The home service clubs that could save you hundreds

A new type of servicing is on the rise, and it could save you hundreds on maintenance bills.

Free “workshop days” – organised by online forum users – are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, where instruction and support are shared between members.

Getting technical tips from fellow bike club members is nothing new, but these events are the first model specific group workshop days organised by forum users who may not have met before, and who may even live in different corners of the UK.

One forum that regularly organises technical workshops is www.vtr1000.org, a site dedicated to Honda’s v-twin Firestorm.

Forum member Tony Monahan told MCN:

“Lots of owners have some idea of what maintenance or mechanical work needs doing but lack confidence. I have started to provide ‘workshop days’ at my home for other owners in the area to bring their bikes in and do the work while being guided, checked and encouraged to do the work for themselves without getting it wrong.

“The idea is that people learn how to do their own maintenance but with some support, and I’ve found that it works really well, even for complete mechanical novices. And for the more experienced they can modify, improve or simply service their own bikes, but have a laugh – and a BBQ at lunchtime – and a rideout afterwards.

“I realise that the dealers (god bless ‘em) would prefer that all servicing is done at their workshops, but sometimes cost gets in the way, and owners skimp on things they should do because they can’t afford dealer workshop rates but don’t have the confidence to do the work entirely by themselves.
 
“This way we get bikers who are more likely to keep up their enthusiasm, and this can only be good for biking as a whole.”

Are you a member of an online forum? Do you organise free workshops too?

Let us know at: dan.aspel@motorcyclenews.com