How to part a bike?

[joshr08]

yeah and i have to be honest in the almost 6000 miles i put on last year i didnt see 1 gs

[fred]

I'm with everyone else, put that bike together in a day or two and go ride it. Forget painting it, just toss some primer or whatever on the steel bits so they don't rust, put it back together and ride it. If you got a GSTwinner or two over for pizza and beer, you could be back up and running in an afternoon. If your choice is ditching the bike because you don't like the paint job or riding it, just ride it. No one is going to care what your paint job looks like. The people who will make fun of the paint job are the same people who would make fun of it anyways for being a "little" 500cc bike. The rest of the people out there will either be glad to see a fellow rider or wish they had a bike. Most all of the work I do on my bike is to keep it working. I only do cosmetic stuff when I feel like I've got a lot of free time or when fixing something critical to riding can be done in an ascetically pleasing way. Sure, I dream of pulling the dents out of the tank and painting the bike some day, but right now I'm more concerned with riding it and finishing grad school...

[Train]

Alright, you know what? I took everyone's advice. Took a few days away, did some work, got back to the bike today. Tried to put in my new switch assembly, bought the tool to remove the plastic connector from all of the wires (two trips, mind you, and over an hour of my time just to find that stupid tool), and wouldn't you know it, the wires from the 05 have the wrong kind of metal crimp on connectors. So off to parts store I go.... only to find that they don't carry the connectors I need. Looks like another trip to a different auto store sometime this week because today is Sunday, and everything is closed. That was okay, though, I can at least put in new break fluid and bleed my breaks. So I try do that, but realize I need a bleeder. Back to the parts store I go. $9 later and I'm back in business in front of my bike. But oops, not so fast. The plastic tubing from the bleeder kit doesn't fit the bleeder valve on the GS. Now I'm starting to swear under my breath, but I'm keeping it fairly contained, no outbursts yet. I decide, "okay, I don't need no stinking bleeder, I'm going to get this done the man way." So I get everything protected with plastic, got my rags handy, and I go to open the break fluid cover on the handlebar. And I strip the screw. Now, I don't know what the GS forum rules are on swearing, so I'll put in symbols, but let's make this clear - I stripped the f#cking screw on the top of the reservoir. Put yourself in my shoes... I'm f^cking livid. Livid. So now, I need to get new metal crimp things from somewhere, I need to figure out a way to get that goddamn screw out of there (also I need to order a new screw; yay waiting for more parts!!!), I still need to get fluid in the breaks, my airbox still isn't on the carbs, and I want to kick the bike over on its side, light it on fire and watch it burn into the night.

So let's get this right. About 3 hours of bullshit today after over an hour yesterday and my bike is in worse shape than when I started and NOTHING was accomplished. Someone, please, is there any reason not to sell this piece of shaZam! and get it out my garage and out of my life. Anyone?

[Toogoofy317]

You sound alot like me esp right now. It seems to me you are distracted I'm almost always am too because there is so much to do. I remember when it was, school, work, trying to makes sure I still have that elusive thing called a life.

With me this week was trying to fix my convertible! I am sewing the top back together so that I may be able to patch it. Figured may be out of my range to outright replace it. $600 is too much to pay someone to do it. So, it seems to take two hours for two inches. My hands were cramping I get distracted poke the needle a good way through my hand instead of the canvas. I'm sure you could have heard my swearing through the whole sub-division when I jumped hit the convertible ripped out two inches of threading. Oh MY GOD why are you doing this too me! Walk into my friend's house dehydrated and sunburnt! All for NOTHING! I just want to run my car into the lake and claim the insurance! Not to mention no stereo.

My friend always has to calm me down in those instances. Take a step back and only do the work when you can focus on it. Yeah, it may take alot longer. Trust me I really need my car working cause riding the bike all the time health wise for me is not wise. So, I guess we are the opposite. So, I feel you. OH, yeah someone hit my bike and now I have to work on it too! hey maybe we should trade a while a working bike for a working car when we get our stuff done trade back yeah. great in thought!

I feel ya,
Mary

[joshr08]

well i guess if you wanna sell post it up price and location.

[GeeP]

Learn to compartmentalize things and slow down. 

Planning also helps.   

What you described is just a slow day in most any maintenance or manufacturing environment.  We never have everything we need, what we do have is never on time and things always go to hell when we least expect it.  Learning to roll with the fire is how you survive it with a smile.

Go back out and approach it rationally.  If you allow your emotions to gain ground, you'll never get it done.

[bill14224]

Learn to compartmentalize things and slow down. 

Planning also helps.   

What you described is just a slow day in most any maintenance or manufacturing environment.  We never have everything we need, what we do have is never on time and things always go to hell when we least expect it.  Learning to roll with the fire is how you survive it with a smile.

Go back out and approach it rationally.  If you allow your emotions to gain ground, you'll never get it done.

Now THERE'S some solid advice for all areas of life! 

[utgunslinger13]

I was thinking the same thing!  Sounds like a normal saturday in the garage....encountering problems, finding away to solve them, and the feeling of accomplishment is why half of us do the DIY thing!  Otherwise just pay someone else to fix it if its to much of a headache.

[Train]

Okay, GS folks, tonight the bike was fired up for the first time since it was laid down last fall. Buddha rebuilt my carb, I installed new rear turn signals, a new signal generator, new tach/speedo, fuel filter, bars, controls, headlight, performed body work on the tank, repainted everything, etc, etc, etc. She runs. The sound was incredible. I can't believe this thing is running. I'm speechless.

Things still to do: wire in the tach/speedo, troubleshoot the headlight, paint the left fairing, polish the entire paintwork, get a shop to look it over. Not too bad!

Thanks for the continued support...

[utgunslinger13]

Congrat-u-freaking-lations!  I'm so happy you stuck with it and now you know that feeling of accomplishment!  Good work and keep it up when you can!

Nick

[MichaelWH]

Good job!  Man I remember the days of school and working full time...life is so much better once you get that degree.  Have fun and be safe out there!