Where do you draw the line?

**breakdirt916** · 03-26-05, 02:11 PM

When do you stop doing the servicing yourself, and come to terms with the fact that it's just a better idea to let a shop do it?

For me, it's when the servicing takes too long (7 hours for an oil change

), and I continuously have to fudge tools because I don't own the proper ones.

**chr|s sedition** · 03-26-05, 07:06 PM

if you dont have proper tools, dont even *start* the job.

**TheIglu** · 03-26-05, 07:34 PM

Option 1: Pay the shop to do it. $60 or so for a service. Then it's done until next time.

Option 2: Buy $60 worth of tools and the book. Do it yourself. Next time it's free.

Welcome to why I do all my own work. Free tools!

**Nikon** · 03-26-05, 08:30 PM

Originally posted by TheIglu
Option 1: Pay the shop to do it. $60 or so for a service. Then it's done until next time.

Option 2: Buy $60 worth of tools and the book. Do it yourself. Next time it's free.

Welcome to why I do all my own work. Free tools!

now that's how to look at it.....

brilliant

**busa413** · 04-01-05, 10:11 AM

When you bring your bike in for an oil change they are going to do just that....change your oil. If they can do it without pulling off any fairings they will. Now say you do it on your own, this is a good time to pull the fairings off and take a good look at your bike. Like someone else said the money it will cost you to pay for the service you can buy most of the tools and get the manual for your bike. You will learn a lot about your bike this way. Just because the mechanic is a mechanic doesn't mean he is not going to miss something or do something half assed either. You will take more pride and care if your bike because it's yours and it's your life that will be riding on it. They aren't going to whipe off some grease or anything like that because it's not their bike, you will.

**highsider** · 04-01-05, 10:18 AM

My advice would be to work on your bike as much as you are able. You will *need* to buy the right tools, but a decent set from Sears isn't terribly expensive, and you'll have them forever (lifetime warranty

).

One good reason is that you will know whats going on with your bike, so if you have an issue, you dont end up just dragging it home and waiting for a shop, you will be able to diagnose and probably fix the problem right away without missing any riding time.

Plus, with the money you will save not paying labor charges, you can buy some sweet toys for your bike.

**odduc** · 04-01-05, 10:31 AM

Get a Clymer manual for your specific bike, they are very thorough. Most importantly, TAKE YOUR TIME and do the job right. Follow the service manual step-by-step.

I do my FZR1000 and KLX300 maintenence and upgrades all on my own. There are just a few things that I do on my own with my Ducati (oil change, chain adjustment, etc.) simply because the Italian engineering is vastly different from Japanese engineering. That will change the longer that I own the Ducati. I have gotten myself a service manual for the Duc, but there are numerous special tools that I don't have that are required.

**Stoneman** · 04-03-05, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by Bhavesh
When do you stop doing the servicing yourself, and come to terms with the fact that it's just a better idea to let a shop do it?

Keep an eye out in this here BIKE MAINTENANCE area of the forum. I'm gonna start planning a 'MAINTENANCE DAY' of sorts for the beginner do-it-yourselfer. It'll be ONLY for people that normally pay a shop for minor maintenance stuff, but would rather learn to do it themselves...

It'll most likely cover erl & filter changes, chain adjustments/cleaning/lubing, radiator/cooland maintenance, brake & clutch fluid. Just the basics, JUST FOR THE BEGINNER that hasn't learned to do this yet...

I honestly don't think anyone should hafta pay some hack service dep't to do this very basic (more so than some think) stuff...

Probably lookin' to do this early May...

**OreoGaborio** · 04-03-05, 11:04 AM

good thread, we stayed on topic

it's an awesome idea to learn how to do this stuff on your own... not only for how Clayton beautifully put it

, and to save yourself a TON of money, but also because if you're somewhere out in the boonies & somethin happens.... In my case, those boonies was the parking lot of a Hotel in VA and at VIR... i've never taken the whole freakin front end off my bike before, but luckilly there were, ya know, just a couple people there to lend me a hand

since i started driving when i was 16, i don't think i've EVER paid for an oil change. i've done plenty of basic stuff on my cars & now my bike - fluid changes, brake pad & rotor replacments, stereo intallations, suspension work, fixed the $50 ABS relay in my car for $2.50, etc... hell, i've even helped do an engine swap on my buddy's car & i can guarantee you i've saved myself thousands of dollars in those 9 years since i've been on public roads.

for instance, a couple years ago i did all 4 brake rotors, all pads and a thermostat on my car... it cost me about 250 bucks in parts for a job that woulda cost me probably upwards of a grand to do at a shop. took me less than a weekend & if i had to do it again it'd take me less than a day.

