Bike mechanics

Bike mechanics

This is semi-ot because is about a dual sport bike used only on the
streets...

Well, I have this friend who own a Honda XLR125. 2001 model, but
neglected as it could be. He use this bike to commute to work, two
towns away from our neighborhood. It's far. I've been talking him into
give it just a little TLC and fix the thing, at least replace what's
worn and broken. Well, after I gave him two swingarm linkage bearings,
he decided to spend the huge fortune of about 150 usd in a new
muffler, suspension oil, steering stem bearings, battery, clutch and
accelerator cables, rear wheel hub bushings and a can of hi-temp paint
to spray on the head of the pipe, it was well rusted.

We started working about 4pm last friday. He then said this to me
"well, if I had the tools you have and the knowledge you have, I'd
start my own motorcycle mechanic business". Well, don't know if I've
said this before, but I have very few power tools, even less special
tools. My main "special" tool is my old hammer that goes together with
a lot of irons in different shapes and sizes, most of them are dead
screwdrivers that came back to life as something to punch with. You
can imagine the work it is to remove steering stem bearings like
this... By 9pm, my friend said "this is hard work! Now I know why the
pro mechanics charge so much to change cheap parts!" LOL! We only
broke one bolt that holds the handlebar and one bolt of the exhaust
protection (avoid-burn-your-legs). At least his bike is like new
again. Now, I have to convince him to replace that balding front tire
with some decent dual sport and get him on the trails... :-)

I've put a power grinder on my christmas wish list... Hand grinding
stuff with my flat file takes a loooooong time :-)

-- Tiago

Re: Bike mechanics

On May 5, 9:33 am, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril...@gmail . com > wrote:
> This is semi-ot because is about a dual sport bike used only on the
> streets...
>
> Well, I have this friend who own a Honda XLR125. 2001 model, but
> neglected as it could be. He use this bike to commute to work, two
> towns away from our neighborhood. It's far. I've been talking him into
> give it just a little TLC and fix the thing, at least replace what's
> worn and broken. Well, after I gave him two swingarm linkage bearings,
> he decided to spend the huge fortune of about 150 usd in a new
> muffler, suspension oil, steering stem bearings, battery, clutch and
> accelerator cables, rear wheel hub bushings and a can of hi-temp paint
> to spray on the head of the pipe, it was well rusted.
>
> We started working about 4pm last friday. He then said this to me
> "well, if I had the tools you have and the knowledge you have, I'd
> start my own motorcycle mechanic business". Well, don't know if I've
> said this before, but I have very few power tools, even less special
> tools. My main "special" tool is my old hammer that goes together with
> a lot of irons in different shapes and sizes, most of them are dead
> screwdrivers that came back to life as something to punch with. You
> can imagine the work it is to remove steering stem bearings like
> this... By 9pm, my friend said "this is hard work! Now I know why the
> pro mechanics charge so much to change cheap parts!" LOL! We only
> broke one bolt that holds the handlebar and one bolt of the exhaust
> protection (avoid-burn-your-legs). At least his bike is like new
> again. Now, I have to convince him to replace that balding front tire
> with some decent dual sport and get him on the trails... :-)
>
> I've put a power grinder on my christmas wish list... Hand grinding
> stuff with my flat file takes a loooooong time :-)
>
> -- Tiago