Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
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- Aberdale
- Brass Member
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:27 am
- Location: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
Since I'm a newbie, I was curious how many members work on their own motorcycles. I suppose that since the nature of this forum is "naked Goldwings", that working on these 30-40 year old bikes is a necessity since few of the current dealership mechanics were even born when these bikes were new.
But for those that also own modern motorcycles, I was curious how many work on them as well. Some of my newer bikes must be taken to the dealership for service and repair because I don't have the computer software required to work on them. It's becoming frustrating to me that I can't work on some of the newer machines, and in some ways it makes me appreciate old iron that much more.
I apologize if this has been covered in the past, but I couldn't find it in the "search" function with the keywords I used.
'dale
But for those that also own modern motorcycles, I was curious how many work on them as well. Some of my newer bikes must be taken to the dealership for service and repair because I don't have the computer software required to work on them. It's becoming frustrating to me that I can't work on some of the newer machines, and in some ways it makes me appreciate old iron that much more.
I apologize if this has been covered in the past, but I couldn't find it in the "search" function with the keywords I used.
'dale
I'd rather be lucky than good lookin'.
1970 Honda CB450
1976 Honda GL1000
1982 Honda CX500 Turbo
1981 Yamaha SR500
1972 BMW R75/5 Toaster
1978 BMW R100S
1982 BMW R100RS
1987 BMW R80RT
1989 BMW K100RS
1991 BMW K1
1987 Harley Davidson Tour Glide
1990 Harley Davidson Heritage Softtail
1970 Honda CB450
1976 Honda GL1000
1982 Honda CX500 Turbo
1981 Yamaha SR500
1972 BMW R75/5 Toaster
1978 BMW R100S
1982 BMW R100RS
1987 BMW R80RT
1989 BMW K100RS
1991 BMW K1
1987 Harley Davidson Tour Glide
1990 Harley Davidson Heritage Softtail
- Oldewing
- Secretary
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- Location: Gahanna Ohio
Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
Self repair is kinda is the backbone of this site, It is what we do. Most of us , just because of money, some because of the love of tinkering, and some because no one on earth would do what they do with motorcycles...(Cyborg and HOTT come to mind)..
82 GL1100 Interstate-Oldewing October 23 BOTM
06 GL1800 Road bike, as in Rode alot...
Sometimes I wrestle with my inner demons.........
Other times we just hug.......
Team 898
Team LTD 993
Team 76 R2B3
And always remember: beer has some food value--but food has NO beer value...
06 GL1800 Road bike, as in Rode alot...
Sometimes I wrestle with my inner demons.........
Other times we just hug.......
Team 898
Team LTD 993
Team 76 R2B3
And always remember: beer has some food value--but food has NO beer value...
- Lucien Harpress
- Honored Life Member
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- Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
- Location: Michigan
Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
You forgot the "I maintain and repair my own motorcycles, but they don't always work correctly afterward"...
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
- Whiskerfish
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Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
Yea used to be I would have the shop do my tires but now I do even those. Now the only reason they ever see the shop is for the annual safety Inspection.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
"Yea I do dance awkwardly, and I am having more fun than you" Taylor Swift
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1984 GL1200 Standard
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
"Yea I do dance awkwardly, and I am having more fun than you" Taylor Swift
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1984 GL1200 Standard
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
- Aberdale
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- Location: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
Ha! Good one. Been there - done that. Of course that's just an opportunity to work on it some more.Lucien Harpress wrote:You forgot the "I maintain and repair my own motorcycles, but they don't always work correctly afterward"...
'dale
I'd rather be lucky than good lookin'.