**chr|s sedition** · 04-03-05, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
"Life is full of evil little distractions......... enjoy them all"

I like it.

-sedition

**OreoGaborio** · 04-03-05, 11:30 AM

i dun come up w/ that all by myself

**gmdboston** · 04-04-05, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by Stoneman
Keep an eye out in this here BIKE MAINTENANCE area of the forum. I'm gonna start planning a 'MAINTENANCE DAY' of sorts for the beginner do-it-yourselfer. It'll be ONLY for people that normally pay a shop for minor maintenance stuff, but would rather learn to do it themselves...

It'll most likely cover erl & filter changes, chain adjustments/cleaning/lubing, radiator/cooland maintenance, brake & clutch fluid. Just the basics, JUST FOR THE BEGINNER that hasn't learned to do this yet...

I honestly don't think anyone should hafta pay some hack service dep't to do this very basic (more so than some think) stuff...

Probably lookin' to do this early May...

I'd be happy to host it here.at my shop.

**Stoneman** · 04-04-05, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by gmdboston
I'd be happy to host it here.at my shop.

I'll give ya a shout about that. Thanks Peter...

**Half Squid** · 04-11-05, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by gmdboston
I'd be happy to host it here.at my shop.

I'm all over this if it's in Bellingham!

**TheIglu** · 04-13-05, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by Half Squid
I'm all over this if it's in Bellingham!

You're no newbie!!

I got a friend who bought a bike monday (found him a KILLER deal, 2001 Kawasaki ZR7-S, 6k miles, Corbin seat, MINT, $2250!!!).

He doesn't know ANYTHING but wants to learn. Something like this would be wonderful for him. I feel like a jackass having to answer all his questions since I just assume everyone knows what we do. It would also be great for him to see a group of "responsible" riders!

**RandyO** · 04-13-05, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by TheIglu
Option 1: Pay the shop to do it. $60 or so for a service. Then it's done until next time.

Option 2: Buy $60 worth of tools and the book. Do it yourself. Next time it's free.

Welcome to why I do all my own work. Free tools!

your time is not worth anything, comew work for me please, I like employees who work for nothing

I pay mechanics to do ALL my service on my daily runners (bike & cage) except emergency roadside repairs and even then I may prefer to have a dealer do the work, I can't afford not to pay someone to do the work, it gets done quicker and correctly, no down time for me, while you guys are wrenching, I'm riding.

my xv920r, I do most of the work myself

**Stoneman** · 04-13-05, 06:49 PM

I fail to see your logic, Randy. Nothing you can tell me is gonna convince me that a 15 minute erl & filter change is worth the rediculous money they charge you. And I know how rediculously they charge you 'cuz YOU'VE TOLD ME!

**RandyO** · 04-13-05, 08:12 PM

Originally posted by Stoneman
I fail to see your logic, Randy. Nothing you can tell me is gonna convince me that a 15 minute erl & filter change is worth the rediculous money they charge you. And I know how rediculously they charge you 'cuz YOU'VE TOLD ME!

I get a lot more than a 15 minute oil change, I get cables adjusted and lubed, I get all fluids checked, I get chain cleaned and adjusted, , shift linkage cleaned and lubed, and I get a general check for upcomng maintenance I also get it WASHED, it would take me at least a half day to get all that stuff done

the amount I ride, my SV gets dropped of at dealer for a day every 3-5 weeks, I either ride my other bike, or cage that day, I am free to ride weekends with a bike in perfect working order.

my milage check more than covers my maintenance.

Do you wrench your Sube?

