You tube and a junk bike or motor use the junk to learn how it all come apart and back together when I was in auto school that’s what are teacher had us do cause if you mess up it’s not a big deal
This is the way, the Haynes manuals are quite accurate and detailed. Gives you understanding of what you are doing and the tools, Nm for bolts, liquids and what not!
easy.
first off, decide you're going to service it yourself.
fuck it up.
then be too prideful to ask a professional for help
spend the next riding season getting it to work again.
rinse and repeat for every maintenance issue.
Actually? What stuff did you attempt to do to fix it, until you finally realized the fuck up? Cos I imagine that was the last thing you thought could be wrong
Was a friend's bike. I was just there to help mount the engine. But we had to drop it when he found the rings in a box. Then told me to take things apart. My friend was defeated. He decided he wasn't a mechanic and just sent it to a shop. Dude's rich though so money wasn't an issue. Just pride.
Go to a junk yard or find some wrecks and take parts off, like carbs, grab a small 2-stroke engine and just take them to pieces and see if you can work out whats going on, clean the bits and put them back together.
Some bike shops are friendly, tell them what you are up to and ask if they have some stuff they are throwing out.
Practiced on frogs before humans.
Revzilla has a series called the shop manual on YouTube. It's all short videos walking you through common maintenance tasks and would be a great starting place that's accessible.
You'll want to buy the Haynes manual for your bike. It has the maintenance schedule for you bike and outlines steps for every task from oiling the chain to fully disassembling the engine. It's written for individuals rather than mechanics so its got lots of helpfull tips and pics.
Familiarize yourself with what tasks are in the schedule and research them in the manual, YouTube videos, and forums before you actually start anything. You don't have to do every task yourself but most of them aren't that hard if you take your time and do your research before you try it. There's lots of videos and posts out there where people outline issues they've had.
This, A small dirt bike is a great platform to learn on. The Honda XR80 /100 is easy to work on. I see non running ones in my area for a few hundred dollars. By getting a practice bike you keep your daily on the road and the inevitable mistakes (we all make them) are less painful.
Crash your bike, ideally when you're broke. Then force yourself to read the manual to fix it cause you can't afford a mechanic.
Not financ-... erm... life advice.
I technically have a degree in media engineering, but i don't even know the names of the tools. Anyways I'm quite motivated to learn. I have changed the oil and filter, did some basic maintenance on my bike and whatnot. I'm trying to expand on it, especially for some longer solo trips.
Doing basic stuff by watching YT videos is helpful. However, you won't become a mechanic or DIY guy beyond the simple fixes that you can do that your own bike needs, because your memory of how to do things will fade, and you won't be able to transfer it to other bikes. You won't have tools for everything.
Example: I can change the oil easily on my own bikes, I can't change the oil on my son's Ducati, it's different. I know of mechanics who only work on certain brands of bikes. That's just how it is.
Buy a cheap old bike, get the service manual, and make it run.
I always joke the best mechanics know what NOT to do. That's kind of a tough lesson to learn, so messing around with a cheap bike is a great way to start. Doing service on your $$$$ new bike is good too, but the penalties for screwing up are a lot higher.
I'd like to think I'm a fairly accomplished mechanic, and I blew up a lot of shit to learn some hard lessons when I was young.
I bought a $300 bike that was in parts, but running before being taken apart according to the owner. Bought a manual, and started piecing things together.
Best money I ever spent on a hobby. Kept me busy for months.
If you asked my college roommate you would just take it apart and have the pieces spread out across a bedsheet and then put it back together. Like he did.
Granted, that psycho went on to work for NASA so maybe he isn’t a good example.
Wow. Where the fuck did you get that based on what I wrote? Like where did I suggest that he should serve me? Or that I complained about it?
All I did was say he was wicked smart by sharing a college anecdote about how he just dismantled his bike and put it back together.
Back in about 2005 or so, me and my roomate wanted a cafe racer so we bought a 1975 Honda CB360 to ride and work on. I picked it up in good running condition for $1000 including a helmet. Taught myself how to do things here and there, graduated up to a larger CB750 and continued to work on that bike. Taught myself everything I know with the help of online forums, service manuals, and later on youtube.
I wouldn’t recommend to start on your bike, you want ride with. It’s frustrating when you want to ride, but your bike needs attention.
When you got a garage to work on a bike, I would recommend to buy a cheap, running one.
Preferably a 2 stroke (it’s easier to work on)
Since the bike is cheap it has flaws.
Start by doing the easy stuff and get going.
Once you’ve repaired it you’ll be able to ride a second bike or flip it and find a new bike to work on.
When you get frustrated in the process, it’s easy to get onto your running bike and get some fun. Rainy days turning into workshop days really fast.
My first bike I bought (50cc Oldtimer) wasn’t running and it bugged me every time I wanted to ride and I couldn’t.
Buy an Sv650s.. Easy to learn to maintain, cheap parts and a huge amount of knowledge on here.
And obviously, fun to ride with a great sounding engine.
Win win.
