Depression

Message

kiwi_rsvr · #1 Post by **kiwi_rsvr** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:29 pm

I have had to make a very difficult decision today and have decided to inflict the pain of my decision on this ere forum.

I have decided that I am going to have to cut Frankie's maintenance to the bone in order to save money.
I am stuck in that situation where I am damned if I do and damned if I dont.

I need a bike that can be maintained by myself or at least a local outfit so that means no more Aprilia meaning a Jap il4, but I have no money and Frankie aint worth much certainly not enough to get a replacement, yet I need a bike for commuting to offset the car costs.

So by dropping insurance to TPFT, pushing oil changes out to once a year, using cheaper brake pads, replacing tyres with part worns, riding earlier/longer in the year and only fixing what is critical I can save a very significant amount of money yet still have a bike.

Having just written this I now feel even more depressed, oh well back to the cider....alcohol helps after a while

#2 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:41 pm

Youre definately on the right forum, there's plenty of wizened (?) old (?) fettlers on here who can come up with solutions for keeping costs down on biking. Even they run out of creditcard sometimes when it comes to biking! (despite their prowess at selling people on bling!)

Oh and you get discount at Opie Oils purely from being a member here, so thats a start

Aladinsaneuk · #3 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:52 pm

what you like with a spanner?

and essex - not to far from me

with exception of shims check, i do all my own servicing , so come up with service bits - oil plugs etc and i will show you what to do or how to change pads etc

it just so happens that in a few weeks i am hoping to collect a nice bike lift that will make it easy to work on :)

oh... i do have a few spanners.....

Samray · #4 Post by **Samray** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:53 pm

Any two wheels are better than four, not suggesting a stepthro but nowt wrong with an IL4, or a jap.
I'd check out insurance costs for the first saving

(Nowt wrong with classics either)

D-Rider · #5 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:16 pm

I don't think the Aprilias are any more difficult to service than modern Jap stuff.
Maybe if you get an old air-cooled I4 things would be easier to service .... but it would probably need to be fixed and serviced far more often.

Pete's right that access to check the shims is a PITA and while we have the cash many of us choose to pay someone else for that chore .... but it's not beyond the whit of the competent home mechanic.

When money's tight then sometimes tough decisions have to be made - though I'm doubting that swapping to a Jap I4 is going to make home servicing easier.

BTW with you located where you are, I hope we'll see you at the Forum Norfolk weekend at the end of Sept.

Willopotomas · #6 Post by **Willopotomas** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:36 pm

How longs your commute? Loads of old sheds around that'll do that job.. Which if done right, will last for years. Look below the 400cc mark to bag yourself cheaper road tax too.

#7 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:43 pm

True.. and if you get a smaller bike, older, worth less, dependant on the insurer you can add it as a second bike for next to sod all. Old honda 400 import commuter, cb250, plenty to choose from. I was looking at a Ratted jap the other day on ebay that was going for under 400, solid mechanicals, full MOT, etc.. just looked a bag of shite. Ideal for commuting and means your pride and joy can stay in the manner it's accustomed as it doesnt have to do the mileage of commuting..

D-Rider · #8 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:47 pm

Now we're talking .... I justifiable plan for an additional bike

HisNibbs · #9 Post by **HisNibbs** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:36 pm

Change the oil yourself and clean the air filter once a year or about every 4 - 5K if your doing a reasonable mileage. Use decent road tyres not super soft. Adjust and lube chain.

That's about it.... No dealer required. I've checked the valves a couple of times myself and because I was checking other stuff had Griff do them last time at about 48,000 miles. They didn't need any adjustment in fact had'nt changed a thou since the first time of measuring.

Not more expensive than any other bike. I've just bought an old beemer for the touring and the up comming winter months, and have found that it's giving about the same MPG as the Falco.

Willopotomas · #10 Post by **Willopotomas** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:10 pm

Use old engine oil as chain lube.. apply with a tooth brush.. save's on expensive sprays.

spray the lot in hamerite or some sort of matt-black paint. stops rust and doesn't matter if you bin it.. Just spray over the top.

hi-temp paint the exhaust.. stop it rotting and falling off

find a manufacturer that share generic spares with other models. Kawasaki are good for this..

touring compound part worn tyres (as suggested)

fork gaiters will keep the stanchions going for longer

get rid or modify anything that's likely to be broken if dropped

make it mechanically sound, but also make it look like a total shed so that nobody will want to nick it.. taking the stands off saves weight.. just lean it against a lamp-post, tree or wall.. Some parking areas give you a railing to prop it against..

I'll post more as I remember them.. My BMW K100 was heading in this direction before It destroyed a Rover Metro..lol..

Nooj · #11 Post by **Nooj** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:20 am

Better the devil you know... You may find your replacement jap bike has all sorts of issues. My Falco's been far more reliable that either of my two properly maintained Fazers (one developed electrical issues, the other ate it's gearbox, both rusted horribly). The Missus' Fazer is starting to develop minor problems now, although it is coming up for 80,000 miles, so Jap doesn't always equate to reliability.

BikerGran · #12 Post by **BikerGran** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:01 am

Of course Jap doesn't always equate to Yamaha either........

kiwi_rsvr · #13 Post by **kiwi_rsvr** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:27 pm

Commute is 50 miles per day on mainly twisty roads, well sort of twisty.

400cc would have a hell of a hard time lugging my svelte 18 stone around, perhaps I can swap Frankie for a JCB or a Tank.

Willopotomas wrote:How longs your commute? Loads of old sheds around that'll do that job.. Which if done right, will last for years. Look below the 400cc mark to bag yourself cheaper road tax too.

kiwi_rsvr · #14 Post by **kiwi_rsvr** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:36 pm

I can do most things with a bike or a car (well okay my riding aint that clever and my driving is a bit Essex).

Have done everything from sprag replacement to valve's to electrics, I tend to do most servicing myself.

Frankie has been both the bain of my life, financially draining but so rewarding and that's what makes it so frustrating and depressing.

Spanners, what's one of them then?, I have a selection of hammers and a screwdriver surely thats suffcient ?

Aladinsaneuk wrote:what you like with a spanner?

and essex - not to far from me

with exception of shims check, i do all my own servicing , so come up with service bits - oil plugs etc and i will show you what to do or how to change pads etc

it just so happens that in a few weeks i am hoping to collect a nice bike lift that will make it easy to work on :)

oh... i do have a few spanners.....

Samray · #15 Post by **Samray** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:37 pm