youTube and Maintenance

[MIAirhead]

It would be great if when you do some work, you take the time to do a video to post on YouTube. It would not be so great, then of course everyone would tell you what you did wrong.
With those images, it would help the maintenance techniques of all who work on their equipment. With fewer and fewer dealers, and fewer mechanics to work on the older machines, a resource of riders who do their own maintenance would keep the Airheads going for years.

[fabiox]

It would be great if when you do some work, you take the time to do a video to post on YouTube. It would not be so great, then of course everyone would tell you what you did wrong.
With those images, it would help the maintenance techniques of all who work on their equipment. With fewer and fewer dealers, and fewer mechanics to work on the older machines, a resource of riders who do their own maintenance would keep the Airheads going for years.

I am 100% available to produce that video. I have been trying to find a talent but no luck Master Tom Cutter said no.....who else could be a talent

[crazydrummerdude]

Taking/posting pictures is a lot easier than doing the same with videos.. of any quality.

Anyone got a good video editing program suggestion?

[fabiox]

Taking/posting pictures is a lot easier than doing the same with videos.. of any quality.

Anyone got a good video editing program suggestion?

final cut pro from MAc

[lkchris]

Airhead maintenance should be a social event, not a "lonely guy" thing.

Join your local BMW club--guaranteed someone that's a member has already done whatever it is you want to do next.

Almost guaranteed there's an engineer member--nothing better at BMW maintenance.

[vanzen]

Airhead maintenance should be a social event, not a "lonely guy" thing.

Join your local BMW club--guaranteed someone that's a member has already done whatever it is you want to do next.

Almost guaranteed there's an engineer member--nothing better at BMW maintenance.

"my bike's broke" – misery loves (empathetic) company !:violin

Good advice, Ikchris.
And certainly the best case scenario.
However, some of us are stuck out in the boonies, perhaps by choice,
and when the old boxer breaks, well, who's gonna wait for a rally, then not have the bike running to get there ?
The Touring Club of Detroit is the closest MOA club to my home.
Sometimes go to their sponsored weekly breakfast events around the area.
Great bunch of folks, and happy to oblige if info is needed.
But also it is difficult to "hang-out regularly" with a crew that is generally based better than 60 miles away and are occupied with their daily lives when something breaks.

The vid / U-tube seems a good idea, regardless.
Just to have it on tap for reference,
on the shelf waiting and ready, like the BMW & Clymer Manuals.

A "feature presentation" of a repair vid at a club meeting
with a question / answer session and maybe a demo –
would bring it all together quite nicely, I would think.

[robsryder]

Over on ADV there are a few folks working on Airhead GS bikes. The threads about this work have had some most excellent photos illustrating various procedural steps. Plus, there is a lot of useful commentary from the inmates perusing those threads.

Here is the start of one of those threads -

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=431153


And another -

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=417387

[DennisDarrow]

Surely not to get into the Mac vs PC debate.......but.........Avid makes a fine system/software that is used for a lot of movie work........Adobe Premiere is used by LOTS of commercial guys and for TV..........and then there is always microsoft movie maker........

Actually, Sumran and I did a lot of investigation about producing DVDs for maintenance this time last year.......found great talent; but the problem was a location.........NO SHOPS would allow it........that was in Atlanta and N. Fla.......if someone has a location, I will be more than happy to get the Airstream hooked up and head that way..............

As a commercial videographer, I tend to shy away from "home movie" efforts. There are LOTS of folks out there with hand helds and primitive software that can make acceptable U tube stuff. When you begin to pay for audio equipment, lighting, and 3 chip cameras, at least 2 preferably 3, for this kind of work, it adds up to HAVING TO MAKE MONEY...........anyway........get in touch.......Dennis

[fabiox]

we need a series of airhead maintenance videos now, from basic to advanced.
Its fun to be with others on a day tech wrenching but sometimes you just don't have time to wait to go to a day tech in the spring. I am mainly talking about guys like me who ride everyday of the year and don't know anything about mechanics. It will be very helpful to have DVD's that we could learn from and test our new skill in the garage or sidewalk and wrench up those airheads alone. Tom Cutter could be a great guy to have in the series because he knows a lot and he is very well spoken.

[sumran]

I'm still interested Dennis. I need to revisit the project.

[JOHNW67]

I would pay a decent sum for that video!

[squiffynimrod]

I would pay a decent sum for that video!

As would I. BMWMOA are you listening? Revenue generator opportunity!

[535is]

Airhead maintenance should be a social event, not a "lonely guy" thing.

