Do you do your own wrenching? Or do you take it to the shop?

Changing your cush drive is a very easy, and often overlooked mechanical job
Silicone Spray frt9.co/u3c2hb

[@LouisStreet]

I do everything on both our BMW bikes but BMW's decision to eliminate all service manuals means that I will be buying something else next time.

[@FortNine]

I am with you on that man. That's partly why I ride a DR650 ~JB

[@seventheleven]

That is insane

[@angelocardoc]

​@@FortNine I'd like to see a head to head bike comparison between your tricked out DR650 and a KLR650

[@BigBadLoneWolf]

My Son had a Sinnis and even the dealers cannot get a workshop manual for them. It needed a complete engine strip, because the centrifugal oil filter self destructed, so no manual but parts diagrams and common engineering practices saw me through the job

[@wauser5456]

Not that I think it's how it should be, but finding BMW's software that has all the service information for free is fairly easy.

[@lampy541]

I took the dealer out of the equation and reliability improved dramatically .

[@Incountry]

I hope that’s Afghani Kush drive…. Gives you a smooth ride.

[@csn583]

Don't forget the Acapulco gold chain.

[@AutoWerncke]

kkkkkkkkkkkk

[@autismion]

kkkkkkkkkkkk

[@oregonjeeper7977]

Do everything myself. From tire changes to engine rebuilds

[@klm20079]

wished i could do that :'), but I don't mind pay someone because you cant do everything alone.

[@mcarruthers987]

Cool story bro

[@lamontcranston8181]

Me too. Shops are a rip off.

[@whysoserious9414]

Could you walk through my first oil change next month pls?

[@christianrios6295]

@@klm20079some of us don’t have the money

[@lemster101]

Basic stuff like this I would just do myself as it's not much of a hassle to do, but I'm increasingly letting the professionals just do things I can't be bothered with. I get paid to do what I'm good at, I'm happy to pay someone else for what they are good at.

[@Uriel-Septim.]

Same, beside I know the mechanic and do stuff for him now and then (I weld and work in steal) so I get a good deal and he have all the tools and experiance, I can just work a few hrs extra at my work and use the money to pay him and actually safe some time.

[@Voltaic_Fire]

​@@Uriel-Septim.Dude, how are you typing so poorly in a world with mandatory education and ubiquitous spellchecking software?

[@Uriel-Septim.]

@@Voltaic_Fire I am Danish and I am too lazy to use any software, get over it and move on, if in doubt ask and I will maybe take the time to explain.

[@klm20079]

this my mindset, i wished got space and skill to do stuff like this, but this outside my skill/fun set. so I am happy too pay someone that is happy to do it so I can drive save.

[@El_Rudo]

Pay them to wreck your stuff? Doesn't this add insult to injury? 1 in maybe 12 is a "good mechanic" and even then, just good. The rest are just hacks...

[@palashbhaumik4050]

Affiliate link for the good kush?

[@genxray951]

no link needed, it's vancouver canada.

[@mediocre_moto]

After being burned many, many times as a young guy, I learned to do all of my own bike and car maintenance. As a bonus, if I ever have an issue out on the road I am more than confident that I can diagnose and repair it.

[@carlhawkins5943]

My whole channel is about my wrenching 😂 if I paid somebody to fix my bikes I couldn't afford to eat

[@portaltwo]

A loose rubber is a sloppy rubber. 🤭 Priceless. 🤣

[@shaunlavoie6183]

I do all of my own maintenance / upgrades. I've changed tires and fork oil/seals in the living room during family movie nights lol

[@AwesomePlayers]

Have to do it myself. With the help of friends At the current shop rates I would be out of motorcycling.

[@RGB872]

Procycle red rubbers are the way to go.

[@nevsmate8663]

I own 1981 GL1100 Goldwing & 1997 GL1500C Valkyrie, local Honda shops will not touch due to age/parts shortage... so, yup I had to learn to maintain them with help from forums and have swapped out the cush-drives.

