View Full Version : First week's bike maintenance course
Had my first lesson yesterday.
Now, I know nothing about bikes, hence the course. It was shocking to learn that people out there know less than me.
Everyone should know the very basics, but when I siad I'd done an oil/filter change, put a slip on exhaust and put mini indys on they looked at me like I was king of their village. I didn't mention anything else - didn't want to be class swot.
Imagine my surprise when all we learned this week was, "To disconnect the battery, unplug the neutral electrode first". Asides from that, we had an hour of introductions. AN HOUR. There was a 30 minute demonstration of how to open & close a door, a 30 minute "looking at some old maintenance books" practical - this was looking at them not going through them and finally, a 30 minute tea break.
Question of the week: "What is a fairing?"
Alpinestarhero
10-01-08, 02:24 PM
No way :shock:
Sounds like my first ever lecture at uni...what are atoms, and how do they make molecules?
:stupid:
Ah well, they are just trying to get everybody on a level playing feild; you should progress quickly :D
Matt
rictus01
10-01-08, 02:26 PM
Obviously one of those " start at the lowest common denominator" type things then :D
Cheers Mark.
What are atoms? and how do they make molecules? :confused:
What are atoms? and how do they make molecules? :confused:
*sigh*
When two atoms love each other very much.....
;o)
"To disconnect the battery, unplug the neutral electrode first".
obviously I meant NEGATIVE electrode!
Still, at least I know what a fairing is now.
Alpinestarhero
10-01-08, 02:43 PM
*sigh*
When two atoms love each other very much.....
;o)
...they decide that they want to share some electrons, to fill in the missing gaps in their valence orbitals. They make a happy couple, until one day someone comes along and gives them so much energy they have a big row and break up
And a student gets singed eyebrows
Matt
plowsie
10-01-08, 02:44 PM
You'll be learning which way a wheel turns next week :D
Biker Biggles
10-01-08, 02:46 PM
I think Id need 30 minutes on how to open and close a door on a bike.
Is it the same door you need to open to let the clutch out?:D
You'll be learning which way a wheel turns next week :D
whoa!!!!! Slow down there brainiac!
;o)
Next week take a Haynes manual. Open it at "Rebuilding your gearbox" and read loudly from it......:p
I always thought those courses would have trouble getting a common level for all abilities, apparently they get round that issue by pitching at people that once saw a picture of a motorbike.
Hopefully the first lesson was an icebreaker and it'll pick up a bit from there, have you got a list of things that will be covered during the course?
Next week take a Haynes manual. Open it at "Rebuilding your gearbox" and read loudly from it......:p
I always thought those courses would have trouble getting a common level for all abilities, apparently they get round that issue by pitching at people that once saw a picture of a motorbike.
Hopefully the first lesson was an icebreaker and it'll pick up a bit from there, have you got a list of things that will be covered during the course?
Yup, th first lesson was supposed to cover, "Topping up fliuds" & "self-service vs garage service". Those will probably be split over lessons 2 & 3.
If we stick to the curriculum it should be fine - replacing bearings, tires/punctures & brake pads - but after yesterday's lesson I'm a bit concerned!!!!
Still, the pretty girl on the course offered to walk me to the tube station as I didn't know where it was, so silver-linings n'all that.
Hockeynut
10-01-08, 03:16 PM
Wish there was a course like this in the East Midlands!
Still, the pretty girl on the course offered to walk me to the tube station as I didn't know where it was, so silver-linings n'all that.
That must have been a quiet walk ;)
Fizzy Fish
10-01-08, 03:19 PM
:lol:
Kinvig - where are you doing the course?
My experience of a bike maintenance course is the complete opposite.
I expected it to start from the absolute basics as was advertised.
It was pitched way too high for me.
I pulled out after a couple of weeks.
plowsie
10-01-08, 03:30 PM
Wish there was a course like this in the East Midlands!
I can tell you what fairing is...
:lol:
Kinvig - where are you doing the course?
http://www.floodlight.co.uk/courses-london/Motorcycle-Maintenance-Repair-courses-at-Hammersmith-And-Fulham-Adult-Education-Service/hc2_search.adv_search_do/16180339/220706/z/3808/p_search_col/search_text/p_pheader_id/165513681/page.htm
When I get home tonight I'll type up the "Subjects to be covered per week" so you get an idea of what the syllabus should be.
