I’m flabbergasted! You just potentially saved the customer £4000 & fixed the problem. That’s worth a payment & I certainly hope off camera he forced payment on you. Your Experience & time is most certainly worth a consideration
Dealers dont want that kind of work, exploration on an old bike, hours recorded at an honest rate. They prefer doing an oil change on 1 year old bikes with 2k miles on it for 260 quid for half an hours work and 50 quid parts.
@@krissi66x Tbh sounds like an inexperienced mech, if not... then honestly i'm shocked. I used to work at a dealer and we bent over backwards for our customers, I won't go into details as could cause trouble but the customer always came first. To misdiagnose a lever catching on a side stand is utterly shocking. I always tell people to try checking the easy stuff first because more often than not it is something daft like this. Also £4000 is a disgrace, when i checked for a 2nd and 6th gear to fix my 5PW R1 it was about £400 for the parts imported from Japan and getting at the gearbox is relatively easy too
To be fair to the dealer, the problem hadn't been fully inspected, just like after this test ride As in this case, there was thought to be an internal problem, but once on the bench the problem was found. Who's to say the dealer wouldn't also have found it, and the 4K was just a worst case scenario.
Mechanic wouldn’t give a shit, he still gets paid regardless. I’m sure if the mechanic actually had it on a stand and actually looked at it he would have realised. Mechanic only took it on a test ride.
Oh well, it just shows me that not only is there a shortage of good motorcycle mechanics here in Australia, it’s a wide spread problem in other countries. 4 grand….bloody thieves. Keep up the great work and videos 👍👍
I bought the very same bike in 1998 at Carnells Manchester, (R998DVR) under the condition that I did all the servicing and they stamped the book. They agreed as long as I get the service parts from them. I have never and will never trust a dealer to work on my bikes.
I did once. They put my engine back together 180deg out of time. I didn't even bother contacting them, just sorted it myself and vowed to never again let an idiot with a certificate touch my stuff.
Bought a new CBX in '78 from a well known multi franchise in Farnborough, Hants, steering felt odd. They'd put the front wheel in but left the spindle fork clamps finger tight.
Good work Jim, just a comment on bending alloy bits - heat them with a gas torch and then apply constant medium pressure while applying heat and you will rarely if ever snap a lever. Steel ones you can bend without heat no problems.
This is just the sort of thing I try to help with, in my UA-cam videos. I'm tired of seeing people get ripped by arseholes trying to make a quick buck, or worse yet, people who just don't know what the hell they are doing. You're a good man, Jim. There are fewer and fewer of us.
Reminds me of a story from about 15 years ago. A friend bought a KTM 200EXC spares or repairs. It had recently got a full engine rebuild at a local KTM dealer, the chap had got it back and it would change up through the gears fine but it was hit and miss changing down. They point blank refused to do anything about it for him so he sold it cheap to cut his losses. The gear lever was put back on 1 tooth too low so it was hitting the bash plate when down shifting. We moved it up one spline and it was absolutely perfect.
No. Fucking. Way. It amazes me how often people don't 'fault diagnose' properly. They immediately go to worst case situation and don't work methodically through the problem. You, sir are the embodiment of how to work through an issue methodically step by step.
This honestly has a lot to do with dealerships and the lack of training new/novice mechanics are given. A lot of new/novice mechanics are basically given a bingo card with all the most common problems, their descriptions, symptoms and possible solutions to fix them. They then need to match them up all the symptoms and the end result is always throwing parts at it because novices lack the experience or the qualifications to delve deeper and chase faults like a proper technician or more experienced mechanic might. Throwing parts is also because for them. If the stars align (which they rarely do.) it gets the job done quicker. So instead of spending days/hours diagnosing and chasing problems with one bike. They can get your bike out the way so they have space for more bikes. This is also why independent or self employed mechanics like the one always swearing here are almost always better than most dealerships. They have experience and arent limited to the bingo card when it comes to diagnosing. The main problem with independent mechanic is finding an honest one that wont try to con you, rip you off or cheat you and only doing half a job when youre paying for the full service.
I spent 4 hours trying to sort a van once. Customer was adamant the battery was fully charged. The battery was dead. Lesson learned. Bow I check regardless
Because it's old and the dealer probably wasn't interested,,but fair play for the honest sorting out,,☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland,, great result 👍👍👍
Nice one jim! Main dealers suck,many years ago(1980's)i got my first dealer bike,an xs250. Had just on 3k on it and was lovely,a few days in i noticed it being a little sloppy in the rear end,checked it and found play in the swing arm bushes. Took it in to get it done under their warranty and picked it up after work. Ride for a few days more enjoying the new toy and it started again so had a look and it was loose again. Cutting it short,they just wound it up tighter as they said they couldnt get the shaft out! Never taken a bike in to fix since,learnt hiw to do more for myself,done a needle bearing conversion and fitted a grease nipple and 67,000 miles if abuse later was still fine. sold it three or four times and always got it back. Except for the last sale when the guy blew the motor after forgetting the oil after a service! Main stealers is what they are. RIP VLF303S.
