Do you do your own service?

[jwm2k3]

Last year I bought a new motorcycle. My first brand new bike. Ive owned 7 or 8 streetbikes and a few offroads...General maintainence has been an adventure in itself. I feel finding a competent wrench on the 'side' so to speak is the trick for me. When I need general maint like oil change, tire change etc. I love to give it my friend whos a Ducati Master Tech, whos got his own garage...an ideal setup...cash directly to him and precise maintenence for me. Great setup.

If I could do my own, I would.

[Manny]

Wirelessly posted

Sweet.

[Chippertheripper]

I do all my own general stuff. Anything internal, aside from valve adjustments, I'd just as soon give it to a shop. Luckily I've had a fantastic relationship with Cliff's, and they've gone way above and beyond to ensure I'm ready on race day.
I don't plan on doing any performance work on the sv, so I'm hoping the bottom end stays together forever.

I should say that if I had the tools, and the time, and the space, I'd dice right in. But I'm not there in life yet.

[PainfullySlow]

I do all my own work, from maintenance to engine work. I have seen the results of far too many "mechanics" to trust my ass to anyone else.

[Sheppo]

Yup


Let me add, I only send my tires/wheels out I don't have the special tools in order to do that. I think the services offered here by Tricky Mike, Hondarider, DEgsy, et al are much better than me spending the coin.

[union]

I do my own work. Of course I have a better then average place to work then most and a lot of the specialty tools but isnt that what part of the fun of having a bike is about? Buying tools and figuring it out.

I think this year though when its time to rebuild the motard engine Im going to send it out and maybe hot rod it a little.

[FalArAk]

I do everything but fork service and tire swaps.

I somewhat enjoy doing my own maintenance,but for me it comes down to not trusting mechanics.If I knew someone that had a shop,it might be different.

[nhbubba]

...isnt that what part of the fun of having a bike is about? Buying tools and figuring it out.

Yes. I bought my bike(s) partly as a means to tinker. My goal was to keep my hands (relatively) off the daily driver (read: my car).

I have never found myself needing to do anything more intense than adjust valves and tighten cylinder head bolts, fortunately. But I try to DIY everything. Recently I've even picked up swapping tires myself. It isn't all that hard, really.

[The Snowman]

I do the majority of my maintenance.

Since I'm 3 miles from GMD, I bring all of my suspension work to PK.the big work, such as motor work, also goes to a specialist.

I tend to do more work on my SV than on other bikes, because like Michael said, it's my ass on the line while track riding and racing.

[tsorfas]

I cant even take my fairings off without help... I do absolutely nothing by myself on any of my motorcycles.

[RandyO]

I 'm a land surveyor, not a mechanic, I pay a professional, in turn, he hire's me to do what I do when he has the need, money flows both ways

[TheIglu]

I do all my own work on bikes. Cars too unless I'm feeling lazy.

It's not rocket science.

[TheIglu]

I just got back from a ride on the Vmax. Adjusted the steering head bearings on the side of the road in the shade next to a babbling brook. I now know how much difference a quarter turn makes on handling.

Rebuilt the front calipers two days ago. Cake.

New front springs an valves a few weeks back. Pie.

Valve adjustment over the winter. Little more involved, put still dessert-easy. Really people, they are just machines. Buy/download the manual and give it a shot, will never know how until you do.

[nhbubba]

I will say that having the right tools makes a world of difference. You can be like me and half-ass it with the wrong ones. But it invariably turns a 5 minute procedure into a 30 minute swear fest. And the right tools take space. Ditto for being able to leave a project 'open' overnight or until next weekend. I remember DIY'ing some things in the parking lot at my apartment when I was an apartment dweller. It sucked. So I can understand why our urban friends avoid.

As far as time being money.. I have more time than money. YMMV.

[OreoGaborio]

Cake.

Pie.

dessert

Clayton makes bike maintenance sound frikkin delicious

[RandyO]

I will say that having the right tools makes a world of difference. You can be like me and half-ass it with the wrong ones. But it invariably turns a 5 minute procedure into a 30 minute swear fest. And the right tools take space. Ditto for being able to leave a project 'open' overnight or until next weekend. I remember DIY'ing some things in the parking lot at my apartment when I was an apartment dweller. It sucked. So I can understand why our urban friends avoid.

As far as time being money.. I have more time than money. YMMV.

Too me, clean, well lighted and weather tight work space is just as important as tools.

[OreoGaborio]

You're both wrong. The most important thing is having the right beer.

[snwbrdr435]

Self service who doesn't enjoy that

[DucDave]

I'm surprised at the things I've learned to do. And not surprised at what I still pass to Kyle at Seacoast. I can take my wheels off the bike and get them to Tricky for changing. I can change brake pads but I'll be damned if I can bleed brakes successfully. I can change the oil and filter but even after two Ducati Valve seminars I still can't figure out where what I'm looking at goes when it's back together.

I understand the theory of suspension but lack the 'feel' to really know when to make adjustments.

I CAN take my fairings off and usually get them back together without breaking anything.

I do believe that I could learn to do most things if I simply take my time and let the relationships of what I'm seeing take form in my mind. The key to that is patience...and, therein lies the problem!

Said it before, 'Shopcraft as Soulcraft' is a great read and the really great techs I know are the posterchildren for the premise outlined so well by Mr. Crawford.

[RandyO]

Self service who doesn't enjoy that

I enjoy riding, I don't enjoy wrenching

[snwbrdr435]

I enjoy riding, I don't enjoy wrenching

I see what you did there

[OreoGaborio]

I see what you did there

I'm not even sure he MEANT to do what he did there

[tsorfas]

I enjoy riding, I don't enjoy wrenching

i hate working on bikes. just riding them for me as well

[csmutty]

i hate working on bikes. just riding them for me as well

It shows.

[tsorfas]

It shows.

treat my baby like your life depends on it...