Poll-How many of you do ALL your own work?

Just curious, how many of you do ALL your own work? By this I don't mean you've done a complete build-up or resto, but that you feel confident in tackling any job that comes down the road on your machine, with proper tools and a good manual.

 

I will do pretty much everything on my bike. I was a mechanic for a while and a lot of the same concepts apply here.
the fine-tuning is something I am still learning, but I am getting there.

 

I do everything except boring and if a seat needs more than a cover I let the pros do that. I've been doing this a very long time. Honestly I enjoy the work almost as much as the ride. And the first time out with a restoratiion.......now that is special. Today was such a day. 1972 XS2.

 

I am forced to do my own work for two reasons (Well, maybe three).

1. I cannot afford to pay large sums of cash for dealer maintenance.

2. At 20 years old I don't think a dealer would touch my bike either - I read another post today which said that his local "Stealership" wasn't interested in bikes over 6 years old - probably beacuse they need more than a "Check"!

3. Maybe I secretly LIKE doing it myself??!!!

I cut my teeth on two strokes and they were so simple to work on, this gave me confidence to tackle 4 strokes.

 

All except required machine shop work.

 

Two things I consider art forms.. Painting and wielding. Those I leave to the pros in most cases. After that I will do it all as long as I have the tools or can borrow the machine for a while.

 

With a great fourn like this it it easy to do all the work yourself. The only person I paid to touch my bike was the guy that did the safty check. I'm with wingnut painting is an art and I pay them with beer.

 

Transmissions make my brain and eyes hurt.
I get eye strain from staring at the manual which makes my brain hurt trying to figure out which gear goes where.

ab

 

I do all of it , can't do tire changing and ballancing or machine work. If I get the tools to do those I'll never have to take parts anywhere. After 30 years of driving I have never taken a bike or car to a machanic for repair except for tires and engine machine work.

 

Nearly everything, as others have said. There are a lot of things I haven't had to deal with yet, but as they come up, I've been doing them myself on the Yamaha (except tires). Biggest job I've tackled yet is replacing the steering bearings on the 650. We'll see how the carb rebuild goes! (Less muscle, but much more knowledge, patience, and precision required!)

 

After the carb rebuild, I'm not afraid to tackle anything. I also started as a mechanic and so it comes as second nature. And Painting! I have done a couple of my own bikes. One was just a solid color change, ( Candy apple red) The other I tried doing flames and came out great. This time I'm doing a total tear down to the frame and painting my way from there.

 

Not only do I like working on my bikes, it's a good thing I do. None of the shops around here will work on anything this old. wish I lived closer to some of the members that like to get together and help a buddy out with a carb tear-down and rebuild. I get so jealous when I catch a posting of a couple of you heading over to a members house to help them rebuild and fine-tune their carbs

 

Everything but mount tires, worked in a tire shop as a kid and
mounted lots of tires on cars and trucks and done it on my old bikes
but just didn't fancy these new tubeless tires on alloy rims.

---

 

Funny thing is I really don't care for working on the cars and trucks, but the bike? You bet!

 

I've always done all my own work, bikes, cars, trucks. Still do with the exception of stuff that requires a machine shop.

Primarily because I don't trust anybody else. Seems like every time in my LIFE I've entrusted work to a shop (including auto wreck repair) they managed to screw something up.

Plus I LIKE working on bikes. (Car is more of a chore.)

The only exception would be a major component failure on my '08 VW. THAT would go to the dealer, otherwise I still do it all myself.

 

I'm with fitz on this one. I buy the book and tear into it. You just can't trust anyone anymore expecialy when it comes to engine work. I've torn apart tomany engines to find pistons not in right, cranks and rods not plasti guaged (running wrong size bearings), and my favorite, piston rings in upside down. :lol: The rings were on a $15,000 race engine that a local pro shop built nice job guys. Do it your self then if it blows up you only have your self to blame thats the way I like it.

 

Bought a brand new F7 back in 72, had it worked on once... After finding a rag stuck inside of it, that was the last time anyone else has ever worked on any thing I own. The only exception is a vehicle automatic trans as I dont have the lifts/space to do them.

 

Wow.....so far this is really interesting! I had no idea that many of you did all their own work....nearly 70% at this point! I would've figured it to be closer to 50%.

 

I made the mistake of letting the dealership work on my xj once. One month and whole lot of headache later I got the bike back and it was the same as when I took it up there. Now I do all my own work.

 

Ive done a lot of work on mine, but am not sure I'd feel comfortable pulling the engine apart (at least not without having seen it done once or twice). the beauty of these bikes is that you can do most everything yourself. I prefer to have a shop do my tires though.

