dingus

HI have only been riding since the late spring. This is my first bike. It does NOT have ABS (I've heard air can get trapped in the ABS system...this is not my issue).

Several months ago, I changed the brake fluid. I initially had air sucked into the front brake line, but it eventually came back out the other side. The rear brake caliper initially seemed to be "sticking" a bit after the fluid change, but now no longer sticks at all and I can freely rotate the wheel when cleaning the chain.

I had a recall on something NOT brake related. While there, the mechanic told me my brakes needed work because they felt "spongy". They then quoted me a whopping $650 for an 8k mile service. I told them I'd think about it. They said they could knock off some items if I am doing things myself but still. I'd like to see if I can figure it out myself.

I tried to re-bleed them for a while yesterday, but no air came out of the lines. The brakes feel the same. I tried tapping on the brake lines a bit as well. Still no bubbles come out.

I do not have a pneumatic bleeder. Instead I do this method. 1. Pump brake a few times then hold down, 2. Open bleeder valve for a few seconds, 3. Close bleeder valve, 4. Release brake.

The brake pads have plenty of meat left on them, also confirmed by the mechanic.

However, a new thing that just developed after attempting to re-bleed is that the rear wheel now squeals when rolled backwards. Not sure if that has any relation.

Since this is the only bike I've owned, I also don't really know how they are "supposed" to feel. This is how they've always felt ever since owning the bike before I even changed the fluid.

Bike is from 2017. The fluid looked dirty when I initially got the bike in spring of 2026, so I don't know how old the fluid in the bike was.

Any ideas? Would you mind explaining for someone not super well-versed in mechanical things? All of this bike maintenance stuff is new to me!

Thanks all!

I know it's not really a meme, but I amused myself doing this. Not very elaborate but still! He'll hopefully be riding to work with me all this month as long as he doesn't fall off and I can still open my case enough to put my helmet in lol.

Hello. I've found that rather suddenly, all of my comments within the past week have exactly 3 downvotes. These are even on totally unassuming comments, like a comment I posted saying that French is used in a lot of African countries.

I believe it might be possible that I am suddenly being harassed be a user with multiple accounts or something.

Looking for some guidance.

Thanks all.

Hey all. Just looking for a quick opinion. I have wanted to get one final arm tattoo. Only my forearm and wrist tattoos are visible a majority of the time because I work in short sleeves and pants lol. I want something else visible for me to look at!

Here's a pic of the placement of all of my tattoos (outer ankle tattoo not visible tho):

The tattoo will essentially be three smaller tattoos in a row. Thematically, it fits in with my shoulder tattoo.

Here's a shitty scratch pic kind of trying to showing where I want it. I want to go inner bicep:

As you can see, one of my legs is tattooed. I am planning to slowly build sort of a patchwork leg sleeve over time with any remaining tattoo ideas. This would be the last tattoo to go on my arms. I don't plan on tattooing the other leg.

But the placement I want for this upcoming tattoo combined with the knowledge that I'm done with the arms and only planning to do one leg makes things seem rather unbalanced with shorts. I live in a fairly hot climate wh re it's shorts weather most of the year.

Idk is this too awkward to get or am I overthinking it?

Thanks lol.

I impulse bought an orange gas tank online. One of my many regrets in impulse buying my bike was that I wanted a brighter color lol. I really wanted the bright red, but only found dented ones for a reasonable price. Found this orange one instead and mashed the buy button lol.

Some follow up questions:

1. How do I get last bit of fuel out from the old tank? There is still quite a bit swishing around even after I took off the fuel cap and fuel pump and poured gas directly from the openings. At the moment, it is just turned upside down in a pan hoping the remainder will eventually dry out/evaporate.

2. How can I help prevent the old tank from rusting in storage? I'm not necessarily planning to use it again, but just in case.

3. How the fuck do I get fuel to pour out of this gas can with a "safety spout"? Basically you push on the spout to get it to pour, but it only barely dribbles out that way. The red tab I think needs to be depressed or moved somehow but it won't budge. Any ideas? I just ended up removing the spout and pouring it directly out of the can via funnel

Bonus: Looking for some ideas to temporarily decorate the bike for Halloween! The bike is kept outside tho so it would need to be somewhat weather proof lol.