Nearly every time I've given an issue to a mechanic, I've ended up re doing what they stuffed up in the process of repairing the specific issue... or, in worst case scenario, I bent a rod in a diesel Nissan patrol as the RACQ agent mechanic in Maryborough Queensland Australia left the intake hose off the pre cleaner.... sucked up a gutfull of water...
Hi jim i had a very similar problem on my XJR1300 and it was the small spring on the selector arm keep the great videos coming what a brilliant fix honest Jim.
Just subscribed. I have a one in blue,1998. Had it since new. Possibly one of the only one owner,completely original R1's in the country. Will never sell.
Measure up the bush on the gear lever pivot - see if you can get a replacement bronze bush from the bearing suppliers ? I've worn out those little ball joints before and had the rod fall off - no gears at all !
Bloody brilliant ! I thought I had a similar problem with my Tiger 1050 Sport, it turned out to be my new boots !! They were a little stiff and I didn’t realise I was not lowering my foot enough between up changes, so it wouldn’t change…. I was almost ready to ride it to the dealer, but I tried my summer boots and everything was fine…. Lesson learned….
Avoid jumping to a conclusion before pondering the problem a bit more. I've been bitten by this a few time in my life. I love how you really explore and investigate. Thank you.
Goes to show how honest you are Jim, sadly the main stealers no longer have experienced mechanics, just plug it in and change what the computer tells them to. Keep up the great work.
I Shit you not, the very first moments of the video I said "selector tubbing/ poorly adjusted" and BANG! I was right! What I want to say though, how crap main dealers can be (I'm speaking from experience) and just how honest and decent a human being you are my man! Could have easily left this video on the shelf and not UA-cam it, rake the guys money, let's say 2k? But no... You are one of few like me who are honest and hard working! This is why I do all works on my own bikes, keep up the good work my man 👍
Wow nice to see a simple fix, great to see a genuine guy like you at work, with all this about main dealers failing is this part of the problem without the the economy and manufacturers sales pressure.
This is quite a modern problem. Owners haven't a clue how their bikes work and have to trust a dealer. Dealers don't pay proper mechanics wages and end up with what they pay for. Usually someone who's capable of changing the oil and not much else. When I started riding, we understood how a bike worked and if we didn't then we knew someone who did, and did this sort of thing easily and regularly. Major repairs were still carried out by owners with the help of mates. Between us we could do most things.
What a top bloke you are Jim, not many honest people around nowadays. Wish I knew you when I had my GSXR1000 that had a horrible vibration between 3500 and 4500 and was told in the end it was all in my head.
Good stuff. Stories like these are why I've learnt to do a lot of maintenance and repair work myself for both bikes and cars. When I need 'professional' help I seek out enthusiast independents.
Absolutely gobsmacked, I personally own a 5 PW R1 and must admit I don't like going to main dealers for reasons in this vid, but glad it was sorted by someone genuine.
Got told by my local yamaha dealer that they no longer service or work on bikes older than 10 years old. Says a lot about the quality of technicians they have, doesn't it.
I was quoted many hundreds of pounds to fit a new starter motor and starter clutch on my Honda . One dark night I saw sparks from the battery area . Turned out the cable had corroded inside the connector on the battery . £12 for a new cable fixed it . Did it myself . That was a Honda agent too !!!
Yup looks like the alloy hanger slightly bent in. Makes a nice change for a easy fix, normally you have the whole bike in bits. Then you notice what you did with the gear lever catching on the side stand.
The best one yet. Some of these dealers just can't be bothered and want to just keep bolting on new parts (at the customer's expense) in the hope they eventually fix the problem. Just as well this guy came to you before throwing £4k at a non-existent problem!
In the non too distant past, the vast majority of riders would have easily diagnosed that fault WELL before ever resorting to visiting a dealership either by themselves or with the assistance of other LOCAL, like minded motorcycle enthusiasts. It seems that these days there are many motorcycle USERS (treat them like an appliance) but most lack even basic mechanical or electrical skills. Look after the bike and the bike will look after you and you will live longer.
Good Man. I had a similar problem with my 350LC, when the adjuster on the selection lever started undoing itself and the gearbox "got stuck" in top gear and couldn't shift down. Gave me a giggle... Always check the simple shit first...
This is the reason I chose to learn every aspect of my bike and do everything myself. Granted, learning takes time,but the experience i receive learning the process absolutely makes up for the saving. I would certainly never put my trust in others to do the job for me and charge a fortune for something people can do themselves. Dont be afraid of getting your hands dirty, youtube can be very helpful these days.
