Learning Basic Bike Maintenance

GHOSTNINJA

GHOSTNINJA

Lets do this!
So, where did everyone start learning the basics at. I know youtube, but if I want to have specifics for my bike its like hours of searching to come up empty.
 
GHOSTNINJA said:
So, where did everyone start learning the basics at. I know youtube, but if I want to have specifics for my bike its like hours of searching to come up empty.
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Bike model specific internet forums are the best resources IMO. And lots of trial and error.
Personally, I've always been keen on knowing how mechanical things work, so I'm never really afraid to tinker with something I don't know. Electrical systems are a whole different ballgame though...
 
Always good to have an understanding regardless of whether youndonir yourself or not. You should certainly be proficient in basic maintenance such as checking and topping up of all oils and fluids, checking chain tensions, cleanliness and lubrication, checking tyre condition and preasure as well as knowing how to check and replace bulbs. Also worth knowing is checking things like if your fork seals are leaking or if your brake pads are gettig low. All of this is doable with a handbook, a torch, a cloth and maybe a screwdriver (thinking brake/clutch fluid reservoirs.
 
I have a long and illustrious history of buying shit or knackered vehicles and messing with them until they work/ work better.

Having a dad who was a vehicle mechanic for almost 30 years obviously helped with the odd pointer!

He once taught me how turbos work with a pencil, a notepad and a bottle of whisky.

Oh and I second the above Menton of vehicle specific forums. Absolutely priceless!! And a lot of the problems that you will have with one car / bike can often be transferred to another if you understand how and why you fixed it!
 
Lurch said:
Andy, you have to do a video on whiskey bottle turbos now... :)
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Haha! I wish I could. Sadly the whiskey was merely for entertainment and intellectual lubrication!

We later continued on to learn about superchargers, but I was too drunk and the drawings just looked like hieroglyphics the next day!
 
I'm a auto mechanic and generally everything just transfers around from vehicle to vehicle, the basics at least. Vehicle specific forums do help greatly. If you lucky someone on a forum will work on them for a living and will give you an insight.
 
I'm cheap. that's how i learned. i took my bike to the dealer one time and had a break-in oil change/check up and have to pay somewhere around $200. i was so mad when i got it back. they hardly touched the damn thing. I usually do general maint. on my subaru, so i figured it would be a lot easier on a bike. it was. so now i just do it myself.
 
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Keep your manual, and get your service manual if you can, I have my physical manual as well as PDFs of both my manual and service manual for my bike. Google can be your friend to finding them. It's where I got mine.
 
GHOSTNINJA said:
So, where did everyone start learning the basics at. I know youtube, but if I want to have specifics for my bike its like hours of searching to come up empty.
Click to expand...

Fathers motorcycle shop.
Trial and error with cars & bikes first hand.
Youtube
Books

Practice
 
I've learned basic maintenance by just doing it, and my particular bike I was able to just read online if I ever ran into trouble. My DRZ just hit 14k, so I need to start thinking about checking the valves. My bike is pretty much a dirt bike, so it's much easier to work on, but regardless I can't see myself paying outrageous labor fees even when I buy a sport bike.

Like others have suggested the service manual is very helpful.
 
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