Motorbike "club" dilemma question?

[Dixiethedog]

A friend of mine is into British bikes, and has a nice little of collection of the things. He is also a regular at what he describes as his "bike club" that meet one night a week locally. It is a not what I would describe as a club, but more just a few blokes who get together and chat about bikes (99% British old bikes) and anything that they want to talk about. And they are a very nice bunch of blokes.Nothing official,no club name or anything else. A sensible bunch. And with me being 60 I am one of the young ones.

One of the men who go every week has a motorcycle restoration type of business going on which I have shared some pics on a previous post of his hand made alloy tanks, and he is (to me) a unsung hero that could out engineer the likes of Alan Millyard and the likes of him. A blooming genius of a man, who I am proud to just sit in his company! Anyway, to the point. He mentioned a few weeks ago to the table of bikers that I "did paint".

On Thursday night whilst at the "club" I squashed in at the end of the table to be introduced to a man who races in (I am sorry I don't recall the proper racing names/clubs/or whatever they are called?), but it is something historic. He has only raced for a couple of years and I think he is in 2nd place in some kind of racing championship. And again, like the rest of them, he seems to be a canny enough man. It was fairly loud in the pub (me being a bit deaf, not hearing it all...) as he showed me dozens of pictures of his bikes at Goodwood, Mallory and other places which all looked great. He told me, "I have a works ex factory Norton Manx (?) bike along with another (apparently mega if you are into Brit stuff) race bike" and then asked, "Will you paint the frame on the works Norton bike and do some touch ups on the other?" And then another bloke caught me at the bar and asked if I can spray his Vincent?

My dilemma is that I only started to go to the "club" so that I could just be in the company of like minded individuals, not to push for bike work or to make money from them. I have enough stuff going on in my life already even though extra "shed money" (that funds projects and tools etc) would be nice. But I am not desperate. If I just say "No", will it make me look bad? What would you do?

On a different note, one of the men who I met this week has just come back last Sunday from (8 months) touring South America. He was laughing about having his home bike MOT'd (having only been in the UK for 4 months) and it having done 12,000 miles this year! I know people who would struggle to do 12k miles in 12 years, never mind 4 months.

[Bustaspoke]

But I am not desperate. If I just say "No", will it make me look bad? What would you do?
.

They sound like a good bunch of blokes to know,I'd just politely tell them that it's out of my league or I've got to much stuff going on in my life & it would take me ages to find the time to do the job.

[JackyJoll]

Anyone who does actual work to avoid “looking bad” is soft in the head.

Why didn’t you say no during those conversations?

[Skub]

If you have too much going on in your life,then don't take on work you won't have time for. I think most folk would want to know at the outset,so there's no misunderstanding.

[Ian]

What starts as doing a favour for a mate very quickly turns into deadlines, unreasonable expectations and then they want mates rates. It spoils the fun of something you do for a hobby.

Tell the you were there for the friendship not touting for business.

[Yorick]

What starts as doing a favour for a mate very quickly turns into deadlines, unreasonable expectations and then they want mates rates. It spoils the fun of something you do for a hobby.

Tell the you were there for the friendship not touting for business.

Yeah, that makes sense. For example if you agree to do a job, then get delayed , the customer is likely to get aggrieved.

Best to politely decline.

[Horse]

"I've had a think about whether I could do it for you, but I don't want to risk letting you down."

[JackyJoll]

"I've had a think about whether I could do it for you, but I don't want to risk letting you down."

“Stick your scabby Norton Wanx up yer arse.”

[Dixiethedog]

But I am not desperate. If I just say "No", will it make me look bad? What would you do?
.

They sound like a good bunch of blokes to know,I'd just politely tell them that it's out of my league or I've got to much stuff going on in my life & it would take me ages to find the time to do the job.

Yes, a nice bunch of blokes to know.

[Dixiethedog]

Anyone who does actual work to avoid “looking bad” is soft in the head.

Why didn’t you say no during those conversations?

I was in the corner of a loud and noisey pub. I have not agreed to doing anything as I type, but the ball is in my corner. And I think the answer will be no, at least for now.

[Dixiethedog]

What starts as doing a favour for a mate very quickly turns into deadlines, unreasonable expectations and then they want mates rates. It spoils the fun of something you do for a hobby.

Tell the you were there for the friendship not touting for business.

Yes, their friendship, not business.

