Once you start living that DIY life, it's hard to stop.
I'm not just talking bikes; I'm talking all kinds of DIY. Because really, if you look at things the right way, and with the proper amount of curiosity, us well-seasoned DIYers can turn literally anything into our next project.
Obviously, some will be more fun to accomplish than others. But with every new project you complete, you get that special sense of satisfaction flowing throughout every cell of your body that can only come from having seen it all the way through.
What if you're a serial project doer, though? At what point does it start to become a problem? That's the half-joke that comes up in the latest video from the guys at Big Time (whom you may remember/recognize from their years at Donut Media).
See, lately, Jeremiah has been stocking up on project vehicles left and right. There's a vintage big rig, a side-by-side, a bunch of motorcycles, and that's not even getting into the cars that Big Time is also working on at the same time. Granted, things are going to look a little different if your YouTube channel is a) about DIY culture and b) also how you earn your living. But still, it's a lot!
The latest addition to the pile, as it turns out, is a project bike-in-a-box that Jer just bought. It's actually a couple of boxes and a grocery basket, and the bike is what should be a Suzuki RM 125. I say "should be" because that's what the seller told them, but in a situation like this, it's anyone's guess whether all the pieces are actually in the boxes.
What might be missing? Or also, what might be unusable? That's all a complete mystery and a situation where you have to judge on the spot whether you think the seller is genuine or not. Sometimes, that can be hard to tell. And sometimes, the seller might not even know, depending on how they ended up with the bike in the first place. Or also, depending on their own DIY comfort or knowledge levels. There are so many factors to take into consideration!
Anyway, in this case, the bike is a little single-cylinder two-stroke machine. So, the first thing Jeremiah and Zach do is start grouping things into sub-systems: Frame, Engine, Suspension, and Wheels. That way, they can see what they're working with and determine if they can even put the thing together like they're hoping to do.
And then, it's on to the main challenge: Can they put this bike together in an hour? Now, if it was just one person doing this, even if they're super knowledgeable and have all the tools they need, that's a tall order. But since there are two of them, maybe they have a chance? That's why it's always good to have at least one buddy who's as deep into your personal brand of insanity as you are, whether it's bikes or anything else.
First, Jeremiah tackles the engine. Although it's a relatively simple configuration, it's clear that the piston here has taken some abuse. Also, the cylinder has some damage, so it's time to get out the dingle ball hone and try resurfacing it, just so they can hopefully get it together and see if it runs.
If you're in a situation where you can do this, it can save you a whole lot of expense and trouble, even if you have to buy the correct ball hone attachment to suit your cylinder. Sure, it's a new tool, but that new tool is probably less expensive than either paying someone else to do it, or else sourcing a new (or used) cylinder. At least, in many cases, it should be, though there are always exceptions.
While he's doing that, Zach is over getting the frame together so the engine has some place to go once it's back in one piece. They get their respective parts together, there's a neat animation explaining that the expansion chamber in a two-stroke exhaust is there for both function and form, and the project comes together in a pretty reasonable amount of time. Did the previous owner actually play true with the bike they sold? NICE!
It's always going to be a bit of a gamble, the idea of buying someone else's project with an eye toward completing it yourself. Or, like the Big TIme boys, possibly repurposing the engine for another custom project they have in the pipeline. But as long as you keep your eyes and ears open and proceed with caution, sometimes you can also end up with a good deal if you're willing to put in a day of work yourself.
Is it worth it? It can be, but situations will vary wildly. If you know what you're doing, you probably already know this. And if you're just learning, it might be a good idea to take along your buddy who knows more about this stuff, assuming you have one. Hopefully, between the two of you, everyone can wrench away happily after a bargain is struck.
