Newbie starting up. Fixing/maintaining your bike?

[illvibetip]

happy new year.

Im wanting to learn how to fix/maintain a bike myself. I live somewhere where its difficult to get a mechanic to do routine maintenance/diagnostics on my bike and I dont know any other riders/mechanics here (in a small town in south korea) so this is part of the motivation. But mostly Id like to know a bit more what Im doing so i can spend more time on fixing it up/running it properly.

Ive noticed a lot of you fellas seem to know ho to do stuff like clean the carbs etc.

How can I get started on being a better mechanic?

Obviously, i cant go to night school.

I brought a haynes basic motorcycle maintenance manual with me, but its like reading a 1992 video recorder programming booklet.

I thought about buying an old 125cc cruiser bike and stripping it down. Is this a bad idea?

What about recommended reading? Is there anywhere on the net that would be a good starting point or any good books?

And I need to buy some tools. What should I start with?.

As you can see, I really dont know where to start. It seems most people have learned from others. I have this forum - so Im turning to you.

Whats your advice?

Thanks in advance

[eastanglianbiker]

i dont know about others on here but i am self taught if it went wrong i had a go at fixing it if i got it wrong i would do it again untill i got it right same with the darb and such like see if you can find a cheap one to justtake apart to see what its like inside and how it works how the jets come out how to set float height and so on

[Martyc]

With my 'ped I've sourced cheap spares to fix it then stripped the old parts down to see how they work and to re-furb (calipers etc). Tbh I've got some car experience so it's not too daunting for me to do the main service stuff (brakes, wheels, shocks, electrics etc) and I just work the job thru in my head first with the Haynes before tackling it. One tip is make sure you have the tools and consumables you need to finish the job before you start it... Nothing more annoying than having to go out leaving your bike in bits half way thru to go get something you overlooked!

[Danny-B-]

Youtube !

Also http://www.garagenight.tv/ , that link is in a sticky thread above. i love watching stuff like that.

[Guest]

What he said!!!

[Ingah]

One tip is make sure you have the tools and consumables you need to finish the job before you start it... Nothing more annoying than having to go out leaving your bike in bits half way thru to go get something you overlooked!

I cannot second this enough. So much of a pain in the ass!

Otherwise, get a Haynes manual for your bike, consider additional bike repair books (Haynes do a motorcycle maintainance repair book i've been wanting for ages), or better yet buy a bike like my particular CB500 that was old and well-used and try to use it as your only bike for more than your fair share of sudden, random, and stressful enforced learning in the years following your unlucky purchase

NB: Not really, have a 2nd bike for the purposes of "learn by it going wrong" as when you need to get to work and it breaks suddenly - it's not worth the added blood pressure

I haven't been in a position to learn from others, so it's been difficult to say the least.

Stripping a nice simple 125 is good, as there shouldn't be too much in the way of complex fancy wizardry to confuse you.

This website can be helpful, and is pretty comprehensive: http://www.dansmc.com/

Youtube videos can be extremely helpful when you're stuck on a common job.

Tools-wise... Combination spanners, a good set. Chrome vandadium steel (if in doubt, always chrome vanadium steel). Lifetime guarantees are nice as when you inevitably break them you don't have to pay for a replacement if you haven't been using them inappropriately (and keep the receipt!!).

Machine Mart (a la "Clarke Pro" tools) is going to be your most cost effective bet. A lot of people recommend Halfords Professional tools (also have a lifetime guarantee), but i notice they often tend to cost double!

Also get a good socket set ("Good" as in a large likely useful/useable selection, not as in necessarily the way with the most pieces in it - which is the way places like Halfords like to market them)

And a good set of screwdrivers (flat-bladed and philips head).

Notice i say "good". With tools, it's often a case of buy cheap buy twice. But you'll have good ones for life.

Other people can probably suggest more tools etc. I sort of accumulate tools as and when i inevitably need them.

[gixxer711]

what they all said

just buy yourself a big hammer for when it goes wrong and it doesnt work then

you can hit it ..

[illvibetip]

been busy the last couple of days - so apologies for not reponding

Thanks for the advice everyone. Ill digest some of that info and get out and buy some tools next week. Ive had a look at the internet links. Some good stuff on there.

Actually, i used my foot last time it went wrong. It cost me 200 quid for a new piece of plastic (the problem was 5 quids worth of wiring. Hindsight...).

Im a bit wary about taking my bike apart incase i do it more damage. Ill start with the break pads or something. I can pick up a second hand 125cc chopper type here for around 1 or 200 quid. Maybe less if its knackered.

No chance of getting a haynes here, especially not for my Hyosung. Ive got the service manual (tnks to a link on this site), i just need to upload it onto my ebook reader or print it .

In the immortal words of mario 'here we go...'