Morning folks,

I am contemplating my weekend riding, and waking up before my ride to work for that matter. I got lost down a rabbit hole (again) looking up stuff trying to research a good place that I could drive to to deliver my parts for machine work. I live in Napa, CA and I am striking out so far.

Here are my questions:

1 - Anyone have a recommendation for mill work within a reasonable drive from Napa? (ie Sacramento to about Santa Cruz) (also, before you ask "what mill work are you thinking?" I am still deciding and am not sure, but I am looking for a reputable place to begin that conversation.)

2 - Am I off base here, should I be sending my **** off for mill work? Are there places much better elsewhere? I just figure there has to be some good place in Northern CA.

Basically, I am looking for a local resource and I feel like in this part of the world that should be an easy reality. I should also say that I have not really lived in CA that long, and definitely have not had any money for upgrades like this in the past.

Thanks guys,
Andy

 

What exactly do you want machined?
Do you need to modify parts?

There are hundreds of machine shops in the SF Bay area.

Being a machinist,I can tell you that most shops are not going to waste there time on little stuff like you have.They have contracts and are set up for mass production.

I think you should grab a phone book and start searching.
You could contact some local custom bike shops and ask them.They normally have a shop that can make or modify parts.

 

i would really hope theres a shop in the san fran area with a decent machine shop,if not,we do alot of machining for guys in ca.

 

There are plenty of good machine shops here.
You just have to find one that will machine parts from people that just walk in.

I know the shop I work at now would not unless it was a large quantity.

The owner of the shop I worked at before,would take work like this in.

 

I hear you, on all of the above... Yea, it sure does seem like there should be tons of great machine shops.

What I want done, I dunno, I am not a machinist and I have never had millwork done to an engine. I think it is at least 50% too much going on the forum and not enough riding... I do ride to work, but I haven't hit the open road for too long.

That being said, here is where I am at: The sense I get from looking at the forum is that millwork can greatly improve performance. The idea that makes most sense to me is threads that I have read which say that going bigger on an engine may not be your best bet, based on the idea that most race bikes are significantly smaller displacement than my 96 CI engine. So, between lack of funds and what makes sense to me, modifying the engine I have seems to be the way to go. I could be wrong, and I would love your input on the pros and cons of doing this.

The kind of feedback I am looking for would be something like: 'I also ride a '07+ 96 EFI bike, I live close to you and had work done at _____, they treated me right, my bike now runs like a cheetah with its *** on fire, it cost _________, and I would go back there in a heartbeat.'

Bare with me pros, I am a lowly mental hospital worker (and I am much better now) and I am still learning...

 

Wow I thought you talking about general machining like making custom parts,not engine work!

RE Engineering or RC Cycles are a couple of bay area engine builders you can call.

 

Thanks man, and if you need any of the criminally insane people in your life serviced, I can point you in the right direction...

Any other recommendations?