Jump to content

Maintaining/modifying your own bike


Furiae
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi all,


Wrong section please move it! :lol:


What is the best way to keep your bike maintained during cold weather and snow/ice conditions? I won't be riding in these conditions. I've heard about waxing the motor?


I wanted to enroll on a maintenance course for motorbikes but because not enough people enrolled and this meant no funding the course was cancelled. any good video's and literature?


How did any of you get into modifying your own bikes did you have an engineering/mechanical background or is it just something that you wanted to do?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started in the garage with my dad messing with cars and bikes. Then ended up buying old bikes to ride to work (as we all did in the 70's) so people like me are self taught. But the bikes were simpler back then. But if you really want to learn then ask a mate to show you how


Sent from my E5603 using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started in the garage with my dad messing with cars and bikes. Then ended up buying old bikes to ride to work (as we all did in the 70's) so people like me are self taught. But the bikes were simpler back then. But if you really want to learn then ask a mate to show you how


Sent from my E5603 using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was brought up just generally tinkering with anything with an engine!


when I was about 11 we had a puch magnum x it was a 50cc off road bike I ended up stripping it and rebuilding it just for fun :lol:


as a kid I liked to know how things work! and not a lot has changed!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Self taught with a lot of online help :lol:


I am not in the same league at all as Stu, Megawatt, EAB and others on here but I have still done plenty of work to my bike and cars that a lot of people wouldn't have a clue how to do and would take to a mechanics.

I don't like paying people to do work I feel capable of doing myself, whether its electrics, plumbing, mechanical or whatever. So I do the research and ask the questions then just get on with it.


If you feel confident enough get a haynes manual for your bike, start off with the easy stuff like changing oil, adjusting chain, brake pads etc, , ask questions on here if you get stuck.


As someone mentioned, Alan (megawatt) is very competent with a lot of experience and is currently trying to do a bit of drive-by-spannering where he would teach you the basics as he works :thumb: http://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=61049

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi all,


Wrong section please move it! :lol:


What is the best way to keep your bike maintained during cold weather and snow/ice conditions? I won't be riding in these conditions. I've heard about waxing the motor?


I wanted to enroll on a maintenance course for motorbikes but because not enough people enrolled and this meant no funding the course was cancelled. any good video's and literature?


How did any of you get into modifying your own bikes did you have an engineering/mechanical background or is it just something that you wanted to do?

Hi , I have the Workshop Manual, Owners Manual and Parts Manual for this bike if you need it, Although the Workshop and Parts Manual are for the FZ-09 ( the Americans called it that) , will send you a link to down load it if you like :thumb:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi , I have the Workshop Manual, Owners Manual and Parts Manual for this bike if you need it, Although the Workshop and Parts Manual are for the FZ-09 ( the Americans called it that) , will send you a link to down load it if you like :thumb:

 

:o yes please!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Furiae, here you go :thumb:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hve6hn9tv52k52a/AAA_iw4Sbaz-XZMnEl5E7jz5a?dl=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

Thank you!

No problem Furiae, the next thing you should look at is a good set of sockets and spanners, there's plenty out there and Halfords have got decent sets and a warranty, myself I use Teng ,just because i like em :thumb:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Furiae, here you go :thumb:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hve6hn9tv52k52a/AAA_iw4Sbaz-XZMnEl5E7jz5a?dl=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you want to set your links to auto download when clicked, change the 0 at the end to a 1 :)


Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Thanks for that Mr_W ,learn something everyday , I'm not really a techie so any help along those lines is appreciated :thumb:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought a new Honda ss50 in 1975. It had one free service and they couldn't even do that right. I bought a Haynes manual and some basic tools including a 3/8 socket set. I've learned by trial and many errors over the years, about 40 of them. Nowadays there's loads of videos on YouTube to teach you stuff and loads of courses.

Buy a cheap Japanese bike, a Haynes manual, cheap tools from Aldi or Lidl or eBay and get stuck in.

Don't grease your engine!!! Keep the bike clean and smear ACF50 over most of the bike, except brakes.

I'd love to help you learn, I get a kick out of teaching what I know and keeping poor bikers out of the clutches of bike shops. Unfortunately, I'm heading north from Derbyshire tomoz on my UK tour and won't be near Walsall until end of September /October, but I'll gladly help you then.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've started doing all my own servicing and modifying, with some help from my partner who has had bikes longer than me (and can actually removed the stupidly tight bolts that plague my bike!) My bike had it's first service done by a dealer, but since then it has been me.


I did however pick a bike that is very easy to work on, which is helping with the learning. Next "big" learning thing will be to check the valve clearance, which I am looking forward too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought a new Honda ss50 in 1975. It had one free service and they couldn't even do that right. I bought a Haynes manual and some basic tools including a 3/8 socket set. I've learned by trial and many errors over the years, about 40 of them. Nowadays there's loads of videos on YouTube to teach you stuff and loads of courses.

Buy a cheap Japanese bike, a Haynes manual, cheap tools from Aldi or Lidl or eBay and get stuck in.

Don't grease your engine!!! Keep the bike clean and smear ACF50 over most of the bike, except brakes.

I'd love to help you learn, I get a kick out of teaching what I know and keeping poor bikers out of the clutches of bike shops. Unfortunately, I'm heading north from Derbyshire tomoz on my UK tour and won't be near Walsall until end of September /October, but I'll gladly help you then.

 

I would appreciate it. I was looking forward to that course, stupid funding it was about 80 pound I would have paid more (reasonable price) if it was fully paid by me.

I just saw a poor bloke running with his bike to get it rolling fast and he jumped on it to get it started or something. This is probably something I would do because I only know how to put petrol and oil in.

 

If you want to get good at fixing bikes - and fast - buy a Chinese bike. Or a German one. Or both! :mrgreen:

I am really conscious about the money I spend. I want to move in a couple of years probably after finishing paying off my bike, so I don't really know if buying a cheap (how cheap is cheap) german/chinese bike and its parts and learning about it all will save me money on the long run?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots of cheap Japanese bikes out there, especially if you're not bothered about cosmetics.

Or reliability

or build quality

or time maintaining the things

great for repeated learning how to mend them though

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Welcome to The Motorbike Forum.

    Sign in or register an account to join in.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Guidelines We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Please Sign In or Sign Up