[Jeroen]

Thanks for a great write up, really enjoyed it.

If it makes you feel any better; Lots of guys (and the occasional girls) out there who start a restoration project enthusiastically, only to abandon it long before finished. Very common to have everything apart and then, for whatever reason, just not wanting to finish it.

In particular on oldtimer forums (cars/motorcycles) around the world you can find many so called “project-cars” or "project-bikes”. These are your typical restoration projects that have gone south. Each of them will have a story and an experience like yours!

I really don’t know the ultimate succesfactors to restoring cars/bicycles. It certainly is not tools, knowledge, experience or even the space. I have seen countless restorations done by people who when they started did not know a hammer from a screwdriver. Space is not necessarily a restriction either. Some people produce amazing results without having dedicated space let alone anything even resembling a workshop. Pick up any classic car magazine and there will always be a story about the guy who restored a rusty massive Rolls Royce, with only the most basic set of tools, no prior restoration experience and working from his council flat.

I would say doing restoration, or DIY work on your car / bike because of doing it cheaper is probably not the best long term motivator at all. Because you are trading your time, considerable amounts of time as you found out, against money.

I think what is most important is the desire to fiddle around and work with your hands. Try your hands at new kinds of jobs, techniques and so on. If you don’t get a lot of satisfaction out of that, no matter what, restoration or DIY work is likely to become a chore, no matter what.

Many people enjoy looking at beautiful restored cars and bikes. But restoration is a bit like travelling. If your only interest is the destination, the end result, you are likely to be very disappointed and very bored and fed up along the way early on.

I know guys that have restored multiple cars/bikes. As soon as their projects reach completion, they are already thinking about the next one. They hardly ever drive their restored cars/bikes. They will sell it and buy themselves another project.

However, working with your hands can be a very enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Although we think of it as just “working with your hands” it does require a lot of thinking, planning and continuous learning and adjusting of your skill set.

Have a look at this book, about a philosopher, turned bike mechanic.




Jeroen

[shyamg28]

Originally Posted by RiderZone

...The other major issue is that when things are on the bike, they are easier to work on. I spent so many hours wrestling with the engine, trying to unbolt something and just rolling the whole thing around like a helpless baby, because it was no longer inside the chassis. I guess that's why doctors don't behead a person while performing cataract surgery.

What a laugh riot that was And after reading the other report, I realized this is the toned down version lol.

Insanely well written piece, emotions (mostly agony I'm guessing) oozing out everywhere.

[agelesstravelle]

Originally Posted by RiderZone

4500 – Trade in value of motorcycle if I’d bought a new Bajaj bike
7000 – Money spent on tools
2400 – Money recovered by selling the bike in scrap
4 Months - Time spent from start to fail

After reading this awesome post and looking at the trade in amounts I just dropped the idea of restoring my 2005 Pulsar 150 DTSI. It still runs and starts in one kick.

You gotta a very supportive family that allowed you to do this in the bedroom. My wife would have moved me to a parking lot by now.

[DriverNo.420]

Epic satirical article man, had a really nice laugh. Really good stuff, especially the opening quote by Valentino Rossi.

To have an old motorcycle and never attempt to rebuild it's engine, is like having a grandma and never attempting open heart surgery on her.

You sir, have a gift in writing humor.

[VijayAnand1]

Too add to my point to what aargee has explained, he summed up the emotions that ran through me before giving up on a dear project of mine. I had most of everything, but inadequate space, especially bedroom part made it a half baked project and one thing though I happen to ride it gleefully even though it was assembled by me for the most part. No regrets till now of what was done, had a good time with it, time to move on. Certain things are better to to let go off than holding onto, be it machine or something else.

If it's bugging you daily, either live with that thing or dispose off that thing, either you are in peace! I always say.

Cheers!
VJ

[pradeepkc]

Loved reading your write up. Thank you for telling us your story.

I tried changing the timing belts of my car when I lived in the US telling myself I can pull it off. I got the ramps, mat, all the tools including a torque wrench because Haynes manual said so. By the time I took out the front fender and looked at the timing belt setup, I was confident that I will mess it up ��. I drove with the fender in my boot to the mechanic.

[W.A.G.7]

That was a really nice post. I am glad that you shared these details with everyone. There's a learning in your story - some things are best left to the experts.

Thanks for narrating your story in an honest and a humorous way. Atleast you attempted to work your way and complete the bike. I wouldn't think of that as a failure it's a different story that the bike didn't make it through the experience, though!

