View Full Version : Most satisfying thing to do with a bike (other than ride it)
northwind
15-01-06, 12:38 AM
I was thinking about this in the garage today, inspired by thinner fumes. I've got to the point where I enjoy not riding my bike as much as I enjoy riding it- I'm never happier than when locked in the garage with the stereo and the wee heater on, mucking about.
At first I thought the best thing is just having an idea (or if you must, a plan) come together- I've been getting a lot of this recently with the respray, as well as rebuilding my bellypan to fit the WRP exhaust... Or gettign the rear wheel speedo drive trick to work properly, which to the best of my knowledge has never been done before (but has been done quite a lot now :) )
But then, it's usualyl anti-climatic. There's not really a precise moment where one moment it's a pile of parts and the next it's finished- especially when it's a first-time build and there's always something to sort out later. So...
Restarting the bike after some invasive procedure or repair is always nice... I remember the first time I had the carbs off, the feeling of reward when against the odds it started again was wonderful. But it wears off fast, soon you take it for granted that it'll work and that just makes it even more crushing when it doesn't. Too much of a rollercoaster.
Maybe it's painting a bike... There's something deeply satisfying about every part of that- sanding off perfectly good paint is amusing, and freshly primed panels have a really nice clean look about them... But all of that's totally surpassed by putting on the final colour and watching it build up. I'm using a lovely rich shade and building up the thickness is really rewarding- as is peeling off the mask and seeing the final design. When it works. Painting bikes is great.
Except it's not, not all the time, often it's frustrating, smelly, hard work and boring and the results aren't always what you'd want. It takes twice as long and costs twice as much as you expect, and you expect it to take ages and be expensive...
Then today, I had a flash of genius! The absolute best thing about meddling with bikes is- PLASTIC WELDING! It's fantastic! You start out with a completely fraggled fairing, no use to anyone, and half an hour later it's fixed! Quick reward, has that special feeling you get when you do something most folks can't do, saves you money, and has that special X factor- FUMES! I do like those fumes.
So what's your favourite bit of messing about with bikes?
id say the best bit is taking it for a test ride afterwards :)
northwind
15-01-06, 01:06 AM
"(other than riding it)" I said, you subject-ignoring monkey :) Test rides are frequently no fun at all anyway, the shakedown ride for the GSXR front was... interesting.
ok, in that case,
it would have to be the "waxing" ceremony.
Peter Henry
15-01-06, 01:22 AM
For me it is two fold....as I dont have the facilities or time to really get involved in anything approaching a project....my faves are following any piece of maintenace or upgrade whe n all works well....case in point the fitting of bling clutch pressure plate, springs and cups to my Ducati.
I always still get a buzz from spending a couple of hours of therapy in cleaning and polishing the bike. The end result always makes be so proud to own what I have.
Although sorry Andy..nothing,yet nothing compares to being out there and gliding through some curves. :wink: 8)
Anonymous
15-01-06, 01:28 AM
I had a very good friend who totally adored his Vincent Black Shadow. It was more than mere infatuation....he even made love to it.
Unfortunately, he later became extremely ill, and after seeing his Doctor, it was confirmed that he was HRD Positive.
Peter Henry
15-01-06, 01:35 AM
El Boc...that made me titter that did! :lol:
Lucky it wasnt a Honda race bike as he might have caught HRC and that is real serious! :D
amarko5
15-01-06, 01:55 AM
I think Northwind is doing drugs :P :lol: :lol:
either that or the fumes have got to him :D
personally fettling the bike in any way shape or form is theraputic BUT riding it is still the most rewarding (and i don't need Drugs (or fumes) :P i run on adrenalin) :lol:
northwind
15-01-06, 03:28 AM
I didn't say it wasn't! But riding just now's not the best with the weather, but the garage is always warm and dry :)
Yeah riding is the best, but a close second is working on it. I love doing it. I actually like it when the bike has something "not quite right" because it means that I can tinker and get it right again.
I especially enjoyed changing the colour and look forward to doing that again. However, this process means I need a complete 2nd set of parts so that the bike stays on the road during the process. Last time, the job was rushed and not done as good as it could have been because I needed the bike on the road.
I just gave the calipers a complete overhaul and the brakes now are so sweet. It gives me great pleasure knowing that it was myself and not a garage that sorted them. Not just because I saved some money, which is good, just because it was ME that did it. I am keeping the bike road worthy, I can do it. It's a great feeling.
I think it's great to be able to stop and actually be able to help another stranded biker get back on the road when they were actually wondering what the hell they were going to do or what's wrong with the bike.
Getting new bits then thinking ok how exactly does this fit?
Sid Squid
15-01-06, 12:45 PM
So what's your favourite bit of messing about with bikes?
1) Carb/TB balancing, the last job of a service and the one that makes it all run nice
2) Previously worried but now pleased owners.[/i]
kick the ****ing thing over cos it wont start. again.
piece of ****.
dirtydog
15-01-06, 02:01 PM
kick the f*cking thing over cos it wont start. again.
piece of sh*t.
woohoo, i'm not the only person that does that sort of thing :evil: :evil:
I think it's great to be able to stop and actually be able to help another stranded biker get back on the road when they were actually wondering what the hell they were going to do or what's wrong with the bike.