[Dixiethedog]

Thank you all for your comments.

Friendship before making money seems to be my first thought. I need to do my own stuff. In fact, this afternoon after rewiring and re-lighting my spray booth "shed" I pulled the Hayabusa fairing out to make a start on spraying that. My new lighting by the way is bloomin' amazing!! Lights from everyside (apart from the floor).

I think once I have been going to the social events for a few months and they get to start to know me, then if anybody ask's I might start doing bits and pieces for them. But not after only having been 2 or 3 times!

What I have learned from a lot of "bikers" is that a lot of people are users. If they think that they can get something for free or at a bargain price, they will go for it. I have had dozens of people who would pop in for a cuppa and chat, but only because they wanted something doing.Once an inexpensive to them job was done, they are never to be seen again! So, the above comment works both ways. Let them get to know me and let me get to know them and suss them out. If they are genuine, then yes, if they are a user type, then no way.

But I think for now, it's a no and my own stuff should come first.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Sounds like the right answer

[JackyJoll]

They have a lot of similar queries on Mumsnet.

“Would this be rude?”

Not that I read Mumsnet, obviously.

[Count Steer]

What I have learned from a lot of "bikers" is that a lot of people are users.

It's not just bikers, lots of groups are like that. Usually there's a group of old mates who see fresh blood arriving and start pondering what jobs they can dump on you while you're still keen.

Then you end up doing the admin, making the tea (taking the bookings, running the membership, being Treasurer, writing the club newsletter etc etc etc). Eventually you get brassed off and quit and you never hear from or see them again as the mates focus on waiting for the next mug.

This may be the voice of bitter experience speaking - never offer help to a village AmDram group.

[Dixiethedog]

This may be the voice of bitter experience speaking - never offer help to a village AmDram group.
[/quote]

This darling, makes you sound like a drama queer. Oh, I mean Queen.

You have hit the nail on the head with your comment. New blood, let us see what we can squeeze out of them.

Having said all of the above, the gent who owns the bike resto business (40 yrs plus) has removed his spray booth and says he can pass work onto me. But that would be "business". I would cut him in (£) with any job he sent my way. He is winding things down a bit to (I think?) concentrate more on his own stuff rather than customers bikes. But doing the odd job for him would be his customers asking him firstly to do the job and him saying no. Different to a bunch of blokes (as nice as they are) in the pub looking to have work done and potentially spoiling newly formed friendships.

[Dixiethedog]

They have a lot of similar queries on Mumsnet.

“Would this be rude?”

Not that I read Mumsnet, obviously.

Hmm... I need to check out what Mumsnet is? I wonder if they can offer advice on how to empty your tenna pants at the side of the road without causing any accidents. Not for me of course, ahem, but for Mrs. Dixiethedog.

[Dixiethedog]

I've had a quick look at Mumsnet.

I might post a question on there to see what advice they would give?

My question;
In Scotland it is illegal to smack your child, no matter how naughty they have been. Would it be acceptable to drive down to the Scottish border and back into Britain where smacking is still legal(maybe Berwick?),and give them a good hiding? Once they stop crying we could enjoy fish and chips and then an ice cream. A proper day out at the seaside.

I am guessing that they may be snowflake lefties and will not like my question and then Starmers thought Police will come looking for me.

[Horse]

What I have learned from a lot of "bikers" is that a lot of people are users.

It's not just bikers, lots of groups are like that. Usually there's a group of old mates who see fresh blood arriving and start pondering what jobs they can dump on you while you're still keen.

Then you end up doing the admin, making the tea (taking the bookings, running the membership, being Treasurer, writing the club newsletter etc etc etc). Eventually you get brassed off and quit and you never hear from or see them again as the mates focus on waiting for the next mug.

This may be the voice of bitter experience speaking - never offer help to a village AmDram group.

@Count Steer making a drama out of a crisis ...

[Eclipse]

When I was younger and worked on cars a lot I used to get that all the time from people I didn't really know and they all wanted it done cheap as possible and I felt they were trying to take advantage of me. One guy up my road that I never spoke to before but he had seen me working on cars had a Peugeot which needed new clutch, straight forward job until I told him the flywheel had lots of surface cracks on it and needed refacing, he said I did something to it when taking the clutch off.
I only do stuff now for close friends or family so if I was you Dixie I would tell them you don't have the time to take on anymore work.