Topic: how did you learn to fix your bikes?

[strtlegal]

My father is in the Auto body business so I grew up around cars.  I had several throughout my younger years that I had "hot-rodded." when I gt
My first bike I did simple things like changing handle bars and the like.  When I got my SOHC, I just started pulling things apart, taking pictures and Asking questions.  Learn by doing.

[MoMo]

I went to a school for motorcycle mechanics and then worked in shops for 14 years.  I watched the best mechanic at each shop, observed and asked questions.  Patience...Larry

[72 yellow]

Just like a few others, I started off handing my dad tools.  When I was old enough and tall enough to see over the fender, he explained what he was doing and why.  Later he told me to pay close attention because he was not  going to come out and change my flat tire or do other minor roadside repairs that I should know how to do.  So both my sister and I learned to set points, gap plugs and do basic repairs.  Later working on bikes was just the next logical step.

[mono]

i've been driving the same '95 honda civic for almost 13 years.  luckily i have a good friend who is a civic expert.  i started out by just buying parts and having him fix stuff or do preventative maintenance and watching, but for the last 5 or 6 years i've been getting more and more hands-on.  figure that one of us is going to move sooner or later and i'll need to know what i'm doing.

then this summer i got my 1st bike and i'm learning that i know more about vehicle mechanics than i thought.  everything's kinda similar from cars to bikes.  service manuals are critical, though. i LOVE exploded-view diagrams.  and for the good, full-color walkthroughs, i come here!

- Dean

[faux fiddy]

Like a few people said .. Hang around with someone that does it. I would add avoid   pissing them off.  The'll usually help out if you show interest and help them with their stuff.

These guys have helped me  a bunch.



http://teamsmoke.com

Some good information on 2 stroke porting here, too, BTW.

http://teamsmoke.com/photo5_5.html

[demon78]

Joined the R.C.A.F. at 17 and was trained as an Areo Engine Tech on piston engines and gas turbines got stationed in Comox where two things happened found out they wouldn't let you near an airplane until you had cleaned cowlings (engine covers) for 1 year and the next thing I found out was that a tenth hand Matchless was more than a match for a newly minted a/c engine type, I took it to pieces and put it together 3 times before I realized that the reason it wouldn't go over 15 mph was that the choke was on, this taught me that before you dismantle anything, make sure it's not something simple, in other words understand how it's supposed to work, after that, it was relatively easy to cope with other bikes particularly with shop manual in hand and the proper tools.
Bill the demon.
ps as Scunny says if it's going to #$%* get up have a suds, coffee, tea whatever but get away from it and come back with fresh mind and eyes.

[MrGardman]

Had a love of motorcycles from the side line when I was just a kid. I grew up in a small town in Indiana and was just lucky to be able to get a job working at the local motorcycle dealer after school and all day on Sat. I was 13...hehe. Couldn't do that now though.

It was a Triumph, Ducati dealership. My first few weeks was learning how to remove and install Cushman engines. I also learned how to make control cables and cleaned cosmoline off the new bikes that came in. But I soaked up every bit of knowledge that I could. It was just a natural progression of learning and reading and doing tougher and more involved jobs. Once I moved and started at the Honda, Suzuki, Bridgestone dealership was where I really learned skills.

Fun times everday. I wish more kids had opportunities like I had growing up.

[tortelvis]

No money and no mecahnical sympathy forced me to! I cross threaded a plug on my first new bike and when I got a quote for repair at the local dealer I walked out with an OEM manual for $5. Not long after, I fried the motor in my first car, a 63 Catalina. I was 16 and working part time so bought a used GTO motor for $100 minus the three dueces. I made many calls to the local Pontiac dealer for advice although they were less than pleased about it gave me a little info, mainly that I was never going to put a 66 motor in a 63 car. I proved them wrong! Mix and match on various parts, then converted it from column shift to floor and hung a couple of cherry bombs attached to some flexible pipe and I was rolling thanks to a mate who gave me a Rochester Quadrajet carb. To illustrate just how dumb I was then, my brother in law told me to "blow into the gas tank to prime the carb". Sadly, I did! When he picked himself up we got it fired up and it was so loud I immediately switched it off! Later on I learned the folly of mating a 360HP motor to a standard 3 speed tranny. I learned the hard way; trial and error and over the years with help from friends, manuals etc got a basic knowledge. This winter I will finally get started on the CB350F project in the basement. I will have a lot of spares for sale once I get going as I have a complete parts donor bike with a siezed motor.

[heffay]

Grab a wrench, turn the wrench, make problem worse, thus learn what not to do to fix 

Seriously... Dad taught me a lot.  He always had bikes and we got an old barn bike and got it running for my first bike.  Then I went to MMI and learned just enough to be dangerous.  Worked in a few shops to get the much needed experience.  Then found this forum, which I've learned nearly as much from as all the rest.  Gotta be careful tho and get multiple opinions, because some spout nonsense as the truth. Stay here long enough though and you'll quickly learn who the good mechanics are.  Most important thing I've learned in 25 years of motorcycling?  Read The #$%*ing Manual!  Wait, or is it Wear A #$%*ing Helmet?!