I'm in my early 30s, so not necessarily "mid-life", but I think what I have been experiencing can be described this way. I went through a lot this past year, and it has both left some large scars as well as healed some other aspects and caused new ways of thinking in others. I've tried new things and enjoyed the things that I've tried.

But I feel like I need something "more", but I have no idea what that is. I keep getting caught on the horrifying realization of life being fleeting and I want to do something to make it more whole. But I can't outrun death so I don't know that anything is left to be done. But I feel like I need something to fill that space. I may in fact be chasing something that doesn't exist idk.

I guess I just feel a bit lost and would appreciate some direction.

More about me that may or may not influence your advice: I've always been a loner and the sort of "terminally online" type. I don't experience sexual attraction, so it sort of puts most options of relationships out the window. Asexual "dating" is not as prevalent or simple as you'd think. My career is very solid and I'm paid very well, so I'm not interested in switching careers. My career was a huge source of my trauma this past year, but I have made a lot of progress since and it's really not something I can easily change. I have discovered new and healthier forms of self-expression and have done new things. I own where I live and would not be able to sell it for as much as I paid for it either, which is another reason I'd be against moving. I am physically close-ish to family and visit every couple of weeks.

Thanks all for listening.

...

Hopefully this isn't breaking rules. Yes it is a veiled attempt at advice because I've been hemming and hawing. But the question can be answered purely as is. There are obviously pros and cons so I'd like to know how you all feel.

Thank you.

Hi all. Noob here back again. I got the screws out of the front master cylinder, but I have been having a different problem.

When under higher RPMs, the bike gives off a VERY strong fuel smell. It's still noticeable at lower RPMs, but not as bad. It didn't do this initially when I got it a few months ago, but I didn't ride it much initially.

Bike is a 2017 Honda Rebel 300. Fuel injected. No carb.

I noticed that the gasket to the gas cap was a bit cracked and distorted so I got a new gas cap. Didn't resolve the issue.

There are no visible leaks anywhere that I can tell.

The smell is very strong around the gas cap and engine, not so much the tailpipe. The bike seems to run great otherwise.

Unfortunately, googling seems to show this as a very nonspecific issue, so I'm a bit lost as to where to begin. I'm a huge noob when it comes to mechanical things.

Thanks!

Hello. I'm a new rider who recently purchased a ten year old bike. I have ZERO mechanical know how, but decided that I wanted to learn.

So far I managed to take both the front and rear wheels off to get the tires changed and I managed to change the oil. Since I am unskilled, it took a LOT of fumbling through these to get things going...including breaking some nuts (rear axle nut was stuck and I originally only had a 12 point socket) and bolts (overtorqued an oil filter cover bolt despite using a torque wrench) and buying replacement ones.

Since the bike is 10 years old, I know that all of the fluids need to be changed. I feel comfortable attempting the actual change for the brake fluid from my research EXCEPT I don't want to irreparably damage this area. The front brake works fine, but the sight glass is totally clouded and opaque, so I cannot visually check the condition or level of the fluid.

These are JIS screws and I have purchased replacement screws. Any advice here? Please consider my novice skill level lol.

I bought some screw extractor bits but do not have an impact driver. I have some JIS screwdrivers, a hammer, a regular drill, penetrating oil, and replacement JIS screws.

Thanks!

It's now my one year "anniversary" of my psych med "journey". I just feel so frustrated.

The providers always ask me how I'm doing and if I think X drug we are trying right now helps. I always have no fucking clue.

I keep a mood log and everything, but I cannot for the life of me discern any sort of pattern for any of these. One month will be fantastic and the next month will be so horrible and painful it's like someone is boring a hole through my body with a branding iron.

My provider is having me take the GeneSight test to figure out if there is a particular option I should be trying. But I am just so exhausted with this that I'm considering the next med to be my final straw.

I do NOT have bipolar disorder. I do NOT have chronic low mood. I do NOT have lack of emotions. I do NOT have PTSD. I have periods of extreme, unbearable intensity with periods of normal in between. I have relational trauma. Since my issues are intermittent, I cannot for the life of me tell if I am ever helped by anything.

I am currently in an intensive DBT program. While it has been a lifesaver when I have "simple" problems, it does not touch the intense pain of others.

Some research I do seems to indicate my problem cannot be even minimally helped by meds, which is incredibly frustrating. I want even just a little bit of something to help reduce my pain. :(

How can I figure this out?