Motorcycle mechanics gone lame!!!!

[dondons1984]

motorcycle shops are garbage!!! Called up a local one here in Walla Walla to see if they could look at my bike just to make sure it was all good so far and they say to bring it down. I brought it down to them after loading it in my truck and get it to them and they tell me "oh sorry we dont work on those types of bikes". I swear that when I stepped outside it has a yamaha sign so I walk outside look come back in and say "umm, this is a yamaha 1979 xs1100s" The guy just looked at me and said it wasnt and that even if it was that they wont touch it cause it is to much of a liability for them since they only work on newer models! What a load of ****ake mushrooms! Please explain to me how a motorcycle repair shop that I have seen the bikes they work on doesnt wanna even take a look at my bike? Mine is so much better than the little 750 virago that they have in the back. Pshht people these days are just stupid!!!! But best part is a buddy came over who is a motorcycle mechanic and said that if I wanted that he would help me if I needed it. I know that he has a great reputation and that he is reliable since he himself rides a 79 xs1100s also and he maintains his to perfection. Only bad part is getting ahold of him since he is moving here soon. And he has no extra parts! damn!

[BA80]

Yup, that's it. These bikes are older than most techs in those places. Even here in Tulsa where K&N Yamaha is that used to SELL them no one knows how to work on them. I pulled up there a while back looking for some add on and was speaking to the owner and he asked to see what I was working on.
He stepped out the door and saw Okie and said " DAMN! I haven't seen one of those in quite a while."

[dondons1984]

They are crazy. These are some of the most reliable bikes I have ever had. Easy to work on and run forever. Speaking of your bikes. How is the Green Hornet?

[BA80]

I don't want to talk about it dammit!

[dondons1984]

backing off of the angry man.....stepping away slowly......gone!!!

[BA80]

This will be the THIRD time I've painted that f*****g tank.

[BillyRok]

I had the exact conversation recently at my local shop while picking up some parts. He said they don't work on bikes that old anymore because of the repair costs...they start tearing something down and stuff doesn't come apart easy, stuff breaks, it's impossible to estimate the hours it will take to do the repairs. If they bill the customer for all their time invested, the customer is usually not happy. Then there is the issue of trying to find parts, not always an easy task.
Add in the fact that these bikes are 30+ years old, a good mechanic with experience back in the day working on our bikes is a rare find and not a youngster anymore. The most knowledgeable XS/XJ mechanics aren't in the shops anyway, they're on this web site on a daily basis dispensing priceless information/knowledge for free! What a great community we have here!

[dondons1984]

Hey Greg is there a paint that can resist stuff? so it doesnt happen again? Just saying cause I would be super pissed having to sand it back down repaint and all. I would be flipping a lid. Not to mention keeping the windows closed so at least i can have a little fun.

yeah mechanics are better on here than any other place. Everyone here chips in and knows what they are talking about be it from personal experience or process of elimination.

[DGXSER]

Several factors.........

How much is the bike worth in the first place. If they spend $1,000 in parts and time and the owner decides it is not worth it and dumps the bike on them how much are they going to get for it? Not enough to cover their time and effort.

Finding parts is not as easy as looking in their parts book and ordering them, if they order a part from ebay and its wrong, they are out the money, and if it fails on the bike next week, they have to order another one and replace it for free because they warranty the work.

Yes, older bikes fasteners tend to break off and need to be drilled out and such. Their techs do not have the knowledge or experience to know how to do that typically.

In the long run, you probably saved yourself a ton of money by them not working on it. 9 times out of 10, folks who have come here with bikes some shop has worked on spend more money fixing what they screwed up along with the real problem, than it ever would have taken to fix the initial problem.

So, if you like old "antique" motorcycles, either learn to work on them yourself, or find a specialist who works on them professionally and be prepared to pay for a specialist to do the work.

[dondons1984]

funny part was I just wanted them to take a look over it. Not in it. I told them what I had and they being the idiots told me yeah sure bring it by

[Tat2demon]

One of our shops wont touch ANY bike over 20 years old. Luckily we have a couple of very small shops that are very good with the oldies. But with that being said, after being on this site for a year, theres nothing Im not comfortable doing myself. Nobody will ever touch my XSs.

On a semi related note, when I brought my seat pan to the upholsterers, the owner instantly knew it was from an XS 11. I was amazed!

[BA80]

Hey Greg is there a paint that can resist stuff? so it doesnt happen again? Just saying cause I would be super pissed having to sand it back down repaint and all. I would be flipping a lid. Not to mention keeping the windows closed so at least i can have a little fun.

yeah mechanics are better on here than any other place. Everyone here chips in and knows what they are talking about be it from personal experience or process of elimination.

I have a good resistant 2 part clear coat on it. If I spill on it, it will wipe off without any damage but if it seeps out the cap, as it did the, gas gets up under the clear and creeps along melting the color coat and bubbles up.

[CaptonZap]

There is a paint store here in town (Allen Paint) that will mix and can any color and type of one part paint from the major paint makers. Dupont, Williams, etc. They inject it into the can, pressurize the can, and send you on your way.
If you check around, you might find one in the Yellow pages that is located near you, and that can do it. That would allow you to get some gangreen paint in a gas proof type and not have to buy a quart of paint and have to deal with a gun. Make sure the primer is gas proof also.

CZ

[jetmechmarty]

Typically, the dealer's service department won't work on anything over 10 years old. Fortunately, this has spawned a cottage industry. There are a lot of little shops that only maintain old bikes and Harleys. Their rates are usually reasonable. I know of a few of them within my reach. Most of them stay busy doing their advertising by word of mouth.

[madmax-im]

This isnt a new experience...at least not for me...typically in NJ most shops and service depts wont even look at a bike that 15+yrs old...You have to cultivate your own repairs shop/mechanics...fortunately there are shops around that specialize on the older bikes. Having an XS/XJ guru that really knows what they're doing living nearby is also a godsend...which is my case here in NC.