club workshop proposal ?

[zimm]

ok .. just putting this out there ..

(Baz, sorry if this is against forum rules, i dont think it is.. im not trying to promote my business here, just offer a service.. pm me or delete the thread or whatever .. think i asked you a couple of years back though .. i forget..)

the facts
1) I have a 1200sq/ft workshop with most tools for most things .. (including large compressor/paint spraying kit, air tools etc ..)
2) I have piss all profitable work on at present
3) I know how frustrating it is to try and work on your bike in the street/back garden/garden shed with minimal tools
4) Paying someone you dont know £30/hour + to take a week to do an afternoons work sux


what im thinking is that club members can rent my workshop/tools on a day rate that'll be worked out to cover my gross overheads.. probably about £30/day

I'll be around to make coffee, give advice, lend a hand etc ..

there's a good local bike shop that will do tyres/MOT's etc, and another a pleasant 15 mile ride away that has a dyno for power runs..

overnight accomodation if needed is a choice between a B&B or a tent on the riverside, and theres a good foody pub a couple of minutes walk away

thoughts ?

[Mori Man]

Great community spirit zimm , nice one man

[gavinfdavies]

HEREFORD?!?!

If it wasn't for that, i'd be game. I here they used to do this in the states in the 50s/60s, you could turn up and rent a workshop by the hour, complete with tools. the only hitch i can see is that alot of work will need doing because the bike doesn't work, which means alot of us wouldn't be able to get to you. That said, you've got nothing to loose by offering, also it's a nice jaunt down to spend a few days with a mate.

[zimm]

good point, well made

but i am where i am .. and its not too far from the midlands/wales/bristol ..

besides, I bought a racebike (less engine) from yorkshire and brought it + spares home in a renault 5

i've had people bring bikes in from all over the uk for a going over in the past, only one arrived in a van.. because i picked it up from bristol and the owner caught a train up to come fetch it when done (engine rebuild)

As a rule, I dont do servicing.. partly because it annoys me, partly because I never feel comfortable taking money off people for a day's tinkering and partly because due to the planning classification on my workshop (light industrial/manufacturing) Im not allowed to, which combined with the fact that my main business is/was restoring old (mostly '70's) sportscars n stuff means i have no need for and hence dont have any of the insurance in place to cover working on vehicles belonging to the public... but there's nothing to stop folk working on their own stuff.

[cargo]

Great idea and forum members should making the most of this offer.

To often I read about guys working on their bikes in the cold and dark.

Can I suggest you knock up a couple of wooden benches/tables to have bikes at a decent working height makes life so much easier.



Many years ago when I started riding bikes a mates dad set up a class in a local school and we used to go along and get educated and a free service too.
It only lasted a few months but we all learnt a lot.

and I see no fourm rules issues

Might try something similiar myself one day when I retire from racing and have a little bit more room in the workshop

[masterofinsanity]

nice one zimm, good luck with it.!

[RedexRobB]

I saw other people doing this across the country about a year ago to beat the cost of dealer work for thier cars.

I suggested a few years back about having a workshop day, one place where everyone goes to lend advice and help out getting forum members bikes fixed. Making use of a collective knowledge and workshop experience.

Good luck with it

[cargo]

Forum meet at Zimms???

[RedexRobB]

this could turn to be more than what Zimm bargained for............................

[cargo]

I'm seeing a workshop full of people arguing over jet sizes and needle positions and how to de-restrict Jap market ZXRs .

Never mind the tyre wars or the battle of the oil coolers

Semi syn versus Fully syn..........oil everywhere

And Mori Man flogging glow in the dark parts

[masterofinsanity]

I'm seeing a workshop full of people arguing over jet sizes and needle positions and how to de-restrict Jap market ZXRs .

Never mind the tyre wars or the battle of the oil coolers

Semi syn versus Fully syn..........oil everywhere

And Mori Man flogging glow in the dark parts

you been here toooo long

[Tirpitz]

Although this wouldn't necessarily work for me owing to distance I think it's a great idea for those who are closer. Anything which encourages people to have the confidence to learn to do stuff of their own on their bikes has to be a good thing. Dealer servicing is just legalised extortion, and the work doesn't even get done right IMO. When it comes to doing more complicated stuff it can be daunting to try and follow a manual / your intuition. Much better to have someone on hand to give advice.

You'll probably have a few dealerships organising a lynching round your way mind you if it takes off .......

[gavinfdavies]

You could try chucking an add in mcn. All i would say is watch your tools...


i like the idea of a forum meet though. Bring sleeping bags, i'm sure the workshop will be big enough! Would that make it our first rally? New venue each year? I'm sure zimm wouldn't mind Hehe. Hell, he'd never know what hit him!

[zimm]

blimey.. thats snowballed a bit since this morning.

Anything which encourages people to have the confidence to learn to do stuff of their own on their bikes has to be a good thing. Dealer servicing is just legalised extortion, and the work doesn't even get done right IMO. When it comes to doing more complicated stuff it can be daunting to try and follow a manual / your intuition. Much better to have someone on hand to give advice.

my sentiments exactly.. eg head gasket failure.. we all ride ZXR400's, so we've either just done one, just paid someone to do one, or live in dread of needing to do one in the near future... I have no idea what the stealers charge for a HG job, but its got to be a fair whack, and it can be done in a day fairly simply (there's 2 machine shops local.. one of which will generally skim a head for me the same day if they've some warning of when i'll be dropping it off)

pissing off local dealers ? dont think so its all small indie's round here and they're always flat out anyway, its just somewhere for folk to do the work they would have tried at home.. not a competing business stealing their customers.. infact its a boost to them if you're coming in from out of the county and buying the odd bit of oil/set of brake pads/chain/MOT etc .. of course.. I could just start retailing zxr service items ..

forum meet/rally ? not what i had in mind when i started the thread but yeh.. dont see why not.. BBQ by the river, camping, secure parking for the bikes.. I can get hold of a marquee/PA system/psychotic DJ/local band .. the works.. would take some organising but if there's enough serious interest i'll look into it.. the legal stuf is the biggest hurdle, but we toyed with the idea of putting a rave on a while back.. its not much different... but, would anyone come ? I tried this before and with 3 days to go had about 4 confirmed attendee's, 2 of them were me and the mrs

admittedly that was in Carmarthen

on the basis that no-one has come up with a reason why its a pointless or retarded idea i'll give it some thought

[Jamz]

I'm one of the lucky buggers who has a full workshop plus mechanic (although it's only set up for cars) at their disposal.

I have to say that £30 is a pish-take price! Even twice that would be nothing, when you think most garages charge, what - £60 per hour? - for their labour! And having all the tools and space at your disposal makes things unbelievably easier!

I hope you're also going to offer a rate for your advice and guidance, Zimm? That's what most people will be after, in my opinion.

It's one thing to have a manual, but invaluable to have someone to look over your shoulder as you attempt your first chain & sprocket change - saving £100+ over bike garage prices (although possibly taking a while longer)...