Your own Mechanic?

[k5fan]

Hey,

I am pretty mechanically incline. I grew up working on motors and building them. No bikes though. I havent been brave enough to work on my busa yet. It is still new and nothing needing to be repaired. My question is how complicated is repair work and what is the recommended expierence to be taking it apart. Do yall tinker with yours?

 

[Johnnycheese]

I have been known to "tinker" with them

 

[Narcissus]

If the thought of putting this back together, or better, taking it apart even more and putting all back together doesn't scare you, then congratulations, you can work on a busa.

 

[BulletTrain]

 

[ThunderPants]

Holy cow Narc, I am getting jittery just looking at that. Did you have any left over parts?

 

[Ononewheel]

Hey,

I am pretty mechanically incline.  I grew up working on motors and building them.  No bikes though.  I havent been brave enough to work on my busa yet.  It is still new and nothing needing to be repaired.  My question is how complicated is repair work and what is the recommended expierence to be taking it apart.  Do yall tinker with yours?  

Stepping on my soapbox.

No offense intended to those who don't work on their bike.

I will never ever let anyone do work on my vehicles. Especially the busa.

It is all very easy to do. If you have a manual and some decent tools, including torque wrench. It is not worth paying some one to work on your bike. The person you pay does not care about you or your bike, they are just doing their job. You can take your time, do it right, take care of all the details that are important to you. So many times I have had a bike or truck in for warranty work and the mechanics have been of absolutley no use whatso ever. Seriously not once have I had any luck with warranty work. Each time I find myself fixing the problem myself, after days of dealer aggrivation. Not to mention you should use the money to put pipes and other mods on rather than give it to somebody. Your busa deserves it.

Even the most difficult job can be done. just take your time and follow the book. If you screw it up, just replace what is broke, and learn from it. It'll make you a better mechanic. I always feel so much better riding my bike knowing my handywork, blood sweat and tears went into it.

Stepping off of my soapbox.........

 

[Johnnycheese]

Hey,

I am pretty mechanically incline.  I grew up working on motors and building them.  No bikes though.  I havent been brave enough to work on my busa yet.  It is still new and nothing needing to be repaired.  My question is how complicated is repair work and what is the recommended expierence to be taking it apart.  Do yall tinker with yours?  

Stepping on my soapbox.

No offense intended to those who don't work on their bike.

I will never ever let anyone do work on my vehicles.  Especially the busa.

It is all very easy to do.  If you have a manual and some decent tools, including torque wrench. It is not worth paying some one to work on your bike.  The person you pay does not care about you or your bike, they are just doing their job.  You can take your time, do it right, take care of all the details that are important to you.  So many times I have had a bike or truck in for warranty work and the mechanics have been of absolutley no use whatso ever.  Seriously not once have I had any luck with warranty work.  Each time I find myself fixing the problem myself, after days of dealer aggrivation.  Not to mention you should use the money to put pipes and other mods on rather than give it to somebody.  Your busa deserves it.

Even the most difficult job can be done.  just take your time and follow the book.  If you screw it up, just replace what is broke, and learn from it.  It'll make you a better mechanic.  I always feel so much better riding my bike knowing my handywork, blood sweat and tears went into it.  

Stepping off of my soapbox.........

And do you know why mechanics don't work in shops??

because of cheap azz customers that want cost on their bikes and cost on their parts

 

[Revlis]

Hey,

I am pretty mechanically incline.  I grew up working on motors and building them.  No bikes though.  I havent been brave enough to work on my busa yet.  It is still new and nothing needing to be repaired.  My question is how complicated is repair work and what is the recommended expierence to be taking it apart.  Do yall tinker with yours?  

Stepping on my soapbox.

No offense intended to those who don't work on their bike.

I will never ever let anyone do work on my vehicles.  Especially the busa.

It is all very easy to do.  If you have a manual and some decent tools, including torque wrench. It is not worth paying some one to work on your bike.  The person you pay does not care about you or your bike, they are just doing their job.  You can take your time, do it right, take care of all the details that are important to you.  So many times I have had a bike or truck in for warranty work and the mechanics have been of absolutley no use whatso ever.  Seriously not once have I had any luck with warranty work.  Each time I find myself fixing the problem myself, after days of dealer aggrivation.  Not to mention you should use the money to put pipes and other mods on rather than give it to somebody.  Your busa deserves it.

Even the most difficult job can be done.  just take your time and follow the book.  If you screw it up, just replace what is broke, and learn from it.  It'll make you a better mechanic.  I always feel so much better riding my bike knowing my handywork, blood sweat and tears went into it.  

Stepping off of my soapbox.........

And do you know why mechanics don't work in shops??

because of cheap azz customers that want cost on their bikes and cost on their parts

Ononewheel, I like this approach, just so long as you are reasonably mechanically inclined. I am still just a bit too Skeered to do much more than basic maintanence on my Busa.

