I'm rather disappointed

[melody]

......in the Motorcycle Maintenace Course I'm doing.


I thought I'd best give it a proper go before I started moaning, so after three sessions and I'm still none the wiser, here goes my rant.

When I registered I was told the course was suitable, for complete beginners, which I assumed meant the likes of me.:p On the first session, we were given sheets of paper with names of bike parts and asked to identify them on the bike. Now had I been asked to point out the wheels, handle bars, clutch lever, horn, headlight (get my drift?) then I'd have been fine, but I was expected to know stuff like CDI (???) starter relay, carburettor, HT coils (???) bushes (????) etc etc etc. There's 12 of us in the group ( and there's no order at all to the session, so everyone's clamouring for the tutor's attention) and one tutor and he just goes around checking that we've managed to find these parts and gives a quick explanation of its function.

Second session, was a pre ride check. Once again, we were given a sheet of paper with a checklist and told to get on with it.
This is all explained in my Haynes Manual but what I needed is to be SHOWN how to do it. Even when I do get the tutor's attention, its only for a couple of minutes before someone else calls for him. So I came away from that session, knowing no more than I did at the start.

This week we had to change sparg plugs and torque settings. We had to identify various torque settings (using the manuals) and get on with. We were shown where the tools were kept and so were expected to get the torque adjuster thingy and use it!! I didn't even bother with that.
We weren't shown HOW to take out the spark plug, but I had some idea (from watching Chris when he worked on my bike a couple of weeks ago), so I kinda knew how.

I think I had far too high expectations for this course. To be honest, it's no different from just refering to the Haynes Manual. I was expecting to get some one-to-one training;) and be shown the absolute basics.
I actually learnt a whole lot more from working on my bike with Yorkie Chris a couple of weeks ago.

Next week, we'll be doing oil and filter change. Again, we'll probably just be expected to get on with it.BUT, I've done this with Chris so at least I'll know what I'm doing :smt026:smt026:smt026:smt026


Rant over:p:p

[TSM]

The spark plug socket usualy has a rubber washer in the middle that once you have unscrewed the sparkplug it will hold it onto the socket to take it out.

At least you are using someone elses bike, not yours.

[hovis]

how much is it costing? if you dont mind me asking?

a freind of mine did one & she was very plesed with it, she stripped her brakes & gave the bike a service in class

maybe it will get a bit better?

[Shellywoozle]

OMG that's terrible. Are you doing it at a local college? Have you paid? If yes I would complain, you could read a manual for free.

I would expect some tution too on a basic course. Sounds like there are too many people on the course first off if you can ony get a few minutes after bartering for his time.

Good on you though for going for the course, I would love to do something like that, may look into it when I have 2 arms.

[kwak zzr]

i looked into a tiling course at the chase tiling academy in cannock http://www.chasetiling.co.uk/default.aspx and after applying i found out that a £500 course only taught me what i already knew? i needed to go on a £1500 course to start picking up things i did'nt know.

[Sideshow#36]

That is quite bad really. I'm quite lucky that im an engineer, all be it an aircraft engineer but the principals are all the same. I just taught myself using haynes, gen on here and a bit of common sense/guesswork.

Ive seen similar courses advertised but 3 different levels.
Basic (no basic engineering knowledge)
Intermediate (Some knowledge)
advanced. well you get the idea.

If it doesnt get any better i'd stay behind and have a chat.
Good luck though mate.:D

[northwind]

I'd be none too pleased with that either, if it's pitched for complete beginners they should be prepared to explain what a spark plug is, never mind where it lives and how to remove it. Personally I learned just by jumping in and doing stuff, on the assumption that I couldn't make my 125 any worse (it turned out I could, mind) but I'm glad I didn't have to do that with the SV.

The absolute best way to learn, if you ask me, is by doing but with an experienced person to assist- you can watch and learn tricky bits, repeat them, etc... Wish I'd had one of those to hand.

[jambo]

The absolute best way to learn, if you ask me, is by doing but with an experienced person to assist- you can watch and learn tricky bits, repeat them, etc... Wish I'd had one of those to hand.

I have been very very lucky in this case. When I started working on my SR125 It took me (I'm deadly serious here) 5 minutes to find the oil filter. With the help of the haynes manual. By the time I joined the forum I could do an oil change on the bandit 600 and remove wheels and that was about it. I was determined to learn more about this but it being my only form of transport ballsing it up wasn't on the cards. I had a very helpful day with a mechanic and we did a major service on the bandit 600 together, I changed fork oil, wheel bearings and checked valve clearances.

I now do all my own servicing and would be very unlikley to trust many others to touch my bike with tools. This week I have mostly been servicing 2 ZX6Rs, including adusting valve clearances, re-building brakes and changing fork oil. I've only been able to do this due to very patient efforts from people like Sid Squid and Rictus who have been prepared to answer my questions and take dozy phone calls.

Find someone who knows what they're doing, bribe them with cash and beer, and have them go through stuff with you when it needs doing.:smt023

Jambo

[Fizzy Fish]

i'm guesssing you don't want to waste the course entirely, so why don't you catch the tutor at the begining/end of the next session and say that you're really struggling and can they give you some extra help at the start of each task?

