Comments on: Motorcycle Maintenance: To Zen or Not Zen

By: Combatscoot

Combatscoot — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 01:49:00 +0000

I'll tell you another reason to do your own work: Modern dealers care more about quick work than they do about good work. That's one reason why I don't work as a professional mechanic anymore.
Good that you got the job done right. Did you have an impact wrench?
I still turn wrenches, but on my time, not a dealer's. I charge about half what a dealer would, and get paid twice what I would-have. It's only a job here-and-there, but my customer base is growing as scootering friends who cannot or won't maintain their own machines have me do the work, are happy with the experience, and tell others.
John

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 01:11:00 +0000

I have worked on my motorcycles most of my life doing routine maintenance, but part of my plan to enjoy middle age is to have a house cleaner and to ride the Vespa to the dealer for anything more than an oil change.The beuty of the simplicity is that the work can be scheduled and I can have lunch before sauntering back, paying and riding the GTS home. Another kind of zen…Of course with only 2,000 miles on the clock I have yet to really test this theory!
Michael
Key West

By: EdMack

EdMack — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 22:39:00 +0000

Steve,

I'm the guy that lives on Plainfield Rd. where you were taking pictures this morning.

I knew we had Vespas in common, but after reading your post, its more than that. I've always felt EXACTLY the same way about the years of fixing cars under awful conditions when I was broke and under pressure. And the Vespa really is different.gb

By: gary

gary — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 12:51:00 +0000

I'll tell you one thing that made working on my bikes more enjoyable: a bike lift. Bringing the work up to your level, instead of going into contortions on a cold, concrete floor, makes all the difference in the world.

If your Vespa can be lifted from the center, between the wheels, then there are lifts out there that can be had for less than fifty bucks. It was the best bike maintenance money I ever spent.

As for the Zen aspect, I suspect that applies more to patience and clear thinking more than anything else. One rule I have adopted over the years that helps a lot is: Never attempt to do complex scheduled maintenance on a tight schedule, i.e. just before a big ride or rally. Inevitably, you will end up breaking or losing some critical component because you were trying to hurry the job.

Take the ride, and THEN do the maintenance. Schedule triple the time you think it is going to take, so you aren't under any pressure, and then just relax and take it step-by-step.

Ride well,
=gc=

By: Bill Sommers

Bill Sommers — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:21:00 +0000

Back when I was playing rock-n-roll in the good old days, our guitar player would always sleep with his axe in the motel room. He would say that it was part of being "one with your instument".

Not to suggest that you tuck in next to the Vespa, I agree that becoming intimate with your scooter makes sense to me.

Zen and the Art of Sleeping with a Telecaster.
Bill

By: Lucky

Lucky — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:47:00 +0000

Way to go!

Another reason for doing your own work: Why trust someone else to do a good job? If they botch it, you could get hurt.

It's frustrating that most new bikes (particularly FI bikes) are increasingly difficult or impossible to work on in your own garage.