There is an uncomfortable, underlying (and sometimes not so) eliteness that exists amongst the genuine replies here. Most people i'm sure turn to specialist sites when they've got a problem or a query about their product. Here it is a bike. This ensures that a large proportion of the posts are going to be repetitive; and the same or similar questions are going to be asked time and time and time again by people just like me who aren't members of bike clubs or who don't have throngs of bike riding friends/neighbours to rely upon for 'hands on' advice. I bet this gets frustrating to those who are more specialist and more capable with a spanner.

It is here that the internet is its own worst enemy sometimes. It is now far easier to get a 'little knowledge' (and we know how dangerous that can be..) online. There are youtbube clips, downloadable guides and forum experts etc, etc who are there to walk us n00bs through the limitations of our understanding. Non of it really replaces taking your bike to a good mechanic, of course not, but how many of us can afford to do that for what the internet tells us is only a 5 minute job? I'm not blaming the internet entirely btw, it is a tool and what is it we say about bad workmen?

I've been working in my area of interest (mental health) for 15 years now. I graduated from Cambridge, have a list of letters after my surname that makes it look as though i'm from Poland and get work published on a semi-regular basis. This does not mean I know all there is to know about mental health, this does not mean that I invented mental illness and this does not mean that my opinion about said topic is to be taken as absolute fact. Do I get a bit frustrated by the scores of people nowadays who have the lexicon of mental health drip fed to them by lazy contemporary lifestyles? Yes, of course I do. I get massively fucked off that people can't just be a bit depressed every now and again anymore, they have to suffer with 'depression'. They can't be arsed to put in some thinking time and ground work to help themselves, they just want tablets and a diagnosis and a magic wand and a quick fix and thanks very much I can have a month of work now etc, etc. It does irk, and sometimes I do let them know as much. Not much of a comparison I know, but its all I can compare it too. I don't want to get burnt out, but it is easy to understand how people can become so readily fucked off with perceived displays of incompetence. I'd like to learn more about spannering. I don't intend to give up, far from it, but you can tell I need a lot of help. Some people are good with numbers, or with the written word or with patting their head whilst rubbing their tummy. Some people make spannering look like a piece of piss.

I wasn't aware that I'd bought the wrong Buell either. They should have told me at the shop or at least put a sticker on the tank:

"Buell is a small, specialist brand and their bikes have a devout, partisan following. Well, all of their bikes apart from the newer ones. They're a bit shit by comparison to the old-school and you'll get sniggered at and looked down upon by those who don't really want you to be part of their identity. Should have got a Honda"

My Buell was purchased after the price crash. This was not the main reason I got the bike; I'd actually always wanted a Buell but now I could afford one. I'm sure there are plenty who were in the same situation, and the temptation of getting something that is (putting it politely) quirky becomes more so when the price is right.

Having said all that, what do I know? I'm the dildo that shoved a screwdriver through an oil filter and posted pictures on the internet about it. Maybe some other n00bs will look to the internet for advice and take my little (lack of ) knowledge and not make the same mistakes

I've worked in the motorcycle trade for 29 years and as a Buell dealer for 13 years but I don't pretend to be at all technical. There are many on here who have phenomenal technical knowledge and are happy to give it. Where they seem to get frustrated is when new folk come on asking really elementary questions like "What Oil?" or "What Tyres?" which they could easily find the answer to by using the "Search" facility.

Having tried this and not found the necessary information a humble approach is probably favoured. Something like "sorry if this has been asked before but I'm new here" probably elicits the best response.

Your approach, Docca, has been an exemplary one. Totally up front and unassuming and I would say the response you received was pretty good until it became clear that comments like "step away from the spanners" were probably the most helpful

Your response on this thread is obviously based on feeling that ph4824 is being given the same offhand treatment that you possibly feel you are receiving.

Sadly there is a lot more history behind this as you will undoubtedly find on all forums. ph4824 has received a mass of help and support on here from many people and he has generally chosen to ignore it, go his own sweet way then come back several weeks later to ask the same thing

My advice to you, Docca would be to go and visit Maz so he can perform the necessary tasks and instruct you as he goes. In return you can probably give him some help with his mental health issues Take a very large pot of chill pills with you.

Sadly ph4824 has passed this stage some time ago so I would not recommend the same course of action. The same mental health issues could manifest themselves as bruising to the person seeking advice

Hope this helps

Steve

here's a novel idea.........in the owners handbook, there's a complete section entitled 'cosmetic care' and covers just about every aspect of caring for and cleaning every surface on the bike

Why don't you try bicarbonate of soda and vinegar?

I never ever ride my best bike in winter, won't even buy a bike that has seen salt, disgusting stuff and should only be sprinkled on chips! I won't ride in spring untill the last spread has been washed away!
Nate.

Hate to make you paranoid, but they use so much of the stuff these days that it is often still around in dry powdered form on some country roads having been washed across the tarmac out of the verges until well into the summer. Your best bet is to stick to cities, newer towns, kerbed highways, and motorways where rain will most certainly wash it into well designed drains before the road dries fully. (smilies not featuring from this PC, lol!)

For the sake of clarity DO NOT use the above

Matey, some of us have letters in front of our names - and still know fuck all about our jobs

I'm going to get the coffee on-assuming I know which way to twist the lid of the jar off..

Key-sert ? if so, thats a helicoil on steroids, with 3-4 longtitudinal pins that get knocked down through the threads to lock it in place Docca http://www.newmantools.com/key.htm