 

exactly

 

+1
except for "Primarily because I don't trust anybody else. Seems like every time in my LIFE I've entrusted work to a shop (including auto wreck repair) they managed to screw something up.
"
This gets a
++++1

Example: Just had a $667.00 estimate to "FIX" a shimmy in the front end of my F250. :x
I told them the tires had been balanced 4 times in 12K miles (hint, hint)
His response your front bearings are worn (@60K miles) and can't be tightened any more.
I replied "I can change bearings, how much do I owe you. :x AT LEAST HE DIDN'T CHARGE ME ANYTHING. 8O

Took it to my Ford dealer, told him "front end shimmy (no hint) I need a front end alignment."

His response " Your tires were out of balance BAD, that is all we found but you wanted an alignment so that will be $90.00.

Looks like I have a bad tire, but that's the tire store problem.

ab

 

I do everything including some minor machine work. Haven't had to rebore a block yet... we'll see.

 

If it's about cosmetics such as body work, paint, and detailing I do it all. Oil and filters I do myself, but the heavy stuff I leave to my BIL who's a certified HD mechanic. He always owes me money so it works out great.

 

I do as much as I can... I'm not afraid to give it a crack... Doesn't mean I'll get it right though lol

One of the joys of having spares and old bikes is that it doesn't matter to much if you make a mistake or two and god knows I've made a few

I too love working as much as I do riding... When I got my 900 a couple of years back it had 14k kms on the clock, it's now up to 50k kms and I've done 95% of the maintenance in that time and there's been a lot more maintenance than I realized but 2 minor accidents kind of added to that.

I currently have 3 major projects on the go:

XV750 off road cart - Just rebuilt engine top end (with help). It's almost ready for a repaint before the engine goes back in.

XS1100 - Have 2 now. One completely stripped and awaiting attention and the other untouched but in need of a strip down. Will get one bike from the 2.

XJ900 - Have 3 parts bikes and my daily ride. In the process of selling off all my crap parts and will ground up restore one of the parts bikes.

I reckon I have enough in my garage to keep me busy for the next couple of years lol

 

I got the dealer to mount and balance my tires!! thats it everything else is all me!! win or lose!
Shaun

 

I used to be a mechanic as well, so I'll at least try to tackle ALL of the mechanical work, as well as regular maintenance. I WILL NOT do body work, welding, or paint. As previously said, those are artforms. At about 20 or 21 years old when I got my first bike (my '81 Seca 750) back in '01 or '02, I learned really quickly about working on bikes because it was a basket case and I didn't have the money to pay someone to get it back up and running! I didn't dig as deep on that one as I am now on my '83, I'm basically doing a full resto now. But I agree with LowlifeXJ, buy the book and dig into it! I'm taking my time though, but with the help of this forum, I think I'll pull through!

 

I've done just about everything to my girl however, I see a common thread. I send my wheels out and machine work also. I also sent my forks out, (won't do that again) not because of a shoddy job but, at the time I don't think I was ready to tackle that. This forum has taught me everything that I know (Thanks Guys!!) about bike maintenance. I'm way too cheap to pay someone else to do something that I can do my self. I'ts been a long road but, after a total re-build and SEVERAL months of reading & wrenching, hitting the starter button for the first time and hearing my engine come back to life after a few years of neglect was, to say the least extremely satisfying. Before I joined this site, I was just an oil change kinda guy. Now there's not too much that I won't tackle, Heck I've got an entire maintencance crew to bounce problems off of and, guide me into the right direction.

Again Thanks Guys!
Ken

 

I thought the catagories were kind of funny. How many other forums would consider tune-ups and carbs as minor work?

mikeg

 

Sorry, Mike. I guess that's because I'd consider pulling the engine minor work, myself. I did my first frame-off resto at 16, so..... :roll:

 

Hey Captain
My 1st used bike (250 cc Triumph) seized the connecting rod bearing THE DAY I BOUGHT IT! Forced me into uncharted territory and never looked back. Even now, I do all my own work except machine work and tire balance.
Truthfully:
I went to 3 shops looking for advice. Most were young mechanics with NO XJ experience. My thanks go to XJ Bikes.com...this is a dedicated group and I would go nowhere else to talk XJ's.
Greg

 

This is truly funny. MY first VEHICLE, period, was the '66 Honda which I proceeded to blow up. (Siezed a piston, long story.) Went to my local Honda store and got the book and a pair of new pistons and rings and never looked back. I was 16 too.