Johny, I think your a bit off base here. My biggest problem with dealer service is taking my bike in all clean and shiney, then getting it back all covered in crud with NEW freakin scratches on it. Oh and I get to pay $72 dollars an hour for this privilage? Uh, no thanks.

As for wanting to pay cost for parts? I think everyone out there would like a good deal, but I realize as I am sure others do as well that business is business, not a charity. I have no problem paying a fair mark up, But I think FAIR is the keyword. I go to buy an Oil filter and tell them it is for a Hayabusa and suddenly I am paying $5-10 more than if I just give them a part #, how fair is this? And are you really saying that it's OK for a mechanic to do a Crap or Half-ass job on a customers bike because they want a good deal?

Over the years I have found a few mechanics who realize that their skills are valuable and take pride in the work they do. However, lately all I find is half competant wrench twisters that cannot even uncrate a fresh bike without assing something up. I am still looking for someone I can trust in Tampa, Know anyone?

 

[techbum]

Hey,

I am pretty mechanically incline.  I grew up working on motors and building them.  No bikes though.  I havent been brave enough to work on my busa yet.  It is still new and nothing needing to be repaired.  My question is how complicated is repair work and what is the recommended expierence to be taking it apart.  Do yall tinker with yours?  

Stepping on my soapbox.

No offense intended to those who don't work on their bike.

I will never ever let anyone do work on my vehicles.  Especially the busa.

It is all very easy to do.  If you have a manual and some decent tools, including torque wrench. It is not worth paying some one to work on your bike.  The person you pay does not care about you or your bike, they are just doing their job.  You can take your time, do it right, take care of all the details that are important to you.  So many times I have had a bike or truck in for warranty work and the mechanics have been of absolutley no use whatso ever.  Seriously not once have I had any luck with warranty work.  Each time I find myself fixing the problem myself, after days of dealer aggrivation.  Not to mention you should use the money to put pipes and other mods on rather than give it to somebody.  Your busa deserves it.

Even the most difficult job can be done.  just take your time and follow the book.  If you screw it up, just replace what is broke, and learn from it.  It'll make you a better mechanic.  I always feel so much better riding my bike knowing my handywork, blood sweat and tears went into it.  

Stepping off of my soapbox.........

Yeahhhhhhh........what he said..........

 

[Ononewheel]

Hey,

I am pretty mechanically incline.  I grew up working on motors and building them.  No bikes though.  I havent been brave enough to work on my busa yet.  It is still new and nothing needing to be repaired.  My question is how complicated is repair work and what is the recommended expierence to be taking it apart.  Do yall tinker with yours?  

I got carried away with my last post. To answer the question, no it's easy stuff. Bike are a lot easier to work on than cars (imho)because it's small clean and pretty easy to get at what you want to work on. Just pay attention to torque specs and make sure it's put together right, you don't wan't to be going down the road and have an engine fly off. LOL taking the plastic off is probably the hardest part.

 

[Johnnycheese]

Actually I am not off base.
I am going to make it simple
Last time it was 3 pages

Let's see if dealers could charge suggested retail for parts.
I worked in several that did it would only be one part solved.
Retail for a Suzuki oil filter is about $11.00 yet some people say this is too high cost is $9.40 last I checked not much of a mark up.
New bikes cost on a Busa about $9,200.00 retail$10,499.00

as you are seeing not much profit to be made.
So if you discount the new bike where is the dealership going to make money?

Service Dept.
Now Suzuki Flat Rate is a JOKE so Warranty is a lost leader.
Labor is high so they can get more from the factory but they only get warranty work so they cannot pay for good techs.
Trust me on this most shop don't pay their mechanic even 30%.
But they need to keep the doors open what would you do to slove the problem??

The last Dealership I worked in made money GUESS HOW?

retail on parts.
retail on bikes.(you don't go into a supermarket and tell the cashier to drop the price on a loaf of bread correct?)
Labor rate at 50 per hour and paid 50% commision.

let's just say that I did more Customer paid work than warranty why?
you get good mechanics with good pay.
Why did I leave so conglomratre(sp?) bought the ma and pa shop out and guess what cut the mechanics pay
ok I will get off my soap box

 

[Narcissus]

So what about dealers that charge 150% or more OVER retail list price on parts? (Try $19 for an OEM oil filter as just one example). Then blatantly lie to customers on everything ranging from price quotes to procedure, screw up every other part, do wheelies and stoppies on customer bikes and who claim that every problem encountered is caused by the customer doing wheelies and ragging on the bike?

That's what I have experienced up here, anyway. Paying retail for local, in-stock parts would actually be great option. Heck, just walking into a local dealer and not get treated like poop would also be a great option. I don't seem to have much luck around here, though.

