5 things our master techs secretly wished you wouldn't do
Jun. 11 2020
Miscellaneous
... and one thing they wish you would.
If there’s anyone in your life you should treat with utmost respect and reverence, it’s your bike technician. Who else is more important to keeping you happy and problem-free out on the road? But who ever thinks about what they would like? Right, not many - so we asked them straight up. Here’s what our technicians wish you would at least consider:
- Please don’t bring in a filthy bike.
When I asked one of our master Ducati certified technicians, Ed, why he feels so strongly about this one, he says “You don’t go kill a sleeve of Oreos before seeing the dentist, right?” Good point. Ed puts it in perspective though, “Don’t worry about power-scrubbing your bike, but don’t bring it in straight from the motocross course, either.” - Don’t put off servicing until there’s a problem.
Our master Honda certified technician Mark put’s it plainly, “By the time you become aware of a problem, it could be causing damage to the bike, or create a potentially dangerous situation for the rider.” “Forks with a leaky seal, shocks that bottom out, worn out brakes, not enough oil – I’ve seen it all. Preventative maintenance is the best approach to keeping your bike in good working order,” says Mark. - Stop trying to repair by yourself without a manual.
"You can probably imagine some of the repairs we’ve had to make after a customer has tried to fix something themselves,” says David, another one of our master Ducati certified technicians. “Get the proper manual for your bike and study it. We’ve had to replace too many parts for customers that didn’t take into account the new materials and specifications these modern bikes use.” David goes on, “We’ve got tons of experience and certifications, we can do the job for you the right way the first time.” - Don’t believe everything you see on the internet.
Well, I could’ve guessed – but I asked Mark about this one and he said, “The problem with some of the YouTube do-it-yourself’ers is that they’re not qualified or certified with the proper training or manufacturer specific tools. We keep all of our tool sets and certifications up-to-date.” - Don’t wait till the week before a big event to get the bike ready.
David says, “trackdays are a big deal with a lot of customers, and they’re a big deal for us too. But so many times they’ll wait until a few days before and we’re already booked up.” “Even if it’s not a trackday, but a road trip – the best thing to do is give some time to do the best we can to get your bike in the best shape it can be,” says David. Fair enough!
One thing that Ed, David, and Mark wish all riders WOULD do is a good pre-ride inspection, including tire pressures. Wise words from some of the best master technicians in Houston.