The art of motorcycle maintenance ...in South London

[Haynesemail]

I got my first bike, a Transalp, back in Feb this year and I have to admit I don't have the first clue about repairing or maintaining it (beyond the basic pre-ride checks). When I take it in for a service the explanation of work from the mechanic sounds like the teacher in the Peanuts cartoon.

I don't have a garage or a drive so I'm not going to be taking the bike apart on a Saturday afternoon, but I would like to know how to perform basic maintenance - so that if I was on tour, I could identify and sort out stuff myself. It might also save me getting duped by an unscrupulous service centre.

So with the long preamble out of the way, can anyone recommend a beginners' motorcycle maintenance course in South London? Or does everyone just learn their stuff by reading the Haynes manual?

[LazyRider]

Or does everyone just learn their stuff by reading the Haynes manual?

That is a good start. It may be worth going along to a couple of local bike clubs, find one that you like, join up and talk to the members. Have a word with your local Honda dealer, they may be able to help with a club.

[RainMan]

Do you have a mate with a garage who's also into bikes or can you hire a lock-up ? I found the that the best way to learn, is to buy a ratty bike for as little as possible and get a corresponding workshop manual, that way you can make all your mistakes on the rat bike rather than your pride and joy, if you are more ambitious you can also tear down the engine and learn how to identify worn parts, it also means that you are not under pressure to "bodge" jobs to get them done,because your means of transportation is off the road. If all of this is impractical, then get yourself a Haynes manual AND buy a basic set of decent tools, don't be tempted by flea market stuff, you're better off buying a single ratchet with two or three of the most common sockets that are quality (Britool, Tengtool, snap-on etc) rather than a 140 piece socket set in the local flea pit, simple reason being, the good stuff lasts for life, the rest will last five minutes and cost you most of the skin on your knuckles. If you don't have an experienced mate that can show you the ropes on servicing, then do as LazyRider suggested and join a local bike club, where there should be plenty of people experienced at doing their own servicing, be warned though, getting intimate with the spanners can be just as addictive as riding your bike

[Xander]

There is also talk of the second working bee.. It was a lot of fun last time.. Basically we meet somewhere that has a drive way/shed.. and fix stuff /teach each other how to do stuff/ help each other out/ drink beer/ eat stuff/ talk bs..
it is really fun!
ahhhh I mean educational... This time around I'll be going as a monkey wrench for hire.. and i work cheep.

[SteveWilko]

HaynesEmail ....

You made the first right move by signing up to this forum.... the Ladies and Gentlemen (?) in here are a great bunch and can talk you through most stuff that you will come across and be able to repair safely whilst working on the roadside.

also: for the stuff you cant handle.... get a quote from the dealers and then ask around in here for advice.... we will be able to "sniff out" a rip off for you..

[cafe650]

This may be a start for you...

http://greater-london.mag-uk.org/

or this, evening classes...

http://www.hotcourses.com/uk-courses...ONDON/page.htm


Kevin.