It’s a great reminder to all of us to Fully understand the circumstances when something isn’t working properly. Rudyard Kipling tells us to know who, what, where, when, why and how. Nice video Jim.
Top man, found your site a few months back & watched all your posts. Most impressed with your 'Old school' way of picking through each job explaining your thought process. Being in my 64th year it's refreshing & gives me hope that there's still good honest people out there who don't rip people's arses out for easy money. Thanks again for giving this old fart a glimmer of hope for the future. Top, top man😉👍👌👏👏👏
well done , thats the kind of mechanic you hang onto ,,, honest . After watching that bit of the video again theres a small dent in the tank low down , so it may have fallen over at some point and bent the bracket.
And here I was hoping it was the long promised lcarb balancing video 😅 That was a great result and well diagnosed. It's funny how many of us default to presuming the worst
Had the same problem with my last restoration - '87 FZR1000. Both the brake and shifter were sloppy on the pin. I got some aviation grade teflon tape - the kind used around the perimeter of the inspection panels to reduce chafing - and it took all the slop out while adding a nice, low-friction surface. I hope he bought you dinner or a whole bunch of beers for that one. You're a rare breed; The Last Of The Honest Mechanics.
Jim did the carbs and valve clearances on my R&W 4XV. It’s the knowledge of things like the recall dot marks against the VIN number that highlights his knowledge and experience in the industry. Fully recommended 👍
I had a Jaguar XKR where the dealer in Lincoln said needed £2k in repairs, I took it to an independent Jaguar specialist who after a hour of tests could find no faults as described by the dealer.
I thought selector mechanism problem straight away. Nice one Jim . I was holding my breath when you bent it back !, god knows what would cost nowdays .
Had the same problem with a Thunderace years ago dealer wanted megabucks but experience told me something else and I was right. Really nice video and I'm really glad everything got sorted.
Mechanics are just like any other people. Some are amazing at their job and some are bloody useless. This is why I've done all my own work on all my cars and bikes for the last 30 years. Because nobody cares about doing a good job on my vehicles more than I do.
Makes you wonder if the guy had took it to the dealer stripped it down and found F/A wrong with it . The more I watch your videos Jim the more I distrust dealers You are a diamond mate thanks
It would be fun to hear other subscribers worst fault diagnosis mistakes. I spent a morning cleaning my GP100. Went for a ride and thought my clutch had packed up. Got VERY angry with the bike, then noticed I hadn't tightened the screws on a casing so the push rod was separating the casing instead of operating the clutch.
A rare thing, an honest mechanic.👍 Always question what they tell you. I had some work done for which I was charged an arm and a leg, I was also told my clutch was worn. What they didn't know was that the clutch had been replaced and had done less than 3000 miles so I knew it was in no way worn. 🤬 Another opportunity to make money from nothing but at what cost as now they've lost any further work from me!🤷♂️
First of all bravo to you for your keen eye and knowledge. Second, although you said no charge I hope the guy dropped you a good tip for saving him a pile of cash . And third, that is a nice looking bike. Always been my favourite looking R1 even though I’m a Gixxer fan myself. 👍👍
Good on him for not charging, but the owner of the bike should have pulled his wallet out straight away and put 100 bucks at least in his hand. He has just saved thousands of dollars in repair costs. Tight arses are the real problem, don't want to pay for quality repairs and then complain that it's hard-to-find good tradies.
Nice. When i saw the play in the lever i also suspected the top clamp because sometimes they can wear out over time and then don't grab the shaft properly. Happy customer!
My yam dealer in Exeter gave me back a front wheel after a faulty hub replacement with only 6 out of 36 spokes actually done up! That's attempted murder surely? The only time in over 30 years I've let someone else touch my bike. Keep em coming Jim. Good on you mate.
It's not just Yamaha. I'm a Honda man. I picked up a new bike. Switch Gear was loose, Hand guard too. The Anti Freeze , bare minimum. This was after them giving me a check sheet highlighting all the "check" they'd completed and ticked off. Supposedly by their head mechanic.
Absolutely disgraceful that's why I do not go to main dealer's now I have ducati found brilliant mechanic same as yourself honest and that's what people want new subscriber and definitely will give thumbs up to video and the chap whose bike it is should put it up on social media word will get round and that dealership will be done no need for it
What would be the point? They’d just shrug it off. I reckon they didn’t want to touch it, so just quoted a ridiculous figure to encourage the guy to go away.
years ago when i was green i took my cbr929 to a local dealer as it wasn't firing up. They checked the fault codes which pointed to a crank sensor, (i didn't know shit at the time)it's under a cover held by 2 bolts. (£50 new) they had a used one lying around , swapped it , all this must have taken 30minutes. they charged me £400.
Damn it! I'd finally decided it was time to let my early R1 go this spring. This video just reminded me what a beautiful bike it is.. back to square one.
