Simple Bike and gear hacks?

Thanks for posting this, should be some great info forthcoming.

A few of mine:

-Teflon tape around the bars where my clutch and front brake perches ride. You can tighten them and they will still rotate in a crash. 

-aluminum hvac tape on the inside of my exhaust side number plate. Keeps exhaust heat from turning my graphic’s adhesive to goo, which was allowing them to peel during a ride.

-cordless leaf blower to dry the bike after washing, followed by an air nozzle in the nooks and crannies. Bike stays much newer-looking by getting it as dry as possible after washing as opposed to air-drying.

Cheap cordless job site fan (both brands at HF work well) to dry your helmet and goggles between motos.

Buy an old seat or seat base off MX locker to use when washing your bike. Your foam will last a lot longer if you keep it dry.

Buy a good tire pressure gauge and keep track of how much time you have on your tires. Nothing helps you go fast like properly inflated and/or new rubber.

I always put a layer of vaseline inside my goggles on the frame and foam at the bottom.That way any tiny bit of sand that might find it's way into the goggle will stick instead of flying around and getting into my eyes.

Little toot before a moto sesh never hurt no one.

👍 Lifetime Teflon tape guy here also, all my bikes get this treatment. I also Teflon tape the handguard mounts for the same reason.

Also, electrical tape under the kill button.

👍 Gas blower for drying my bike (my cordless blower does have enough ass to dry a bike...)

Hang my seat by the eyelets after washing the bike to help drain / dry the seat

Clear number plate backing on all pre-printed number plates gives then some scuff resistance and helps them live longer

Silicone spray under fenders, radiator grills, number plates - before moto; dirt pretty much falls off

I'm using winter weight chainsaw bar oil as chainlube, it works excellent and cost <$20/gallon.

 

On carbureted bikes I run the air vent hoses into the airbox. It'll keep them from getting cover by mud/water causing the bike to run poorly.

I use a DuPont brain chain oil in a spray can.  But Bar oil works pretty dang good.  It works for air filter oil too. Wasn’t that many years ago we just used motor oil.

I use cheap charcoal lighter from Walmart, cleans chains, air filters whatever.  Charcoal lighter and varsol are very similar if not the same.  

I used a roll of home window screen mesh to create radiator dirt/ mud protection for radiators because I am too cheap to pay $40-$50 for the premade setup.  I went from cleaning dirt from my radiators every weekend to barely having to touch or clean the radiators after several weekends of riding.

I use white lithium grease to lube the throttle tube on the handlebar.  I also splash a little in the throttle assembly on the contact points.  

My throttles, while using the Works Connection Elite throtte tube, are smooth and it lasts the whole season if properly maintained.  

When you put downward pressure on the throttle tube.....it still slides along on the handlebar.  I'm a 40 year veteran and nobody has ever though this was a good idea.   

For air filters....use the biodegradable stuff and throw them in the washing machine when dirty.  

I use lock on grips.

And buy 2nd hand low hour 450s, and sell them again within about 40 hours so I never need to replace any bearings or clutches etc etc

* often I put more visible wear on the bike within 3 hours than the previous owner did in 20-30 hours

* I also take off the mint rad shrouds with mint stock decals, and replace them with blanks for my use - makes the bike look great when I sell it 

Vaseline in the butt crack before a long offroad event.

Band-Aids on the nipples.

Low tack spray adhesive on the hands before a Hare Scramble, cuts down on blisters because blisters are caused by friction. 

Handlebar clamps should not be tightened down evenly. They should be flush on one side first then tightened with the other side. Usually front screws are flush and rear will have a gap. 

You put the spray on your hands before putting gloves on?

Be sure to bring some T.P. with you on the long rides just in case.

Yep. 

You know how you always get that layer of dirt at the top of the air filter that seems to fall into the boot? Run a piece of tape over that junction. Then pull it off before you pull the filter and that area will be nice a clean. So much easier!

 

I do the same with super glue for back to back long riders/enduros. 

Yep, keeps the gloves from moving on your skin. No friction = no blisters. 

You pretty much only need it in the trouble areas, outside of thumb and the palms. 

Spray bottle mixed with mostly water with a little bit of liquid dawn dish soap and a hair dryer. Spray on back side of graphics will allow them to float. For proper lining up. 

Use like a credit card something with a smooth edge. Usually they come with one. 

Do an initial light push squeeze the excess water out. Pick one side I usually go center out. Start applying heat with the hair dryer while continuing to push work the water out. Going back n forth with heat until no more soapy water comes out. Do not use too much heat or you'll start pushing the glue around. Repeat as necessary. 

Have sweet wrinkle free properly lined up graphics when done. Be prepared to have friends ask you to do thier's. 

You ride bikes for 40 hours then move on? Lol 

Not necessarily a hack like some have posted, but I always have everything ready to go the night before.  Bike, gear bag, fuel, tools, food exc.

