Maybe it’s because life has gotten pretty soft and we don’t make anything for ourselves anymore, but and this is my opinion only we’re losing respect for other people’s accomplishments and hard work, for what the human hand can do instead of just the human brain. I hear this all the time from guys who want their motorcycles restored and who have never turned a wrench in their lives: All mechanics are crooks, they’ll overcharge you at every turn. They’ll moan about the high cost of a paint job, for example, not realizing that the paint is $600 for a litre ( more if you want red, and who doesn't want red or metallic's), and somebody has to spend hours sanding it and finishing it because a good finish doesn’t come out of a rattle-can.
Our appreciation or understanding of other people’s hard work is fading, and that rankles me. The last time I pulled an engine out of something here at the garage, it took hours and my knuckles were bruised and covered in grease, and I thought, “Some guy only makes a couple hundred bucks for doing that?” That’s why I don’t usually question a quote for something we need to get done outside the garage. Good work doesn’t seem expensive when you think about how much actual effort goes into it, and that someone needs to be able to make a living doing it or else nobody will do it. Besides, I have yet to meet anyone who is getting rich by sandblasting rusty parts or re-chroming bumpers. They’re not overcharging—in fact, they’re probably undercharging.
Well, nowadays we watch these shows where they build a bike in a weekend, literally, and it seems so easy. The sparks are flying and guys are trying to restore a long forgotten part, and after a couple of commercial breaks and some pounding music, the bike is done. It gives people an unrealistic picture of what it takes to restore a motorcycle—the hundreds of hours, many of which are never billed. Just the amount of research a restorer has to do, figuring out how things go together and what is supposed to be original, is huge. Try finding an Aprilia light switch with a bakerlite switch lever, or an original choke lever for a 1974 Ducati Sport and see.
These days, Amazon will drop a package on your doorstep the same day you order it, so we’re also losing touch with how long things take in the real world.
I had a lady called me not long ago and she said, “It’s my husband’s birthday, he’s always wanted a bevel Ducati a red one, and I want to get one for his birthday. Can you get me one?” I said I couldn’t promise, but I would look around. Then I asked when his birthday is. She said, “the middle of next month.” I said, “That's a pretty hard ask,! I’m not going to find a bike in two weeks and restore it,. It takes awhile!” She didn’t get it.
I have a client who has a 74 Ducati Sport that requires a complete restore. He's a pragmatist and understands that in order to get the bike just right, you have to go the extra length to get it that way. We are currently about 6 months into the build, and there is a bit more to go. You can't just phone the shop in your town and get a set of valves, or an original exhaust, or a bevel engineer that knows what he is doing. They have to be found and they are usually located overseas and these things just take time. You can guarantee that the supplier's aren't sitting there waiting for you to phone, they are busy too. Then you have the inevitable transport costs and waiting time that all add to the timeline. So good things come to those who are patient enough to understand. Here's a good example, I ordered new spokes for the bike, you search the internet for the product and then the price to make sure you are getting the best product for the best price. 4 weeks later they arrive. You lace up the wheel only to discover that the spokes are 140mm long ( this is correct but the bike had 120mm long ones put on it years ago due to a crash). So you take the hub, rim and spokes to an 'expert', to have the spokes rolled down to 120mm. The expert says the rim is flogged out, the only way is to go to 160mm spokes. This entire process cost an extra set of spokes and 5 weeks. When I pick the completed rim up, its fucked and the new spokes are all bent and its been laced wrong. So now I'm in a battle with the 'expert', the rim wont pass compliance, and I am left with a shit fight to get at least some of my clients money back. This takes time and is costing me. It turns out the 140mm spokes can be rolled down and the rim can be re-used but just with bigger diameter nipples. A far far less expensive option than the new spokes. The end result? Just a little over 2 months of waiting and a big delay to the project. You deal with dramas like this when you approach the restore, you dont plan for them, but they can happen, and you deal with it. Just as well the client is a good bugger and understands these things.
So next time you’re walking through a show, or you see a bike sitting outside a bar somewhere, before you judge some guy because his paint isn’t perfect, think about how much of the work you do yourself. Unlike everything else we buy these days, there’s nothing quick, easy, or cheap about old bikes. And while few of us will ever climb Mount Everest, restoring a classic motorcycle is enough of a mountain for most people. Give them some credit." If it was easy everyone would be doing it, it takes a special sort of person with perseverance and skill.
A wee note here, some of what I have written here has to be attributed to an article I read from Jay Leno,
( italicized) it was his article that made me sit down and think about this topic in more depth
Bloody awesome as usual Grant. I've been hard out preparing my Superduke for the SOT in Feb so yes, I know what you mean about how long everything takes to acheive properly !! See you there perhaps ?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sincere efforts!
ReplyDeleteEffing awesome post! Thankyou for your work!
ReplyDeleteExcellent, as usual
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ReplyDeleteLove the britten single engine
ReplyDeleteThanks
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