In my past I have wrenched on just about everything except aircraft. I have cranked on heavy equipment, cars, trucks, bikes, snowmobiles. Never a fear. There are things I won't do. The decision is made by how involved the job is and if any special tools are required. I won't buy a tool to do a job if it this is the only time I will use that tool.
I still change oil on the bike but not my cars. Too much headache in toting around the used. The bike doesn't put out much. Things like engine work or the like that have tight tolerances go to professionals.
Too cheap to pay anyone to do anything for one and for two...I wouldn't feel comfortable having someone else work on my bike. What next...want to **** my wife too?
One thing I have realized is someone will always want to boink someones wife, don't know what the deal is there... must be the trill of looking down a barrel
Back in the day Harley's were like tractors. You could fix them "in the field!" They were easy to work on, many of the parts were interchangeable and some parts like certain starters, points, relays and others item even crossed over from automobiles.
I think that's the biggest difference from bikers from yesteryear (up to the early 80's) and today. Back in the day, at least 90% were in the "can or try" category.... very, very few in the "I have no clue" category.
I learned how to tool on my bicycles. After that I just learned how to fix anything on my own but today's generation grew up on video games didn't even know how to change tire on a bicycle. But they can push the buttons on a controller very quickly
Being your own mechanic is not only satisfying but learning how to turn a wrench on your own bike is an invaluable skill when you're out on the road by yourself.
Love that picture
There are some things I have not done.
With the right tools anything is possible/doable
I think that's the biggest difference from bikers from yesteryear (up to the early 80's) and today. Back in the day, at least 90% were in the "can or try" category.... very, very few in the "I have no clue" category.
I'm assuming that's because they were much simpler then and free time was much more abundant. And they didn't cost upwards of $30k....
I'm assuming that's because they were much simpler then and free time was much more abundant. And they didn't cost upwards of $30k....
Not sure what the cost has to do with it, but the cost was as relevant to average income then as it is today.... and, most of the folks buying bikes back then weren't from the upper income brackets.
They were simpler (fuel system and electronics) but everything else is similar. It was a different breed of person back then that owned a Harley, that's the main difference.
I remember the very first motorcycle repair I ever did. It was on my first bike, a 1975 XR75. I was around ten years old. The intake manifold was bad so I bought a new one, then it didnt fit on the studs, so I had to drill the holes bigger so it would fit on.
01-03-2018, 07:28 AM