Walmart carries this Rain-X Waterless Car Wash in a blue bottle. Once I'm done washing and drying my bike, I use a hand towel to wipe down the bike with this stuff. It's essentially SC-1 but you get A LOT more. Keeps the bike shiny and also keeps excess mud from sticking under the fenders, skid plate, fork guards, etc. Doesn't smell like SC-1 but works just as good if not better. I also enjoy detailing my bike with this stuff cleaning all the small nooks and crannies that get forgotten about regularly. 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rain-X-Rx-Waterless-Car-Wash-32-Oz/159580923 

- Use a plastic grocery bag over your air filter before washing your bike.

- When you get a brake that is slightly spongy, you can use a zip tie to pull the brake lever in overnight or on the way to the track.

- If you want to get more life out of an air filter or have back-to-back riding days planned, use Filter Skins or better yet an Outerwear's cover.

- Use the belt loop on your pants/shorts as a t-handle holder during bike prep.

- When you have a gas tank vent hose that keeps popping off the gas cap, cut a small chunk off of the end of the hose. Use the small hose chunk as a "hose clamp" device over the existing hose.

You can use a wheelbarrow or lawn mower wheel in place of the front wheel on your bike to load it into areas that would otherwise be too small. Works surprisingly well and still lets you roll the bike around easily enough. I've used it for putting full sized bikes sideways in an enclosed trailer or stuffing a ttr125 under a camper shell.

Wash your helmet liner with shampoo, you'll look like Fabio.

This is less important than it used to be, but with some brands/models I still run old running shoe liners in my boots. Softens up the sting on hard landings. 

I run half-waffle grips. Always rotate the throttle side forward a little so the grip's top surface points forward; it forces me to overgrip and makes it easier to be wide open. If you look at me in off-throttle situations, my thumb is usually at the top of the grip. 

Baby powder in your gloves before you ride. Really helps prevent blisters in the humidity.

Cut a strip off the middle of the graphic paper lining, about half an inch. This lets you line it up perfectly and then slowly work from the middle out. 

Spray your seat down quickly and then place it and your boots next to a dehumidifier. Full strength simple green and brushes, you can get long ones that people use for rims to get everywhere. Only wash your bike when you’re changing the air filter, and use a wash cover. I will ride 3 times a month and, because I mostly ride alone, the filter isn’t that dirty until after the third ride. When I do wash it, I go all out, and get it super clean. Everyone who has bought a bike from me can’t believe how clean they are, 

1.Walmart 2 gal jug of Rottela T6….smells just like Maxima Pro plus….your engine can’t tell the difference 

2. Already mentioned , but when washing your bike and yiu still have a clean filter, cover filter with plastic grocery bag .

3. Use pressure washer sparingly….I use garden hose 90% of time, greatly reduces chassis bearing service intervals. When I do use pressure washer at the  races, I never aim at any electronics….I use a damp sponge to clean handlebar controls & switches and seat. 
4. If you use lock on grips, the throttle side can be rotated on the cam to get a fresh contact area with the grip, I trim the ridges of my half waffle grips with a razor blade.

5. RMC tusk brand 2mm Hduty tubes are cheap and not that much heavier than stock thinner tubes for Mx. while you are there, remove rubber rim strip and apply 2 layers of Gorilla black duct tape to your inner rim. Tusk also makes a copy of Hondas rubber valve stem holders for cheap.

6. I mix Non Ethanol pump gas with VP T4 50/50…. my Vortex tuned 350SFX needs at least 95 octane…it runs better on 50/50 mixture than 100% T4….

7. Rinse goggles with water asap when done riding, its the sweat that kills the foam, last long time when rinsed after use. 
8. I have been alternating 3 pairs of Gaerne SG10 &12”s for 5 years, I ride alot and wear the soles out pretty fast. There is a boot repair guy in CA. MxBoot resole & repair Corona Del Mar Ca. . He replaces soles with genuine Gaerne”s and can repair any other damages to the boots for around 175-200.00$ with shipping. If your upper boot is still in good condition, it’s totally worth it, especially for me as my boots are custom fit for my wide hoof, bunion feet. 

9. 350-450 guys… Steel rear sprockets and thin oring chain, last long time…double that of aluminum rears and non oring. I use RKGBMXU chain and SuperSprox rear….pretty much stretches on initial use and then yiu can almost forget about it…. Only needs lite lube after washing…

10. Stop being tuff guy at the track……acknowledge and respect who is parked next to you….you never know when you will need each other….

Better then bulk wd 40 in a spray bottle?

I use bulk shout in a garden sprayer as bike wash, and pre soak for riding gear and boots. Works great.

Big bottle is like $5.50 on amazon. 

Also works great when your old pup has an accident on the carpet, before using the carpet cleaner.