£128 - price of a service.
Fizzy Fish
10-01-08, 03:55 PM
If it's any consolation, I had an even worse start to a car mechanics course a few years ago, but still got some good stuff out of it in the end.
It was a 10 session course set up through my school, but clearly the guy runnnig the course had scant regard for a load of 17 year old girls wanting to know about car mechanics. Now most red blooded males would have jumped at the chance to impress/be nice to such a class, but not this one, oh no.
He decided that being extremely patronising was obviously the way to our hearts, and proceeded to spend the first 2 hours session saying really helpful stuff like, "This is a car. This is a steering wheel. If you turn the steering wheel to the right, the car turns to the right..." ](*,)
Dualcyclone
10-01-08, 04:01 PM
Still, the pretty girl on the course offered to walk me to the tube station as I didn't know where it was, so silver-linings n'all that.
Did you tell her how good you are at servicing bikes? Maybe she got the wrong end of the stick...
Anyway... I learn by taking it apart, putting it back together - if it works, keep doing it that way. If it doesnt, you've learned how not to do it!
Like when I took my bike apart to put the scottoiler in... a bit overkill for such a job, and a lot of head scratching when a week later I decided to put it back together and trying to figure out which bolts go where!
Needless to say it was the former of the above! Otherwise I wouldnt have taken her out afterwards!
missyburd
10-01-08, 04:57 PM
Are these sorts of courses fairly hands on, or is it all textbook talk?? I'd only be able to learn by actually having been told/shown then allowed to give it a shot myself, even though that would be potentially dangerous :D
Are they available pretty much anywhere?
Fizzy Fish
10-01-08, 05:21 PM
They're generally hands on, and there are several places running this type of thing - try asking your local colleges.
FYI the topic of maintenance courses has been discussed previously, so if you do a search you should turn up some examples, and info about what you can expect to get out of them. When considering a course, it's worth bearing in mind how relevant it will be to your specific type of bike and the type of tasks that you're likely to do on it.
Course details:
Week 1
Tools & Working conditions
Workshop manuals
Maintenance schedules
Daily checks
DIY vs Manufacturer's warranty
Week 2
Petrol Engine Technology
Outline of 2 & 4 stroke Principles
Oils/Lubes/Coolant/Hydraulic Fluid
Naming Motorcycle components
Week 3
Tyres - function, the Law, Repair methods
Tyre repairs - Practical demo
Paddock stands - practical demo
Rear wheel Removal/installation - practical
Chain tension and lubing - practical
Week 4
Wheel bearings - Practical
Steering bearings - Practical
Week 5
Brake systems
Week 6
Strip down - bodywork & fuel tanks
Fuel systems
Cooling systems
Week 7
Air filters
spark plugs
Carburettors
Week 8
Basic service incl. oil/filter change
Electrics
Suspension & handling
Week 9
MOT checks
Group led Topics
Week 10
Group led
Looks like it'll interesting from week 3 onwards.....
Be very interested to hear how you rate that Kinvig. Since I also fit in to the category of knowing sod all about bikes that looks like just the thing.
missyburd
10-01-08, 09:27 PM
:smt045 Me too, could be just the thing
(although would probably be more worthwhile if had a bike to practice on first but one thing at a time :))
talasker
10-01-08, 09:55 PM
i could really use a course like that as i learn how to do stuff by watching how its done then copying it covers everything i don't know too which is usefull:p
yorkie_chris
10-01-08, 11:01 PM
I pulled out after a couple of weeks.
And came to me, muahahaha.
Your hammer swinging skills are the major area you need to work on :-P
:smt045 Me too, could be just the thing
(although would probably be more worthwhile if had a bike to practice on first but one thing at a time :))
We'll find you a ratter 125 to destroy over summer :-D
missyburd
11-01-08, 12:46 AM
We'll find you a ratter 125 to destroy over summer :-D
:mrgreen::smt003:smt003 :kiss:
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