Posts
696
Joined
6/9/2020
Location
Orange City, IA
US
Edited Date/Time
8/22/2020 12:08pm
I grew up understanding that if I wanted to play rough with my toys then I needed to know how to fix it. Seems like today I hear more and more about people "sending" things off to be worked on or brought to a bike shop to wait weeks for them to get to it. I understand some repairs require special, specific tools to complete and that are too expensive for the average guy to just have around. Truly, the majority of repairs on dirt bikes can be handled with basic tools and taking the time to read and learn! This definitely applies to more that motorcycles too. Seems like people are willing to exhaust too much energy complaining to a dealer or private seller about warranty loopholes or some other BS rather than directing that to actually working on the problem. You bought it, you own it, it breaks, you fix it.
The Shop
As for me, I'd rather save the $75 or more per hour.
Fast forward 42 years and I think my favorite 'hobby' is working on my bike and my sons bike. My wife often says she thinks I enjoy building them more than I do riding them (doesn't hurt as bad to fall off my roller chair...). It's incredibly rewarding for me to take it down to the frame and rebuild and most recently I've started in on motor work. Best feeling ever when that bike actually starts and runs properly after I've torn it apart! If you knew me, you'd be impressed.
It's a confidence builder, even at 42 years old. And thanks to the toolbox thread, I'm currently shopping for a new roller toolbox to keep adding tools to!
I do own a chain breaker, metric threading kit, and a torque spoke wrench if that helps!
Pit Row
I also dont “enjoy” the challenge like I once did. I can see why wealthy individuals pay to have yard work, Home repairs, & car/motorcycles serviced.
Ghost
As a teenager, I had an old XR that I wanted to fix up. Bought a big bore kit and sent it to the local dealer for rebuild. Paid $1400. That was pretty much my entire summer earnings, but I was happy to have it done right.
When I got it back, the cam chain tensioner wasn’t installed correctly. I took it back and they fixed it.
Got it back the second time and it just didn’t run like it should. I pulled the valve cover and found the cam was advanced one tooth and the cam sprocket was on backwards, causing the cam chain to rub on the head.
At that point I realized this dealer was worthless. Pulled it apart myself and went through the top end, correcting their errors along the way.
I was 14 at the time and have never taken a bike to a shop since.
For me I enjoy working on things, learning how it works, tinkering, engineering parts, throwing away good parts assuming they were the issue...haha
My buddy on the other hand, has more debt than he can afford, and more time on his hands than me, but he will drive his bike 30 mins to a shop, and charge his credit card to get the tires changed.
We all funny.
Fixing my bike is cathartic, beer, music, tools is a good time for me. 😎
Where has Tyler been anyway?
Post a reply to: What happened to people fixing things.