I've just got nearly 4 minutes in and you're about to go for a test ride. I'm thinking that the gear shaft at the top of the linkage from the foot pedal, that's slipping on the splines. So when you change it's not always going into gear as it should. Or clutch cable is too loose and not allowing the pressure to come off the plate and select gears quite so easily, well until you ease off the throttle and unload the gearbox. Lets see what happens in the next 10mins......
Hahahahahahahahahah - fkn side stand. I do hope that the Yamaha dealer in question watches this and feels like a right pillock becuase to not do much else and quote someone 4k is bollox. You'd at least say, let's have it in a do some basic checks on lever, splines, clutch etc before jumping to engine & gearbox out - W⚓'s Why can't dealers just be honest and up front or is there a severe lack of quailified people anymore with some basic fault finding skills.
WOW, when you took the bike down the road I thought I was watching a Space X launch! I like it, and by the way I had the same problem on my 125 after it fell over. Cheers Jim and have a great weekend.
I had an R1 5JJ once where the long rod that goes through the frame was slightly bent and it made it behave just like this. I still have it in a box somewhere. The bend is hardly noticeable unless you roll it on a flat plane.
Wow £4000. Always worth getting a second opinion. People like you Jim are very hard to come by, everyone always tells you the worst and wants to rip you off.
Similar story with an AlfaSud in the 1980s. Judder during braking and changed the front inboard discs. No change. Had an exhaust change and noticed the gearbox tail was loose. Changed the bush and all was then ok. Just the start of the hard journey of being a new young DIY mechanic!!
I have taken my TL1000R to 4 garages due to an electrical problem, where as the bike keeps burning out stators x 2, Rectifier x2, starter relay x3. Each repair costing upwards of £400 only to have exact same problem come back just days later. And to this day I still cant find a garage that can identify the cause, all they do is repair the symptoms of the problem. I feel these garages are taking the piss. I have lost all confidence in garages, they give me loads of B.S on how good their mechanics are and even use a skilled Suzuki technician. I'm all out of hope on ever riding my much loved TL again without worrying its going to break down. These garages have my bike in their workshops for 2-3 months at a time.
What a decent, honest mechanic you are, Jim.
He´s not jewish that´s for sure.
I’m flabbergasted! You just potentially saved the customer £4000 & fixed the problem. That’s worth a payment & I certainly hope off camera he forced payment on you. Your Experience & time is most certainly worth a consideration
My thoughts exactly.
suspect like most trades - it’s the “fuck off we cant be arsed” price
That is how I learnt how tradesmen work when they can't be arsed to do a job. OVER PRICE IT!!! If you get it, you don't mind doing it.
They call it a Fuck Off Tax
I agree, it’s the can’t be bothered price.
Hope you got a drink out of it Jim, you deserve one for saving the fella a fortune.
LOL!
Dealers dont want that kind of work, exploration on an old bike, hours recorded at an honest rate. They prefer doing an oil change on 1 year old bikes with 2k miles on it for 260 quid for half an hours work and 50 quid parts.
And a lot of them wouldn't have the skill to strip that bike down ...wankers!
Well they should tell the customer that instead of wasting people's time
You're a freakin' legend Jim. Being able to diagnose and save the customer not only money but alleviate the potential stress of the repair.
That dealer should be named and shamed, that's disgraceful!
Agree
@@spx1416 yes m8i----Imagine how many of the oldest R1's have this common wear??? A hush hush mechanics secret no doubt!
@@krissi66x Tbh sounds like an inexperienced mech, if not... then honestly i'm shocked. I used to work at a dealer and we bent over backwards for our customers, I won't go into details as could cause trouble but the customer always came first. To misdiagnose a lever catching on a side stand is utterly shocking. I always tell people to try checking the easy stuff first because more often than not it is something daft like this. Also £4000 is a disgrace, when i checked for a 2nd and 6th gear to fix my 5PW R1 it was about £400 for the parts imported from Japan and getting at the gearbox is relatively easy too
Don't worry I expect the doors will be shut very quickly!
To be fair to the dealer, the problem hadn't been fully inspected, just like after this test ride As in this case, there was thought to be an internal problem, but once on the bench the problem was found. Who's to say the dealer wouldn't also have found it, and the 4K was just a worst case scenario.
That's what I like about you Jim,honesty.....first thing I would do is take it back to that Yamaha dealer and show that mechanic what it actually was.
I'd go back and show him what a 1936 Morris startin handle was!
Exactly my thought!
Do you really think they care?!
Mechanic wouldn’t give a shit, he still gets paid regardless. I’m sure if the mechanic actually had it on a stand and actually looked at it he would have realised. Mechanic only took it on a test ride.
Oh well, it just shows me that not only is there a shortage of good motorcycle mechanics here in Australia, it’s a wide spread problem in other countries.
4 grand….bloody thieves.
