Stupid newbie questions

[neilthewolf]

Hi, passed my mod 2 a few weeks ago and I'm picking up my 02 vfr tomorrow. Not worried about size /weight of bike, have had test rides and it fits perfect. The problems that are going through my head are really stupid questions that your not given any info on while your training. Here goes....
1...when you go into a pay and display car park on your bike how can you display your ticket without someone coming and stealing it?

2...How often and how thorough do i clean my bike after say riding dry weekends through the winter, does the salt need washing off after every ride?

3...This is a daft one....when i maneuver into and out of my garage which is safest to start with...sitting on the bike and doing a million point turn to turn around or reverse backward or do i do the mod 1 exercise and walk my bike around? I'm 5ft10' and 200lbs and pretty strong.

4...The last question you'll be pleased to hear...are there any essentials i should be buying other than the obvious, i read a lot about how people have trouble with batteries on bikes should i buy a top battery or a battery charger? Whats the score with batteries on bikes?

Right that's all i can think of for now, if you can stop laughing at my stupidness I'd love some help.

Thanks

Neil

[c_dug]

They are far from stupid questions!

1) One of the perks of riding a motorcycle is free parking almost anywhere, check the signs but you will find in most places you just scoot around the barriers and don't have to pay.

2) I rarely clean my bike because I use it every day to commute on, it's kind of a piece of string question. There are lots of general maintenance bits that are far more important than shiny plastics, plenty of threads already on that so have a search and ask for specifics where needed

3) It depends on a few things and you will work out what works best for you, for instance if there is a slope into and out of your garage it may be easiest to turn it around in the garage, you could use a turntable designed for the purpose or learn to rotate it on the sidestand.

4) I would suggest a basic tool kit if you don't already have one, motorcycles tend to be more hands on than cars so you may find in 6 months time you want to start doing your own brakes and oil changes. You will also want a chain lube of some sort and a big enough socket to fit your axel nut.

4b) You might want to consider some bits to stick under your seat for emergencies, things like a high vis vest and some spare bulbs.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Rogerborg]

1. I've never paid to park a motorcycle anywhere, and am yet to receive a speculative invoice.

2. Clean your bike and give it a thorough dose of ACF-50 - and I'd only recommend ACF-50, not a cheaper alternative. Wash it again in the spring.

3. Really depends on you. I'd walk it around. If you trust your side-stand, you can even spin the bike on it. This wins you 10 Man Points.

4. The used bikes that I've bought (bar Ze Beemer) have all come with a neglected, partially discharged battery with inadequate electrolyte. If you've got a lead-acid battery, check and top up the electrolyte levels, give it a good charge when you get it, then ride it regularly.

I would always recommend putting the battery on charge before trying to diagnose any problems on a vehicle, having had a laundry list of problems on my Citroen C3 from sad batteries.

If you only buy one tool, I'd suggest that it's a £5 multimeter. It takes so much of the guesswork out of diagnosing problems.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[sidewinder]

I would suggest you walk the bike in as it's good to get to know how your bike manoeuvres in tight spaces etc

[mic]

[-Matt-]

1. Never paid and never intend to. Most carparks and town centres have designates motorcycle bays, even a lot of barriered ones you can scoot around. Often do leave it on the pavement in quieter areas to access lamp-posts for chaining it to also but you can run the risk of a ticket in many cases then although ive yet to get one.

2. Good clean before and after winter. Acf50 everywhere except tyres and brakes etc before. If you ride dry salted roads i tend to leave it all winter, especially if you store in a dryish damp free garage. If riding in the wet through winter a lot maybe give the odd wash and reapply of ACF-50.

3. Tend to sit on mine and turn although sometimes on an angle you might need to get off and give it a push.

4. If you have a garage and power supply id get a trickle charger. You can attach a pigtail lead onto it and hang it just outside the fairing then easily connect it up for charging whenever you need. Particularly good idea besides bringing it in doors for a charge if you have periods you dont ride or commute a short distance.

[neilthewolf]

Great, thanks for all the replies

Neil