OMG will it ever end!!!

[GS1100e_RIDER]

Ok took the bike in to the shop just for a tune up,carbs were in need of a cleaning and you know how it gos,sprockets and new chain why not its there and needs to be done,was going to take how long ,a week ,Ok guess we could go without for one week....here we are at almost 3 weeks later and kicking ourself in the butt for even putting it in there in the first place....I know it will be better once we get it back,but man it's hard all the pretty days we've had and the wasted weekend...This sux........

[TheCafeKid]

Sorry kiddies, but mistake ONE was taking that bike to a shop. Hope it comes back running better than it did when it left. Next time you guys need somethin done, holler! Its a ride, but with this big ol GK i gots me now, i can stuff some tools in it and hit the road. Or im sure there are a few GSR members in the area that might be happy to show you guys how to work on these things yourself. Thats the only way you can assure it will get done right, and you wont get charged 60 bucks an hour for some kid to stand here lookin at parts with his head all cocked like a confused dog and scratching his head. You're lucky you didnt get "Why the heck you wanna fix that old thing anyway??" out of them...

[Steve]

Next time you guys need somethin done, holler! Its a ride, but with this big ol GK i gots me now, i can stuff some tools in it and hit the road. ...

And what he can't fit in his bike, I can fit in mine. What won't fit there, will certainly fit in the trailer.





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[renobruce]

And what he can't fit in his bike, I can fit in mine. What won't fit there, will certainly fit in the trailer.





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That's a very sweet set-up. NICE!!

[TheCafeKid]

That's a very sweet set-up. NICE!!

I SWEAR I will never be a 'Winger, (Kip was absolutely horrible the last time I saw him at a local dive BTW) but i have to say it IS a sweet set up. And it SOUNDS sweet too, when you can hear it at all.

It is certainly an odd site watching a trailer being towed by a bike from behind it. The bike is leaning in the corners, but the trailer doesnt. Weird view.

[GS1100e_RIDER]

Oh I feel sorry for the guy if....lol

Sorry kiddies, but mistake ONE was taking that bike to a shop. Hope it comes back running better than it did when it left. Next time you guys need somethin done, holler! Its a ride, but with this big ol GK i gots me now, i can stuff some tools in it and hit the road. Or im sure there are a few GSR members in the area that might be happy to show you guys how to work on these things yourself. Thats the only way you can assure it will get done right, and you wont get charged 60 bucks an hour for some kid to stand here lookin at parts with his head all cocked like a confused dog and scratching his head. You're lucky you didnt get "Why the heck you wanna fix that old thing anyway??" out of them...

I pray it comes back running just like it went in if not better,or I feel sorry for the guy after chris gets ahold of him...after all thats his pride and joy we are talking about here,but on the real chris was going to do the work his self but was worried about messin the carbs up I told him we could jump on here and find the info but wouldnt ya know it our internet was down so with the pushing of a friend of his that takes his bike to this guy he decided we would just let him rebuild the carbs........
Thank you for the offer to help and you know you wouldnt need to make that ride just to help us out you could, just to meet some new GS riding friends,We have some great riding around here

[GS1100e_RIDER]

And what he can't fit in his bike, I can fit in mine. What won't fit there, will certainly fit in the trailer.





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Nice set up and you know you are welcome to come along to

[GS1100e_RIDER]

repair manual

can you guys direct me on where to get a good repair manual?

[spyug]

You really do need to learn how to do your own service work with these old bikes or you are totally at the mercy of the shop.

That being said, you can often luck out with an outfit that does right by you. I am lucky in that respect and my guy is aces but because he is so good he is always swamped. I buy all my stuff from him and only get him to do certs on the bikes I buy/sell .Usually he says drop it in and I'll get it done tomorrow but tomorrrow always turns into a week and a half. Exasperating, but I've learned to live with it. Best time to get shop work done is over the winter.

As the others mention, get yourself the manual, some basic hand tools, digital multimeter and circuit tester and you should be good to go. When you have an issue, read up here and ask the questions. We have all been there so someone has the answer.

A good way to get to know your way around the bike is take it apart bit by bit for in depth cleaning. Simple things first like side panels, seat, gas tank etc. As your confidence increases pull off wheels, chain, brakes etc. In no time you'll be a pro.