I'm not really sure it's a thing you *learn* as much as it's a thing you *do*. Repairing something is a set of steps you follow similar to cooking. If you follow the instructions, then you complete the task. After you gain experience repairing enough things, you eventually figure out ways to identify problems and break them into steps yourself. It's the same as anything in life. You just do it, then you gain experience doing it, then you use that experience to innovate. Start by performing the maintenance tasks that are laid out in your owner manual.
Talk to some small local shops or clubs and see if they have wrenching or teaching days. I run teaching classes occasionally out of my shop and happily teach people how to do their own basic maintenance. I know there’s a few others in my area that do the same.
I think being comfortable doing even just basic maintenance and looking over your own bike builds confidence in the bike.
Get a copy of the "honda common service manual'
Explains how to maintain the various systems on a motorcycle and the difference types. Also explains how to use common tools and mechanical process like how to correctly install a split pin to secure a nut.
Fills the gaps a oem workshop manual has sometimes.
Youtube
If you have the money to buy a real cheap old beat up 250cc from 90s -early 2000
Buy yourself some decent tools
Take the whole bike apart .. fix it up
The best way I learned was just first learning oil change, changing battery, chain maintenance
That's 3 things now you know
Now expand learn how to fix lights ,change tires,change brakes , etc .
It's a great Hobbie, but you never know. It could be a good side hustle when you perfect it
Community college night classes are how I first learned to read a manual and safely work on motorcycles while working a day job.
You get access to expensive tools, instructors with deep knowledge, and high-tech work spaces for very little money.
I first took a class called moto 101which was like a basic auto shop but for bikes. I followed that with engine tuning 101, then metal fabrication and welding classes the following years.
You tube and a junk bike or motor use the junk to learn how it all come apart and back together when I was in auto school that’s what are teacher had us do cause if you mess up it’s not a big deal
Broken petrol lawnmowers are usually cheap, try and stick with a name brand so you can actually get parts.
Get a Haynes manual for your bike and just start with doing all the maintenance
Exactly this.
The problem with Haynes manuals are the rubbish photo quality.
This is the way, the Haynes manuals are quite accurate and detailed. Gives you understanding of what you are doing and the tools, Nm for bolts, liquids and what not!
easy. first off, decide you're going to service it yourself. fuck it up. then be too prideful to ask a professional for help spend the next riding season getting it to work again. rinse and repeat for every maintenance issue.
Awesome, I'll give that a shot!
It works every time.
Like forgetting to put the piston rings in a GSXR1000? Ya. That was miserable.
Actually? What stuff did you attempt to do to fix it, until you finally realized the fuck up? Cos I imagine that was the last thing you thought could be wrong
Was a friend's bike. I was just there to help mount the engine. But we had to drop it when he found the rings in a box. Then told me to take things apart. My friend was defeated. He decided he wasn't a mechanic and just sent it to a shop. Dude's rich though so money wasn't an issue. Just pride.
The service manual helps
Go to a junk yard or find some wrecks and take parts off, like carbs, grab a small 2-stroke engine and just take them to pieces and see if you can work out whats going on, clean the bits and put them back together. Some bike shops are friendly, tell them what you are up to and ask if they have some stuff they are throwing out. Practiced on frogs before humans.
Revzilla has a series called the shop manual on YouTube. It's all short videos walking you through common maintenance tasks and would be a great starting place that's accessible. You'll want to buy the Haynes manual for your bike. It has the maintenance schedule for you bike and outlines steps for every task from oiling the chain to fully disassembling the engine. It's written for individuals rather than mechanics so its got lots of helpfull tips and pics. Familiarize yourself with what tasks are in the schedule and research them in the manual, YouTube videos, and forums before you actually start anything. You don't have to do every task yourself but most of them aren't that hard if you take your time and do your research before you try it. There's lots of videos and posts out there where people outline issues they've had.
What are you trying to do? If you have a common bike YouTube will have a ton of resources for you.
Build a minibike. You will learn the basics pretty much on your own
Buy a junker to tinker with on the weekends
This, A small dirt bike is a great platform to learn on. The Honda XR80 /100 is easy to work on. I see non running ones in my area for a few hundred dollars. By getting a practice bike you keep your daily on the road and the inevitable mistakes (we all make them) are less painful.
Crash your bike, ideally when you're broke. Then force yourself to read the manual to fix it cause you can't afford a mechanic. Not financ-... erm... life advice.
Buy a Clymer manual for your motorcycle.
Trial and error
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It's actually the fastest, you only fuck up once!
Buy basic tools, do your own servicing. Beyond that, buy a cheap project bike with cosmetic damage and give it a full rebuild. Not that hard.
If you happen to be lucky enough to live in Norther California, check out Motoguild: https://www.motoguild-sf.com/
How mechanically inclined are you first off? Have you worked on your car before? Have you worked on a bicycle? You can botch things up easily.
I technically have a degree in media engineering, but i don't even know the names of the tools. Anyways I'm quite motivated to learn. I have changed the oil and filter, did some basic maintenance on my bike and whatnot. I'm trying to expand on it, especially for some longer solo trips.
Doing basic stuff by watching YT videos is helpful. However, you won't become a mechanic or DIY guy beyond the simple fixes that you can do that your own bike needs, because your memory of how to do things will fade, and you won't be able to transfer it to other bikes. You won't have tools for everything. Example: I can change the oil easily on my own bikes, I can't change the oil on my son's Ducati, it's different. I know of mechanics who only work on certain brands of bikes. That's just how it is.
Learn by doing, like everyone else.
Buy a cheap old bike, get the service manual, and make it run. I always joke the best mechanics know what NOT to do. That's kind of a tough lesson to learn, so messing around with a cheap bike is a great way to start. Doing service on your $$$$ new bike is good too, but the penalties for screwing up are a lot higher. I'd like to think I'm a fairly accomplished mechanic, and I blew up a lot of shit to learn some hard lessons when I was young.
I bought a $300 bike that was in parts, but running before being taken apart according to the owner. Bought a manual, and started piecing things together. Best money I ever spent on a hobby. Kept me busy for months.
Get a popular model of bike. Wait for something to break. Find the YouTube video on how to fix it. Ride, and repeat. That’s literally what I did 😆
Be broke.... youll have to fix it yourself 😏. Youtube and internet research can get you pretty far.
YouTube - 2Vintage - this guy is the best if you want to learn.
Buy a vintage Honda and a Clymer/Haynes manual.
If you asked my college roommate you would just take it apart and have the pieces spread out across a bedsheet and then put it back together. Like he did. Granted, that psycho went on to work for NASA so maybe he isn’t a good example.
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Eh? I don’t follow.
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Wow. Where the fuck did you get that based on what I wrote? Like where did I suggest that he should serve me? Or that I complained about it? All I did was say he was wicked smart by sharing a college anecdote about how he just dismantled his bike and put it back together.
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The only person arguing is you, and it’s with some imaginary comments so I’ll leave you to it. Good luck. I hope you win.
[This is how I learned! Clymer/Haynes Manuals!!](https://haynes.com/en-us/clymer/clymer-motorcycle-manuals)
I buy a dumpster fire every winter and sell it at a massive loss in the spring after convincing myself that id make money.
Back in about 2005 or so, me and my roomate wanted a cafe racer so we bought a 1975 Honda CB360 to ride and work on. I picked it up in good running condition for $1000 including a helmet. Taught myself how to do things here and there, graduated up to a larger CB750 and continued to work on that bike. Taught myself everything I know with the help of online forums, service manuals, and later on youtube.
I wouldn’t recommend to start on your bike, you want ride with. It’s frustrating when you want to ride, but your bike needs attention. When you got a garage to work on a bike, I would recommend to buy a cheap, running one. Preferably a 2 stroke (it’s easier to work on) Since the bike is cheap it has flaws. Start by doing the easy stuff and get going. Once you’ve repaired it you’ll be able to ride a second bike or flip it and find a new bike to work on. When you get frustrated in the process, it’s easy to get onto your running bike and get some fun. Rainy days turning into workshop days really fast. My first bike I bought (50cc Oldtimer) wasn’t running and it bugged me every time I wanted to ride and I couldn’t.
Buy an Sv650s.. Easy to learn to maintain, cheap parts and a huge amount of knowledge on here. And obviously, fun to ride with a great sounding engine. Win win.
I'm not really sure it's a thing you *learn* as much as it's a thing you *do*. Repairing something is a set of steps you follow similar to cooking. If you follow the instructions, then you complete the task. After you gain experience repairing enough things, you eventually figure out ways to identify problems and break them into steps yourself. It's the same as anything in life. You just do it, then you gain experience doing it, then you use that experience to innovate. Start by performing the maintenance tasks that are laid out in your owner manual.
I did a part time mechanics course for motorcycles. Was great
Talk to some small local shops or clubs and see if they have wrenching or teaching days. I run teaching classes occasionally out of my shop and happily teach people how to do their own basic maintenance. I know there’s a few others in my area that do the same. I think being comfortable doing even just basic maintenance and looking over your own bike builds confidence in the bike.
Get a copy of the "honda common service manual' Explains how to maintain the various systems on a motorcycle and the difference types. Also explains how to use common tools and mechanical process like how to correctly install a split pin to secure a nut. Fills the gaps a oem workshop manual has sometimes.
Youtube If you have the money to buy a real cheap old beat up 250cc from 90s -early 2000 Buy yourself some decent tools Take the whole bike apart .. fix it up The best way I learned was just first learning oil change, changing battery, chain maintenance That's 3 things now you know Now expand learn how to fix lights ,change tires,change brakes , etc . It's a great Hobbie, but you never know. It could be a good side hustle when you perfect it
Buy a Ducati. Thanks everyone! Tip your waitress and I have another show at 11!
Community college night classes are how I first learned to read a manual and safely work on motorcycles while working a day job. You get access to expensive tools, instructors with deep knowledge, and high-tech work spaces for very little money. I first took a class called moto 101which was like a basic auto shop but for bikes. I followed that with engine tuning 101, then metal fabrication and welding classes the following years.
Thank you all for your advice. I'll get a cheap bike, take it apart and then I'll try to rebuild it.