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| Darth-Simba |
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 Darth-Simba Nova Slayer

Joined: 02 Oct 2012 Karma :   
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| CaNsA |
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 CaNsA Super Spammer

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| Kradmelder |
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 Kradmelder World Chat Champion

Joined: 13 Jun 2012 Karma :     
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| Magnet |
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 Magnet Crazy Courier

Joined: 13 Aug 2012 Karma :  
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 Posted: 00:11 - 04 Nov 2012 Post subject: |
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Its posts like this that remind me to check my bike over I suppose if I were sensible I would say check your bike as often as possible. It only takes a few minutes to give it a going over and don't forget to lube that chain  ____________________ It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.
GPZ600R Sold, Now ZZR600 |
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| covent.gardens |
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 covent.gardens World Clap Champion

Joined: 09 Jun 2012 Karma :     
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 Posted: 00:55 - 04 Nov 2012 Post subject: |
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In the operators manuals for most motorcycles you will find that it'll include Brake fluid and Coolant under Daily checks...
I don't know anyone who actually does all the Daily checks, every day... I certainly don't (unless it's a new vehicle to me, then I check it more often because that gives me a chance to realise if it's burning oil or losing fluids).
Once I've "got to know" the bike, these "daily checks" get done when I start to feel guilty because I haven't done them in so long.
Once a week is probably a sensible timescale to give the bike a proper check over. |
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| stinkwheel |
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 stinkwheel Bovine Proctologist

Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :    
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 Posted: 02:13 - 04 Nov 2012 Post subject: |
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Depends on the bike.
My enfield uses an extraordinary quantity of oil so I check the oil level at every fuel stop.
My VFR does not deplete any of its fuel or lubricant levels between services so I check them once in a blue moon.
In short. Check them frequently. You'll get used to how often you need to after a bit. ____________________ “Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles. |
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| tom_m |
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 tom_m Scooby Slapper
Joined: 18 Jul 2012 Karma :     
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| WillOdling |
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 WillOdling Nova Slayer
Joined: 26 Aug 2012 Karma :     
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 Posted: 09:22 - 04 Nov 2012 Post subject: |
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Just glance at the brake resevoirs every now and then but why not check everything every Sunday or something? Only takes 5 minutes to check over the bike and your proper  ____________________ 2002 GSX R600 |
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| esullivan |
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 esullivan Could Be A Chat Bot

Joined: 06 Mar 2012 Karma :   
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 Posted: 09:32 - 04 Nov 2012 Post subject: |
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I commute about 150 miles a week. This is the routine I've settled on:
Each day, usually in the morning before setting off, I do a quick walk around the bike, looking for anything obviously falling off, squeeze the front and rear tyres, and check the indicators and the rear brake light. The brake fluid is a little reservoir by the handle bars, so that just takes a glance. I've not had to touch that in 3,500 miles, but it's possible it was topped up at the 600 and 2,500 service intervals (I have a CBF 125).
Every few days, especially if I've done lots of filtering, I inspect the tyres more carefully for embedded pebbles or other road crap you find between lanes and look for any cuts: Put the bike on the centre stand, wet thumb and swipe across type, and then inspect until you see the mark again.
Each week (on Saturday or Sunday, whichever is drier), I check the tyre pressure, clean and lube the chain, check the oil. I usually clean the bike then too, at the local jet wash, if it is at all decent out. This week's routine also included spraying some ACF50 around the exhaust and engine, winterising.
Hope that helps! |
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| CaNsA |
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 CaNsA Super Spammer

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| illuminateTHE... |
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 illuminateTHE... World Chat Champion

Joined: 13 Jul 2012 Karma :     
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| thepuma |
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 thepuma World Chat Champion

Joined: 16 Jul 2012 Karma :   
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| mentalboy |
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 mentalboy World Chat Champion

Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :   
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| Acemastr |
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 Acemastr World Chat Champion
Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :  
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| WillOdling |
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 WillOdling Nova Slayer
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| cimbian |
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 cimbian World Chat Champion

Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :   
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 Posted: 13:08 - 04 Nov 2012 Post subject: |
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When all else fails... RTFM  ____________________ 22PlusY
Current: Moto Guzzi 1100 Breva. Previous: Honda XL650V TransAlp
Bearded, Balding, Born again Buddhist Biker |
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| barrkel |
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 barrkel World Chat Champion
Joined: 30 Jul 2012 Karma :   
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 Posted: 13:27 - 04 Nov 2012 Post subject: Re: How often should I? |
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| thepuma wrote: | You lube your chain every day? Seriously? |
When touring, I'd do between 300 and 600 miles a day. At that rate, you want to lube your chain every day, if not more often; every second refuel is a handy rule of thumb.
I got a scottoiler instead, and bring a refill bottle with me rather than go with the touring scottoiler options.
Low tyre pressure has very noticeable effects on the handling on the bikes I ride. The extra friction of the tyre feels like dragging the brake, and on the front especially it makes the handlebars pull towards the inside of the turn. So I tend not to check pressures very often. I'll check my ER6 before any big trip and bring a gauge with me though, and probably check once every day or two over the long distances.
I've never gotten a puncture on a scooter in over 20,000 miles of riding, half split between London and touring to Scotland and Ireland. Got one on a YBR in a tenth that distance (plugged it). I check the tyres for embedded things perhaps once every 6 weeks, unless the pressure is off or I know I rode over something dodgy. ____________________ Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ |
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| Kradmelder |
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 Kradmelder World Chat Champion

Joined: 13 Jun 2012 Karma :     
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| Kradmelder |
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 Kradmelder World Chat Champion

Joined: 13 Jun 2012 Karma :     
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 Posted: 15:17 - 04 Nov 2012 Post subject: Re: How often should I? |
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| barrkel wrote: | | thepuma wrote: | You lube your chain every day? Seriously? |
When touring, I'd do between 300 and 600 miles a day. At that rate, you want to lube your chain every day, if not more often; every second refuel is a handy rule of thumb.
I got a scottoiler instead, and bring a refill bottle with me rather than go with the touring scottoiler options.
Low tyre pressure has very noticeable effects on the handling on the bikes I ride. The extra friction of the tyre feels like dragging the brake, and on the front especially it makes the handlebars pull towards the inside of the turn. So I tend not to check pressures very often. I'll check my ER6 before any big trip and bring a gauge with me though, and probably check once every day or two over the long distances.
I've never gotten a puncture on a scooter in over 20,000 miles of riding, half split between London and touring to Scotland and Ireland. Got one on a YBR in a tenth that distance (plugged it). I check the tyres for embedded things perhaps once every 6 weeks, unless the pressure is off or I know I rode over something dodgy. |
Some parts of SA there are these things called 'bossies'. Little balls with small thorns on them. They are the seeds for thorn trees in the karoo. They blow across the road. In such areas, every 10 km I stop to pull them out of my tyres before they embed themselves too deep. And I have heavy duty tubes. Needless to say, average speeds drop to well below 50 kmh.
Better that than risk punctures. ____________________ 2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS |
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| Kradmelder |
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 Kradmelder World Chat Champion

Joined: 13 Jun 2012 Karma :     
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 13 years, 56 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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