1970 Honda CB450
1976 Honda GL1000
1982 Honda CX500 Turbo
1981 Yamaha SR500
1972 BMW R75/5 Toaster
1978 BMW R100S
1982 BMW R100RS
1987 BMW R80RT
1989 BMW K100RS
1991 BMW K1
1987 Harley Davidson Tour Glide
1990 Harley Davidson Heritage Softtail
1970 Honda CB450
1976 Honda GL1000
1982 Honda CX500 Turbo
1981 Yamaha SR500
1972 BMW R75/5 Toaster
1978 BMW R100S
1982 BMW R100RS
1987 BMW R80RT
1989 BMW K100RS
1991 BMW K1
1987 Harley Davidson Tour Glide
1990 Harley Davidson Heritage Softtail
- ritalz
- Honored Life Member
- Posts: 4102
- Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:22 am
- Location: St Louis, MO
Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
I'e always been one to do my own work. Last time mine was in a shop was back in the 70's and it came home in worse shape than when it went in. Figured out pretty quick that I could do better even if it took longer. Still have to go for safety inspections but nothing more.
Al
2003 Goldwing Daily Rider
1975 Goldwing 'Max'
1984 Goldwing New Bagger Project
1976 Goldwing 'Grocery Getter' Sold
1985 Goldwing Interstate 'NCC-1985' sold
1981 Silverwing Sold
1982 Goldeing Project Sold
1981 Goldwing Parted Out
1983 Goldwing Project Sold
1973 CB500F Long Gone
1966 CL77 First Street Bike
http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery3/index.p ... ans/ritalz
2003 Goldwing Daily Rider
1975 Goldwing 'Max'
1984 Goldwing New Bagger Project
1976 Goldwing 'Grocery Getter' Sold
1985 Goldwing Interstate 'NCC-1985' sold
1981 Silverwing Sold
1982 Goldeing Project Sold
1981 Goldwing Parted Out
1983 Goldwing Project Sold
1973 CB500F Long Gone
1966 CL77 First Street Bike
http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery3/index.p ... ans/ritalz
- rcmatt007
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Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
the only time I have a bike in a shop is when it is something I absolutely cannot do.... So I think only once in the past 42 years (not counting sending my '78 heads to Robin
-Rodger-
all it takes for evil to prosper is the want of a few good men to do nothing-Edmund Burke
The question is not how much time do you have, it is what you do with the time that you have Gandalf
"One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation." Fred Rodgers
"it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert" ancient saying
78 constantly modified/customized since 1978, BOTM June 2015 de-evolving this very moment viewtopic.php?f=30&t=65511
76 Ltd "cookies bike" ALMOST DONE
79 project, finished, FOR SALE
'86 1200 (Beth's)(FOR SALE) with motorvation sidecar (sidecar sold) , July 2017 BOTM
'17 HD Road king and 08 HD Heritage softail (Beth's) (FOR SALE). I guess you can say we have MBS
all it takes for evil to prosper is the want of a few good men to do nothing-Edmund Burke
The question is not how much time do you have, it is what you do with the time that you have Gandalf
"One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation." Fred Rodgers
"it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert" ancient saying
78 constantly modified/customized since 1978, BOTM June 2015 de-evolving this very moment viewtopic.php?f=30&t=65511
76 Ltd "cookies bike" ALMOST DONE
79 project, finished, FOR SALE
'86 1200 (Beth's)(FOR SALE) with motorvation sidecar (sidecar sold) , July 2017 BOTM
'17 HD Road king and 08 HD Heritage softail (Beth's) (FOR SALE). I guess you can say we have MBS
- x01660
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2017 11:55 pm
- Location: Ventura, CA
Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
My mechanic is a really good friend of mine, and I always help him with work. He shows me what to do, explains what he's doing, and lets me get my hands dirty.
I had a 1985 GS1150 that was a frame and engine parts and we built that bike together.
And he's gonna supervise me and have me do a lot of the work on the engine that we're building for my 1100; 1233 piston kit, P&P head, V&H 4 to 1, 348/282 cams..... I'm excited!
But mostly its me being his tool b****, and I'm ok with that.
I had a 1985 GS1150 that was a frame and engine parts and we built that bike together.
And he's gonna supervise me and have me do a lot of the work on the engine that we're building for my 1100; 1233 piston kit, P&P head, V&H 4 to 1, 348/282 cams..... I'm excited!
But mostly its me being his tool b****, and I'm ok with that.