[@billsimpson1876]

Nice to see JB with his own (and useful) content. Seems like you guys are specializing.

[@2SlickNick]

I am a DIY kind of guy. Unless is machining parts. Putting parts together with the proper knowledge, manuals, or tutorials gives me satisfaction… it also gives me a pain in the butt😂 But the process definitely is worth it.

[@justanotherguy6359]

Paid for it one time in tools so i can do it repeatedly for relatively free.

[@knackeredrovers]

Yeah, I do all my own maintenance on everything once it’s out of warranty.

[@borilapostolov7474]

Sure do. Just mind the direction of installing, because there is such one. Thanks for the reminder!

[@americaofthenorth655]

Pleaae tell me how you wrench your ride when it's experiencing computer glitches? Get a newer bike they said, you'll like all the electronics they said. Yeah right...

[@FortNine]

Amen to that brother. I got to try the new GS1300 last week. Their was a learning curve to just getting the steering unlocked and the bike started. ~JB

[@NzJohny]

For all other fellow dr650 riders. There is a little slop / movement from factory.

[@paulshelley3770]

I didn't even know this was a thing but I've never actually had to do any tire or wheel work but still blows my mind when I learn something new. This is cool. Thank you. I'm going to be pulling my sprockets off my bikes and inspecting these of course. I'll look to see if they have them first

[@modut6258]

Always do my own wrenching, and have done since a very young age. Have learned so much, and saved tens of thousands of dollars over the years!

[@tastefullysinfull5570]

My old 1250 Suzuki bandit had some slop accelerating off the line I never knew what it was, I didn't know that was a part that could even wear out or need to be changed! I rode about 7 to 12,000 mi a year on average three chains, this was very useful information that I wish I had a few years ago

[@Bobby-wn5yr]

Bike got to 90k km’s and the wheel, head bearings went at once and a major service was due, and I saw the tiniest bit of dryness to the radiator overflow hose, and I could feel the rear rebound was getting a bit bouncy as well. I can’t afford to take that shit to a dealer! Given what they charged for 1 major service I probably saved myself nearly 2 grand doing it all myself in the end (did a bunch of extras too like fork rebuild & some mods I’d been meaning to get to as I pretty much had to take everything off except the block itself).

[@andrewrollin3506]

I had never even heard of this. Turns out my Himalayan has it. Thanks!

[@steve00alt70]

I do only my brake oil, engine oil change, oil filter. If its anything to do with new tyres, new chain, suspension brakes. Then the professionals I aint messing around with that shit.

[@gamerdude422]

I take it to the shop to do my own wrenching (I ask to borrow their tools)

[@fratermus5502]

Last time I took a bike to the dealer (dr650 rear tire change in 2012) they had the chain set so tight the bike was sitting higher (no sag). I fixed it in the parking lot and spooned on my own tires from then on. Cheaper *and* better. F the dealers.

[@MattPerry]

Unlike most people here, I've been riding motorcycles for 41 years and I don't know anything about mechanics, that's why I take the bike to the shop for maintenance, except for the DR-Z, which is that I change the oil, filter and the air filter, nothin more. For me, motorcycles run as if by magic, people like me are every owner shops dream, we keep the business alive.

[@wallymurray620]

I do most if not all of my own work. I find if it’s something new that I don’t have the correct tools for it’s a great excuse to expand the tool box😀

[@15Kilo]

I agree using rubbers will save you tons of heartache in the future

[@bomb00000]

I. . . . Did not know. . . This was a thing! Thank you. Now I know what else to buy when restoring or servicing a bike.

[@The_Daliban]

Thanks for sharing. I have absolutely no idea how to service my bike but would like to start. I just don’t know where?😅 A series of beginner to pro maintenance or something would be amazing. Thanks again🙏🏻👍🏻

[@mmuller199]

Step 1 is to buy or download a copy of your bike's factory service manual, then use the index to find the maintenance schedule. It will tell you everything that needs to be inspected or adjusted, as well as the time or mileage intervals for doing so. The maintenance processes will all be laid out in your manual in great detail, but if you need additional guidance, then KZbin videos and internet forums will be your best friend.

