I have a thing for vintage motorbikes. There’s something alluring about the raw mechanical simplicity of old bikes; two wheels, a frame, an engine and barely anything electrical. That, combined with the sound and smell when riding a battle-worn machine results in a truly indescribable feeling.

It was only a couple of years ago that my interest turned to these types of bikes — admittedly it was an attraction based solely on looks. But it wasn’t long after — with zero mechanical knowledge and a non-existent toolbox — that I entered into the world of motorbikes by purchasing my first vintage ride, Valerie.

Fast forward to today, and I’m riding a 31 year old Yamaha SR400 called Sterling (yeah, they all have names). I also now have a garage full of parts, an overflowing toolbox, an entire room of my house dedicated to riding gear, and most importantly, a heap of mechanical knowledge gained through experience.

In the space of just 2 years I’ve broken down 21 times, taken 5 tow trucks and have performed countless roadside emergency repairs using whatever I had to hand (most recently I ended up using my left sock as a replacement air filter). But interestingly, in learning how/being forced to fix motorbikes I’ve noticed that I’ve also inadvertently improved the way I approach my job.

Trust me, the link between design and motorbikes isn’t as tenuous as you’d think. Here’s what I’ve learned about approaching problems, whether they’re mechanical or otherwise…

1. You can do more than you think. Too often the initial reaction to a tough problem is to immediately pass it off to someone else, or in my case, just push the problem off a bridge. Instead, embrace the fact that you’re on your own, and turn your thoughts to achieving success using what you know and have available.
2. Be patient. A quick fix usually makes things worse — even simple tasks, done well, will take time. Rush or hack things together and you’ll be in the exact same spot in no time.
3. Prepare. Stop and think about the tools you’ll need, and how you’re going to approach the problem (even if it’s a seemingly simple one) before you start. Then set aside more time than you need.
   Preparation is 90% of the battle.
4. Know your problem. When seeking the help or opinions of others — you’ll need to know as much about the problem as possible, especially when you find yourself at an impasse. What have you already tried?
   What is the intended purpose of the thing you’re trying to fix?
   What does success look like?
   Your lack of preparation shouldn’t become the problem of the next person in line — learn more about what you’re trying to achieve, and more often than not you’ll find a solution in the search for knowledge.
5. Look beyond the obvious. Small problems are usually indicative of something much larger. Analysing how parts are connected, and planning your angle of attack will help you diagnose what needs to be done, rather than falling deeper down the rabbit hole.
6. Focus. When your head is in the game and things are going well, an almost unending number of “quick wins” will present themselves to you. Stop. Focus on solving one problem at a time.
7. Accept and learn. Things break, it’s inevitable — accepting that fact will help when things do go wrong. Learn from your mistakes. Use your knowledge of failure to help inform better decisions in the future.
8. Know you’re not alone. There are jobs that are going to exist outside of your skill-set, ones that may be bigger than you can physically handle, or will require more time than you have available. Know what those problems look like and find someone more capable to take them on. But when you do, keep your requirements specific, detail exactly what you want to achieve, and learn from the outcome.