-x01660
"The best motorcycle is the one well ridden"
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." ~Friedrich Nietzsche
"The best motorcycle is the one well ridden"
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." ~Friedrich Nietzsche
-
- Cast Iron Member
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Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
if i needed a repair that would require the services of a professional mechanic @ $85 plus per hour, that bike would then become a parts bike and i would move on to the next one in the stable. i've never even sat on a new bike , and new technology is a GOOD thing, IMHO, but if they can't be fixed with basic tools and know-how then i'm not interested.
- pidjones
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
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Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
I do take the wheels in to have tires mounted. And when the GL1800 was on warranty, I had them do a covered repair (speed sensor down in the motor). But. I do the air filter on the 1800 which scares some people, and the valves. Don't know if I would go into the transmission on a bike. Never worked on one, but there is a first time for everything!
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
- robin1731
- Membership Admin
- Posts: 21730
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 8:31 am
- Location: Decatur, Indiana
Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
I work on mine. Also work on a lot for other people. Some stock, some highly modified, and everything in between.
.
.
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
- x01660
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2017 11:55 pm
- Location: Ventura, CA
Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
twooldwings wrote:if i needed a repair that would require the services of a professional mechanic @ $85 plus per hour, that bike would then become a parts bike and i would move on to the next one in the stable. i've never even sat on a new bike , and new technology is a GOOD thing, IMHO, but if they can't be fixed with basic tools and know-how then i'm not interested.
This. I'm spending BIG bucks on my motor build. I could get a new bike for the cost of what I'm investing.
I can also do 80% of repairs on the side of the road with simple hand tools.
There's something about breaking a clutch or throttle cable, spending 15 minutes of cursing on the side of the road, then continuing on. Versus a busted hydraulic line, or a failed ride by wire sensor....
All of the bikes I've ridden are older than me, and I think it'll stay that way for the forseeable future.
-x01660
"The best motorcycle is the one well ridden"
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." ~Friedrich Nietzsche
"The best motorcycle is the one well ridden"
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." ~Friedrich Nietzsche
- scootsx2
- True Blue Steel Biker
- Posts: 2485
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:52 pm
- Location: St. Louis, Missouri USA
Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
With the exception of the GL1800, I do all my own work. Too much tupperware on that bike.
1975 GL1000 Sidecar Outfit
1982 CX500-based Trident ex-Police Trike
2001 GL1800 MotorTrike
2006 Vespa LX150
1956 Francis-Barnett Falcon 74
195x Solex 1700
196x Solex 2200
St. Louis, MO
The dude abides.
Brothers of the Third Wheel - Gateway Chapter http://www.btw-trikers.org
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club http://www.vjmc.org
Francis-Barnett Owners Club http://www.francis-barnett.co.uk/
Antique Motorcycle Club of America http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/
Vintage Motor Cycle Club http://www.vmcc.net
British Motorcycle Charitable Trust http://www.bmct.org/
VeloSolex Club UK http://www.velosolexclubuk.com/
1982 CX500-based Trident ex-Police Trike
2001 GL1800 MotorTrike
2006 Vespa LX150
1956 Francis-Barnett Falcon 74
195x Solex 1700
196x Solex 2200
St. Louis, MO
The dude abides.
Brothers of the Third Wheel - Gateway Chapter http://www.btw-trikers.org
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club http://www.vjmc.org
Francis-Barnett Owners Club http://www.francis-barnett.co.uk/
Antique Motorcycle Club of America http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/
Vintage Motor Cycle Club http://www.vmcc.net
British Motorcycle Charitable Trust http://www.bmct.org/
VeloSolex Club UK http://www.velosolexclubuk.com/
- Rat
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Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
I don’t do much of my own .... unless forced .... but I have supervisable friends ....
Gord(how lucky I am)Jones
Gord(how lucky I am)Jones
"I'd rather Ride than Shine"
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
-
- Brass Member
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- Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:05 pm
- Location: Upstate Sc
Re: Do you maintain and repair your own motorcycles?
I have saved enough in potential labor fees over the last couple of decades to pay for a new bike. The 60+ sets of tires, alone, I went through could have cost up to $6,000 in labor if I hadn't mounted and balanced every set myself.
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