the artist formerly known as ish Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 (edited) TV advertisement doing the rounds at the moment. It's always best to fix your own bike if you have a clue or not, give it some BFH Edited February 19, 2006 by ishy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis_gasgas Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Yeah agreed ive learnt quite a bit about bikes since i started trials from fixing things rather learn than pay some other bloke to do it. LoL at 4rt's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikespace Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 There's certain things I'll have a go at, and certain things I'll just chuck it in the dealers. From what I've seen of recognised dealers though, there is absolutely no training from the importer/factory whatsoever, or if there is it must be poor, so why is a dealer any better than your man in the street if he's just learning on the job anyway. You could argue that the jobs warrantied if it goes tits up. You could counter-argue that it could very well go tits up a few weeks later and the dealer blame something else anyway. My field of work for instance, Cisco is the manufacturer, we equate to a dealer. Nobody wants me on site unless I've been trained by Cisco certified training courses and hold the qualifications to match. Mind you, that's half the reason that Cisco is so expensive I suppose. Businesses can save a fortune by having their own bloke with a bit of savvy get to know their own kit and save using us all the time. ....On the other hand, they can sometimes make a right ar5e of it and then spend a fortune letting us sort it out, so maybe that fortifies your argument. Know your limits I think the moral of the story is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copemech Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 Ishy has a valid point as many of us feel like the Doctor trying to guess what is wrong! Go ahead and "CUT",you silly *******! I want to say it all the time! Then there are the individuals that MUST figure it out themselves come hell or high water! They a are a bit different! The knowledge, experience and resources of a professional is a mighty thing, although even the best in their field are not always correct! However many times they may save you a lot of time and money as well as mental anguish! Odd problems exist that are not easily resolved and It can be as much of a learning experience for the teacher as the student! For the professionals, it then becomes the "THROW **** UNTIL SOMETHING STICKS" theory known as differential diagnosis, a well known scientific method! The computer field is a prime example of this! On the other hand, if I had not taken interist either out of neccessity or quriosity, I would not even be able to type this, as typing and computers were not even tought when I was in school. No less fix my bike, car, home, trailer, aircraft or computer when things go sour! I even commented to a homebuilder the other day that I do not understand how people AFFORD to have others attend to things every time the toilet stopps up! No less the normal wear and tear items and maintenance that a plumber or electrician will charge you for. Don't mention the cable guy or the stereo pro or the internet hook up! Cheers to those who choose to learn the hard way! If we fail to help and show a few of our peers the way to go about things, our successors will be a sorry lot! You cannot do a GOOGLE search for "help me fix my Gas Gas' PLEASE!" You poor *******s need help! I'll get off the soap box now! MC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the artist formerly known as ish Posted February 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 My field of work for instance, Cisco is the manufacturer, we equate to a dealer. Nobody wants me on site unless I've been trained by Cisco certified training courses and hold the qualifications to match.Mind you, that's half the reason that Cisco is so expensive I suppose. Businesses can save a fortune by having their own bloke with a bit of savvy get to know their own kit and save using us all the time. ....On the other hand, they can sometimes make a right ar5e of it and then spend a fortune letting us sort it out, so maybe that fortifies your argument. Know your limits I think the moral of the story is. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That is all I'm saying BS, some lads are well up to the task of repairing their own bike, and some are not. Im not talking about changing tyres, or messing with the brakes, but more complex tasks that need correct tools and know how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitjay - hrc Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 (edited) When i first got my bike me and my dad knew nothing really, but luckily we have someone who knows a lot just up the road (pushing my bike distance ) and he helps me out when its something seriously mechanical. But if its something not really engine related (bearings etc) we just normally work it out ourselves. Once we messed up the clutch and had to take it to a pro to get him to fix it, but it was buggered in the first place and didnt really make much difference. If you dont try you don't learn. For instance im happy to mess around inside a Edited February 19, 2006 by Nitjay - HRC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boofont Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 Putting it to the dealer is great... Apart from the nearest dealer to me is about an hours drive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g4321 Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 Putting your bike to a dealer is fine BUT what happens if your bike breaks down at a trial - it is unlikly a dealer will be there at the time. If you get in to the habit of doing your own work then if the thing fails to start, brakes down or stops for no reason during an event thn at least you have a chance of locating and repairing a fault. Even if its something simple like checking for spark, cleaning out a blocked carb or even sorting out your brakes and clutch. Lets face it you would hate to go home with a bike from failing to finish a trial and it turns out to be something simple that could be fixed at the side of the track, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin j Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 I have been fixing and wrenching everything from farm, contruction, heavy equipment, cars and mc for 40+ years, so I can do most if I need to. Mostly, it was necessitated by economics, keeping kids on bikes, or the fact that there are no harvest combine mechanics around at 2am when the weather might turn. here would be the best of both worlds for me: 1. do your own maintenance for daily service, so you learn, and also see other things (loose bolts, rubbing wires)while doing the normal maintenance 2. Know enough, and have enough tools and spares to keep it going on event day (and to help out other people, especially kids on older bikes) 3. Be rich enough to have a new bike, and to take the old one to the dealer for annual maintenace. 4. Use the time saved from always fixing the old one, to work on fun toys like some of Charlies restorations Unfortunatley, the key point is #3. Barring that, I'm thankful for health and opportunities to have the bikes, fix, and ride. kcj kcj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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