Keep up the great work and videos 👍👍
I bought the very same bike in 1998 at Carnells Manchester, (R998DVR) under the condition that I did all the servicing and they stamped the book. They agreed as long as I get the service parts from them. I have never and will never trust a dealer to work on my bikes.
Amen too that
I did once. They put my engine back together 180deg out of time. I didn't even bother contacting them, just sorted it myself and vowed to never again let an idiot with a certificate touch my stuff.
Bought a new CBX in '78 from a well known multi franchise in Farnborough, Hants, steering felt odd. They'd put the front wheel in but left the spindle fork clamps finger tight.
Good work Jim, just a comment on bending alloy bits - heat them with a gas torch and then apply constant medium pressure while applying heat and you will rarely if ever snap a lever. Steel ones you can bend without heat no problems.
Intriguity, Knowledge, Honesty, makes a man Great!
Intriguity? That's brilliant man 😁👏
THIS VIDEO SHOULD GO VIRAL what a great job. cant believe potential 4k bill and not fixed.
This is just the sort of thing I try to help with, in my UA-cam videos. I'm tired of seeing people get ripped by arseholes trying to make a quick buck, or worse yet, people who just don't know what the hell they are doing. You're a good man, Jim. There are fewer and fewer of us.
OMG! Thank god for skilled AND decent honest guys like yourself Jim 👍
Lane does look a tad cleaner now ☺️
Reminds me of a story from about 15 years ago. A friend bought a KTM 200EXC spares or repairs. It had recently got a full engine rebuild at a local KTM dealer, the chap had got it back and it would change up through the gears fine but it was hit and miss changing down. They point blank refused to do anything about it for him so he sold it cheap to cut his losses.
The gear lever was put back on 1 tooth too low so it was hitting the bash plate when down shifting. We moved it up one spline and it was absolutely perfect.
That's why they gone under
No. Fucking. Way.
It amazes me how often people don't 'fault diagnose' properly.
They immediately go to worst case situation and don't work methodically through the problem.
You, sir are the embodiment of how to work through an issue methodically step by step.
This honestly has a lot to do with dealerships and the lack of training new/novice mechanics are given. A lot of new/novice mechanics are basically given a bingo card with all the most common problems, their descriptions, symptoms and possible solutions to fix them. They then need to match them up all the symptoms and the end result is always throwing parts at it because novices lack the experience or the qualifications to delve deeper and chase faults like a proper technician or more experienced mechanic might.
Throwing parts is also because for them. If the stars align (which they rarely do.) it gets the job done quicker. So instead of spending days/hours diagnosing and chasing problems with one bike. They can get your bike out the way so they have space for more bikes.
This is also why independent or self employed mechanics like the one always swearing here are almost always better than most dealerships. They have experience and arent limited to the bingo card when it comes to diagnosing.
The main problem with independent mechanic is finding an honest one that wont try to con you, rip you off or cheat you and only doing half a job when youre paying for the full service.
There's money in misdiagnosis!
I spent 4 hours trying to sort a van once.
Customer was adamant the battery was fully charged.
The battery was dead.
Lesson learned. Bow I check regardless
Because it's old and the dealer probably wasn't interested,,but fair play for the honest sorting out,,☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland,, great result 👍👍👍
Nice one jim! Main dealers suck,many years ago(1980's)i got my first dealer bike,an xs250. Had just on 3k on it and was lovely,a few days in i noticed it being a little sloppy in the rear end,checked it and found play in the swing arm bushes.
Took it in to get it done under their warranty and picked it up after work. Ride for a few days more enjoying the new toy and it started again so had a look and it was loose again. Cutting it short,they just wound it up tighter as they said they couldnt get the shaft out! Never taken a bike in to fix since,learnt hiw to do more for myself,done a needle bearing conversion and fitted a grease nipple and 67,000 miles if abuse later was still fine. sold it three or four times and always got it back. Except for the last sale when the guy blew the motor after forgetting the oil after a service! Main stealers is what they are. RIP
VLF303S.
Nearly every time I've given an issue to a mechanic, I've ended up re doing what they stuffed up in the process of repairing the specific issue... or, in worst case scenario, I bent a rod in a diesel Nissan patrol as the RACQ agent mechanic in Maryborough Queensland Australia left the intake hose off the pre cleaner.... sucked up a gutfull of water...
Hi jim i had a very similar problem on my XJR1300 and it was the small spring on the selector arm keep the great videos coming what a brilliant fix honest Jim.
Just subscribed. I have a one in blue,1998. Had it since new. Possibly one of the only one owner,completely original R1's in the country. Will never sell.
Measure up the bush on the gear lever pivot - see if you can get a replacement bronze bush from the bearing suppliers ? I've worn out those little ball joints before and had the rod fall off - no gears at all !
Great work but does raise the question of how honest dealers are.