That's true. You've reminded me of a Sunday run a couple of years ago when I was out with a few guys from another forum. We decided to meet in Invermorriston, and head for Ullapool. 2 VFR's, a Fazer6, Bandit6, ZX6R and me on the SV.
We stopped at Achnasheen for fuel at the village shop. Now it's worth looking on the map to see just how remote this place is. 40 miles to Kyle or Inverness and 30 to Ullapool and nothing inbetween and it's Sunday. Nowhere else is open and the roads are quiet. We're about to head off when a Black SV can be heard. It's misfiring then lunging forwards. Oh dear.....
A guy gets off, very disgruntled but also seems extremely happy to see me and my SV. Have you got your toolkit? I'm missing an allen key for the tank. I've just come up from Morecambe, and for the last 20miles, on one cylinder with the other intermittent. We whip off the seat, tank and pull the rad forward and check his plugcap. It's ok though? Check the rear.... ah plug cap is resting, rattling on the plug. The plug needs checking but my plug spanner is broken so we start checking the other tool kits... did you know a fazer plug spanner is fine for the rear cylinder on an SV? RESULT!
That felt like proper teamwork, and great that we could help the poor fella otherwise it's a cold, cold place to spend the night huddled beside your bike.
tinpants
15-01-06, 03:26 PM
I think it's great to be able to stop and actually be able to help another stranded biker get back on the road when they were actually wondering what the hell they were going to do or what's wrong with the bike.
That's true. You've reminded me of a Sunday run a couple of years ago when I was out with a few guys from another forum. We decided to meet in Invermorriston, and head for Ullapool. 2 VFR's, a Fazer6, Bandit6, ZX6R and me on the SV.
We stopped at Achnasheen for fuel at the village shop. Now it's worth looking on the map to see just how remote this place is. 40 miles to Kyle or Inverness and 30 to Ullapool and nothing inbetween and it's Sunday. Nowhere else is open and the roads are quiet. We're about to head off when a Black SV can be heard. It's misfiring then lunging forwards. Oh dear.....
A guy gets off, very disgruntled but also seems extremely happy to see me and my SV. Have you got your toolkit? I'm missing an allen key for the tank. I've just come up from Morecambe, and for the last 20miles, on one cylinder with the other intermittent. We whip off the seat, tank and pull the rad forward and check his plugcap. It's ok though? Check the rear.... ah plug cap is resting, rattling on the plug. The plug needs checking but my plug spanner is broken so we start checking the other tool kits... did you know a fazer plug spanner is fine for the rear cylinder on an SV? RESULT!
That felt like proper teamwork, and great that we could help the poor fella otherwise it's a cold, cold place to spend the night huddled beside your bike.
Brilliant! The spirit of biking is alive and well and currently on the Scottish leg of its World Tour.
Don't often see that with car drivers.
Sorry! My point is that that is quite often the best part about biking. Helping your fellow bikers.
fizzwheel
15-01-06, 03:32 PM
Cleaning it, I like cleaning my bike, I like the satisfaction from having a minging dirty bike and then cleaning it and polishing it and then thinking
"man that looks soooo much nicer"
Balky001
15-01-06, 04:26 PM
I don't mind doing some work on the bike but I really only enjoy the ride. But the biggest pleasure I get when not riding it is the oil change and generallly lubeing the bike - it always makes it feel like new.
Polishing.
I love polishing my car and bike, taking the polish off and seeing a completly smear clear paintwork.
Then go over the exhausts and frame in metal polish
Then clean over the wheels etc.
I like my bike looking spotless, however, using it every day as a commuter really doesn't help, especially at this time of year.
When the weather perks up though, i'll be out cleaning it properly.
Due to my car passion, i've got more polishes, t-cuts, good soft rags etc in a hugeeeee box that goes to all car shows with me, so i've had plenty of practice :lol: 8)
I like to hug my bike.... :D
Halonic
17-01-06, 11:26 AM
worked on PCs for too many years now to ever enjoy making something go that should already bloody work (Honda mentallity I know).
but upgrading? oh yes, thinking about what bits to add, considering best use of resources, pros and cons of, getting something within budget and making it do stuff only high spec things should do.... oh yeah
Hi, I'm Steve, I'm a geek
I like to hug my bike.... :D
You've conjoured up a great image of symbiosis there. :wink:
cleaning/polishing, fettling in the garage in the winter with the heater and radio/tv on in the background (yes my garage has a tv). The bike has always been something which ive aspired to so now ive got one, i dont want to give it up. I know there are better and more exotic bikes out there, but from the first time i saw the pointy svs i wanted one. The picture i had on my wall at uni was of a silver one tho :oops: :lol:
I just like the fact I have motorbikes in the garage.
I like the smell when I open the garage door, the mix of petrol, two stroke oil, WD40, rubber etc.
:D :D :D
Jelster
18-01-06, 10:54 AM
I too would say cleaning it is second to riding it, but more recently, other than riding, my favourite biking pass time is discussing "bikes" with my son, and helping him sort out any niggles etc with his kit, now he's a biker too (well sort of, he's only got a scooter, but he's a biker at heart).
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