Clueless bike owners

I've been speaking to lots of people selling their bikes recently, its amazing how many get their ride serviced once a year at a garage, and thats all the attention it gets. 'Yes mate its got full service history' they say. But does it use any oil I ask. 'Yeah they change it every year' Chain lube? You'd think it was a dirty word. I recently found out how bad brake calipers can go if you dont touch them, it actually scares me what some people may be riding out there.
Do people on here spned time tinkering? Or is things just left until they fall apart before problems are found?
Rant over.
Either way, I love bike shopping!

i think you've discovered the mythical line in where bike rider and biker lover meet

[Wideboy]

my bikes never go to garages simply because i don't trust them, i do everything myself so i know that its done, i don't have to go down the road worrying about if they did this or they did that.......

if someone has a garage and the room to keep their bike i don't know why they dont DIY, its not hard, everything i know i learnt by doing it myself and when i don't know things i read through haynes or flick through the interwebs, sure you have to pay for tools but buy decent ones and you most likely wont have to pay for them again

[fastdruid]

I'd never take a bike to a garage, I don't know any I'd really trust, my VFR has been serviced by me for the entire 44k, my SV for about 30k and my wifes bike spends way more time being fettled than it ever gets ridden.

Hardly ever clean them mind and they're not pretty but they're mechanically sorted.

Druid

[Stu]

It scares me that I now know what work is not being done to my bike

Garage i go to does the work in front of me so all's good. I don't have the first idea about biking (which is pretty evident in most of my posts), but if someone recommends something i'll go with it. Just had my calipers cleaned, pins replaced and seals put in (someone took them out), gettin' new chain and sprockets.

To be fair though it's the same with cars, to some people it's their pride and joy, some people it's just a way of getting to work or havin' a laugh every now and again.

[rictus01]

it took me recently 2 hour 20 minutes to fully explain and get the mechanical novice owner to change her chain and sprockets, and I can say she done as good a job as I could, I' be more than happy for her to do that job on any of my bikes, I've shown litteraly hundreds how to do basic service tasks and not one has failed to do a decent job, proving anyone can do it if they want to learn, I guess it's the difference between a bike "owner" and a biker.

Cheers Mark.

Also bear in mind some of us don't have a garage or a driveway. When I'm in London I only have a public road (and it's not a cul-de-sac either) for my bike so I'll often just take it to a garage I trust. Nowhere in my flat to store spare bits if I don't finish the job in time, plus the kids around here will nick anything.

Originally Posted by ranathari

Also bear in mind some of us don't have a garage or a driveway. When I'm in London I only have a public road (and it's not a cul-de-sac either) for my bike so I'll often just take it to a garage I trust. Nowhere in my flat to store spare bits if I don't finish the job in time, plus the kids around here will nick anything.

+1 allthough just recently changed the oil on my pointy with ophics help/tools cheers mate, first time i have done that on any vehicle i have owned, of course changing the oil is about the easiest job there is, but got to start somewhere, next house i have will have a garage.

[jamesterror]

As a newbie to bikes I'm still picking stuff up as I go along, the bike is due a service which will be done by a garage as I don't know how to do valve clearances.

I try to keep on top of keeping it clean, regards chain, all the **** that collects round the front sprocket. Back pads need changing soon, to play it safe is being done next week or week after.