Always assume some chance when leaving your clay bike in the hands of a qualified mechanic. People make mistakes and sometimes people don't e'er accept the best intentions.

The best mechanic rests with you. Learn every bit much about maintenance and then the only person you tin point fingers at when things go south during a ride is you. But sometimes, certain mechanical problems require hiring someone who works 24-hour interval in and twenty-four hour period out on the within and exterior of a clay cycle.

Choose who you rent advisedly to reduce and fifty-fifty eliminate bug after that require confrontation and/or knowing you got ripped off with little to no recourse. If you ride long enough and make friends with those in the riding community look to hear some horror stories about this mechanic or that mechanic who clearly did not have the best intentions and took advantage of an unknowing consumer.

But also know you have an advantage in finding a reliable someone to help with solving a mechanical consequence or installing a complicated upgrade.

Just look at any number of motorbike and dirt bike message boards and you can find long strings of people ratting out, ranting about and looking for advice on how to handle a bad mechanic. In light of this thankfully not too common trouble, only unfortunately one that too many riders encounter, we promise to perhaps dispel some myths also every bit provide some advice on handling not only a bad maintenance chore only a bad mechanic.

Inside of a mechanic shop

Steps to Finding (and Keeping) a Good Dirt Cycle Mechanic

one. Find Someone Reputable in Your Area

Well duh. But sometimes, perhaps most of the fourth dimension, nosotros tend to detect the cheapest solution to our dirt bicycle mechanical trouble. Ask other riders and people at the track for recommendations on the local mechanic who has been in business for years and most everyone trusts. Discussion gets around quick, especially in our close knit customs. If a mechanic develops a reputation for either non knowing how to repair problems or performing shoddy work, they don't last too long.

A expert mechanic knows how to stay in business organization and that ordinarily ways through positive word of rima oris because of their high quality craft and reasonable prices. If information technology makes you experience more than comfy, try testing the waters. Rent a mechanic to perform some general maintenance as a mode to go to know them, their store, pricing, and workmanship.

2. Misunderstandings Happen

You lot need a mechanic considering y'all don't know how to fix a problem. If you lot simply leave your clay bike at the shop with vague directions without passing on a clear understanding to the problem expect the mechanic to dive in and try to observe a solution. That is why you sought the mechanic out in the outset identify and a reputable ane wants to make y'all happy.

Exist clear with the work you desire done but don't leave until you fully understand what the mechanic has planned with your approval.

3. Skilful Mechanics Make Recommendations

Dropping your dirt cycle off for a clutch job may very well warrant a call a few hours subsequently from the mechanic who found something else during the initial inspection. For instance, you need a clutch kit considering other worn components caused the clutch pack to habiliment out. The mechanic finds these issues and recommends the prepare. Well-nigh mechanics don't similar taking short cuts because it often comes dorsum to haunt their business.

Recommending additional parts and work generally makes for a reputable mechanic just yes it besides can brand for a mechanic who likes to sew together the bill with needless charges. A reputable mechanic finds problems before they become a problem and details the telescopic of the work. A shady mechanic who finds ways to tack on costs to the concluding bill also develops a reputation.

Solve this by returning to our original suggestion - find a reputable mechanic.

4. Don't Blame the Mechanic for Unrelated Problems

Human nature makes us blame others for our issues. If you lot left your clay bike at a mechanic last week for a clutch chore and experienced a flat tire or worn out restriction pads on the side by side ride twenty-four hour period, don't blame the mechanic. One has nothing to practise with the other and things happen when y'all ride a dirt bike.

5. Employ High Quality Parts

The fantastic Rekluse clutch you bought from MotoSport has all the parts you need to install on your dirt wheel. The questionable kit bought on EBay that arrived from somewhere in Wuhan, Cathay, non so much. Don't requite your mechanic inferior products or parts that don't fit the make, model and year of your dirt bike to install. This puts the mechanic in a bind who may pass on the task or follow-upwardly with a phone call explaining the demand for additional parts leaving you thinking, "oh, here nosotros go with running up the bill." The mechanic may too not guarantee the piece of work if you lot insist on using inferior parts or a product not suited for your specific dirt bicycle.

Just don't get aroused and bitter afterwards considering your dirt bike stalled halfway through a Moto.

6. Don't Store past Toll

Unfortunately, some mechanics know how to gouge the consumer especially riders who clearly have no idea how to perform most general maintenance and ride as a modest hobby or got into clay bikes because of friends.

But y'all also don't want to become the cheapest route.

Price compare between dissimilar recommended shops you have researched and always enquire other riders the generally accepted price for the work needed. Cheque internet reviews and run into if any of the mechanics have developed a reputation for charging more than necessary.

Finally, a good mechanic hands over your dirt bicycle in better shape than when y'all dropped it off. A reputable mechanic incorporates expert processes like post-obit torque specs, using Loctite, anti-seize and a parts washer to clean parts removed to service other areas of the dirt bike.

Might we suggest, if you own a dirt bike, learn the basic maintenance functions like oil and filters, exhaust packing and coolant flushing. We come across a top end in your future! Performing your ain maintenance saves lots of time and money too as the headache that comes with finding a mechanic and transporting your dirt cycle to the shop.

Mechanic working on a dirt bike

How To Handle a Bad Dirt Bike Mechanic

Yous but might experience a bad mechanic from shoddy workmanship to an outright rip-off artist. Things happen and in the long run whatsoever feelings you accept will dissipate and a accident upwards at the shop isn't worth it, therefore:

  • Keep a level head
  • Keep track of all work performed
  • Try and look from the mechanic'due south perspective

If you lot indeed discover a mechanic carried out a bad job or you experience ripped off try reasoning with the mechanic and explain your side. Just remember, if you insisted on work and rejected the mechanic's recommendations to address other bug yous take no leg to stand on. This goes back to being clear with the piece of work you want performed and agreement suggestions past the mechanic.

Otherwise, a good mechanic who wants to prove themselves should have responsibleness and make the necessary gear up at a discounted charge per unit or even free of charge depending on the issue. Sometimes, a mechanic merely overlooked a trouble that resulted in the bike's poor performance later.

If y'all go the brush off and a mechanic who does non seem to care about their reputation or making you a long term customer then yous take every right to let others know and find out if riders in your community have faced a similar situation.

Yous may be out a $100 or so simply lesson learned and somewhen the mechanic will be out a livelihood.