Refused tune Up.. Now what?

[650BrownDeer]

Hi folks. I have a 1983 Suzuki 650 Tempter that I given late last year. Since then I've rebuilt the carb, changed the oil, new plugs and got it started. So far I see I'll need to replace the tack cable as there is nothing registering on it and perhaps a new wire harness or other work on the fuel tank since it reads empty even with over a gallon of fuel in it. (Perhaps thats normal and I need to fill the tank to know?)

Anyway, I contacted a local Suzuki dealer to ask for a price on two new tires and a tune up. The dealer told me if I brought in the rims, he'd put tires on it for me, but won't touch it for a tune up or other work. It's too old a bike for them to deal with, as it seems, in his words, you replace one thing and something else goes wrong.

I do understand what he is saying, but still need to have someone more mechanical minded and who has some knowledge about motorcycles (perhaps just in general) who can make sure the bike is in running shape and road ready.

Can anyone give me guidance on how to go about finding such a person? All the shops around this metro area seem to be either dealers in particular brands or what I percieve as more motorcycle gang type level. I admit I'm intimated by that. (Waiting, just waiting for a rice burner comment.)

Thanks!

[Nessism]

Short answer: do the work yourself.

Most shops are hacks and will take your money and do a half a$$ed job. Get a service manual and attack the problems. People around here will assist with advice.

[Billyboy]

Short answer: do the work yourself.

Most shops are hacks and will take your money and do a half a$$ed job. Get a service manual and attack the problems. People around here will assist with advice.

Second. I knew nothing two years ago. I've had my fingers in almost every part of the bike now. This site rocks. Don't trust shops.

[bwringer]

There are wizened olde farts here and there that do good work on antique bikes. But they're not fast and they're not cheap, and they're usually booked up through the next century. They also much prefer to work on machinery that's already been restored -- all the bolts that are going to break have already been broken and fixed.

A new guy with an old bike is very likely to get sticker shock at the labor bill and abandon the bike mid-project, leaving the mechanic with no cash (or in the hole for parts) and yet another mostly useless motorcycle carcass.

You're excused if you let a dealer mount your first couple of sets of tires. Changing your own tires is also fairly easy to do yourself when you're ready.

But do everything else yerdamself. Get all the manuals and information you can find at http://repairmanuals.com (Don't ask which one -- get them all -- Suzuki, Haynes, and Clymer.). Learn to use the search function here. Peruse Bikecliff's mega-welcome. Ask in the tech forum if you have a question. You can do it.

In most northern latitudes, all the best mechanics are down at the Ford dealer doing brake jobs -- it's very difficult to make an actual living as a motorcycle mechanic in places where it snows. The employment at most dealers and shops is seasonal, so you basically have a crowd of teenagers and drifters attacking motorcycles with rusty pliers and hammers. It's not pretty.

So for the love of all that's good and holy and capable of generating thrust, please do NOT take your GS to a shop.

With the help of this site, an untrained but attentive owner will outperform the "perfeshunal" motorcycle mechanic morons every time.

[rustybronco]

"how to to get your motorcycle professionally repaired"

1. buy a mirror
2. look in it
3. ask here

done...
next question?

[rustybronco]

7:27 pm I posted last. by 7:55pm I did this...



ask, think, do...

and yes it has an air box.

[jknappsax]

There's an old saying among contractors, " I can't see it from MY house!", basically saying take the money and run. You will CARE about your bike, and even with limited knowledge (but knowledgeable friends!) will probably do a better job than most of the "pros" out there.