Great video as always.
Bloody brilliant ! I thought I had a similar problem with my Tiger 1050 Sport, it turned out to be my new boots !! They were a little stiff and I didn’t realise I was not lowering my foot enough between up changes, so it wouldn’t change…. I was almost ready to ride it to the dealer, but I tried my summer boots and everything was fine…. Lesson learned….
Avoid jumping to a conclusion before pondering the problem a bit more. I've been bitten by this a few time in my life. I love how you really explore and investigate. Thank you.
Goes to show how honest you are Jim, sadly the main stealers no longer have experienced mechanics, just plug it in and change what the computer tells them to. Keep up the great work.
I Shit you not, the very first moments of the video I said "selector tubbing/ poorly adjusted" and BANG! I was right! What I want to say though, how crap main dealers can be (I'm speaking from experience) and just how honest and decent a human being you are my man! Could have easily left this video on the shelf and not UA-cam it, rake the guys money, let's say 2k? But no... You are one of few like me who are honest and hard working! This is why I do all works on my own bikes, keep up the good work my man 👍
You are a gem mate...honest as they come
Wow nice to see a simple fix, great to see a genuine guy like you at work, with all this about main dealers failing is this part of the problem without the the economy and manufacturers sales pressure.
You are a legend, thank you for sharing this, every video I learn something, always start with the basics
This is quite a modern problem. Owners haven't a clue how their bikes work and have to trust a dealer. Dealers don't pay proper mechanics wages and end up with what they pay for. Usually someone who's capable of changing the oil and not much else.
When I started riding, we understood how a bike worked and if we didn't then we knew someone who did, and did this sort of thing easily and regularly. Major repairs were still carried out by owners with the help of mates. Between us we could do most things.
sometimes it is the most basic things that can be the issue. It's like the accelerator on my car is stuck down, only to find the car mat is over it.
I know nothing about motorbikes but am now hooked on learning more from your channel.
What a top bloke you are Jim, not many honest people around nowadays.
Wish I knew you when I had my GSXR1000 that had a horrible vibration between 3500 and 4500 and was told in the end it was all in my head.
What was it then?
@@jayflash2035 Harmonics?
We are thankful there are people like you around Jim, a better advert for you i cannot imagine. Roll on next Friday
Good stuff. Stories like these are why I've learnt to do a lot of maintenance and repair work myself for both bikes and cars. When I need 'professional' help I seek out enthusiast independents.
The experience and the knowledge is what you pay from a good mechanics.. The proper diagnosis is the key.. Thats what long years of experience does.
The first video I have watched had to join because of your honesty
Appreciate your integrity. Just bagged yourself another subscriber.
Absolutely gobsmacked, I personally own a 5 PW R1 and must admit I don't like going to main dealers for reasons in this vid, but glad it was sorted by someone genuine.
Maybe like many car shops their so called mechanics are just ponsified parts fitters or that's how it sometimes seems.
Always interesting listening to a real mechanic explain what he is doing and how things work.
Got told by my local yamaha dealer that they no longer service or work on bikes older than 10 years old. Says a lot about the quality of technicians they have, doesn't it.
its more to do with the corrosion associated with age. it can take a lot more time dealing with rusty, corroded, seized fasters
@Gruxxan On a 10 year old bike? Lol, bollocks.
@@LookingForEntertainment112 not bollocks, lol
They want you to buy a new bike.
And customers with old bikes are often whining penny pinching ...........
@@redtobertshateshandles Or, you know, collectors with a garage full of bikes for them to service? Lol, the entitlement in your comment is amazing.
I was quoted many hundreds of pounds to fit a new starter motor and starter clutch on my Honda . One dark night I saw sparks from the battery area . Turned out the cable had corroded inside the connector on the battery . £12 for a new cable fixed it . Did it myself . That was a Honda agent too !!!
Yup looks like the alloy hanger slightly bent in. Makes a nice change for a easy fix, normally you have the whole bike in bits. Then you notice what you did with the gear lever catching on the side stand.
The best one yet. Some of these dealers just can't be bothered and want to just keep bolting on new parts (at the customer's expense) in the hope they eventually fix the problem. Just as well this guy came to you before throwing £4k at a non-existent problem!
That shifter bush is pretty knackered, wise move to let the guy decide how to proceed
In the non too distant past, the vast majority of riders would have easily diagnosed that fault WELL before ever resorting to visiting a dealership either by themselves or with the assistance of other LOCAL, like minded motorcycle enthusiasts. It seems that these days there are many motorcycle USERS (treat them like an appliance) but most lack even basic mechanical or electrical skills. Look after the bike and the bike will look after you and you will live longer.
Can't believe the owner didn't see this himself
Good Man. I had a similar problem with my 350LC, when the adjuster on the selection lever started undoing itself and the gearbox "got stuck" in top gear and couldn't shift down. Gave me a giggle... Always check the simple shit first...
