Basic checks and maintenance

pCp 252 wrote:

Congrats. You bought the right bike. Late model Kawi 250 2 stroke. For you, maintenance will be relatively cheap and easy compared to the 4 stroke...

Congrats. You bought the right bike. Late model Kawi 250 2 stroke. For you, maintenance will be relatively cheap and easy compared to the 4 stroke.

On an every ride basis, change the filter like you said. Especially if riding in dusty or sandy conditions. Keep the filter oily to capture to filter as much dirt as possible. No-Toil makes a great filter maintenance kit that is well regarded in the moto world. You can use Oxy-Clean as a cheaper solution to clean the filter. Make sure to grease the rim of the filter or buy a PC racing Pro Seal.

I recommend inspecting the bearings on the bike soon to make sure they have an efficient amount of grease. It's likely the bearings will be dry. The bearings are located on both wheels, the steering tube, shock linkage, and swingarm pivot point. Use a heavy waterproof grease. Additionally, keep the throttle and clutch cables well lubed with a cable luber and WD-40. Spray some WD-40 on the spoke nipples so they won't be seized when it comes time to tighten them. Proper chain slack is also important to the lifespan of your drivetrain.

If you plan to be riding motocross, you should be replacing the piston and rings every 20 hours or so. Judging by the fact it's your first bike you can get away with longer maintenance periods if you are not riding the bike too hard. Clutch fibers, springs, and plates should be inspected around the same time. Replace if the plates have turned blue or if you notice the clutch start to slip. You should change the transmission oil frequently to keep the clutch in it's best shape. Probably every 5 to 10 rides. Use transmission oil, not motor oil.

Your best bet to learn more specific maintenance cycles, oil capacities, and things like torque spec's is to purchase a service manual for your bike. That can be found on eBay or your local dealer. Thumpertalk.com is a great resource for technical information as well.

Have fun, be sure to protect yourself with more than just a helmet and boots. You're going to fall a few times and you will be glad to have some knee/elbow and lower body protection .