Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I found a new (to me) bike shop in Harlow today to swap my front sprocket over. Apparently he's been there for over a decade.

Bloke seems a laugh, but he did say a few things which didnt quite sound right to me...

1. I asked him how much he would charge to check and adjust valve clearances for me. He said unless I'm tracking the bike every 5 mins, its not a job worth doing and I wouldnt notice any difference, esp at 30k miles...

2. He said if I'm after improving acceleration I should have gone 1 down at the front and 2 up at the back. Whilst this is the right direction, if I did that the SV would pretty much be on the redline all day long right?!

3. 1 tooth down = 4 up at the back - is this right? I thought it was 1:2.

There were more but I cant remember, I'll post up if I do.

Dont get me wrong, he did the job just fine, friendly, re-adjusted my clutch for me and realigned and set the chain slack etc.

But those few comments just threw me off a bit.

Thoughts?

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

Oh, that was it.

Not torque settings on the rear axle nut and front sprocket nut, just did em up with a electric power rachet thing.

Am I being a bit anal about the fact he didnt use a torque wrench?

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I stopped using a popular garage in Cwmbran because they guy went on about my "alloy" banjo bolts not being suitable for road use. I have Hel braided lines with stainless steel banjo bolts... E-git!

I also never used a garage which is 2 miles from my house because the two times I went in there he talked to me like I was an idiot. I now use a garage that is 15 miles away because they were very friendly & willing to take my race cans & not fully legal horn :-D

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

Yeah...he was also going on about how I'd kill R1's on the track if I upgraded to ceramic brakes...

I've no doubt he is capable, just some of the things he said/did makes me wonder if it affects the quality of the work he does...

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I'd avoid like the clap by the sounds.

The guy's talking crap about the ceramic brakes, if you were able to get the most out of them, you'd be lining up on the WSB or MotoGP grid

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

How to fnck up the rear axle nut :-dd

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

Even MotoGP bikes change to steel discs in the wet/cold! How often do we get dry hot days in the UK!?

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

It's not a massive torque setting for the rear spindle. Don't use rattle gun to do it up.

Re. sprockets, the ratio of front teeth change to rear teeth change depends on the initial ratios you're talking about. Go on gearing commander site to see effect of changes. 14/46 is rideable but quite revvy on motorway, lower than I would like to go.

Re. ceramic brakes. :smt082

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

Yeah...wont be going back there again then.

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

A power ratchet isnt normally anywhere near precise enough for fastening to a particular torque for the kind of torque values used on many motorcycles. Many of them dont even come with torque adjusters. Great for undoing problem bolts though.

Some expensive units are fine but rarely found in a typical garage, more at home in an F1 pit lane. You see them regularly used to do the initial tightening, followed by a more accurate torque wrench to finish off.

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

Yer...he just gunned it til the nut wouldnt go any further....

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I'd take that nut off ASAP and re-torque properly

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I would take the nuts off and re torque asap also. If an air gun was the tool for the job then every wsb/moto gp garage would be using them for putting in their qualifiers - but no they use the old faithful torque wrench. (I guess someone will noe say power tools are not allowed in the moto gp/wsb pits)

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

What a ****, don't go near him again.

Have you got a torque wrench of your own to re-torque that nut? And a breaker bar to loosen it? Do it now or you'll need to take it to a garage with a rattle gun to get it loose again the next time you need to adjust your chain.

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I've got 14/47, don't do motorways though. :-)

Druid

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

Ceramic brakes... LOL. :rolleyes:

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I hope you have set the torque on that bolt.
We have had 2 D40 due wheel recalls service by there on site plant mech's.I had to use a breaker bar and scafold poll to undo the wheel nuts. And 4 of the 6 steel inserts were loose. 2 dead wheels.and no not warranty .

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

silly question, what's not good about ceramic brakes?
(i understand that having them won't make you beat a R1, more after why they good/bad and what about the thing about in the dry/wet?)

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

Ceramic brakes need LOTS of heat before they start working.

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

hence the dry track... thanks :)
i'll assume when they are working, they're a lot more powerful?

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

just wondering, how on earth did he think that ceramic brakes would make you beat an R1 on the track, by the time you have got to the point to brake for the bend, he has got to it, braked, gone around the bend and done another lap by the time you get out the other end of the bend....if he knows what hes doing on an R1 anyway haha

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I've beaten many an R1 on a track, doubt they knew what they were doing with them though. ;-)
I *only* had 320mm discs with 6 pot calipers though.

I have a classic bit of footage from a trackday (admittedly on a 400) where I pass a GSXR1000 into the melbourne loop, he's hard on the brakes and I'm still WOT!

Druid

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

off to redo my nut...

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

R1 vs Minitwin on track depends on how tight and twisty the track is. Can't see the R1 being beaten TBH, but on a well suited track the SV should be able to keep up. Maybe not against the clock, or over a number of laps, but it shouldn't look to the naked eye like it's getting obliterated, unless there are some big long straight sections.

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

The Brembo carbon ceramic race pads are pretty hardcore for the track but you need to know what to do to get the best. Even so, not sure they are worth around the 100hp you give away to an R1 :D

Going back to OP, I know many mechanics tighten front sprocket with an airgun but not rear spindle...

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

Well, the rear nut was as suspected well overtight.

Socket on, had both feet stood on it and I had to bounce with all 8 stone of me to get to budging!

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

If this happens to be a well known dealer then they have over the life of my SV from new took 3 hours to do an initial service (1.5 hours max), clamped my fuel lines down with the tank cover that i have had to be recovered home and told me my rear brake needs a complete rebuild for seized pins which i freed up myself, greased and replaced on a "Full Dealer Service History" bike.

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

There are not that many motorbike dealers in Cwmbran so you won't be hard pushed to know who I am on about, ha ha

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I see their passion for quality and service has been brought over from their parent well known dealer from elsewhere in the region :-k

Re: Would you use this mechanic again?
 

I've had my bike "serviced" by both. Quote the Raven "Nevermore"