BTW girls can always get away with more on this front cos
a) we have no shame and will freely admit to being mechanical morons
b) all the guys like to help a girl in trouble and
c) we can do the big eye thing which guys can't :smt061

[hovis]

i'm guesssing you don't want to waste the course entirely, so why don't you catch the tutor at the begining/end of the next session and say that you're really struggling and can they give you some extra help at the start of each task?

BTW girls can always get away with more on this front cos
a) we have no shame and will freely admit to being mechanical morons
b) all the guys like to help a girl in trouble and
c) we can do the big eye thing which guys can't :smt061

d) you have boobies

[Viney]

i'm guesssing you don't want to waste the course entirely, so why don't you catch the tutor at the begining/end of the next session and say that you're really struggling and can they give you some extra help at the start of each task?

BTW girls can always get away with more on this front cos
a) we have no shame and will freely admit to being mechanical morons
b) all the guys like to help a girl in trouble and
c) we can do the big eye thing which guys can't :smt061
d) We have a pair of chesticles

Had to be said :lol:

[hovis]

d) you have boobies

Had to be said :lol:

too slow;)

[Fizzy Fish]

yeah well in actual fact I thought of it first, but was just trying to keep the tone at a reasonable level. can't think why i bothered...;)

[Spanner Man]

Afternoon all.
Sadly this seems to be an all too common occurrence, where a supposed beginners course assumes some prior knowledge.
I taught an adult education course in bike maintenance some years ago, I literally started it with 'good evening this is a motorbike'.

As has been said, you're better off working with a knowledgeable friend, or if you're lucky a mechanic proper. I regularly service peoples bikes in front of them, & let them have a go in the process. It's good to see people getting involved with their machines workings, & seeing the understanding of how things work dawn.

Cheers.

[melody]

how much is it costing? if you dont mind me asking?

a freind of mine did one & she was very plesed with it, she stripped her brakes & gave the bike a service in class

maybe it will get a bit better?

It's £125 for a ten week course.

i'm guesssing you don't want to waste the course entirely, so why don't you catch the tutor at the begining/end of the next session and say that you're really struggling and can they give you some extra help at the start of each task?

The whole session always feels so rushed, and whether it's the start or the end of the lesson, there's always someone wanting the tutor's attention, and I just can't compete.

BTW girls can always get away with more on this front cos
a) we have no shame and will freely admit to being mechanical morons True
b) all the guys like to help a girl in trouble Not the ones in my class. Far too much testosterone.
c) we can do the big eye thing which guys can't :smt061 True.

Never mind. I'm sure one day it will click.

[dizzyblonde]

go back to Chris and play with your bike, I know you learn more with him, plus he explains stuff and makes you do some stuff yourself. I've learnt more about my bike from him than I have off im indoors
What the regulator rectifier looks like, how to check your battery, how to remove all plastics, free choke cables etc and stuff
Oh and how to blow a fuse whilst using a multi meter

[yorkie_chris]

Oh and how to blow a fuse whilst using a multi meter
Woman be quiet! :p

Melody,
Doing bits and bobs yourself is the only way to learn but not many people are as daft as me to just dive in.
Though how you managed to do some on your bike last time and not get your hands dirty I don't know... :confused:
(I ended up looking like some coal mining type after the fight her oil filter put up)
Your welcome to bring yours over or watch me work on mine any time, so long as you stop being so shy when you hit something with a hammer hehe

Chris

[yorkie_chris]

One more thing;

torque settings. We had to identify various torque settings (using the manuals) and get on with. We were shown where the tools were kept and so were expected to get the torque adjuster thingy and use it!! I didn't even bother with that.

Don't worry too much about that, as soon as you use threadlock or that copper grease you saw me use the torque settings are meaningless anyway.
And I wouldn't want to try putting a torque setting on a 10 year old component anyway.
(Haynes and other manuals give "dry assembly torque")

Are you doing the oil and filter on your own bike?

[muzikill]

Well this winter ive a lot of work to do on the bike (a engine rebuild and fix the selector forks/drum/change damaged gears) then the whole bike is going to get stripped down and all the nasty nooks cleaned up, then its fork over haul,rear spring overhaul, overhaul the brakes,new brakelines and pads, new chain and sprockets and autosol the exhaust. not much eh?

A lot will be done by myself and will be a total learning experience all the way (and a bit of beer or dosh bribing to be done when i get stuck -take note northy!-)

By the end of it i should be a dab hand on a high percentage of sv work to be done and will be able to service a SV easily and fix major & minor faults without having to resort putting my hand in my pocket and giving it to a garage.

[Pedro68]

Well, I managed to check my air filter today ... first time I've had the seat off, tank propped up, so had a quick mooch around inside/under. Filter looks dirtier than Madonna so think it's about time it got replaced ... cleaned it out best I could for now though. Managed to get everything put back on/in ... turned round n found a washer on the floor ... my heart sank ... "where the hell did that come from?" ... then I realised it had fallen out of my tool box :oops: LOL relief!

Next up is oil n filter change :)