Stuffing rags is a trick us mortals have to use. We just don't have the courage to keep fishing bolts and sockets out with the certainty that retrieval is inevitable.
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Required reading for all forum users!!!
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Top 10 Newbie Mistakes
- Thread starter Nessism
- Start date
C
coyoteyip
Guest
This is a good thread for us newbies. Now I can count it as another I've caught up on via this site so my own noob questions are more informed. I found this thread because it was in the sig of Nessism and he replied to one of my recent posts (thanks!)
I'll add that patience is truly a virtue. As frustrating as us noobs can sometimes be; if one is truly eager and open to learning, then there is no such thing as a stupid question. I work at a university where I'm in a position to mentor my younger staff and to teach students and one thing I always keep in mind is that part of being a newbie in a particular field (or just young and by definition a newbie in every field
is that sometimes they don't know the right questions to ask, much less the answers. For instance, a moto noob would not necessarily know that it helps, when asking for advice, to offer extra info like your weight, riding style, or region; that has to be learned just like the wave.
I've found this forum, like the forum for my previous bike, to be mostly full of incredibly generous and knowledgable riders and wrenchers. The reasons I enjoy motorcycling is a) to ride (5,000 miles a year on average; can't get enough) and b) to be in the position of student, constantly learning new things about a whole new field from folks like you all. I'm ready to absorb it all; so bring it on!
I'll add that patience is truly a virtue. As frustrating as us noobs can sometimes be; if one is truly eager and open to learning, then there is no such thing as a stupid question. I work at a university where I'm in a position to mentor my younger staff and to teach students and one thing I always keep in mind is that part of being a newbie in a particular field (or just young and by definition a newbie in every field
is that sometimes they don't know the right questions to ask, much less the answers. For instance, a moto noob would not necessarily know that it helps, when asking for advice, to offer extra info like your weight, riding style, or region; that has to be learned just like the wave.I've found this forum, like the forum for my previous bike, to be mostly full of incredibly generous and knowledgable riders and wrenchers. The reasons I enjoy motorcycling is a) to ride (5,000 miles a year on average; can't get enough) and b) to be in the position of student, constantly learning new things about a whole new field from folks like you all. I'm ready to absorb it all; so bring it on!
B
BADJACKSON
Guest
I read it. I like 11 best. All are useful tips.
I don't think I paid too much.
Now if only I had a fuel tank...
I don't think I paid too much.
Now if only I had a fuel tank...
Allie
Forum Sage
This is a good thread for us newbies. Now I can count it as another I've caught up on via this site so my own noob questions are more informed. I found this thread because it was in the sig of Nessism and he replied to one of my recent posts (thanks!)
I'll add that patience is truly a virtue. As frustrating as us noobs can sometimes be; if one is truly eager and open to learning, then there is no such thing as a stupid question. I work at a university where I'm in a position to mentor my younger staff and to teach students and one thing I always keep in mind is that part of being a newbie in a particular field (or just young and by definition a newbie in every field
I've found this forum, like the forum for my previous bike, to be mostly full of incredibly generous and knowledgable riders and wrenchers. The reasons I enjoy motorcycling is a) to ride (5,000 miles a year on average; can't get enough) and b) to be in the position of student, constantly learning new things about a whole new field from folks like you all. I'm ready to absorb it all; so bring it on!
Good post... for a newb lol! Welcome to the site, and the journey!
B
Bob
Guest
Hello!! I am a complete noob!! I was given a 1982 GS850L...the bike has sat in a barn for about 5 years! I was about to put full synthetic10w-30(all I had sitting in my garage) Drain the gas tank, put fresh gas in and see if it would turn over...I want to make sure it is going to before I put some time into it!!How bad would this be to do??
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You'll do better to just clean the carbs, do the valve adjustment, and run through all of the maintenance listed here and on Basscliff's site (http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff first to give you a good starting point. As this thread tries to allude to, it gives you a good known baseline to start from instead of trying to fight at least 5 years of neglect.
