Does Forum advice affect mechanics livelihood?

This question came up on another Blade forum. The question (I believe) is so interesting I believed it beneficial to share.

https://www.fireblades.org/forums/g...does-helping-people-online-harm-industry.html

 

Do internet forums affect IT people livelyhood? If you want a job where people can't just learn lots about it from the internet then maybe being a bike/car/computer fixer isn't the best career path.

If people feel confident enough after reading a forum to fix the bike, car whatever then they would in the past have used a Haynes manual, spoke to a friend, or watched someone doing the actual job so they do it themselves next time.

Personally there is a limit on how much I will try just using forums and youtube.

 

As above!!! We all read to gain better knowledge and sometimes try within our capabilities.

 

Probably make a fortune fixing fuck ups.

 

Anyway, I like getting the spanners out, it's my form of meditation.

 

I like getting the Mr Sheen out, it's my form of meditation.

 

In my case it's probably good for the industry. I see something, think it looks easy, have a go, cross thread/ruin everything, pay a mechanic to fix my mess and the original problem. I could try to replace a bulb and wreck the head gasket in the process!

 

And a very valid point @Marc .

I think many of us might have attacked a job with supreme confidence only to find that we were severely lacking and ended up resorting to the gurus. The interesting offshoot of that is that there are times that it would have been quicker and cheaper to go direct to a tech rather than attempt the job ourself.

 

There still seem to be about as many workshops around these days(or around here anyway) as pre-internet. Not really an answer to the question but maybe a guage...

There are other factors too in that period - Service intervals have pretty much doubled, but then now it takes twice as long to get into anything so I guess that balances out a bikes time in a the workshop a bit.

Forums are great for finding out if problems are model issues or one-offs, and fantastic for seeing a variety of different solutions.
...but I reckon where the internet really shines is for manuals. It's so nice having torque settings for everything instead of just going by what the last similar bike you happened to have a manual for was.
Recently refreshed a couple of little KXs. Would never have dreamed of buying manuals for them, it'd all have been guesswork.
...but when they're just a mouseclick away they do make life easier.

...and parts diagrams - I'll bet dealers don't miss the days of firing up the microfisch reader every time someone couldn't read their own "which bolt goes where" notes.

 

Good response.

You might sense that the original poster on the thread I posted presented as somewhat 'selfish' and interested only in his view.

Great point about parts diagrams etc. I frequently look up Fowlers for assembly guidance (most recently when installing Chinese fairings) and as a result actually purchased items from them. On that basis, they GAINED income as a result of forum advice.

I think the present price for a 2017 -2019 Blade Workshop Manual is in excess of £45.00. I know a member on here has one. I haven't seen the current manuals offered as a free download, BUT, it was a bonus to find the 2008 - 11 available. Might that cost the industry money? Not sure, because at forty-plus quid I wouldn't buy one anyway. And herein lays the BIG question: Has Haynes manuals cost manufacturers, and the repair industry, a heap of income? These questions could be never ending.

On forums we are enthusiasts. The general commuter type owner will generally leave his bike with a workshop and pay whatever is asked for repairs. So yes, the dealers/service centres will always survive.

 

I blame that Marshall Cavendish "Road Bike" series back in the eighties. After they showed Honda owners how to change their own rectifiers the industry was never the same again.

 

Was glad to find the 04-05 Blade manual as a download. Got a paper copy with the bike but I hate getting manuals dirty.
Obviously it happens and I'm not OCD but I do hate doing it, which can lead to time wasting handwashes.
...but I don't appear to give two hoots what state my hands are in when I use a mouse.

So paper for pre-job read-throughs and PDF for grubby mitt time. Manual heaven.

 

Short answer: no

 

Duly noted and reported to:

https://www.facebook.com/MouseAppreciationSociety/

 

Sharing knowledge should be actively encouraged, it wouldn’t surprise me if mechanics are searching forums for for valuable information.

 

As a general rule I imagine that shifty mechanics, car salespeople, mattress salespeople, electrical goods salespeople, crap hotel owners, crap restaurant owners, poor hire car companies etc etc etc etc all hate the internet.

The net is often abused and can be an irritating place but it's empowered a lot of people and put paid to some of the old ways of doing business. People know that garages, mechanics etc CAN be out to shaft them out of money for poor quality work. That's why people check with other owners on forums. As we all know, the solution to your problem is very often a known issue with the bike, car, microwave etc. A quick ask can often mean not having to ask a pro who'll just make up a bunch of stuff that 'needs fixing'.

You can then decide whether you want to have a crack at it yourself or pay the pro. In my experience the pros often aren't much better than you, they just have the tools to do the job and are quicker at it due to experience.

When you're young you tend to be time rich and money poor so you might be more inclined to have a go. As you get older the reverse is often true. I used to pull my bikes to bits. Now I can't really be arsed so if it's anything much more complicated than an oil change or brake pads, off it goes to the mechanic.

Problem is.....finding a decent, conscientious one is easier said than done. The last time I got my bike back from a mechanic the clutch lever had been put back on so that it was hitting the bodywork on full lock, there was a scratch on the swingarm that I know wasn't there before (but can't prove) and there were 2 bolts missing. One was one of the large fairing bolts so the right hand main fairing was flapping around.

I'd have done the job better but it'd have taken me ages.

 

I have never seen a poor mechanic.
So they must be doing ok
The rates they charge are ridiculous and that’s why I work on my own bike and the fact that when I brought the blade they over filled it with oil I know I would not of done that

 

There's enough people out there who wouldn't want to/don't have time to do their own mechanical work so I don't think there is any risk of bike mechanics having to sign on anytime soon .

Sometimes it might depend on the garage and if you have one nearby that is any good, and if not someone might give it a go who wouldn't normally.

I like tinkering so would always prefer to invest in the tools and do it myself (within reason), but most of my mates wouldn't dream of it. I'd get my own tyre machine if I had the cash and space as the wanker who fitted my tyres last time chipped the rim.

There's an Independent Ducati specialist near me where people travel from all over the UK to have their bikes serviced there. Last time I was there, there was about 10 888s all lined up waiting, so I think if you are good you will get regular loyal customers. There's some dodgy garages that should be out of business who are rip off merchants but who probably make loads of money.

 

Excellent point. There's Aprilia Performance in Tamworth that carries a similar reputation.

My new-found 'non-dealership service centre is staffed by two former Honda mechanics (both raced Ns400Rs and RC30s) and provide great service at a very good rate. I wish I'd found them before having some work done on my VF1000R.

Cop this: A Honda dealer charged for a new YSS rear shock (£220.00) and front wheel bearings, the amount of £741.04 inc VAT. They even had the audacity to levy a £5.00 environmental surcharge which was presumably to throw away the old bearings. (I took the original shock with me). I now only use this dealer for 'Service Book' work on my 2018 Blade.

The relevance of this is as @TheMickster says : some don't have the time, space, or aptitude to do their own work. A good entrepreneurial mechanic/technician can set up on his own and be rewarded with good clientele, with good words spread, ironically, via the internet.