I Need Some Serious Advice

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by lylej

it does sound well easy doesnt it, but to me its not, ive never ever done this stuff before ever! my last bike was a DT 125 and required almost no effort to do anything to it, but on this i have no clue or no clue where to start . . . the manuals on the main site would anyone recommend using them? are they accurate?

As you are talking about working on the brakes, the chain and other bits I would not personally want to do that with just a manual.

Mr Haynes is regarded as quite good for his advice, but by reputation, Mr Spannerman would be your best bet I feel.

if you want to do it yourself just ask questions on here as you go, use the search facility to find out chain adjusting ect. you only learn to fiddle with bikes by fiddling with them i'm no expert but can get by.

Originally Posted by Mogs

Go with luckypants recommendation, I've not met spannerman, but from what I have read he's good, tell him what you want doing and ask if you can do it yourself under his expert guidance, it would be fair to pay something for his time and effort, but the skills you will learn will be worth it.

Originally Posted by Baph

That's not quite needed, and I doubt he'd have space in his garage for another bike to be worked on at the same time as he's doing something else (then comes things like insurance/liability etc).

However, when he's available, he'll happily do the work & get you to be pretty hands on, he does most but you watch closely & help out where he needs an extra pair of hands.

That what I was trying to say, just it didn't come across well.

if you really dont feel confident messing with your bike then AS ABOVE.

[fizzwheel]

Everybody has to start somewhere, I was like you are now about a year ago. I was terrified of doing anything to my bike.

Just have a go, start with the chain adjustment it really easy. I've not looked at the manual on the main site, so I cant comment on that.

However, did you get an owners manual with your bike, it should cover the basics in there, failing that get a haynes manual it'll go through it more details ( perhaps to much I find sometimes ) and its got pictures that you can follow if you get stuck.

I personally am self taught in almost everything I do.

As has been said above, the only way you'll really learn is by getting hands on. However, when it has the chance of putting your life on the line if you get it wrong, get hands on next to someone that knows what they're doing.

At first I was concerned about brakes etc (as they can be pretty required on a bike), but now that I've had a go, it's fine.

i personally would tinker and save some money the most i ever saved money wise was fitting my own exhaust manifold on my zzr600 bike shops wanted £280 supply and fit, i paid £140 for the s/steel manifold and had it fitted in 3 hours saved £140 and felt good too.
if you always pay someone to do little jobs over the years this will cost a fortune, but if you learn general stuff slowly this will save you loads.

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

i personally would tinker and save some money

Personally, I wouldn't if it meant putting my life on the line. For example, brakes. Other than that, fork out for the tools if you don't have them & tinker away (so long as you have another means of transport for work etc).

Saying that, I now do all my servicing myself (even did the valve check). I've learnt a lot about the SV in the last year (ish) since buying it, but that's mainly to do with the distance that I do & dealership servicing would cost an arm & a leg from every member of my immediate family.

my only concern with lylej's problems would be if the brake fluid is low "Where's it gone?" if its not leaking then i wouldnt call a top up of fluid messing with brakes.

That's a pretty big "if" there kwak And in that particular example, because brake fluid doesn't just disappear, I'd personally dump the fluid & replace the lines (with braided ones obviously) & then put the fluid back & bleed. But that's just me assuming that the lines have deteriorated.

That is messing with them, and leaves more chance of air in the system.