Advice on getting to grips with a SV

[neilb]

Hi Guys,

Just picked up my first bike last weekend and loving it. It's just had its 14.5k service, so shouldn't be good to go for a bit, but I'm just looking for advice on the best way of learning to take care of it.

The issue is kinda twofold. Firstly I'm not mechanically minded and I was quite proud of myself being able to check the oil level and top it up on the car. Anything more complicated than that and I head to a garage. :)

Secondly, I don't have a driveway, let alone a garage (stupid flats) so don't really have anywhere to work on the bike other than the street.

So the question is, how would you guys (and gals) get into understanding and maintaining a SV? I'm obviously not meaning getting to a level of stripping and rebuilding an engine, but just basic maintenance and troubleshooting, etc. I know it probably sounds really stupid, but cleaning the chain or changing the oil sounds a little daunting having never done it before. I'm guess I'm just worried about doing something daft and some causing damage.

There are some local colleges that do a part time "Basic Bike Maintenance" course. Do you recon these types of course are worthwhile?

Cheers.

[pod]

Do the course, it sounds ideal for you, at the bare minimum you should learn chain maintenance, a badly adjusted chain is dangerous.
Plus you will get to see what tools are handy before you need to get your own.
Maybe meet some like mined souls?
A Haynes manual is a good idea , it has a lot of useful info.

[Viney]

Stick a post up in your regional group seeing if there is someone local to you that can come round and give a few pointers.

Things that you will need to do on a regular basis is, Check chain for adjustment and how to adjust the chain, check your oil and tyre pressures and in all honesty thats about it for regular stuff.

Learning how to change your oil etc, or doing basic service items, like changing brake pads, cleaning your brakes etc, its best to find someone that knows how to do this, to show you.

Also check out your local colleges for bike maintaince courses, they may run some.

Oh, and welcome to the site.

[Dappa D]

hi neil, welcome and congratulations on the bike. I, like you, was not mechanically minded at all when i got my bike at the start of last year...

as said first thing id do is get a haynes manual or something similar, i found this very useful and well explained, personally I dont think a mechanical course is the way to go as its money for something you could probably teach yourself with a manual..but thats personal preference.....like i say i was not mechanically minded at all...i can now rejet carbs, change thottle/choke cables, change oil/filter/spark plugs - adjust chain, clean and lube chain (dont need a course for this - just put some paraffin on a rag..wipe the chain hard and lube) adjust levers etc etc....and id never changed the oil on my cars! just got myself a haynes manual and lots of help from the guys on here...

edit - forgot to say i also live in flats...so all work done outside - its secured to a tree with an almax chain and i use a oford cover

[dizzyblonde]

my other half said, 'you got a haynes manual use it!'
errrrr 'sod orf' was my reply. I've learned more in the last 12 months sitting in the garage of doom that belongs to YorkieChris, rebuilding my bikes than I have in the four years previous, with a perfectly capable Im Indoors!
Although reading a Haynes manual is a good place to start, so is a Clymer manual too. For me the best way to learn about my SVs was to have a patient mate do the work on my bikes whilst I was hanging around, but at the same time, show me and get me involved with stuff. I've gained knowledge on how to swap cylinder heads, as I was given the sockets and told what went where, how to strip calipers, by dumping them in my kitchen and being told 'you wanna do this, see you tomorrow'! Granted I wouldn't necessarily be confident to do some stuff on my own, but I understand why and how things are done.

Good luck with your new bike, enjoy it, and don't forget to polish the downpipe ;-)

[Dave20046]

Hi Guys,

Just picked up my first bike last weekend and loving it. It's just had its 14.5k service, so shouldn't be good to go for a bit, but I'm just looking for advice on the best way of learning to take care of it.

The issue is kinda twofold. Firstly I'm not mechanically minded and I was quite proud of myself being able to check the oil level and top it up on the car. Anything more complicated than that and I head to a garage. :)

Secondly, I don't have a driveway, let alone a garage (stupid flats) so don't really have anywhere to work on the bike other than the street.

So the question is, how would you guys (and gals) get into understanding and maintaining a SV? I'm obviously not meaning getting to a level of stripping and rebuilding an engine, but just basic maintenance and troubleshooting, etc. I know it probably sounds really stupid, but cleaning the chain or changing the oil sounds a little daunting having never done it before. I'm guess I'm just worried about doing something daft and some causing damage.

There are some local colleges that do a part time "Basic Bike Maintenance" course. Do you recon these types of course are worthwhile?

Cheers.

You don't need a course read as much as possible on here. Meet up with local owners and enjoy the bike. First step is getting used to servicing the bike, follow advice given and ask if you're unsure or need a second opinion. That'll bring a lot of confidence and understanding.

You mentioned knowing how to check the oil on a car, make sure you can on the SV!!

Cleaning the chain is literally getting some parafin a rag and a toothbrush, lube it lightly take the bike round the block until the chain will be warmish bring it back and lube it thoroughly.

