What do you do to a brand new bike before riding?

I check the airfilter. Usually not enuf oil on it. And I Grease the lip. Adjust chain if needed . Check axel nuts. Torque triple clamp bolts. Check bar clamp bolts. I have never greased linkage or steer stem bearings on a new bike. I do that after our 8 month season. Knock on wood my bikes have always been greased well from the factory. Oh ya set sag and clickers.

Darrin Willis wrote:

I check the airfilter. Usually not enuf oil on it. And I Grease the lip. Adjust chain if needed . Check axel nuts. Torque ...more

Darrin Willis wrote:

I check the airfilter. Usually not enuf oil on it. And I Grease the lip. Adjust chain if needed . Check axel nuts. Torque triple clamp bolts. Check bar clamp bolts. I have never greased linkage or steer stem bearings on a new bike. I do that after our 8 month season. Knock on wood my bikes have always been greased well from the factory. Oh ya set sag and clickers.

...more

Thanks for the info! You trust the oil and quantity that the dealer puts in? Or is that done at the factory?

Kick it off the stand

Check all the parts that the dealer has to mount to the bike (wheels, handlebars etc.), check the oil level, put gas in and ride it for a few hours before u think about taking it apart. Everything straight from the factory is fine.
Still remember when the guy in front of me crashed his brains out and destroyed his brand new KX because the bars weren’t tight..

Disassemble it down to every nut and bolt , put it back together and go ride .

ATKpilot99 wrote:

Disassemble it down to every nut and bolt , put it back together and go ride .

ATKpilot99 wrote:

Disassemble it down to every nut and bolt , put it back together and go ride .

...more

i wear work boots and carhartts while i ride so I needed to hear this. Thank you!!!!!

Be sure to grease the linkage and especially the steering stem.

The axles, linkage, and steering bearings are never properly greased so I usually start there.

Verify the torques of every major outter bolt I can think of. Its amazing how many times I've come across engine mount bolts that felt like they were just hand snugged with a T handle.

Check oil and coolant levels. Check the air filter, normally pretty dry.

I'll usually start riding it from there but I'll add PT Evo bars (KTM bend), ARC unbreakable levers, and PT pillow top grips asap.

Suspension I always have redone for my weight and ability but I'll usually put 20-30 hours on the stock suspension before I do any of that.

Darrin Willis wrote:

I check the airfilter. Usually not enuf oil on it. And I Grease the lip. Adjust chain if needed . Check axel nuts. Torque ...more

Darrin Willis wrote:

I check the airfilter. Usually not enuf oil on it. And I Grease the lip. Adjust chain if needed . Check axel nuts. Torque triple clamp bolts. Check bar clamp bolts. I have never greased linkage or steer stem bearings on a new bike. I do that after our 8 month season. Knock on wood my bikes have always been greased well from the factory. Oh ya set sag and clickers.

...more

That's fair enough and I'm glad it's working for you man, but like you nodded to there is an element of luck there, quite often there's an almost total lack of grease in key places like those.

My last new Honda was okay, my last Yamaha was almost dry. Been on used bikes lately because I'm poor so everything is fucked anyway haha

I check all the things mentioned above, confirm the oil and coolant are at the correct level, make sure the chain & steering bearings are adjusted correctly, run a wrench over all the nuts & bolts, install the things I prefer on my bikes, (frame & radiator guards, glide plate and number graphics) and then if the weather is cooperative and the opportunity permits, I’ll go ahead and do a break-in ride and enjoy all the awesome-ness that a new bike brings with it!
BUT after I get a ride or two in, I wash it and as hard as it is to tear a new bike down, I go ahead and take the time to pull it apart and service all the bearing points!
Steering bearings top & bottom, the swing-arm and linkage, axles etc.
(I’ve seen the horror of a seized linkage bolt on a buddies bike (he isn’t exactly into maintenance!) and I never wanna go through that!)

Most of the bikes I’ve had new all the way back to the 80’s usually have about enough grease in them to keep them from rusting on the boat ride over if any at all, so I like to knock it out when the bike is brand new but whether you do it out of the box, a ride or two in or after one ride season is just a matter of personal preference, so long as it gets done when the bike is still “new”!

Congrats on the cool new bike and enjoy all the things that go along with a fresh rig!
I prefer to ride em, but I enjoy the time in the shop caring for them too!
Spending time in my little shop pulling maintenance on my bikes sure beats the heck out of sitting in front of the stupid TV listening to the shit show our world seems to be these days! 🤪😎👍

Must Do's (imo):
-Grease all pivots
-loctite on all 6mm thread bolts
-anti size on pinch bolts for the clamps and lug, and the chain adjuster bolts
-oil air filter and grease lip
-send radiators to icw for bracing
-set sag
-copious amounts of sc1
-fork/shock springs for weight and/or speed
-di electric grease on all connections

Optional:
-remove stock tires, plastics, seat cover, clutch cover, and chain and sprockets
-drill steering stem bolt and top clamp for safety wire
-paint marker bolts/nuts to check for movement


I wouldn't change that oil, it is break in oil (or it should be). I typically break it in around the yard for 30-45 minutes shifting through all the gears and what not then I change it. The dealer doesn't put oil in it so its not really a concern for me.

Last year I got a brand new '21 YZ 450F out of the box. No dealer ever touched it.
I greased
- steering bearings
- linkage
- shock bearings
- swingarm pivot
- chain roller bearing (yes, even this...)
- wheel bearings
- brake slider (don't know if this is the right word for this part cause I'm german. 😅)
They all needed it. Especially the steering bearing.

