader, or racing buckets, but otherwise as others have said, knowing how to get the wheel off and in to a workshop is usually enough.

[The Pastor]

most people dont have a supply of tyres away from the tyre store, so its just easier and quicker to get them when you ride down to buy new tyres.

[Trudes]

Yeah I don't know eh, I consider brakes and tyres to be the most important things to have in good safe working order. Brakes are pretty simple and straight forward but when it comes to the big fat tyres on my Hornet I'd rather pay $30 and let the shop fit them and know they aren't going to fall off while I'm doing 100kmph around a corner. Also I'm sure it would take me more than an hour to do them, so it's not worth my time.
Now bucket tyres are a different story.... in fact I'm going to attack Pamela's this weekend.

[CookMySock]

Good on ya PB for having a go. If you can take a wheel off and take it to town, they can fit you in for tyres and tyre repairs better than if you took the whole bike in. You really need proper stands to do it, rather than trying to get by with jacks and ropes. There are little oopses like putting the spacers in left-for-right and ending up with an offset wheel, or leaning on the wheel and bending a brake disk, and pinching the speedo sensor where ya shouldna.

Before you try to do anything you need basic tools, like front and rear stands, socket set, allen key set, ratchet ringspanner set. You also need a bike manual and a torque wrench - you should put every nut and bolt back exactly how the manual says - so it doesnt fall out, and so its not overtightened and damaged.

Other tricks like taking the fairings off and replacing them are quite straight forward once you have seen it done. Others - removing the dash and replacing a bulb, upgrading the headlights, adjusting the handlebars, fitting LED indicators - are all a lot of fun. And then theres the biggy - repairing your bike yourself after crashing it..


Steve

[madbikeboy]

PB, learning the important and basic stuff - oil level, fluid level, brake check etc - will pay the most dividends.

It's not even that tough to do your oil changes, or air filter changes or cleans (if you have an aftermarket filter like a K&N).

Find someone who can show you the basics - nothing on a GSXR is that hard to do.



MBB

[Mom]

Hi Girls - and pervy boys.

I really need to learn how to maintain and fix the little things on my bike. To the extent that I don't even know how the change the tyre

Anyhoo, how did you girls learn to do all this sort of stuff and is there a course, book to read or whatever that will help me?

Cheers

Good call prettybillie, learning how to do basic maintenance is important. Problem is you need tools. Yes you can use the basic ones provided in your bikes tool kit (if you were lucky enough to buy a bike that had one), or you can do what I have done and invest in some basic (really basic) tools that will do instead. Tyres are not basic maintenace of the home fix variety IMO.

oooooh can you totally make sure I am on the list for that!!!!!

NO, but you can totally watch the forum and register to attend the next one.

when it comes to the next time you have to do somthing on your bike - change the oil etc. ask on here for somone to come show you. its pretty easy and most people are willing to help out.

fwiw, i learned by (wearing nikes and) just doing it. got in there, got stuck a lot but kb's good for help

Nice post RM. Did you chip your nail varnish when you got stuck in?

I hate it when that happens