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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 26 Sep 2006
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Bike Maintainence Course

Hello,

I'm planning an Africa trip next year and I am keen to have some bike maintainence training in preparation. I'm also moving to London (North East) later this week so I was wondering does anyone know of any courses offered/recommended? I enquired at some local colleges in Lancaster a while back for anything, but to no avail. I will be working Mon-Fri 9-5 so I would be looking to do this at evenings or weekends.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Cheers,

Chris
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  #2  
Old 26 Sep 2006
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Thumbs up Merton college

Chris,

I can definitely recommend Merton college (south London). They have various courses on motorcycle mechanics.
If you can, I would suggest to enrole for their 1 yr "City & Guild MC Mechanics Practical skills" (C & G 3991). It started last week and they may have some space left.

The course in now on wednesday evenings from 7 to 9pm. I did it last year and it is very good. I enjoyed it so much I am now doing the advanced one!
They also have various 1 term courses, (part time, generally evenings).

http://www.merton.ac.uk/courses.asp
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  #3  
Old 26 Sep 2006
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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A Suggestion

Find a friend or really good mechanic who knows your bike, ply him/her with food and booze (maybe $ too), tear the bike down (most of it), put it back together, and do all maintenances.
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  #4  
Old 28 Sep 2006
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Cool

I think you are referring to a 1 to 2 week course rather than a 1 year qualification yes?

Well I know a guy (Heino) who did one so you could email and ask him - namsa at hotmail dot co dot uk

But my recommendation (and this is what I did) is teach yourself by working on your own bike. I bought the Haynes Motorcycle basics Techbook for learning theory, principles how things work etc and my bikes workshop manual (was a Honda Transalp at the time) for working on my specific bike.

I started from knowing nothing about engines, bikes etc etc to completely stripping my whole engine top end down and putting it together again.

I didn't do this as a learning exercise it was actually to check the pistons/rings etc but it taught me a lot. Start by doing all your own maintenance, take everything apart that you can grease/oil/clean yourself. Do your own valve clearance adjustments etc etc. Unless you have a BMW or some such spaceship it's all common sense once you get the hang of it..and fun too!
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