Losing patience with mechanics - who can I trust in melb?

I've just purchased a '93 Honda CBR1000 FP near Sydney in NSW, rode it all
the way back to melbourne and it never missed a beat.

Being that i've just bought it, plus the loooong journey it's just been on,
I would like to have a major service done on it, at the same time I would
like them to do me up a RWC for registration purposes.

I've had bikes on the road for 10 years and all this time cannot find myself
a trustworthy mechanic who knows not to rip you off, but to make sure you're
looked after and not cut corners when performing the work.

I dont know anyone else in the family (or mates) who ride bikes, and this
makes it difficult for me as I dont know who to trust.. often with previous
bikes I would leave them to be serviced and get them back running
significantly worse.. then you'd get replies like "well we cant fix that
mate, it's an old bike.. it was like that when you dropped it off btw" ...
absolute bullshit... not only this but i often see marks on the fairings
(scratches etc) that weren't there before, obviously from not taking care
when removing fairings and disrespectfully brushing them along the concrete
floors as they are removed.

This sort of horseshit pisses me off, i dont mind paying a bit more if i can
just find someone honest, reliable.. and most importantly, takes pride in
his work / other people's assets.

Am i honestly asking too much? Sometimes i wonder...

I would be doing all maintainence myself only i haven't the faintest idea
about mechanics, i am a computer geek by trade. I only know how to treat my
bikes with the respect they deserve in the way that i ride them.

I refuse to let the new Honda get into the wrong hands, I am even
considering having it serviced at the local Honda dealer down the road, it's
mainly a car dealer but they service motorcycles as well. Would this be
wise?

I guess the main purpose to the thread is.. Who else would show respect for
my bike in melbourne? I'd like to make him my regular.. and would be willing
to pay the price for a job not rushed, but well done.

Also, it may be worthy to mention that I am situated in the south eastern
suburbs (near Dandenong).



cheers guys,

Steve

 

Sydney to Melbourne, long journey? Last time I went to Melbourne I checked
the oil, screwed the cap back in and rode home (Perth). Why do you think it
needs a major service?

I doubt it.

Theo

 

Are you talking about major bike dealers when you talk from experience (no
need to name names), just making sure you're not going to shoddy places and
expecting too much.

Sorry to ask the obvious, it wasnt written in your message though.

JasonBW - Wollongong

 

I agree with Theo ... that ain't loooong.
I disagree with Theo, get it serviced because the last owner won't have.

RedWing Honda appear to not suck, they've done a few things for
me now. They're a loooong way from Dandenong though.

-----shaaaarks

 

Ah yeah, meant to point that out... i've mainly been to the smaller bike
dealers I have to say..... but the last place I went to has a big name
behind it and they are supposedly pretty good but err, they did a horrific
job on my carbys (this being on the GSX-R) .. was an absolute mess after
$900 of carby work.. would've been better off if they left it alone to begin
with)

I wonder, would Peter Stevens in Dandenong be worthy or perhaps Top Gear in
Frankston?

 

Taylor Honda/ Dandenong
Redwing Honda/ Heidelberg
Boss Cycles/ Montrose (hasn't got RWC-license, but is happy to organize it
if required)

First 2 I only know from reputation, the 3rd personally for quite a while.

cheers
pete

 

Niiiice, thanks for the heads up folks, Taylor Honda isn't too far away at
all! I've taken a walk through there a few times now... never clicked to
take the bike there before but now that I have a honda it only makes sense!

Thanks again fellas.

 

hehe, well it seemed looooong for me That being because I refused to stop
anytime except for when I refueled (3 times), and stopped for some KFC at
Lakes Entrance.

Got very uncomfortable at times too, mainly my right (throttle) hand.. would
get pins and needles and lose all feeling in my hand, (apart from the harsh
aching of my wrist) ... any way / method to stop that from occuring on long
trips, or is it something all us bike riders eventually get 'used to' ? :S

 

Seriously, make sure you're not riding with your arms locked straight,
this places a decent strain on the wrist... sit on your bike and 'assume
the position', check out if you've got a bend in your elbows, if you dont
then start using some stomache muscles (its good for you) and use your thigh
muscles into the tank to hold that elbow bent position (thigh muscles are
generally way more powerful then you realise)

Worst case, if you did have the right position then look at owners groups
sites off the web, you might find CBR1000 owners groups who can recommend
Genmar riser kits, which bring the bars up about 1 3/4 inches, which makes
a huge difference to how comfy you can be on the bike.

Redwing are meant to be a top HRC outlet, those guys should like their
work... pop in and talk to them to get their general mood...

P.s. good move on the service, any 2nd hand bike needs it as you just can't
tell when the last one was (without reciepts)

Hope this helps
JasonBW - Wollongong

 

Well, you know, if you really _have_ to ruin a perfectly good
ride home ... that's the best way to do it. Well, the second
best way ... the Hume is the best way ...