This is the reason I chose to learn every aspect of my bike and do everything myself.
Granted, learning takes time,but the experience i receive learning the process absolutely makes up for the saving.
I would certainly never put my trust in others to do the job for me and charge a fortune for something people can do themselves.
Dont be afraid of getting your hands dirty, youtube can be very helpful these days.
It’s a great reminder to all of us to Fully understand the circumstances when something isn’t working properly. Rudyard Kipling tells us to know who, what, where, when, why and how. Nice video Jim.
Top man, found your site a few months back & watched all your posts. Most impressed with your 'Old school' way of picking through each job explaining your thought process. Being in my 64th year it's refreshing & gives me hope that there's still good honest people out there who don't rip people's arses out for easy money. Thanks again for giving this old fart a glimmer of hope for the future. Top, top man😉👍👌👏👏👏
well done , thats the kind of mechanic you hang onto ,,, honest . After watching that bit of the video again theres a small dent in the tank low down , so it may have fallen over at some point and bent the bracket.
And here I was hoping it was the long promised lcarb balancing video 😅
That was a great result and well diagnosed. It's funny how many of us default to presuming the worst
I love your work, Jim. Decency through and through.
Well done, and it's nice you didn't charge him for anything as well.
Fair play Jim, one very happy customer and shows the world you are not a con man like these dealerships. Well done mate.
Had the same problem with my last restoration - '87 FZR1000. Both the brake and shifter were sloppy on the pin. I got some aviation grade teflon tape - the kind used around the perimeter of the inspection panels to reduce chafing - and it took all the slop out while adding a nice, low-friction surface. I hope he bought you dinner or a whole bunch of beers for that one. You're a rare breed; The Last Of The Honest Mechanics.
Jim did the carbs and valve clearances on my R&W 4XV. It’s the knowledge of things like the recall dot marks against the VIN number that highlights his knowledge and experience in the industry. Fully recommended 👍
I had a Jaguar XKR where the dealer in Lincoln said needed £2k in repairs, I took it to an independent Jaguar specialist who after a hour of tests could find no faults as described by the dealer.
You’re a true gent👌🏻
Not many around these days!
I thought selector mechanism problem straight away. Nice one Jim . I was holding my breath when you bent it back !, god knows what would cost nowdays .
Excellent honest work, great to see it still exists, thank you 👍👍
Had the same problem with a Thunderace years ago dealer wanted megabucks but experience told me something else and I was right. Really nice video and I'm really glad everything got sorted.
Lovely catch Jim, amazing what you can see when you open your eyes!
Brilliant mate you are a god saved me money on my R1 exup valve keep making videos thanks again
I love the added heads up display for when you're on the bike that's a nice little upgrade
Mechanics are just like any other people. Some are amazing at their job and some are bloody useless. This is why I've done all my own work on all my cars and bikes for the last 30 years. Because nobody cares about doing a good job on my vehicles more than I do.
Makes you wonder if the guy had took it to the dealer stripped it down and found F/A wrong with it . The more I watch your videos Jim the more I distrust dealers
You are a diamond mate thanks
It would be fun to hear other subscribers worst fault diagnosis mistakes.
I spent a morning cleaning my GP100. Went for a ride and thought my clutch had packed up. Got VERY angry with the bike, then noticed I hadn't tightened the screws on a casing so the push rod was separating the casing instead of operating the clutch.
A rare thing, an honest mechanic.👍
Always question what they tell you. I had some work done for which I was charged an arm and a leg, I was also told my clutch was worn. What they didn't know was that the clutch had been replaced and had done less than 3000 miles so I knew it was in no way worn. 🤬
Another opportunity to make money from nothing but at what cost as now they've lost any further work from me!🤷♂️
First of all bravo to you for your keen eye and knowledge. Second, although you said no charge I hope the guy dropped you a good tip for saving him a pile of cash . And third, that is a nice looking bike. Always been my favourite looking R1 even though I’m a Gixxer fan myself. 👍👍
great job lad good on you 4 not charging him well done
Good on him for not charging, but the owner of the bike should have pulled his wallet out straight away and put 100 bucks at least in his hand. He has just saved thousands of dollars in repair costs. Tight arses are the real problem, don't want to pay for quality repairs and then complain that it's hard-to-find good tradies.
Nice. When i saw the play in the lever i also suspected the top clamp because sometimes they can wear out over time and then don't grab the shaft properly. Happy customer!
That has to been the best Christmas present that guy will get this year, 4K Quote from a dealer wow pays to get a second opinion
My yam dealer in Exeter gave me back a front wheel after a faulty hub replacement with only 6 out of 36 spokes actually done up! That's attempted murder surely? The only time in over 30 years I've let someone else touch my bike. Keep em coming Jim. Good on you mate.
