Words of Caution

[TorontoBoy]

Frequently we hear of screwups done at MC shops, and the quality I see here in Toronto is pathetic. For your own safety and to get the job done correctly you should learn to wrench yourself. Buy a Clymers/Haynes manual for your bike. Even if you don't do it yourself, you'll know what needs to be done and will be able to check the mechanic's work. If something goes wrong with your car you'll usually be Ok, but on a bike you have the balancing on 2 wheels thing, and there's less margin for error.

Wrench yourself for your own health.

P.S. On my ride today I passed 6 other motorcyclists, and got 5 waves! That's a clear record in stuck up Toronto! The exception was a sportbike rider all decked out in black racing leather on a totally black bike with a black visor.

[oldschoolorange]

^^^ maby it was Ghost Rider lol

I am not sure if it is illegal but I think it is one of the grey areas Ex you do brakes for your friend and then he gets into an accident and says his brakes failed you can be in some serious $#!T. Up here You are supposed to have a mechanics liscence to work on certan parts of the veichle relating to safety. this way they have someone to blame if things go bad. I know lots of guys who are liscenced and dont have a clue

[M109R]

I know just what you mean.

My stealer service has screwed up the oil changes on my bike twice (almost a quart low) even after we went in detail how to check the oil b4 the 2nd change. Then when I asked the SERVICE MANAGER if he had rechecked the loose pinion bolts that were found from my last service, he looked at me cross-eyed and said, "All you asked for was an oil change." GIVE ME A BREAK!!! Even my cager stealer and Jiffy Lube check all kinds of things other than just change the oil..why do you think I brought it to you and paid $80 in the first place???? Because I don't know how to loosen a bolt and put a pan under it??? I expect that you check the bike out by giving it a once over.

Will NEVER take my bike back to those monkeys, they are going to kill someone.

[Beach]

I know just what you mean.

My stealer service has screwed up the oil changes on my bike twice (almost a quart low) even after we went in detail how to check the oil b4 the 2nd change. Then when I asked the SERVICE MANAGER if he had rechecked the loose pinion bolts that were found from my last service, he looked at me cross-eyed and said, "All you asked for was an oil change." GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

Are they not pre-filling the filter and running the bike then checking again? I dont take my cars, trucks... to repair shops if it can be avoided at all. I took a brand new mustang into ford for auto-butler treatment. They used the wrong color touch-up paint on the nicks that were on the car when we bought it. I paid for this crap, and now I dont let them do it. They wont give me a refund, just revoked my warranty on the paint. When I got the car back it wasnt even slick to the touch like it is when waxed.

Never trust low-paid service people with your stuff. I swap engines and transmissions if need be. I have only rear wheel drive stuff, that makes it easy.

[buddhacide]

Thanks for the replies. I had actually forgotten I made this post. I do have the service manual and want to get a buddy to help me if possible. My problem is I have very little space to work with and I really dont want to mess anything up. All the same, I totally agree with learning to do things yourself. In time I would certainly like to.

[TorontoBoy]

It's best to wrench yourself. If you don't want to/can't do this, then try your local stealership if your bike is under warranty. After the warranty has expired, or if the stealership screwed you over, look elsewhere.

I recommend you look for a small MC repair shop, with like one owner and an additional mechanic. Find the right one and they are great. You get invited into his shop and when they're working on your MC you can watch, help and ask questions. Rather than the cold attitude of a stealership some shops are more than happy to talk about your bike. Here in Toronto I recommend Rosey Toes Motorcycles, where I've had positive experiences.

[Beach]

It's best to wrench yourself. If you don't want to/can't do this, then try your local stealership if your bike is under warranty. After the warranty has expired, or if the stealership screwed you over, look elsewhere.

I recommend you look for a small MC repair shop, with like one owner and an additional mechanic. Find the right one and they are great. You get invited into his shop and when they're working on your MC you can watch, help and ask questions. Rather than the cold attitude of a stealership some shops are more than happy to talk about your bike. Here in Toronto I recommend Rosey Toes Motorcycles, where I've had positive experiences.

That is good advice right there, I think I found a nice little shop near me. Sometimes you have to talk to people, some places are not to be dealt with. Make sure you can see them working on your stuff. The places I deal with let me enter the work area as well. If they need to drive my car at all, they wont be working on it period. I pull it on the rack to have alignment done, and for exhaust work thats about it. And paint, I cant do that at home.

[buddhacide]

Thanks TorontoBoy. Finding a shop in toronto is almost impossible. The only one remotely near me is the one that hosed me. I really like the idea of a small shop that treats me right.

As for my current situation, i found a buddy of mine willing to do the work for a case of beer. So that will be nice to have out of the way.

A question about breakpads for when I buy them: Are they fairly standard things, like "one size fits all" or is there alot of variation in them. I looked in my manual but it doesnt seem to give me any sort of specification. I'll ask the shop guy obviously, but i was just curious.

[redfeather630]

my dad has built bikes so i dont think id have that problem, actually the bike he did build and paint won first place one year at daytona bike week, and it ran beautifully!!

so if i ever have any problems or tune ups ill hav him show me the ropes!!

but thanks!!