Hope you get it back soon and the bill is not too out of line.

Thinking good thoughts for you.

cheers,
Spyug.

[GS1100e_RIDER]

You really do need to learn how to do your own service work with these old bikes or you are totally at the mercy of the shop.

That being said, you can often luck out with an outfit that does right by you. I am lucky in that respect and my guy is aces but because he is so good he is always swamped. I buy all my stuff from him and only get him to do certs on the bikes I buy/sell .Usually he says drop it in and I'll get it done tomorrow but tomorrrow always turns into a week and a half. Exasperating, but I've learned to live with it. Best time to get shop work done is over the winter.

As the others mention, get yourself the manual, some basic hand tools, digital multimeter and circuit tester and you should be good to go. When you have an issue, read up here and ask the questions. We have all been there so someone has the answer.

A good way to get to know your way around the bike is take it apart bit by bit for in depth cleaning. Simple things first like side panels, seat, gas tank etc. As your confidence increases pull off wheels, chain, brakes etc. In no time you'll be a pro.

Hope you get it back soon and the bill is not too out of line.

Thinking good thoughts for you.

cheers,
Spyug.

Yes you are right it will not go back in the shop we are going to try and do the work ourself for now on,with you great people Im sure if we ran into any problems help is just a click away.

[Flaggo60]

You really do need to learn how to do your own service work with these old bikes or you are totally at the mercy of the shop.

This is the first year I've realized that. My '81 650 has been trouble-free for the 19 years I've had it, and every year until this one when i started it for the first time in the spring and took it down the road, I would come back smiling.

This year one cylinder wasn't firing. Took it to a local shop, small KTM dealer off the beaten track but well known. Got it back, wallet $150 lighter, and one cylinder wasn't firing. Rather than take it back again, I got on the Forum.

After a lengthy discussion on the forum the folks here convinced me a home carb cleaning wasn't the end of the world. I'm finishing a couple of jobs I had on the go and the carbs will be next. I'm actually looking forward to it, as I know there will be welcome support should I run into a problem.

Since the bike is down now, the painted bits are out for a repaint and the shiny bits will be going for a reshine.

I'm actually excited about it.

[rudy]

Nothing like wrenching on your own bike. Makes life that much more satisfying, and the peace of mind knowing it was done right (or wrong). It's also good to know that should problems arise on a trip, you'll be able to figure out what the problem is, and decide if it's bad enough to call for backup.


Steve, I've seen a rig that makes yours look like a child's toy. An older 1200 Wing with some kind of HUGE aftermarket luggage, passenger seat had a big duffel bag strapped to it, side car the size of the bike with a decent sized trunk in it, and still pulling a trailer almost twice the size of yours.

Didn't have my camera handy, otherwise I would have gotten a picture for y'all to see. Can't imagine it was too safe, as that's a LOT of weight to pull/stop. This whole rig made some pickup trucks run and hide in shame!

[Steve]

I have a couple of pictures on my computer at home that also put my little trailer to shame.
But doggone it, it's my trailer, and the color match is pretty darn close.

One of them shows a bike, might be a Shadow or other metric V-twin, towing a 17-foot canoe.

Another shows a Kawasaki Voyager 1200 towing a motorcycle-size camping trailer, but he has a cooler on the tongue that adds so much weight to the coupler that he built a dolly for the trailer tongue to rest on. This gives him a very manageable 15-20 pounds of weight on the bike's hitch, while the coupler of the trailer is pushing down with about 100 pounds on the dolly. I don't remember how much he said the entire rig weighed, but I know it's more than I would want to pull without trailer brakes.

[Griffin]

Yes you are right it will not go back in the shop we are going to try and do the work ourself for now on,with you great people Im sure if we ran into any problems help is just a click away.

Where are you guys located at? There are several knowledgeable GSers in central Indiana, and a couple in northwestern Indiana as well.

And we love to help.

[Steve]

I have a couple of pictures on my computer at home that also put my little trailer to shame.
But doggone it, it's my trailer, and the color match is pretty darn close.

One of them shows a bike, might be a Shadow or other metric V-twin, towing a 17-foot canoe.

I just discovered that I have the canoe picture in my Photobucket file:


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