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New Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/10/2006 9:10:17 AM
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I've owned a motorcycle for couple of years now. The only thing I've done myself is change oil/filter and lube chain (what a mess!). I love riding my bike, but Ism hesitant to working on it. Maybe, because I work in an office environment and Ism not inclined to working with grease...Anyway, my questions is. Should I take my bike to dealer for maintenance stuff like lubing the cables? I figure if they sold me the bike they're probably best to do the maintenance. Do recommend I use the dealer for routine maintenance on my bike or what options do you recommend?
'06 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 LT
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 7/6/2008 10:52:54 AM
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It all depends upon your confidence level and desire. Disposable income can also be a big factor compared to free time. If you are busy all the time and earning silly money and have no desire to wrench it's off to the shop for you for all items.
One of my brothers should only be allowed to admire tools in someone elses garage without actually being able to touch them. Tight is just before it completey snaps off for him. In competition between bicep and brain his muscle always scores a podium finish - usually with a lot of swearing.
OTOH, if you really want to get into the bike maintenance. Just the fact you're considering cable lubrication is refreshing to see. I work on friend's bikes, and sometimes I really have to wonder about my sanity (there's a whole gert big rant behind that comment) when I let some of them bring me their filthy neglected piles of crap a second time. I've got a quad sitting in stir that really needs a can of kerosine and a match to improve it.
Any way, cable lubing isn't that difficult and don't omit lubricating pivot points on the levers, including the one for the rear brake.
Get a Clymer or a Haynes manual specific for the bike and sit down in a comfy chair to go through the procedures before opening the tool box. You may find yourself wanting to tackle more an more complex tasks, like clutch changes and valve adjustment. I highly recommend working on the old style tappets to get an understanding about the process before getting involved in shim under bucket stuff, those may even be left best to a shop you've got confidence in. But reading the manual will give you an appreciation for what is happening in the back room to your beloved mount.
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Senior Member
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| nicely said, bwana. for an FZ1, listing the stuff that it would be nice to be in control of for one's self might be helpfull. battery service would assure that the bike would be most likely to start and the battery would last as long as possible. installing a trickle charging pigtail is a nice mod. learning to plug a flat would/could save a lot of aggravation. being able to get to any lightbulb for a bulb swap (in the dark?)is a good idea. knowing what each tool in the bike kit does ,and how well, ought to come in handy. swtart slow and enjoy yourself.
nobody rides half as well as they know how.
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 7/6/2008 10:52:54 AM
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[quote]ibafran (7/2/2006)
knowing what each tool in thebike kit does[/quote]
Round off bolt heads.
and how well
Very well!
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With few exceptions (spark plug wrench) most of the tool kits on Japanese MCs are crap and should only be used in a dire emergency.
There is no substitute for quality when it comes to tools. You don't need to buy SnapOn, Craftsman are nice and if they break they replace 'em no questions asked.
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Senior Member
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| sometimes the kit has a fancy stamping that is supposed to be the unique spanner that adjusts shock springs or linkage or lets you remove a wheel or adjust steering head bearings. if its used once or twice, a judgement can be made to alter it for better performance. take to piece to your local machine shop/fabricator and have a new one made to your specs. you could check aftermarket tool companies like Motion Pro for a better tool. it takes several tools to get the bodywork off my bike (aggravates me to no end). i bought extra tools and have the configurations duct taped together for less fuss. recently, i have been tempted to put a little 'glow in the dark' tape over the duct tape so i have a better chance of recovering dropped tools in the dark. whatever kit you assemble to carry on the bike, use that kit as possible for your wrenching on the bike. thus, you know that it will reliably work in roadside conditions if you need it. knowing where all the dang fuses are on the bike is useful. knowing that you have several spares for each capacity on the bike is comforting. the nice part of using the dealer for the routine maintenence is that you and he has a documented service history. thus, you have a nice lever with the dealer when you want to trade in the bike. if the dealer doesnt give you significant (read:money) respect for your patronage. you will know something that you didnt know before. 2 or 3 bikes down the line, you ought to have a nice meaningful relationship. is that worth the money? let us know how that works out over the long run.
nobody rides half as well as they know how.
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Senior Member
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Excellent idea on the selection and marking of the tools there ibafran. Typically I don't worry too much about the tools for local riding as a cell phone in pocket and trailer at home are sufficient for that local security. However on the long haul I'm always certain I'll omit the one tool I'll need for that unexpected event 800 miles from home. Then there is always bodging it and limping to Sears, been there done that m'self.
You've given me one more excuse to buy yet another tool set, this time maybe I'll go for those laser etched big number sockets for these over 40 eyes. As fate would have it I've got somewhere between 100 to 200 sockets, all purchased before those things came out...
Wonder if they'd let me bring in broken ones and pay a little extra for the laser ones.
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Advanced Member
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Everyone has said it very well. I think I can do most jobs but they take me longer than a pro would. So I look at the job and weigh that against how much I will be charged. Some jobs that will take me a day or two that my dealer would only charge 3 hours to do it is a no brainer.
Torqueman
Battle Creek, MI
V-Strom 06
Goldwing 03
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