Night school course in bike maintenance??

[Germ]

I've been looking on the net but all the courses seem to be professional stuff and costing £500 + which is not what I want.

I know that I know very little actual hands on mechanical stuff so I was hoping to find a place that teaches you the basics of servicing your own bike.I know that colleges used to run night school classes in this kind of thing but there seems to be nothing available.

Does anyone know of any courses like this in the North East of England where I can get some hands on experience rather than just sitting reading about how to do stuff?

[Sload]

I'm actually a craftsman by trade and pretty handy on the spanners but very new to bikes, as far as saying understanding engine configurations, types of oils, intervals etc. That being said I can dive right in as long as I have reference material for tolerances, grades etc.

The best advice I can give you is get a friend who is competent to introduce you to it as well as the hazards. Then get yourself a small set of tools and accurate material and dive right in. Unless you're a complete plank you should pick up the basics pretty easily. You certainly don't need a degree to get to a good standard, it's definitely no black art.
But safety first triple check anything you do as a first timer and if you are not sure then get it checked by said competent friend.

And edit: to refer to your actual qeury, you cannot beat hands on experience including the feck ups. I certainly wouldn't entertain spending silly amounts of money to learn basics.

[herulach]

I looked into this last year, and a typical course was going to set me back about £400. After that you still need tools & stuff to do the rest.

I just faffed with the YBR I had at the time instead, If you're not confident faffing with yours (and assuming you have the space) keep an eye on ebay for something that runs and is well inside your 'what I'd have spent on a course' budget (don't forget you;ll need oil, pads filters etc). and do a full overhaul on it.

Probably work out more expensive unless you can find a real bargain of a bike but you'll have something to show for it at the end.
____________________
YBR 125>FZS600

[Germ]

Reason I wanted to do a course is so I don't feck up my bandit.

Wondering if I should buy a cheap crappy barely/non runner and a Haynes manual and strip it down to frame and rebuild it....who knows I could even save a 125 from the scrapyard Just been thinking,wonder how common old 70's/80's Yamaha YB100's are....my first bike,passed my test on it but didn't have it long enough to do much mechanical stuff.

Gonna tackle a few things with my mate at the weekend.....fit my new blue flame can,NGK Irridium plugs,K&A filter and maybe give her an oil change just to be safe and why not get some practice in

[Sload]

That's spot on. If you have a mate who knows what he is on with just get him to watch you and give you tips. You really would have to be some mental fucknugget to screw it up so bad it was unrecoverable.

Get him to give you the basics specifically on chain checks plus adjustment, brake and clutch checks plus cables and pads, tyres checks, fluid checks, steering etc.

But any actual work you want to be doing yourself with him watching. If he is too impatient to help well then he aint no mate

[Germ]

[jjdugen]

After 45 years of 'messing' with bikes, I can still be caught out. My experience started when I was a snotty nosed 17 year old. Our bikes were wrecks, we were on apprentices pay, you learnt quick or you walked (or even worse, had to get on a bus). My 'college' was Motorcycle Mechanics, my workshop the back yard. Fast forward to now, I'm retired, free to indulge in spare/repairs rejuvination, loving every minute. But, I now have a fully equiped workshop, past years experience of keeping 60's and 70's machinery going and STILL I get nasties that have me scratching my head.
It is rewarding, both to self and wallet, to be able to repair your own machinery, but one cock-up can cost you as much as a training course. Knowlege ONLY comes from doing it yourself, but that can come at a cost. Its up to you to apply yourself, if you like spannering, its very satisfying, if it becomes a chore, walk away and pay someone else to get oil stained, bruised, gashed and frustrated.

[neatbik]

Get yourself a copy of the Haynes Motorcycle Basics

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/product_images/haynes_techbook_basics.jpg

This will run you through the basic operating principles.
Then try to pick up a cheap bike from ebay or somewhere, even a crappy chinese thing will do.

Get a good basic tool kit and spend your free time tinkering. Pull things apart, have a good nosey at how everything works.

Providing you have a bit of practical nous you will be surprised how quickly you can learn.