Anti seize
- every chassis steel bolt that is screwed into an aluminium part except the ones that need loctite.

Oil change after brake in and then after every five hours.
First suspension service after 8 hours.
Never used the stock air filter. Twin Air right away.

Not in the order, but before riding:

- remove all axles/pivot/steering stem/linkage/shock bolts, grease those items and their bearings. Like really pack it. Then set torque.

- spec torque all major chassis hardware (axles, pivot, linkage, engine mounts, subframe bolts, spokes, triple clamps, bar mounts, steering stem nut, exhaust system) - :edit: add sprockets, rotors and calipers to that list 👍

- T-handle check all plastics and small engine bolts

- stuff EVERY electrical connection with dielectric grease, including battery terminals

Other than set up the controls for your taste, that’s all that comes to mind 👍

All the above, it's worth the time. I brought home a new bike last week that was "prepped" by the dealer. The top bar mount was on incorrectly, and wayyy too tight, the pinch bolts for the front axle went from left to right, very tight, snug, loose, and would have fallen out. Same with the linkage. Several bolts would have been missing by the end of the first ride, and less grease than the usual under greased new bikes I get.

I do it all before it sees dirt. No cleaning to do, everything comes apart really well. It only takes a few hours on a clean new bike.

I thought in America you guys were forced to pay extortionate 'set-up' fees??

You shouldn't need to do anything to it before riding it, no?

In the UK we dont get a specified 'set-up' fee. But it is said to be 'PDI'd'.

Our local Husqvarna dealer is quoting 14 days from purchase to getting it out of the door. which is ridiculous- id walk and take one I could push out the door today.

Too right, if they charged a specific setup fee in the UK people would lose their shit if they had to re-do it afterwards. As it stands here it's just one of those things you have to do isn't it.

Like has been said take it apart and grease everything and check everything over. Don't trust the guys that pdi the bike. I had an RM250 that they didn't tighten the pinch bolts for the axel.

Swap out air filter for twin air powerflow kit. Check oil and coolant levels. Put on a good chain. Check the spokes. Set the sag.

Kkawi wrote:

Thanks for the info! You trust the oil and quantity that the dealer puts in? Or is that done at the factory?

Kkawi wrote:

Thanks for the info! You trust the oil and quantity that the dealer puts in? Or is that done at the factory?

...more

Trust but verify

I buy Suzuki and don’t do shit to them, I don’t fuck with perfection.

-Oil the filter
-Check oil level
-Check coolant
-Check every nut and bolt(fender bolts are first to come out)
-Check axle nuts
-Check all clickers to make sure they are set equally to stock settings
-Check clutch play
-Check chain adjusters

I wait 5-10 hours to get my suspension broken in to send it in to get setup and that’s when I go through and lube everything.

First night I’ll usually get a six pack of Miller Lite and maybe a couple spliffs… I’ll spend the evening looking it over, staring at it, touching it. I might sit on it a few times while it’s perched on its stand, relieving the suspension of any undo strain. After a few beers and my first spliff I’ll usually start running my fingers up and down the seat and fenders, stopping at the rear of the seat to gently rest the palm of my hand for a moment while I contemplate our first track outing. I’ll spend some time lightly stroking the grips and teasing the levers with my finger tips. Ill squeeze the clutch ever so gently, sensing the pull of the new clutch springs. I’ll grab at seat on my mechanics chair and move around the garage looking at the bike from various angles, complimenting it along the way. I like to start whispering positive affirmations about this time; reminding the Moto what a sexy little bitch it is and how much I’m going to love blasting berms. I might slowly spin the wheels as a prelude of things to come.

What happens after the first six pack and spliff is PornHub level stuff.

When I got my 21 YZ250F I did:

-Grease Swingarm, Linkage, Steering stem and other bolts that should get it
-Change oil
-Install battery tender
-Dielectric grease all connections.
-Oil air filter (I highly recommend you get the Twinair/GYTR/No Toil for a better sealing setup)
-Check torque specs on all bolts (engine mounts, subframe, etc.)
-Set suspension clickers and set sag (even though sag will change greatly after 1-5 hours of break in)

After that its just the usual stuff. I pull the OEM plastics off and put on aftermarket plastics and graphics. Keep the OEM for the day when I go to sell it.

Put Teflon tape under the front brake perch and clutch lever perch and ride.

I'm a bit anal, but I typically go through and put high quality grease on every single bearing then go over the entire bike with a torque wrench. If I could buy bikes in the crate I would.

Get on vital Mx and complain about the dealer and it’s set up fees, personnel, etc then I take it apart and get back on vital to complain about the lack of grease, filter oil etc. bolt on 2k worth of aftermarket bits. Go get 5 gallons of MR-12 then complain about the price of that then finally it’s off to the track with my buddies followed up by a corny Instagram post thanking the dealer that I just flamed on vital.

All joking aside. CONGRATS and enjoy the new steed!! My father picked one up back in October and absolutely loves it

Thanks for the info everyone! I'm gonna get to work

Ryan625 wrote:

I'm a bit anal, but I typically go through and put high quality grease on every single bearing then go over the entire bike ...more

Ryan625 wrote:

I'm a bit anal, but I typically go through and put high quality grease on every single bearing then go over the entire bike with a torque wrench. If I could buy bikes in the crate I would.

...more

Same here.

If nothing else, it allows me to check everything. Over the years, I’ve seen some crazy stuff on bikes that were supposedly subjected to a PDI.