SARA LIBERTE
For men and women who have the will to service their own bikes and lack only the know-how, this book has it all: basic, easy-to-use information about repairing and maintaining pushrod V-twin motorcycles from someone who really knows the nuts and bolts. Sara Libertes primer begins with the fundamentalsfrom wheel size and tire pressure to knowing your shop manual and the tools youll needthen moves on to the basics of maintenance. Changing oil and other fluids, replacing gaskets, gauging normal wear and tear, inspecting chains and belts and adjusting tension: these are just a few of the topics Liberte covers in complete and clear detail. She also discusses the charging system, battery charging, terminal maintenance, and simple wiring techniquesand, critically, troubleshooting, whether on the road or at the shop.
Motorbooks.com: Congratulations on your new book! You write in the preface that you believe servicing your own bike is a part of being a motorcyclist. With so many new riders out there every year, do you think that your belief is being followed, or are new riders happy to have someone else work on their bikes? Why do you think its important to work on your own ride?
Liberte: You kind of hit the nail on the head there. Youre right, too many riders are leaving the servicing of their bike up to someone else. This is fine, but riders NEED to be aware of their motorcycles, and they need to know the basics of maintenance and service work. Riders should be in tune with their bikes just as they are to their own body. I want riders to realize that it's their responsibility to keep their bike in safe top-notch running condition. I hope this book will encourage riders to step up to the plate and embrace the importance of servicing their own bikes.
Motorbooks.com: The book has dozens of basic projects covering pretty much everything we could think of for basic maintenance and repair, plus advice about tools, troubleshooting, and more. Whats the first thing you say to someone who asks you for advice for working on their own bike?
Liberte: The first thing I ask is "Do you have a service manual?" If trained mechanics use service manuals daily while performing motorcycle maintenance, what makes a novice think he or she can service a bike without one? The service manual is the most important tool you'll need in order to maintain your motorcycle.
Motorbooks.com: Some builders we talk to are comfortable selling their art, and some mourn the loss of their creation as soon as it rolls out of the shop. Which is it for you, and do you have any favorite custom bikes youve built recently?
Liberte: I love to see my clients roll out of the shop on the bikes we built for them. They always have the biggest smile on their face and I'm so proud to be able to make them so happy. We are currently finishing a bike for Barrett Brooks of the Superbowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. This one is high up on my favorite list. It always seems the latest one you build is your favorite and the one youre most proud of.
Motorbooks.com: Theres a lot of how-to, step-by-step photography in the book to help readers see how to do the projects listed. But youre also a noted art photographer, combining the human form with engine-like details. Can you tell us about that pursuit and how its going? (Editors note: Check out www.saraliberte.com for a preview.)
Liberte: My art photography is doing great. This has been a work in progress for 12 years now. I had to put my art on hold when I started RT's North Hills Cycle with my boyfriend Ron Tonetti back in 1998. I didn't have a minute to spare for anything other than the shop. I just brought the artwork back out in public in 2005 and have been getting so much positive feedback, it's incredible. The artwork was so personal and I thought it only meant something to me, but thats defiantly not the case with the responses I have been getting. My newest series "Builder and Machine" is being released for 2006 and is a showcase and exploration of the true craftsmen in this industry I'm so dedicated to, the custom motorcycle industry.
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