Almost guaranteed there's an engineer member--nothing better at BMW maintenance.
:rofl :ha Reminds me of the time I looked out the window to see two of my best friends, a doctor and a lawyer, and my dad, a PE (civil) all hunched over the butt end of the doctor's VW Beetle, trying to figure out how to install the muffler. Took 'em over an hour. Absolutely hilarious. The lesson is that not all engineers have 'good hands' or any clue whatsoever about automotive/motorcycling stuff. :thumb

[R80RTJohnny]

As would I. BMWMOA are you listening? Revenue generator opportunity!

Or if someone screws up it's lawsuit time. Darn.

[squiffynimrod]

Or if someone screws up it's lawsuit time. Darn.

Or it's disclaimer time!

[cathdeac]

If at first you don't succeed, lower your standards....

A video is a nice idea.. but the disclaimer would overshoot any available bandwidth...

:violin

[lonelobo]

So what would you guys want to see covered in a series of maintenance videos? I will start the wish list:

1) Ignition Systems
2) Brake Systems
3) Suspension
4) Electrical Systems
5) Fuel Systems

Next question is what's out there already that pertains to BMW maintenance and repair? What do you like about these existing videos and what don't you like?

[MIAirhead]

I been looking what is out there. I have not found too much. I think if riders/owners could see basic tune up, valves, timing, carb sync. Then I would hope it would grown, and become a way to keep more people on Beemers. One reason a few people give up riding is the cost getting repairs done. I know my nearest dealer will charge a $100, for an oil change (of course he will also air your tires).

I think it important to share what we can as riders. Much like the way, it an acknowledgment, of enjoyment it the experience. Nothing like spending a rain day making something better.

The Airhead is a special, simple machine. It can run a million miles with care and routine maintenance.

[squiffynimrod]

but the disclaimer would overshoot any available bandwidth...



Not an online feature but an actual have to pay for it DVD

[rinty]

BMWMOA...? SquiffyNimrod

+1

It seems to me that the risk element for MOA would be something that could be insured against, and in any event, the risk would be low.

The video would be available only to MOA members, and it would only be in DVD format, so that prior to ordering, the buyer would have to agree to the terms of use, and the disclaimer.

The program would start with airheads, and then move to other types on an "as can" basis.

[20715]

Quite a few years ago, I borrowed a VHS tape from somebody in the Indianapolis BMW club. No way I can remember his name, but he lived in a small town just west of Indy. If my memory is correct, that club had several home made videos for servicing airheads. The one I borrowed was for the spline lube. Excellent video - it led me through it step by step. They filmed it using a /6, so it was exactly like mine. I think that club may no longer be active. But somebody over there ought to still have those VHS tapes. Then somebody else could convert them to DVD's to sell to members. Just a thought. Maybe somebody reading this thread will know how to track them down. I would happily pay for more of them.

[DennisDarrow]

As stated in an above post.......We are willing and able to produce a series of DVDs that cover the maintenance aspects of 72 through basically 95 years. A location is the holdup for us because it would need to be in a professional setting. However, possibly a home garage would make the viewer feel more relaxed about the "can do" factor.

Having written Lonelobo an email and PM here I am waiting for his reply for a possible joint venture. Let me explain the economics of this situation. Let's just say that we are gonna produce a 2 hr DVD that that has chapters that covers: setting valves, ignition timing to include points, carb adjust and sync, and fluid changes.........
Actual video taping with at least 2 operators and 3 cameras.....
8 hours @ $300 per hour

Editing at the hopeful time of 1 hour editing for each 10 minutes of finished video....
1 hour for each minute is more realistic but we will go with 10 minutes......
20 hours @$100 per hour

Duplication and shipping $5 per DVD

Ok......thats $2400 for the shoot, $2000 for the editing for a total of $4400. Pretty cheap actually but doable...................

Better kick in another $500 or so for marketing etc............

So lets call it $5000 for the production............

What is the market?..............$30???.........$19.95?....... .....

One can see that to produce 100 of these one needs to market them for $55 each.......Of course the more one sells the better off you are or more profit; but for me, $20 to $30 is more realistic.......Break even where?........

We have produced MANY spec DVDs for concerts, bands, promotional speakers, and product sales...........Often we get demands for MORE AND MORE copies, and perhaps half the time they are still sitting on the shelf 5 years later........WE DONT DO SPEC.......We have found to get the client to pay for the production costs and let them worry about the sales and marketing............On THIS deal, I can see having to bear the cost of production and marketing.............

The question to be answered is yes, one can produce this with a handheld and windows movie maker and end up with an adequate home movie or produce a professional training video that is marketable.......Which does one want?

Oh.......converting a VHS is totally acceptable if one can get the master..........Ever seen a 5th generation VHS copy?...........REDDDDDDDDDDDDD........
What about the copyrights?

If BMWMOA wants to, through the foundation, pursue this as a project, I wish they would state that..........LOTS of politics involved there........To me, go ahead and produce the product and then see what happens...........

Just my thoughts..............Dennis