[@The_Daliban]

@@mmuller199 Thank you for this Info, this helps tremendously. I‘m honestly a bit overwhelmed and didn’t even know how to get into it. I‘ll probably start with some very simple stuff and slowly increase the difficulty. I don’t want to break anything 😅 Thanks a million👍🏻

[@Zoldy6969]

As someone who works with both silicone lubricants and rubber bushings all the time as part of my profession. Please do NOT use a silicone spray on those cush drives. Use 3 in 1 or maybe break free for guns instead. For Canadians break free is not available here so 3 in 1 is your go to. Reason being that silicone lubricants are a petroleum based lubricant and will actually breakdown the cush drive bushing faster than an alternative lubricant.

[@beachwat]

Printed a few for a friend in TPU filament, works beautifully

[@chiefskittlez1690]

Thanks. I learned something new today that may affect the performance of my bike bc I have this exact issue. Did the chain and sprocket a little bit ago.

[@mikkei3532]

good advice . More pliss

[@StratfordDanBurrell]

It depends. I do my own chain adjustments, oil changes and air filters as well as brake pads and flushes, coolant etc - but there is a limit to my tools & knowledge. For that - I use my local Honda dealer.

[@BlondeWick]

Lol its called desperation, and a distinct lack of urgency from Dealer shops (not the techs themselves, they're pretty good, honest guy's in my experience) that prompted me to jump off the deep end in a similar fashion. Paid to have fork seals replaced (which should have been covered by warranty, and was initially approved, but life had other plans and apparently a year later that'd never been the case even though bike was still under warranty and unridden) which took them a 4-week turn around and another week to repair and pick up. That was in April-May 2019 and cost me $440, which would be closer to $650-600 now. Since then have changed both tires, clutch, rad surge tank, gearshift spindle+bearing and replaced all 3 control levers after a 25mph high-side courtesy of an unleashed dog ¼mi. from home 😅 All of which costed ~$450 to do myself. So exactly what getting a set of seals cost when paying someone else. All the knowledge and experience gained along the way is priceless. Don't be afraid to learn and acquire tools as needed. They'll be serving you long after the bike is gone, and you'll get some satisfaction and peace of mind.

[@charlieseligman3176]

I do all my own wrenching...including replacing final drive dampers. The manufacturer's shop manuals are my bibles...

[@J.A.Smith2397]

Yes I do all my own, can't afford not to. How often do these wear out??

[@FortNine]

You can get away with using these for a lot of miles. 45's could have been decades old. If you are unsure, you can always check by taking the rear wheel off. If they just fall out like in the video then you can justify replacing them ~JB

[@epbrown01]

I’ve never seen a motorcycle mechanic’s shop in person. My biggest concern about buying a new, modern bike is where to get work done.

[@YourLordMobius]

Fyi for the dr250 and dr350 from the 90's (the motorcycle in the example getting its cushions replaced) there is an aftermarket polyurethane replacement and yes, its red. I got mine off procycle.

[@pepperidgefarmsremembers92]

"A loose rubber is a sloppy rubber." *Giggles*

[@christianbert9709]

That's probably what I felt when I was taking my MSF course. I was riding a somewhat beat up TU 250 and it felt so sloppy on and off the trottle. Taught me how to control the throttle better though.

[@zwingler]

Shock service i get done at a dealer, rest im doing by myself.

[@El_Rudo]

It's a matter of trust - I would never have anyone be responsible for the maintenance of something my well being and life could depend on. The bulk of the work at the $130/hour dealer is done by $20/hour apprentices, under the so-called "guidance" of the so called "master" mechanic. I say so-called because both have been responsible for fixing 1 thing and damaging 2 others - usually in the form of stripped or overly tightened nuts and bolts, including the oil pan drain. It's when you are barreling down the highway at 110 km/hour, or when you are 200km deep off-road and usually when you find out about their discretions. The whole manufacturer/dealer relationship is flawed, so you think the guy getting no money and no specific training to wrench on your bike, who has to work on 12 bikes a day to meet quotas, cares about you or your specific bike? I have pointed out damage they did before I take the bike back from them while it is still in their shop and they still deny they did it. Again, it is a matter of trust, it doesn't seem $130/hour buys a lot of trust these days.

