Posts
319
Joined
9/11/2014
Location
Reinholds, PA
US
Edited Date/Time
10/24/2014 5:33pm
DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Top end and suspension every winter.
The Shop
It has always surprised me that some people rarely ever check their air pressure. Sometimes I check their tire pressure for them and have seen a range of 3-25 pounds of air! Surprisingly, my buddies that rarely check tire pressure have a ton of mods on their bikes!
Couldn't sleep all night worrying if I'd miss practice getting the front tube changed by the trackside dealer
1) Remove chain, place chain in a shallow tub, using left over gasoline, soak chain and agitate (disposing the now dirty gasoline can be a problem). Suspend chain by hanging and dowse with your favorite lube, leave chain hanging over night.
2) Remove air filter and clean/oil.
3) Remove all plastic including gas tank, fork/rotor/brake caliper protectors, seat etc. (air box on occasion) Clean these separately.
4) Remove skid/glide plate and other aluminum/carbon fiber protectors.
5) Every three/four rides, change motor and gear oils.
6) Now you may wash your bike, using a brush to get into all tight areas.
7) Start your bike and let it run out of fuel.
8) Drain float bowl of all remaining fuel (fuel injected rides should skip this step)
9) Assemble bike, with all parts having been thoroughly cleaned prior.
Once a year, (or every other year) I will grease all linkage and pivot areas including steering stem and flush brake fluid.
I don't expect most people will be this detailed on a regular basis, but I have always been one to practice this ritual, with much ridicule from my peers, "you must spend more time cleaning your bike than you do riding it"
I seldom (if ever) was one needing to wrench on my bike upon the arrival of our ride destination. And quite often, people would make a comment about how my bike looked like I never rode it. (I'm sure they wished their bikes looked as good)
Selling my bikes is usually a painless experience to boot.
I get the same comments, I don't care, I think half the fun of owning it is being the garage working/cleaning/ maintaining it as much as riding it!
OCD for sure...
You miss so much with just a regular wash.
Pit Row
out of interest anyone got tips on cleaning rads? always been a tricky one
Use the posts that hold them in to wrap over then poke thru,let a little tuck behind on sides and top ,leave bottom untuck so any debri that gets behind is easy to wash out.
Put loctite on screws,tighten till perch is snug but loose enuff to move if hit hard.
On the clutch perch I drill and tap a screw on the backside to adjust the lever toward the bar for the right distance to lay under the knuckle of my trigger finger.
I guess the breakaway perches have all these features but I've never used them,just make my own.
If you crossthread or mar threads on a hole and dont have taps it is easy to make one with the correct bolt for the thread.
Clamp the bolt in a vise or grips and use a flat bastard file to file groves in the bolt just like a tap.
Space them out around the bolt ,small bolt do 3 larger bolt do 4.
It will recut or clean the thread right up.
I used to put one wrap of plumbers tape round the bar, under my levers to get them to spin in a crash. Then I bought the Intelli-levers from Renthal. They'd survive a nuclear blast unscathed.
Before
After
here is the deal with this. i am not a metalurgist, nor do i claim to be, but aluminum comes in many different alloys. i am not sure of the specifics regarding metal content, ect.. but basically... some aluminum turns black when you put it in that acid. some turns white. if you get "white", you are in luck, it will come out sparking. but if it turns black... you're screwed and doing more harm than good.
maybe someone who knows more about aluminum and metalurgy can elaborate on what im saying. i think it has to do with cast aluminum, vs forged aluminum. but, the rough cast area on the front of your swingarm, hubs, radiators... all good candidates for that acid. engine cases wont clean up like that though.
Post a reply to: Mucho RESPECT for anyone who can maintain a bike. Post your tips and tricks