Anyway, I enjoy doing everything myself. I wouldn't have it any other way. And I have bought all used parts that I have needed for about the past two years, which helps.

 

[Johnnycheese]

this is the reason I left when stuff like that happen.
The Worse part of the whole cycle is now that I am in the bussiness I am small and can not get the great price brakes.
So even if I sell at retail it is less than the dealership down the street or the Internet.
I may have a special in the next months if it pans out.
Pipes,PC,Airfilter straight my cost prepaid of course will keep you informed

 

[Revlis]

Actually I am not off base.
I am going to make it simple
Last time it was 3 pages

Let's see if dealers could charge suggested retail for parts.
I worked in several that did it would only be one part solved.
Retail for a Suzuki oil filter is about $11.00 yet some people say this is too high cost is $9.40 last I checked not much of a mark up.
New bikes cost on a Busa about $9,200.00 retail$10,499.00

as you are seeing not much profit to be made.
So if you discount the new bike  where is the dealership going to make money?

Service Dept.
Now Suzuki Flat Rate is a JOKE so Warranty is a lost leader.
Labor is high so they can get more from the factory but they only get warranty work so they cannot pay for good techs.
Trust me on this most shop don't pay their mechanic even 30%.
But they need to keep the doors open what would you do to slove the problem??

The last Dealership I worked in made money GUESS HOW?

retail on parts.
retail on bikes.(you don't go into a supermarket and tell the cashier to drop the price on a loaf of bread correct?)
Labor rate at 50 per hour and paid 50% commision.

let's just say that I did more Customer paid work than warranty why?
you get good mechanics with good pay.
Why did I leave so conglomratre(sp?) bought the ma and pa shop out and guess what cut the mechanics pay
ok I will get off my soap box

I hear you Johny, I even asked the sales manager friend of mine at a different dealership just how in the hell they can stay in business? I mean they made about $400 bucks on my bike all told out the door. Just kind of made me wonder. I also learned that bike dealerships do not get bonus monies for units sold, unlike car dealers who can sell a ton of units at really low prices and make it up in bonuses etc. His answer was they can make it because of the Parts and Service. This being the case it really blows me away that any service or parts manager would allow the kinds of crapped up customer dealings I have run across.

What I am looking for now, is an independant shop. Somewhere that is owned by the wrench himself. Who might give a crap about the customer cause he is in it for himself and his reputation is going to be key to his survival. Hopefully I will be able to find one soon. MikeyUSF has recommended R&R Performance in Brandon, he says it is just what I am looking for. We shall see.

Rev

 

[Wayneswa]

hey narc, you ain't scared. Damn

 

[ks-waterbug]

It seems to be a two edged sword....... Either way your going to pay! If what I'm hearing is correct seems that for the local shops if they try and match the big boys online they can't afford to pay high enough wages to keep the top % of mechanics. So the customer could potentially suffer from poor workmenship; and if they maintain retail prices and try to eek out a living no one will buy parts from them or have their bike serviced there. Johnny tell me again why you got in this business........ Seems to me your in this buisness because you like what you do and not for the money

 

[Big O]

I guess I got lucky and found a good mechanic. He's worked on my bikes for 14 years.

 

[majik]

I think working on bikes is easy BUT diagnosing the problem

Thats rough sometimes

 

[k5fan]

Thanks for the advice. Yeah it looks like my biggest hurdles will be diagnosing the problem and removing the plastics. I am not the most patient person in the world. I have the worst temper. I tend to throw things and break stuff. I have not went off on my toys just my tools. Thanks for the help and I think I will take baby steps.

 

[Dr Geekenstein]

New owner here, just hit 600 yesterday and ready to do the first maintenance on my beautiful beast. I don't trust mechanics as a rule, try to do all my own work to my cars, trucks, and bikes.

Spent a grand over the last week in preperations to do my own work, not because of the money savings it will produce by doing my own work, more because I want to do it on my own, to learn, and have that confident feeling as I tool down the highway. (not to mention not getting my blood pressure up when I see the new scratches mechanics are famous for)

When I bought the bike a couple weeks ago, first thing I did was look at the chain tightness, oil levels, and tire pressure. Of course the dealer had me sign off the delivery checklist sheet, confirming (ya..right :-( that he did his job....

Not to my surprise, my rear tire was overinflated by 6 pounds on the rear and 3 on front (yes, I use very accurate gauges) and the chain was adjusted with proper play, but the alignment marks were off by 1/2 a mark from one side to the other....Same on my sons bike (we bought them together) except his rear tire was underinflated by 6 pounds and the aligment marks were almost a whole mark off. LAME ASS mechanic was to blame at this particular dealership.

So my hat is off to all that do their own work, I am one that prefers doing it myself. May have a learning curve to do, but in the long run, it will be well worth the effort.

Just my $10.02 worth...

Peace