[@hostile1809]

Thanks I never knew how to explain this problem

[@olivierseurin1204]

Recently I cleaned, tightened and lubricated my chain. Oh and I check the tire pressure

[@countryracer69]

"Do you do your own wrenching or take to a shop". I am the shop.

[@flannel7977]

As an enduro rider I had no idea these even existed

[@BigBadLoneWolf]

I do all my own work, except tyre changes. however, some people should not be allowed access to the tool kit that comes with the bike

[@aidanrooney95]

Still at the "nervous when fueling up" stage but hope to one day be able to do repairs myself 😅

[@confusion9950]

I have too many vehicles too do all my own wrenching. I personally diagnose everything then decided if I have the time to do it myself 😂 if not, off too the shop

[@marianandnorbert]

I had to take my bike completely apart to replace the spark plugs recently, it's 10 years old and the battery had a lot of resistance so I replaced that too. And while I was at it I replaced the air filter and oil filter as the maintenance manual suggested, and the oil itself of course.

[@Cowboydjrobot]

I replaced the chain and bushings only to finally accept that sv650s are just gotta be snappy

[@Hircine101]

Psshh, you have a brake ROTOR one the rear? In this household, we miss our turns, cause we have drum brakes....

[@kazinkap]

Do my own wrenching, i learned so much from just going for it, and researching youtube if needed

[@user-ju7dx8mu6d]

I am sure 4-9 is the exception to the rule but numerous "investigations" and my own personal experience confirm that auto (and by extension, moto) mechanics in Canada is a branch of organised crime. Sloppiness or incompetence is compounded by selling parts you don't need, using the cheapest parts available at the highest price to the consumer, charging for repairs that were not done and so on. If moto riders value their lives, they need to learn basic mechanics. If you fear you can't reach a reasonable understanding of things mechanical consider tank driving as a hobby.

[@El_Rudo]

Amen!

[@26l8l94]

I cut pieces of old inner tube and jam into any gaps to prolong changing the cush drives

[@mrpatton01]

Those rubbers should be replaced once in a while , no doubt. But to state that the chain (and sprocket, cause who changes chain only) is recently replaced is a bold statement

[@mikesbikechannel4387]

I do my own. I consider wrenching a big part of the hobby, at least for me.

[@gregorbabic7664]

On my 98 BMW single, I tightened up the cushion drive with some foam tape on one side of the aluminum posts. Made up the tiny bit of movement and saved me from buying new rubbers.

[@YeetxBoi]

If you replaced them with fresh rubbers they would still benefit you over your current fix. They would be more pliable and responsive as the rubber wouldn't be dried out. The goal in the cush drive is not to have zero movement but to allow the rubber to take the impact instead of jolting the bike and still translate the power to the road surface consistently

[@foggyrf9]

I do most things. Regular servicing is very simple on a V7

[@kenwood_9474]

I replaced mine a while ago on my gl1100 but they last like, 20 years so I've been good since then!

[@ryanhall9964]

I do all my own maintenance, unless it's a warranty claim.

[@mikea683]

I learnt a thing! Thank you!

[@MotoFamMayhem]

I've been riding for over 30 years and never seen this before 😂 I've heard of it in RC cars though

[@timosan2020]

Please do not use silicone spray on rubber, it is called chemical attack. Rubber tends to swell, get softer and ware out more quickly 😢

[@rslover65]

Next time I change the rear tire I'm doing those too. They really needed it at the last change, but.....