Top Man Jim...... just going to post this video in the R1 4XV forum.
Nice one Jim, these dealers are either clueless idiots or blatant thieves, neither option is good! It's why I back myself and do all my own work.
It's not just Yamaha. I'm a Honda man.
I picked up a new bike. Switch Gear was loose, Hand guard too. The Anti Freeze , bare minimum. This was after them giving me a check sheet highlighting all the "check" they'd completed and ticked off. Supposedly by their head mechanic.
Absolutely disgraceful that's why I do not go to main dealer's now I have ducati found brilliant mechanic same as yourself honest and that's what people want new subscriber and definitely will give thumbs up to video and the chap whose bike it is should put it up on social media word will get round and that dealership will be done no need for it
It would be interesting to see what the dealer has to say,after the fix for slightly less than £4k.
What would be the point? They’d just shrug it off.
I reckon they didn’t want to touch it, so just quoted a ridiculous figure to encourage the guy to go away.
@@munter10 yeah,you might be right.I just want people to be honest.Perhaps I’m gullible
Honest bloke. A credit to mechanics. My advice is, seek two or more quotes even with cars.
years ago when i was green i took my cbr929 to a local dealer as it wasn't firing up. They checked the fault codes which pointed to a crank sensor, (i didn't know shit at the time)it's under a cover held by 2 bolts. (£50 new) they had a used one lying around , swapped it , all this must have taken 30minutes. they charged me £400.
Damn it! I'd finally decided it was time to let my early R1 go this spring. This video just reminded me what a beautiful bike it is.. back to square one.
What like about these videos is Jim being like Sherlock of motorbike world and this one was an easy case.
Cracked me up at "4 grands please" 😁
I've just got nearly 4 minutes in and you're about to go for a test ride. I'm thinking that the gear shaft at the top of the linkage from the foot pedal, that's slipping on the splines. So when you change it's not always going into gear as it should.
Or clutch cable is too loose and not allowing the pressure to come off the plate and select gears quite so easily, well until you ease off the throttle and unload the gearbox.
Lets see what happens in the next 10mins......
Hahahahahahahahahah - fkn side stand. I do hope that the Yamaha dealer in question watches this and feels like a right pillock becuase to not do much else and quote someone 4k is bollox. You'd at least say, let's have it in a do some basic checks on lever, splines, clutch etc before jumping to engine & gearbox out - W⚓'s
Why can't dealers just be honest and up front or is there a severe lack of quailified people anymore with some basic fault finding skills.
Honesty is the best policy. Respect Jim.
got the same bike..............i'll watch for that ! thx.
Great work Jim. 👏
I've liked, subscribed and i look forward to seeing more of your videos.
WOW, when you took the bike down the road I thought I was watching a Space X launch! I like it, and by the way I had the same problem on my 125 after it fell over. Cheers Jim and have a great weekend.
I had an R1 5JJ once where the long rod that goes through the frame was slightly bent and it made it behave just like this. I still have it in a box somewhere. The bend is hardly noticeable unless you roll it on a flat plane.
If the world had more guys like jim, it'd be a better place.
Wow £4000. Always worth getting a second opinion. People like you Jim are very hard to come by, everyone always tells you the worst and wants to rip you off.
Maybe the side stand is worn and slightly bent too.
Well done Jim,,that's one happy customer
When I was 18 I changed the gearbox on an Alfasud because I couldn't get rid of a really bad clunk. Turned out the wheel studs were loose.😢
Similar story with an AlfaSud in the 1980s. Judder during braking and changed the front inboard discs. No change. Had an exhaust change and noticed the gearbox tail was loose. Changed the bush and all was then ok. Just the start of the hard journey of being a new young DIY mechanic!!
What an honest guy you are but thought the punter would be happier with the news
To be honest, I don't think he completely believed me to start with!
Do we stil have real mechanics or are they now trained as new part fitters? Great diagnostics.
Jim, this is why I love your videos. common sense!
Top man. Had this issue on my sons Honda 500x.
Altered the pivot and wd40'd everything, issue disappeared. Garage quoted £1k 😂....
I have taken my TL1000R to 4 garages due to an electrical problem, where as the bike keeps burning out stators x 2, Rectifier x2, starter relay x3. Each repair costing upwards of £400 only to have exact same problem come back just days later. And to this day I still cant find a garage that can identify the cause, all they do is repair the symptoms of the problem. I feel these garages are taking the piss. I have lost all confidence in garages, they give me loads of B.S on how good their mechanics are and even use a skilled Suzuki technician. I'm all out of hope on ever riding my much loved TL again without worrying its going to break down. These garages have my bike in their workshops for 2-3 months at a time.
Well done Jim, shame on the Yamaha dealers so called experienced mechanic for not checking the visually obvious right off, Shared on my Facebook page.
As with everything keep clear of main dealers and the big companies.