[Dave20046]

Oh and you mentioned you don't have a garage: ground anchor, almax security chain and a cover...or it might not last for long. (the cover will also help stop the bike melting with rust - you want to keep an eye on corrosion).

[dizzyblonde]

(the cover will also help stop the bike melting with rust - you want to keep an eye on corrosion).

spray it with ACF50:cheers:...some of the bike, not the cover:cyclopsani:

[neilb]

Haynes manual sounds like a good (and obvious now you mention it) start, so I'll get one ordered today. The checking of oil was covered in the CBT, and I've found the window on the SV, and the thread in the bike talk forum is interesting. :)

Need to find a local SV owner with a garage that I can "borrow" occasionally in return for a beer or 2.

Oh and you mentioned you don't have a garage: ground anchor, almax security chain and a cover...or it might not last for long. (the cover will also help stop the bike melting with rust - you want to keep an eye on corrosion).

Don't have any private ground at all, and doubt the council would look kindly on putting a ground anchor in the pavement. There are a couple of those bicycle rack things on the the pavement just across the road that I could use, but not sure about leaving the bike on the pavement (although it's a really wide pavement).

Currently got a cover on it and a Xena Alarmed Disc Lock.

[Dave20046]

spray it with ACF50:cheers:...some of the bike, not the cover:cyclopsani:
Just please don't spray the brakes with it! If you want to have nice shiny disks use them!

[Dave20046]

Haynes manual sounds like a good (and obvious now you mention it) start, so I'll get one ordered today. The checking of oil was covered in the CBT, and I've found the window on the SV, and the thread in the bike talk forum is interesting. :)

Need to find a local SV owner with a garage that I can "borrow" occasionally in return for a beer or 2.



Don't have any private ground at all, and doubt the council would look kindly on putting a ground anchor in the pavement. There are a couple of those bicycle rack things on the the pavement just across the road that I could use, but not sure about leaving the bike on the pavement (although it's a really wide pavement).

Currently got a cover on it and a Xena Alarmed Disc Lock.
If your area is owt like mine (actually not bad at all) it'll be gone quick smart with a disc lock. Round here they go round with freezer vans picking them up and chucking them in the back regardless of alarms (you can;t really hear it outside the van anyway once the doors are shut). Needs to be locked to an immoveable object, especially if it's a tidy looking nickable bike.
Wide pavement should be okay, it ain't causing an obstruction, you're a resident and I'm not sure if wardens are even allowed to lift covers off them....if they do claim for a scratched fairing.

[Alpinestarhero]

I picked up stuff from watching my dad work on my bike and asking questions; why he does that, whats this part, etc etc. Perhaps when you need something doing on your bike, you can ask if the mechanic will show you through stuff. Things like brake strips seem difficult, but actualy brakes are pretty simple in their anatomy and once you've seen how they come apart and whats needed to service them, you can do it yourself (I recently done mine after my dad showed me how). I am apprehansive to adjust my chain tension incase I don't do the axle up to the correct torque, but I happliy clean my chain and (now) adjust the clutch worm drive. I've completed oil changes after being shown how (undo one bole, let the oil drain, undo the filter and take it off...let the res of the oil drain, then new filter on and hand tighten, then sump bolt in, fill up with oil, run, check oil level, top up, run, chekc again, all ok, go for a ride).

Simple things like that I suggest you learn, as you can save youself alot of money since they need doing frequently (in comparison to e.g. valve clearance checks)

As for securitly, when I was away at uni, i couldnt put in a ground anchor either. So the next best thing was a big ol' bucket full of concrete with a metal pole sunk in that had a closed ring on it. I could feed a chain through the hole and chain my bike to the lump of concrete - makes life a hassle for theives who pick bikes up! Almax chains are your best bet for a secure chain; they are pricey, but your bike is worth alot more right?

:cheers:

Have fun!

Matt

[Dave20046]

Haynes manual sounds like a good (and obvious now you mention it) start, so I'll get one ordered today. The checking of oil was covered in the CBT, and I've found the window on the SV, and the thread in the bike talk forum is interesting. :)

Just remember the bike needs to be off the stand stood up straight to take the oil level (sorry if that sounds patronising)

[Dave20046]

As for securitly, when I was away at uni, i couldnt put in a ground anchor either. So the next best thing was a big ol' bucket full of concrete with a metal pole sunk in that had a closed ring on it. I could feed a chain through the hole and chain my bike to the lump of concrete - makes life a hassle for theives who pick bikes up! Almax chains are your best bet for a secure chain; they are pricey, but your bike is worth alot more right?


Nice idea that bucket.

[dizzyblonde]

Are there any rentable garages in the area close by? Would reduce insurance if it were ocked in one.
Nice idea about the bucket ;-)

[Dave20046]

Are there any rentable garages in the area close by? Would reduce insurance if it were ocked in one.
Nice idea about the bucket ;-)
Not by 40 odd quid a month though. Might be worth it theft/rust/resale wise though.

[MCN_LiamM]

In relation to your original post, I'd be tempted to go to a breakers and buy an engine for really cheap and then you can tinker with that while doing the course.

That way if it goes wrong you're not left without a bike