[@inzinity]

Ironicly also a great Hilding place for the cush if u remove 1 or 2 rubbers 🤫

[@PampersNorway]

Noted, did not know this was a thing. Thanks

[@carpediemarts705]

New rubbers are cheap. Please replace them and use plenty of silicone lube.

[@poundlandspeedwagonrequiem]

A loose rubber is a sloppy rubber, which is why I go for plan B

[@paulhugo1623]

As much own work as possible. Online “workshop” manuals (not owners manuals) are a worthy investment

[@boomdawg56]

The only thing I regularly go to the shop for are tires. Everything else, I do myself.

[@martimsequeira1314]

Don’t even come at me with this😂last week I replaced them on my 92 Virago and those things had melted so much it looked like asphalt I swear they probably were never changed since the bike came out of the factory, I spent 2 and a half hours scraping it off with a screwdriver and gasoline

[@micko1404]

The only time my bike goes to a shop is when I get new tyres, and I bring the wheel in to them

[@DarkIzo]

cushdrive ? those were oldschool problems now we got euro 4 to deal with, snappy throttles

[@LucasPenido23]

Not the fresh kush mate 😂😂😂

[@RLstavista]

WHAT??!! I didn't even know there was such things. COOL!

[@sandwich5344]

that's some nice kush- uh drives. Love from NL (eat our ass, we were at this first!)

[@berlnberln5289]

It's to absorb each stroke of the piston

[@SuperCheesyMan]

Depend on what is needed to be done to be bike. I do my basic maintenance and some other stuffs. But when its about to open the engine, hell no i let my mechanic taking care of that

[@AarPlays]

My history tells me silicon lube and a rubber isnt always a good combination lol

[@hondaryder3779]

Cush drive is een patent van Royal Enfield motorfietsen. In 1912 produceerde Royal Enfield een zijspancombinatie met 770 cc JAP-zijklepmotor met in de achternaaf van de motorfiets rubberblokken om de schokken in de transmissie op te vangen. Wikipedia Cush drive is a patent of Royal Enfield motorcycles. In 1912, Royal Enfield produced a sidecar combination with a 770 cc JAP sidevalve engine with rubber blocks in the rear hub of the motorcycle to absorb the shocks in the transmission. Wikipedia

[@markf37talon]

Ahh... that's what's up with my 80k mile dr650.

[@gavinhassett479]

Bit of silacone caulk should that 😉😂 kidding

[@Jorezm]

Hey guys! Can you explain the effects of clutchless shifting and the different types of clutch? That would be super useful! I've been shifting without clutch occasionally, just rev matching, and was wondering how bad it is for the ol' bike!

[@mmuller199]

Ari Henning made a couple videos on these topics. The short answer is no, clutchless shifting doesn't harm your transmission

[@Jorezm]

@@mmuller199 sweet

[@garyt.8745]

I do my own wrenching. I trust my dog, and maybe one mechanic.... but not with my bikes ☝

[@Lilian040210]

Oh. Is that why? 😅 Idk if it's bad enough to be visible, but I can definitely feel it😅

[@elektro3000]

Try Wurth Rubber Care spray instead of silicone.

[@jamessizemore7103]

Trying to do things myself but I've had my engine sitting torn apart for months now. Not really sure what I'm doing either, just trying to fix an oil burning problem

[@IamPinhead]

I do all my own wrenching if I can help it. The only mechanic who will work on my bike missed the carb being double gasketed.

[@northeastev]

Sprays silicone right over the rotor. 😂

[@LuckyTown77]

My own....since 1972

[@user-pg4ie1qm6t]

When the chain is new, it will loosen up little in the beginning?

[@MotoRidesAustralia]

I just did a quick 4 year apprenticeship

[@z4bikerup]

Seems like a good place to ask if anyone knows an ODB scanner that will reset service intervals on a 2015 multistrada. Melcodiag connects, won't reset intervals. I do a lot of my own wrenching, but the Bosch ECU does not give me credit.

[@drogenfeld]

silicon spray the brakes? got it

[@solowingpixy6309]

I'm on that good kush drive and wd-40 😅