Do you take your bike in to "the shop"?

[byrdo444]

So...I've been getting mixed messages from people. After just buying a bike off craigslist, some people are saying I should take it in for a safety check, others are saying it's a waste of money. What do you think?

The local shop here said they charge for about 30 minutes labor for a once over, so that'd be like 50 bucks.

Thoughts?

 

[axeugene27]

depends how much you know about bikes man. If the answer is squat i'd say it's a good idea. But if you check oil, tire tread wear, run through the lights, lube chains, check sprocket/chain wear/tightness, check compression, set timing, check valve clearance, check brake pad wear, and make sure there aren't any missing bolts or cracks/bent frame you should be ok. what else do they do in a "safety check"

 

[Tim]

What's the point of the 'once over'? Unless you know the guys at the shop personally (and if you do, they wouldn't charge you) all they're going to do is find stuff that you absolutely have to have them fix for you right now if you want to ride the bike. They don't do these checks for the $50. They do them for the $500 in repairs they hope to get out of it.

If you don't already have friends with motorcycles who can look over a bike to determine if it's basically safe, then get some more friends

 

[SCARE!]

you could get to know so other riders, or get in touch with someone in your area who is into the same sorta bikes..
enthusiasts are always willing to help..

even get a copy of your bikes manual, and do the maintenance checks they have in there. its not too hard!
if everything is tight and you got oil, you'll be sweet..

 

[alexmac]

I am finding out that shops don't know shit. I had my bike in yesterday getting new tires put on and I asked them to do a compression test because I was having
problems with one cylinder.

They told me that the compression was 80psi on one and 30psi on the other. They went on to say how it probably needs a top end rebuild. I asked em what that
would cost and they said over a grand.

I was pretty bummed but stopped at an autoparts shop and bought my own compression tester. When I did the test later that evening both cylinders were roughly
the same .... at 170 psi!

 

[Spoonz]

Only time I go to the shop is for state safety inspection and they check my lights (which I do every time I ride), my horn (even tho you can't hear it over the chambers), and make sure I have pad left on the brakes (That I change every year just cause it makes me feel better). My local shop is affraid to ride my bike as the first time I took it in the mechanic damn near flipped the front wheel over his head. "250cc is a small bike" dumbass - I told him it had a 350 topend and its been modified.

 

[Drewski]

I do take my bike to "the shop", but not just any shop.

Be careful whom you choose. I'm friends with the shops I frequent. My mechanic has his own shop and he has great rates compared to "run of the mill" motorcycle businesses.

It's wonderful to do your own fabrication, maintenance, tuning, etc. There's the savings, there's the satisfaction of doing it yourself and even the "therapy factor".

My "life", it seems, often prevents me from taking the time needed to do even simple tasks. When that happens, I call on my mechanic buddy. If I didn't, I wouldn't be riding... and I like riding.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

I AM the shop.

People who don't know how to do their own work bring bikes in to be checked out all the time. I find things like dry wheel bearings, loose steering stem bearings, saggy leaking forks, worn swingarm bushings, broken brake shoes, frozen calipers, worn fork bushings.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

You're not really getting a good poll as the members on this sight typically are bike BUILDERS. We take a stock bike and modify them, some a lot more than others but all to some degree. I know guy's who wouldn't attempt to change their own handlebars... but they aren't members of DTT and wouldn't appreciate it.
So we really aren't your avaerage motorcycle owners. Your feed-back is going to be skewed around here.

 

[axeugene27]

I know one of my buddies at work was perplexed at how he should go about changing his grips and throttle body I was amazed but i guess alot of guys just want to ride and let others do their bike work. Hey i do that with my car so there ya go.

 

[Drewski]

I think the intent is to find out if there are times even a "dedicated bike nut" might take his bike to "the shop". At least that's the way I read it.

I get the feeling that there's so much testosterone flowing here, that some might be intimidated into claiming to do it all themselves. One might be reluctant to admit they use a shop on occasion. No shame in using a "pro" once in awhile, especially if you're over your head, IMO.

 

[Drewski]

Quite right to say that the majority here would do much more with their bikes than the average rider. 8) Nothin' average about the majority here!! ;D

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

I will sometimes take my car to the shop. Of course, until recently, I didn't have an indoor space where I could work on cars. Now I do, and I am actually taking in some car repairs.

 

[buckeyebike]

Use common sense and look it over carefully. If something looks askew, take a pic and post it here- you'll get several dozen different opinions and be right back where you started, confused. LOL- just kidding, post a pic of the item in question and you'll gain more common sense.

Never be too proud to admit, "I have no idea what I am doing and need help." I am looking at replacing the isolastics on my Norton Commando and highly doubt I will take it on myself even though I have worked on bikes since I was 10 (3 decades now). I am not going to take it to a 'shop' but will seek the advice and expertise of some fellow local British bike owners.

Like others have said- make friends with fellow bike owners.

 

[byrdo444]

Sweet thanks for all the info everyone, I admit, I am far from knowing everything about this bike so I think I will take it in...then whatever they say is wrong with it I'll write down, say thank you and leave unless it's cheap and easy to fix then.

One of my favorite things about owning a bike is getting my hands dirty and learning from it, so I'd like to fix most stuff myself. The dudes at the shop however will have a way better eye than I do to spot what's wrong or what should be replaced.

Since owning this bike I've seen around 3-4 honda cb riders in my town which is sweet because the town is pretty small. I'm going to try and track one down next time and see if there's any group rides or anything like that