"How To" Videos

[f-Stop]

I'd like to start making "How To" videos as time permits, so I started with a very simple one...a Valkyrie Jack Stand.  So, here you go!

https://youtu.be/aLzW1qkJOuU

 

[Jess from VA]

From a complete novice, that is a very nice first how-to video. 

You have a nice, clear (and legible) speaking voice. 

The music was a nice touch and choice (but when moving to a more complex subject with more discussion, you might reduce the vol just a bit)

My only small critic is:  I know you chose to not be in the video, but the only way I can get my jack and (home-made wood) adapter lined up just right is to lay down and do it by hand (and I work the jack pedal with my other hand while down there to keep it straight as it starts lifting the tipping adapter). 

I've had it up crooked a few times, from not lining things up, and the bike is certainly less stable.

Also, it's my experience the jack and adapter will not fit under there (without a bunch of finagling around while laying down) unless you shim the kickstand with a small piece of 2 X 4/6 before you start.
(I suppose my jack may be a bit taller than yours, all the way down.  It's certainly better than my jack.)   

[f-Stop]

Thanks for the critique Jess!

Yep, that's exactly how I line up the jack adapter...from the floor, left hand on the adaptor, right hand on the jack handle.  I figured that the dialogue didn't need to state the obvious, so I cut out that part.  Plus, it took too long to say the whole paragraph of information I had written.  Another thing is that you gotta trust your audience to "constitute beyond the given" ya know...they'll be smart enough to figure it out on their own.  (How else are you gonna get underneath the motorcycle unless you lay down on the floor?  etc.)

I don't shim the kickstand because by doing that, the right side of the bike lowers down which won't allow the jack and adaptor to roll underneath.  (This dialogue was also "cut out")

It was a conscious decision to not show me in the video.  I figure the last thing anybody wants to see is my goofy mug on camera.

The Audio is something else.  When I listen from my desktop or with headphones, the balance between dialogue and music sounds good.  There's a third track of ambient garage audio in there as well.  But, when I listen from my laptop, Miles Davis' horn is too loud and I don't hear the ambient at all.  Also, I don't like the audio quality of my voice.  I used the computer's microphone and it sounds kinda hollow.  

So yeah, there's plenty of room for improvements...there always will be...

 

[Beer van Huet]

One thing that happened to me when I was not carefully looking how the adapter was lined up.
I raised the motorcycle OK, but the adapter was pressing against the sidestand spring.
As a result, the spring later fell off the bike somehere when I was underway. Couldn't find it and had to tie the sidestand in the up position to keep on riding back home and put on a new spring.
Watched the adapter very carefully ever since.
Maybe I'm just plain stupid
Figured a warning doesn't hurt.