[Whiplash7]

You should have converted some parts of it into art, that way you get to keep some part of it at home along with your memories.

[GeeTee TSI]

Our very own Jeremy Clarkson! (in satire as well as proficiency with tools), back handed compliment there!

If it is an emotional attachment to an old set of wheels depreciated to the core, safe bet is to scout for a passionate mechanic who will take the trouble for such projects. This is from someone who had only the emotional attachment rather than the DIY skills

P.S. My 2006 model year Kinetic Blaze (with its non existent spares) was restored in 2020 through the mechanic route

[Entsurgeon]

Originally Posted by RiderZone

Af

Mistake 1: Not letting a real mechanic do the job

I know what to do with, and some old engine oil.

Mistake 2: Not washing the bike

I

Mistake 3: Stripping it down rather than fixing what’s wrong

I have inside my bedroom.

Mistake 5: No plan



Mistake 6: Abruptly giving up

Mistake zero: never doing small maintenance stuffs on your ride yourself
Howsoever much my mechanic may hate it, I always worked on my bike whenever I went to him for any job. Unscrewing and screwing fairings, tightening nuts and bolts or trying stuffs. Aligning panels, nuts and bolts is important else you would wrestle with the parts and tools. Some skill is definitely needed to do such jobs. If you knew how to transform written lines to real life results you would not end up in similar situations most of the times.
Mistake 7: Not being familiar with internals of the bike already
You couldn't reach this stage but its important to know should a reader go ahead with Mistake#1 because they avoided Mistake#Zero.
Imagine being able to put whole bike back together after months of sweat and blood and then not only she fails to fire up, you also dont have a clue why. Which connectors did you let loose or which critical screw you failed to put back while reassembling that damn carburettor. You will end up with a dead bike and poor mechanic will have no clue where to start looking for the root cause of problem.
Humor aside, grounds up restoration should best be left for specialists. You got your front shock absorber overhauled at a professional place alright. Are you sure you installed them with right torque values on triple clamp? What about the brake disc, pads and calipers? I tread carefully for initial few kms even if a competent mechanic has worked on my ride. Would you really like to ride a vehicle worked upon by an inexperienced clumsy guy?
Kudos for sharing such a nice and different experience.

[amol4184]

Rated this thread at 5 stars. How is it NOT a 5* already?! Please fix it. There is no doubt in my mind. After reading OP, this is the first time ever I so quickly went and marked a thread 5 starrer.

I know its an unfortunate story of failure and abandonment but I am sorry. I actually laughed. A lot. Extremely crisp writing, no baggage, no beating around the bush, hits straight to the core. I wish there were more threads written like this on tbhp. Fantastic! Keep writing please @RiderZone

Tip: Anyone who didn't read the article that GTO linked. Drop everything and read it. It is a goldmine and will brighten your day.

[ObsessedByFIAT]

Your post has come in at the most opportune time for me!

During the lockdown, I saw zillions of woodworking videos and though I have some basic skills, I started imagining that I can very well build that double bed and a big cabinet and what not. Bought all the best in business stuff for it. Makita circular saw, for around 8.5k, a set of 108 tools from Stanley for around 2k. And a lot more Nick nacks. End result? I am yet to cut a plywood with the new circular saw!

Then, I started watching all those restoration videos, NCR motorcycle videos and what not. Was contemplating of buying a used bike and trying my hand at it. Now I exactly know what I shouldn't be getting into! Thank you for a very valuable lesson!

[acestormtrooper]

Originally Posted by 2000rpm

I dont think the bike was in bad enough condition to undergo a restoration, based on the pictures. All it needed was a good, thorough service.

I have a 2001 CBZ and its in very bad shape (from body condition) but with perfect working mechanicals (starts in 1-2 kicks even after being unused for months). I keep thinking of the restoration, but the whole RTO documentation is very very messy and expensive. Hence I use it only for local errands at my secondary house.

Will try to post a picture of my bike. Its still very very beautiful!

Good to know that you have your HH CBZ. I still got mine going strong. A 2005 CBZ Star. The last one in Pune.




Trust me, restorations and keeping the bike look stock requires a lot of patience and mental strength. Everyone says its an old machine. Scrap it. How ever, who can forget their first love!

Bike is done 1.78L Kms on the ODO since 2005. Everything functions normally. Not a daily commuter but a Sunday ride thing for me. All the docs in order (Including green tax etc)

[narasimha raju]

Got my 2001 CBZ restored recently!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWInqImsds0