The Wrench Monkey's Lounge

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by airforce1

Really, there are Some scenarios,
1. The guys who are are really expert and beat the flat rate by a BUNCH of time and do it right.
2. The guys that take forever and screw it up anyway
3. The guys that are pretty much competent and do it in about the time allowed.
4. The fellas that (these aren't the techs... who are stickin' it to the customers and selling bunchas of "menu" items.
5. The "techs" that are just learning and really trying to learn to do it right.
Keee-ripes! I like the guys in Cats 1 3 and 5
Wish that things were better....
Sometimes the customer is not right, but if we did a better job on the front end the customer would know what to expect and the PR would be better.

Best wishes for a better working relationship between the "dealer/shop" and the M/C owner. The M/C is a far more integrated and complicated machinge than the cage and the speed of change makes it hard for the "average" tech...
(mechanic?) to get right in the time allowed.
I would love to have a good "tech" in my back pocket!
Many, if not M/C folks are pretty much perfectionists, for GOOD reason!
Rode 400 miles today and wanted to be confident that "Me and my tech" had everything in place... It's no fun to call for a tow!
Ride On, Friends!

I would like to think I do good work.

I will not stop working on anything until its 100 % correct, if it costs me time and money, thats my problem.

Not much a guy can do when a bolt breaks off in a place that requires a lot of disassembly to drill and tap it out.
Hence the bolt I broke off.

Sometimes you are the dog, other days the fire hydrant.....today i was the hydrant.

[zedx11]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

Sometimes you are the dog, other days the fire hydrant.....today i was the hydrant.

been there many times.

[RichLockyer]

The only time my jobs take longer than planned is when I have to run to Sears to buy another tool (my 6 hour clutch job on the 1600), or when I have to run to BevMo for more beer because I misestimated how hot I was going to be working on it.


1 day closer to becoming the owner of a pair of vintage bikes!

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

The only time my jobs take longer than planned is when I have to run to Sears to buy another tool (my 6 hour clutch job on the 1600), or when I have to run to BevMo for more beer because I misestimated how hot I was going to be working on it.


1 day closer to becoming the owner of a pair of vintage bikes!

What bikes are you getting Rich?

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

What bikes are you getting Rich?

Couple of '81 CB750s.
A "K" in great shape, and an "SS" that was running poorly when it was parked.

Both were parked in '04, so I'm expecting some work... got room for both cleaned out in my storage unit, probably gonna go pick them up the 18th.

Debating on what to do with the SS... might chop it and make a bar hopper out of it... might keep it as a parts bike for the K, or might restore it and sell it to someone in my club.

[S Scott]

Originally Posted by Tod

Open Bar, and there's Beer and Soda in the Fridge, help yourself.

Come on in, crack open a cold one, and shoot the breeze with your buddies...uh, just wipe your hands first.

Time to replace tires on my 05 Concourse. Been told Avon Viper is the way to go..Do they make 'em for Connie and anybody got good vibes on the Viper?

[S Scott]

Sounds like you have lots of experience with mechanics. I'm trying to get feedback on tires. Time to replace tires on my 05 Concourse. Been told Avon Viper is the way to go..Do they make 'em for Connie and anybody got good vibes on the Viper?

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Couple of '81 CB750s.
A "K" in great shape, and an "SS" that was running poorly when it was parked.

Both were parked in '04, so I'm expecting some work... got room for both cleaned out in my storage unit, probably gonna go pick them up the 18th.

Debating on what to do with the SS... might chop it and make a bar hopper out of it... might keep it as a parts bike for the K, or might restore it and sell it to someone in my club.

Those are nice bikes...the fun part is now being able to hassle you for riding a HONDA....LOL

[StarGate]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

the fun part is now being able to hassle you for riding a HONDA)

Oh goody!!!

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by StarGate

Oh goody!!!

Rich likes to bust on honda riders, so its sweet to see him convert to the dark side.....LMAO

[StarGate]

I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one of those sandcast 750's. Right about now I'd take any brand project bike but I haven't found a thing around here so far. Well, unless I was willing to pay a fortune for a pile of junk that is.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

Those are nice bikes...the fun part is now being able to hassle you for riding a HONDA....LOL

Nope... I'll be working on it but my wife will be riding it!
I only plan to ride it as part of working on it and calculating fuel usage.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

Rich likes to bust on honda riders, so its sweet to see him convert to the dark side.....LMAO

Now when did I ever bust on a Honda rider?
I've always loved the Rune. The 'Wing just ain't me, but I've always said that it is quite possibly the ultimate touring bike.

Now the VTX series? Why couldn't they have just put EFI and decent ergos on the things from the git-go?

Their dirtbikes? Nice bikes if you don't mind doing a top end every 15 hours

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by StarGate

I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one of those sandcast 750's. Right about now I'd take any brand project bike but I haven't found a thing around here so far. Well, unless I was willing to pay a fortune for a pile of junk that is.

BTW: A local guy is offering up a KZ1000 cop bike at a very good price.
No paper, and it doesn't run... but the price is right

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Now when did I ever bust on a Honda rider?
I've always loved the Rune. The 'Wing just ain't me, but I've always said that it is quite possibly the ultimate touring bike.

Now the VTX series? Why couldn't they have just put EFI and decent ergos on the things from the git-go?

Their dirtbikes? Nice bikes if you don't mind doing a top end every 15 hours

The CRF models ya...the CR 2 smokes, and XR bikes are bullet proof.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

The CRF models ya...the CR 2 smokes, and XR bikes are bullet proof.

Well... ya... kinda hard to break a 2-smoke... and the XR is so solid that even the cheap Chinese clones of it in the $1200 bikes seem to be holding up!

[bretsk2500]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

I've always loved the Rune.

Where's a vomit smiley when you need one? I think the original Valkyrie is a FAR better looking bike than the Rune... Goes like stink to.......... for a cruiser.

[bretsk2500]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Well... ya... kinda hard to break a 2-smoke...

if ya lean a 2 smoke out too much, it's not hard at all to break one.... My cousin found that out the hard way on his YZ250 waaaaaay back in the day.

[StarGate]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

BTW: A local guy is offering up a KZ1000 cop bike at a very good price.
No paper, and it doesn't run... but the price is right

I see all sorts of bikes I'd buy for projects on ebay and craigslist out of other areas of the country. Unfortunately at todays gas prices, by the time I picked it up the cost of travel + the bike would exceed it's value. Seems like everyone anywhere remotely near me thinks a rusted up non runner is work 2-3k.