Side note: That little adventure also taught me about the perils of the Previous Owner and introduced me to the wonders of the heli-coil.

 

I had never really touched anything motorcycle wise till i got my 400. Then my bud started gettin into restoring older bikes to have one to ride himself. Dove right into it, full engine breakdown, split the cases put her all back together and she ran like a dream.

That was an 83 shadow 500, we actually did a complete frame off tear down to do paint etc to it. Was a very awesome experience, both fun a a great learn.

If i had a couple grand layin around i'd start flipping bikes as a hobby for sure!

I think this winter i'm gunna be checkin out the top end on the 400, get some new gaskets under he jugs, it's starting to look like it wants to leak oil. Maybe some new paint, seat recover.

I do all my own work but machining and leather work (recovering) and wheel balancing. As most do here

 

I'm doing minor maintenance, carb tune up, stuff like that but want to tackle bigger jobs as I gain more experience: check the shims, change a valve. I don't want to ruin the bike by doing something stupid. Also I fear opening something and having a spring bounce out and not know how to put it back. :lol:

I know a mechanic who is willing to work with the client helping along. I intend to learn that way, as with reading the manuals of course.

I have more confidence working on my XS400 of '83 than the 2000 V-Star. The V-Star seems more complex to work on.

 

You don't need a couple grand. Many bikes you can pick up for the price of hauling them away. Or a hundred bucks or so. Look for the ones that don't run. Check Craigslist, local papers, etc. Word of mouth is one of the best sources. Seriously, most of the bikes I've bought have been, "Oh, by the way." bikes...family, friend of a friend sort of things, rather than strangers. Strangers want more $$ than they're worth, for the most part. If that's your passion, chase it. I did, and it's a gas!

 

I started tearing into lawnmower engines when I was 8. (Sure freaked my mom out! We only had one lawnmower at the time...but when i put it back together it ran fine!!! Oh, and I only had one screw extra when i was done!)

I've since got into aircraft mechanics, automotive, snowmobile's, motorcycles and atv's some.
It's the only way I can afford to have any of these things and it's interesting. I like the troubleshooting aspect most I guess. Trying to figure out the problem. It can be frustrating at times, but when you finally get it working just right and all you have spent is your time (when you have it free) it's great! I also like being able to help others and keep them out of the $100/hr shop!
Pretty much the only things I can't do is the things i don't have tools for.
Aside from that, it's just learning the details of a particular machine to get it tuned just right! (Still working on my SECA 750 but I think i'm almost there!)

 

I've been watching this poll and was surprised at how many people don't mount their own tires.

I checked my shop and was amazed 8O that they charge $25.00 to mount and balance if I bring the wheel to them.

That CLANG you just heard was my tire spoons hitting the recycle bin.

ab

 

When it comes to mounting your own tires I figure that if the PITA ratio of mounting a motorbike tire scales up in proportionally from a bicycle tire the 20-25$ at the shop is money well spent.

 

You might recant that statement if you ever watched it being done......
-Aluminum rims being scratched & gouged
-Wheels being IMPROPERLY balanced, or not balanced at all
- Adverse side loads being placed on brake discs improperly placed on machine
-No Loc-Tite being used on sprocket or brake disc bolts, or improper procedure being used for reinstallation of axle or brakes
I could go on, but I won't.
Think about this thought though.....If a shop has 5 mechanics, ranging from 10 years experience to 6 months newbie apprentice, which one do you think gets the tire change......YIKES!

 

You know Captain...I could not agree more.
I pulled the rims off the bike & paid to have tires mounted and balanced. Upon completion, the front tire was mounted in the wrong direction. I went back again to have it re-mounted and balanced. Since then, I lose 5 psi every month.

After reading a post (believe it was BigFitz "Have You Ever Had...") and after viewing his pictures...I now suspect that the shop never cleaned my rims and/or put a gouge in the aluminum.
Everybody that has tires changed should look at that post.

 

the satisfaction of doing most or all of your own work cannot be beaten.
the knowledge that you gain from doing it yourself and knowing what to look for (if something goes amiss) and this forum make for a more pleasurable ride, and keeping these lovely old girls on the road in good condition makes the XJ's one of the most admired tourer/sports bikes on the roads today. as someone has said on this forun "what does the XJ stand for" "EXTREME JEALOUSY"
they are one of the most easily recognisable bikes out there (apart from major mods) that can still hold their own with any of the more current bikes.
the only only job i won't tackle is paint, on the pretty parts at least.
when it comes to painting i make a good floor sweeper
just my thoughts.
LIVE TO RIDE, RIDE TO LIVE

 

Plain and simple I do my own work.