What to get a youngster looking to get into motorbike mechanics ?

[weeksy]

I've bought that book from @ZRX61 and will see about what's next after the weekend.

[Skub]

I may have accidentally bought a couple more tools as well,after reading this thread.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

A good quality socket set, go with quality over quantity, I've had my Draper Expert half inch socket set for over 30 years and it's still going strong.

[weeksy]

Went with a set of these as well

https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-too ... 57494.html

[Count Steer]

Nice one.

I wonder what the ideal bike/engine would be to work on to get started with?

Years ago you'd probably be gunking a Villiers 2T engine in the bath or have a Lambretta in bits.

Something with (cheap) spares available or to scavenge off scrappers, nothing exotic. So a high production numbers, 2T, single, small traillie type? (I assume he's not qualified to ride anything on the road yet?).

[weeksy]

Nice one.

I wonder what the ideal bike/engine would be to work on to get started with?

Years ago you'd probably be gunking a Villiers 2T engine in the bath or have a Lambretta in bits.

Something with (cheap) spares available or to scavenge off scrappers, nothing exotic. So a high production numbers, 2T, single, small traillie type? (I assume he's not qualified to ride anything on the road yet?).

No, he's only 16.

[Mussels]

I'd be tempted to buy him safety glasses and gloves, he won't need them often but it's good to get him thinking about looking after himself as well.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Went with a set of these as well

https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-too ... 57494.html

I've got an older set of them, they're good.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Nice one.

I wonder what the ideal bike/engine would be to work on to get started with?

Years ago you'd probably be gunking a Villiers 2T engine in the bath or have a Lambretta in bits.

Something with (cheap) spares available or to scavenge off scrappers, nothing exotic. So a high production numbers, 2T, single, small traillie type? (I assume he's not qualified to ride anything on the road yet?).

Get a Yamaha reed valve engine, they're nice to work on, don't get a Suzuki TS engine, the bottom end is horrible to work on. Generally twins with horizontally split crankcases are nicer to work on than singles with vertically splitting crankcases.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Nice one.

I wonder what the ideal bike/engine would be to work on to get started with?

Something super reliable which works. Nothing to sap enthusiasm like a hunk of shit which still won't run properly.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Nice one.

I wonder what the ideal bike/engine would be to work on to get started with?

Something super reliable which works. Nothing to sap enthusiasm like a hunk of shit which still won't run properly.

Best to avoid two strokes then, they can be very finnicky.

[Horse]

Nothing to sap enthusiasm like a hunk of shit which still won't run properly.

That, sir, is a Triumph of understatement

[Taipan]

Another endorsement for a set of JIS screwdrivers accompanied by the reasons why. Dont think i've ever worked on a jap bike that hasn't some screws that have been mulled by a posi/phillips screwdriver!

[ZRX61]

I've bought that book from @ZRX61 and will see about what's next after the weekend.

The Zimmerman book or the Crawford one?

[ZRX61]

Tools will sit around until they're needed. What about a book on restoration projects to provide some inspiration?

There's a pretty decent one called "How To Rebuild And Restore Classic Japanese Motorcycles" by Sid Young. It has some CB175 turd on the cover, but the book is actually stuffed full of old Kawasaki's. (Z650, GPz900R, J model etc)
There's also "How To Restore Kawasaki Z1, Z/KZ900 & Z/KZ1000", but no newb to the game is gonna jump into restoring a potential $30,000 concourse Kwak...

[Count Steer]

When I was having to do my own spannering, the one thing I dreamed of was.....a workshop/garage.

All these years later I have the space...but it's full of 'stuff' that seems to grow when you aren't looking. Used to have 2 large bikes in it...couldn't get a bicycle in now.

Another skip or 2 + another shed are on my current wish list.

[Taipan]

When I was having to do my own spannering, the one thing I dreamed of was.....a workshop/garage.

All these years later I have the space...but it's full of 'stuff' that seems to grow when you aren't looking. Used to have 2 large bikes in it...couldn't get a bicycle in now.

Another skip or 2 + another shed are on my current wish list.

Garage-of-plenty! Respect is due!