Could be vibration: It's worth trying bar end weights, foam
handgrips, bar risers. Some people stuff fishing sinkers in
the ends of the bars.

Could also be pressure/tension: make sure you're not trying to
strangle the bars, and try to avoid putting your bodyweight
on your wrists. Lousy steering head bearings can make the
bike a little less stable and thus a little more demanding
on your wrists ... does it shake its head if you let go of
the bars?

On the other hand, it might go away if you balance the carbs. No,
really, makes a huge difference on the XLV. On the other hand,
that's a V-twin ...

-----sharks

 

My advice? Learn to do it yourself. Bikes are not all that different from
computers, the fasteners are bigger and your hands get a bit dirtier but
it's the same deal with swapping components, etc.

I gave up trying to find a competent mech long ago. Bikes *or* computers,
best to do it yourself.

 

Nice one, some advice there i've never been given before... I was often
changing position to try and get more comfortable, usually resorting to the
crotch reasonably hard up against the tank for the most part... i'm only a
small guy and weigh bugger all so even when pushed up as close to the tank
as possible i find i'm leaning foward quite a bit to reach the bars... I
will make sure i'm doing all the right things based on what you've said,
next time i'm out on the open road.. cheers.

Redwing sound worthy of a phone call, they are quite a distance from me but
if it means good quality service, then so be it!

 

Bastard!!

I have the medical certificate to prove it too!

Hammo

PS Is Smee on crack?

 

Had a few last night orrite?????????????
sheesh.
ps how's your photoshopping?

 

Well, you know, if you really _have_ to ruin a perfectly good

hehe.. i'd never been the princes hwy before (not even by car) ... there are
indeed some magnificent pieces of road along there for us motorcyclists.. I
actually came off the snowy mountain hwy so there was a lovely windy
rainforest stretch for a good 10 mins there.. wished i had a camera with me
:/

Vibration seems to be minimal, almost non-existant so i dont believe that is
what brought it on.. my GSX-R had quite a bit of vibration but this CBR is
as smooth as pie.

Balancing the carbs, that'll be done along with the major service i request
i would presume? Providing the bike is in relatively good shape, i am hoping
the following would be covered with a major service :-

1) oil and oil filter change
2) spark plugs change (would like NGK platinums in there this time round,
$80 a set i believe?)
3) carbs balanced
4) water levels checked
5) brakepads and brake fluid levels checked.
6) A general going over on the bike to look / hear for anything unusual
7) suspension check (see if fork seals are fine / rear shock is fine?)

Would the majority if not all of this be covered in most mechanic's eyes
when one would ask for a "major" service? If not more so looked into?

a compression test wouldn't go astray being that the bike is still somewhat
'foreign' to me as well .. just for peace of mind... is it hard for a mech.
to provide you with a comp test? if not.. would that be included in the
major service or would i need to request this be done seperately?

 

A few? **** me, one dog barks and they all bark back.

Watch out for shadows......

Hammo

 

I've never met Shadow in the flesh tho talked a lot in IRC
I always look out for him

 

Woof, woof, woof.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 6 Jan 2005 23:23:21 +1100

One way to feel if you are using your arms to hold yourself up and how
it feels when you aren't is to ride with only your right hand on the
bars, and go around a few corners.

Because you have to use the throttle and steer with that hand, you'll find
it hard to lean all your weight on it as well, and you will automatically
hold your body up with other muscles. Spend some attention on how your
body feels, mostly your legs and middle. Put the other hand on the bar
to sit "normally" and review your body again, noting the differences.

If you are short and learning well forward, try dropping the elbows some
so the forearms are a bit more horizontal. This should bend them, and
relax the arms more.

On a long trip you might find riding one handed and having the other
forearm on the tank might help. As might a tankbag

Zebee

 

Oh, if you've never been through there then that's all right.
The Cann Valley Highway is worth a look too. Big Iain, I think,
had a great route which criss-crossed the mountains, only about
three times as far as the direct route ... I tend to come around
the back of Mt. Buffalo

Hmmm. I'd be looking at the other things first then. Posture and
relaxation, wrist position. Another weird one is throttle stickyness
.... I find my wrist fatigues quicker if the throttle 'drags', since
every tiny speed adjustment works against that drag.

No idea. It'll be in the owners manual, or if you'd like a shopping
list of things done ask the mechanics to quote.

Eh? Why? Does it eat plugs? Otherwise, just change plugs when you
change the oil ... gives you a chance to inspect the plugs regularly,
and you shouldn't really put an old plug back in so you don't want
to do this with Pt.

Compression test is a piece of piss once you've got all the fairings
and crap out of the way, so I imagine they won't mind if you ask.
Won't necessarily tell you anything you need to know, though, you'd
be better off looking at the plugs.

If you're interested in learning a bit about this stuff, Haynes do a
'Motorcycle Basics Manual' which is well worth it for beginners,
will tell you how to read plugs, etc.

-----sharks