Like many riders, I LOVE the feeling that I have had a hand in my bikes well being. I used to be content with an oil change, a throttle free-play adjustment and a lick of Carnauba. All of that changed after a decision to swap my stock exhaust for one with a little more throat...
After researching my options, I picked out the perfect pipes, ordered my jet kit and a nice, new gauze air filter. When everything arrived, I curbed my desire to start immediately since I knew it would take more time to complete than my standard oil change. I decided I would start early Sunday morning.
You might be saying to yourself, "I wouldn't have waited...” This brings me to my first point:
POINT 1: Motorcycle owners in NYC who rent their apartments don't have garages and must therefore work on their bikes on the sidewalk.
A long Saturday night finally gave way to Sunday morning, and equipped with my toolbox and service manual I got to work. I won't bore you with the details, but, - know you that:
Don't get me wrong, installing a jet kit is basically an easy task albeit time consuming. The carbs came off the bike with little resistance and drilling out the mixture screw caps was not all that big of a deal, but the float bowl screws... don't get me started! If you elect to jet your bike at home, here's a bit of advice for ya: be sure to have the right tools for the job. This brings me to point number two:
POINT 2: Motorcycle owners in NYC who work on their bikes on the sidewalk usually don't have all the tools needed to do the job right.
So,after my fight with the jet kit and two further attempts to remove the bowls, I elected to take the bike to a local shop. A friend of mine suggested that I try a local dealership, and I dutifully made my appointment and brought the bike to the shop. I was met by a wormy little tech who wore sunglasses in the shop due to the really, really bright lights in the store (I guess). He wrote up my work order between the cell phone calls he received from his buddies, and accepted the remaining parts I had in my jet kit without question. I asked that they check my valve clearance while they had the bike broken down already as I thought there might be a little tap there somewhere. He told me that it would be an additional $300 to do this. I asked why since the bike would already be broken down and he said that there is "a science to adjusting valves" and that is the price, take it or leave it. Like you, I imagine, I left it. Next point:
POINT 3: Motorcycle owners in NYC who don't have the right tools for the job are forced to go to people who will claim that, even the most basic jobs involve a bit of rocket science.
Before I left the shop, I was told that the job should be done before the end of the weekend. I was impressed as I brought the bike in on a Friday afternoon. Saturday at about 3:00, I received a call saying that one of the jets from the kit I brought in was missing. I told them that I found that strange since I inventoried the kit when I was attempting to do the install myself, and the kit had not been reopened since that time. They told me that was my problem and said that not only were they not responsible for the missing part, but that I would need to purchase a new kit at $85.00 to complete the job. I immediately called the company who I bought the kit from and they said they would send me a replacement right away at no charge. Hence point 4:
POINT 4: Motorcycle owners in NYC who need to bring their bikes to others for repair will be taken advantage of if they are not wary.
My due date of Sunday came and went which was to be expected since my tiny main jet was traveling all the way from California. Finally, I received a call on Thursday that I could come pick up the bike after 6:00pm. My old friend Wormy Sunshades was on hand to present my bill. The bill came to a little over $360.00. The bill read that this was for flat service at $85.00/hour plus tax. So for my final point:
POINT 5: Motorcycle owners in NYC will pay through the nose (or other orifice) if they don't do some or all of their service.
Okay... I'm sure you have similar stories and if not, agree with my points above. The question is what can be done about it, and I have come up with the solution. It's called Rosies Garage and will be opening here in New York in the Spring of 2003. Rosies will be the first Do-it-Yourself motorcycle repair shop. By providing a private bay, a lift and a whole lotta tools, you can decide your own fate. Rosies will also offer storage space, an EGA and a Dyno.
For more information, please see our website at http://www.rosiesgarage.com/.
Ride what you like, and like what you ride but more importantly, RIDE SAFE!