**TheIglu** · 04-13-05, 09:54 PM

Some of us don't expense our bike milage out. I spend quite enough on my bike already for a hobby.

It's much easier to spend your Saturday working on your own bike than working overtime to pay someone to do it for you.

I also enjoy working on my bike. Saturday I will be digging into a valve adjustment, carb sync, handlebar replacement, heated grips install, full chain cleaning/lubing, brake/clutch fluid flush, coolant flush, cable lube, spark plug replacement, air filter wash.

Couple sandwiches, a 6-pack and nice weather makes it hardly a chore. I really do enjoy working on my bikes. When I'm not riding, there isn't much else I'd rather be doing on a warm Saturday afternoon (well, other than off-roading or bangin my woman...but those require their own maintenance as well

).

**ssg** · 04-13-05, 09:55 PM

I'd pay my local dealership 100$ to stay AWAY from my bike. Nevermind the assortment of tools etc. I have collected (and loaned, and lost, and rebought cheaper versions of that work just as good

)

Seriously, if you beleive that you have the skills to do this..or aren't ashamed of asking others that do, the right questions...go pick up the 100$ husky toolkit @ HD and a factory manual. Borrow a buddy's torque wrench until you can save another 75$ for your own.

You won't get a collection overnight, but every time you sub it out to someone else - they don't have to ride the bike afterwareds, and if they screw up (and you don't notice) it's more money for them in the long run. Nevermind the fact that you lose the opportunity to become fairly intimate with your knowledge of the machine.

Not to be glass-half-full here, but if/when the day ever comes that something lands you or a pal on the side of the road - having wrenched your own ride and being familiar with your way around it and the general principles - might just save you a tow or more.

On the flip side, your girlfriend may draw the line much much sooner.

**Kham** · 04-13-05, 10:21 PM

Originally posted by somestrangeguy
I'd pay my local dealership 100$ to stay AWAY from my bike.

pay me i can take care of that.

what ever happen to the "support your local business"?

**Stoneman** · 04-14-05, 06:06 AM

Originally posted by RandyO
I get a lot more than a 15 minute oil change, I get cables adjusted and lubed, I get all fluids checked, I get chain cleaned and adjusted, , shift linkage cleaned and lubed, and I get a general check for upcomng maintenance I also get it WASHED, it would take me at least a half day to get all that stuff done

the amount I ride, my SV gets dropped of at dealer for a day every 3-5 weeks, I either ride my other bike, or cage that day, I am free to ride weekends with a bike in perfect working order.

my milage check more than covers my maintenance.

Do you wrench your Sube?

I didn't realize this was about wrenching cages. But if we're gonna stray off, the answer is no. I don't have the scanner or other vital tools to work on modern day vehicles. I did however do the spark plug wires, spark plugs, distributor cap & rotor and timing on both the Vette and my pick-up. But I don't understand what my Soob hasta do with people working on their own BIKES...

But you go ahead and believe what Roachester Motorhacks tell you. I thought you were smarter than that...

**RandyO** · 04-14-05, 06:51 AM

the point I was making, is that my Sv is my work vehicle, just like your sube is your work vehicle. maybe yer right, and RMS doesn't spend the time on my Sv they say, but if that's the case, how does it magicly happen that my gunked up shifter, chain & cables are like new after a service, I know how grungy my Sv is when it gets dropped off

**Stoneman** · 04-14-05, 07:11 AM

As long as I've known you, I've been telling you they're taking you for a ride. If you REALLY believe they're treating you right, you go right ahead and believe that...

I've seen what they charge you for that so-called 'service'. It's no bargain...

Bring over a 12-pack and a coupla bingo sticks, and I'll have that done in an hour, sans the washing...

13 · 04-15-05, 09:04 PM

Oh, come on. Dealers aren't that expensive.

Yeah right. I agree with ya Jay. Trust me, I work at one of those stealerships (although a great automotive one), and I must say I feel embarassed at the prices of the services. Nevermind the outrageous labor rate. Needless to say, I do all my own work. With the ridiculous amount I've spent on tools, I can't afford not to. I'd be more than happy to help anyone who needs it working on their vehicles, if they want it.

Where do you draw the line?

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