Steve
GS Whisperer
While the urge to hear it run can be somewhat overwhelming, you may be doing some damage in the process. Tame your noob-ness a bit, do some of the basic stuff that is outlined in the guide, USE THE PROPER MATERIALS (oil should be 10w-40), and you will be rewarded with a well-running motorcycle.
What part of oHIo? You might be close enough for some in-person help from a local member.
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Allie
Forum Sage
Hello!! I am a complete noob!! I was given a 1982 GS850L...the bike has sat in a barn for about 5 years! I was about to put full synthetic10w-30(all I had sitting in my garage) Drain the gas tank, put fresh gas in and see if it would turn over...I want to make sure it is going to before I put some time into it!!How bad would this be to do??
What you might do is make sure it has some oil in it, pull all the plug wires and see if the engine will crank. If it does then do a compression check. If the engine cranks and has good compression everything else is a slam dunk. Best not to run the engine until you sort out all of the basics though.
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Bob
Guest
Ok, my buddy came over...we have compression!!! So, in the process...my throttle is stuck...one of the carbs are stuck...kinda odd, Hoping it was the mice I found in the air intake left an acorn or something in the carb...haha..also tank is rusty...bad...I will do more searching on the forums!! I'll start a new post with updates!! Thanks for the input!! I live near Lima!!
X
Xanthius
Guest
As an admitted newbie, just beginning a rebuild, I just wanted to say I greatly appreciate this post. I have read it and will likely be rereading it about 16 more times as I make progress on my project. So, in short, thank you 
G
gsnewbie68
Guest
New to the community here I have always loved Suzuki 's I recently picked up a 79 gs850 great shape runs great he sold it to me for $375 because it would not charge even after he replaced the stator following the stator papers I found the stator was not putting out enough ac voltage 25v at 5k rpm each leg anyway after reading through these forums thoroughly I bought my Clymer book today going to have patience and go through this right I've rode her for 25 miles fell in love can't wait to go through her and get maintenance done up properly before I ride some more planning on a nice winter run through thanks to you all for this thread I agree it should be sticky. Oh and my wife agreed on telling me it's dinner 10 minutes early because it's hard to tear me away when I have something unfinished.
J
JayT
Guest
This is all gold. I'm finding several things (swingarm, suspension, carbs, and etc) to fix in my 550 daily. But now I know what to do after I get the bike built. Thanks for the wise words!
L
lettuceman44
Guest
For #7, the rewiring, I'm a little confused by what R/R is. Can anyone give me a quick definition?
Regulator/rectifier
T
T3nrec
Guest
Amazing wisdom. Thanks for all the advice, wish I would have seen it sooner. Thankfully I havn't done anything drastic, as it is still not running. In the process of a complete carb rebuild now. Looking forward to keeping tabs on everything here! Until I get it in my profile...1980 GS450s, northwest Illinois.
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BoCoMoMann
Guest
Don't ever take your bike to the shop and tell them what to do based on any internet discussions from people who have never physically seen your motorcycles.
That being said, use the advise given on the internet to further educate yourself for if and when you do take it to the shop, but don't belittle them (coordinator/technician/human) with too much B-S from the digital world.
And the standard:
That being said, use the advise given on the internet to further educate yourself for if and when you do take it to the shop, but don't belittle them (coordinator/technician/human) with too much B-S from the digital world.
And the standard:
- You don't tug on superman's cape
- You don't spit into the wind
- You don't pull the mask off that old lone ranger
- And you don't mess around with the forum mods (if you care about sticking around)
I take it you work in a shop.
L
Lonemoccasin
Guest
So being a forum, and motorcycle gearhead newbie I am in need of some help on my bike. I have been grilling Steve constantly ( I am sure in his mind I have a squeaky mouse voice screaming out by now). I am hoping that there may be somebody on here who is in my general vicinity that can provide some physical help from time to time (including some day soon). I am in the Kansas City metro area. I would rather gain some of the technical wisdom required by watching and learning firsthand. This thread is awesome to be sure! I would add to this list... remembering you actually have a tool to accomplish a given task after having already scratched or slightly damaging some part with a wrong fitting or unqualified tool.
