Everyone starts out as a beginner.
Back when I was in high school, tasks I thought I could handle didn’t go smoothly.
I’d ask the bike shop for help. Everyone’s done that, right? Absolutely.
Honestly, I feel like I learned less than I thought I would.
Even after the work was done, I’d get a casual verbal explanation like “all set,”
and I’d be left wondering “what was that really about?” with lingering confusion, doubt, and anxiety that I still carry today.
I learned that I shouldn’t let that happen—I’ve always tried to learn from others’ mistakes.
So, I occasionally update this blog with random thoughts.
Back when I was in high school, I remember my part-time job paid around 770 yen per hour.
Even working five hours from 5 PM to 10 PM after school…
I’d only make 3,850 yen. (；∀；)
Buying a new motorcycle is quite a challenge.
Anyway, setting that aside.
No money → plenty of time and wanting to ride every day = doing the work yourself—isn’t that the typical path for motorcycle riders?
Back then, I didn’t even know service manuals existed,
so I’d spend my days doing what I called “custom work” or “maintenance” under the eaves without much thought.
Looking back now, I wonder what was so fun about it.
Installing and removing parts, whether things were getting better or worse—none of that really mattered. I was just absorbed in the work.
Then one day, reading a motorcycle magazine, I’d see things like…
“changing spark plugs is good” or “replacing the air cleaner is good,”
and I’d think “hmm, interesting.”
When I saw spark plugs at a nearby auto shop and realized they weren’t that expensive,
I thought “I want to try changing the spark plugs!”
The bike I was riding back then was a Honda CBR250R. (Not the RR.)
It was practically a hand-me-down.
Strike while the iron is hot.
I decided to try changing the spark plugs, so I removed the fuel tank and the air cleaner box and froze.
Wait, I can’t see the spark plug? That means I don’t know the part number…
Looking back now, I’m amazed at my recklessness.
I should have researched first and then acted, but back then there was no internet, and the bookstore didn’t have that kind of information. Impatient as I was, I figured taking it apart would be faster, so I just went ahead and disassembled it.
And my only means of transportation was now in pieces.
The only place I could turn to was the bike shop.
So I pushed the bike all the way to the shop
and asked, “Can you change the spark plugs?”
Before that, I asked about the price—”How much?”
The shop owner said, “Hmm, about 8,000 yen?”
“Eight thousand yen?!”
That was two days’ worth of my part-time wages.
I just asked, just pushed the bike there, and then pushed it all the way back home and reassembled it.
With the tank and air cleaner box still off, I had this naive hope that it would be a quick fix, but that was crushed. (；∀；)
Looking back now, maybe the shop owner was thinking “don’t bring me such nonsensical requests!”
I’ve come to realize that being selfish and inconsiderate isn’t right. I reflect on it every day.
