I was just wondering whether motorcyclists have a tendency for perfectionism. I do (as my builders keep finding out) and I thought that riding a moto needs things to be done 'right' otherwise you may die. Biking is an extreme form of control freakiness in a way!
The opposite view would seem to be complete disregard for life / details. It might be interesting to see whether FOCers are at these extremes or just somewhere in between.
Am at work ,not at home
Its just a ride
I can be but I think it's more down to studying Science and expecting other people to not care about a job I want doing, therefore do it wrong.
thou shalt not kick
Perfectionists? As a whole I'd say no. Ask you're biking mates how many have bothered to set the sag on their suspension and/or then adjust it to suit carrying luggage/fat pillion etc. How many check tyre pressures every week etc.
Generally we live in a 'that'll do' society. I don't think I'm being too cynical in that observation.
Wasn't to bad until i started skippering superyachts in a past life and am now a perfectionist. I build canal boats and my boss is a bodge it master and it really winds me up.
This does translate to my bike although no garage at present so not perfect.
And yes Phil TK i do check my tyre pressures and tyre check almost every time i ride it due to picking a piece of flint last year and running it into the tyre for 100 miles which was only 1000 miles old. But still running it 4000 miles later. 
Red Heads - Slowly taking over the world!!!
"That'll do" is a good summary of my attitude to DIY/bike maintenance/you name it.
I have absolutely no trust in anyone else's judgement of what will "do". So if they can't deliver perfection, I'd sooner do the job myself. 
Perfectionist? Moi? .... c'est possible! :'(
- I'm a microprocessor failure analysis engineer (can spot a 0.1 micron defect among 4,000,000,000 transistors).
- I complain about the "Wrong mark of Spitfire" in war movies. (Or on "Yesterday", the wrong sort of aeroplane! :rollin )
- I recently sent back some 2M width cushion-floor because its "random" pattern repeats on 1.5M width and so its impossible to match.
To which the response was "Well no other bugger has ever noticed".
- And I'm involved in a 17 year long battle with my insurance company about fixing my house properly. My definition of "properly" doesn't match theirs for some reason.
Be warned ... there's a fine line between Perfectionism and Autism.
Major, I'd never accuse anyone who looks at Asda 10W-40 car oil and thinks "that'll do for the Fazer" of being perfectionist. :lol :pokefun
:lol
Whilst I don't think I'm a perfectionist, enough people have told me I am. I've also been called autistic.
I'd say I'm a perfectionist.
It works well having my own bike repair business because I really enjoy making things right.
I do clean my motocross bike more than I ride it and will clean it with a tooth brush if I feel it needs it.
'That will do' I could never understand.
How many foccers use a dental mirror & torch when cleaning their bikes? Have a friend with a shiny BSA-he cleans more than rides it-I always get the mirror underneath his sump to wind him up but confess I use same on my Fazer to check the nooks & crannies.Perfectionist?..Probably as I dont trust garages,dealers like some people do. I have NEVER had correct tyre pressures after service so do as much work myself as poss. Also like to check authenticity of vehicles in "period" films/tv dramas so its only a small step to checking the no of blades on that Spitfire prop!Im told they cant lock you up for this sort of thing but what would i know?
Not so much when it comes to cleaning things but with repairing them I will always insist on doing it myself so I know it's been done right (or if it's had to be bodged, I at least know about it). When it comes to riding and driving, my take is that if you enjoy something you will always take pride in doing it properly. I love driving and riding, any excuse to go anywhere and I will, but I am my own worst critic if I do something wrong.
Frazer - Your magazines were always perfectly stacked in your flat :p
A few common point sin this thread though - it seems we often don't trust a professional do do a good job on our bikes and prefer to do it ourselves! I'm certainly in that bracket.
Perhaps we are all control freaks! But the irony is that we do take short cuts, but because we did them, and know about them, it is ok. If someone we paid to do the job did then we are not happy! Actually that might be a bit unfair - If someone was honest and said "I serviced your bike but didn't put a pressure gauge on the tyres as they looked about right" then would that be ok?
(12-04-12, 03:33 PM)alan sherman link Wrote: Frazer - Your magazines were always perfectly stacked in your flat :p :lol :lol
all ways try to get the best results i can with my skills
I'm a perfectionist. If it will do, then its perfect.
Sent from my pants - using talkingbollocks
(12-04-12, 03:33 PM)alan sherman link Wrote: But the irony is that we do take short cuts, but because we did them, and know about them, it is ok. If someone we paid to do the job did then we are not happy! Actually that might be a bit unfair - If someone was honest and said "I serviced your bike but didn't put a pressure gauge on the tyres as they looked about right" then would that be ok? No that wouldn't for me but what would be OK is leaving a bolt out because it's such a bitch to get at and there's plenty of others holding whatever it is on. Then when it starts to leak oil, we know why that bolt should have been there. If somebody else has done it and not told you, then you want to know why it's starting to leak oil.......
Somebody once told me the best person to buy a car from was a mechanic. It'll have hundreds of faults but he'll be able to tell you exactly what every one of them is.
I am with some things and not with others (I am terminally untidy - pretty damn perfect at that now I come to think about it) However, the bit about the builder made me smile - I have ended up doing almost all my building work myself as, if I am paying for it, I would like it done at least as well as I would and actually better (please) seeing as you are holding yourself out as expert in the field. Seems most builders don't see it that way. My bathroom is a case in point...
I would not class bathroom fitting as building work ! ...or am I being picky ! :lol
The thought of fighting a 17 yr long battle is close to maniacal ??I have come to the end of a 5yr legal battle just recently , I could not ever envisage doing such over 17...
I think its possible to be a perfectionist with specific items or something we do as a hobby. IMO its all down to time and just how much you have to spare , or can afford to spare on it.Some gain great satisfaction by cleaning bikes so they are concorse standard , others just like to ride them, so cleaning is a minimal benefit.!
Its also very easy to be picky about the work of others, but maybe dont judge your own work by similar standards.
I think most posters on this thread are confusing meticulousness with perfectionism.
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