maintaining your bike

chris___ · Brolly Dolly Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Karma :

Hi, was just looking for advice on how to keep my bike running well. Its running great at the moment but I'm making alot of long journeys on it at the moment including a round trip of 200 miles every week so what can I do to make sure I'm not left stranded on the M1?
cheers
chris
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Black Knight · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Karma :

Bikes are made to be ridden mate. Glad to hear you're using it.

Just do the basics as per the service schedule.
Thats mainly cleaning and oiling the chain every 500 or so miles and doing regualar oil changes.

I find the best way to get to know my bike is hand wash it often. Get into all the nooks and crannies and you'll soon notice if anything looks dodgy or needs replacing.

Oh, and breakdown recovery is handy too - esp when you run out of fuel Embarassed

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Where does a turn end? 'Where you can do anything with the gas you want to, where you are brave again, where your attention is free from the turn, where you are sure you can do it better next time; that's the end' - Keith Code.

distortion · Nearly there... Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Karma :

If its a faired bike check that none of the fairing screws are loose, worst thing to see your fairing flying off.

TOM M · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Oil is the key. Make sure there is always enough in it and that it is changed (with filter) when you are supposed to. No quicker way to fuck a bike than to ride it low on oil.
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“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.

mchaggis · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2004 Karma :

Oil changes. Thumbs Up

Keep an eye on your sparkplug colours. They'll give you a good idea of whether anything is wrong in the engine department.

Everything else will just quietly go on its way other than the chain which needs adjusting, cleaning and oiling. A Scottoiler would make that part a doddle, extending the life of the chain too.
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Fellony · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Karma :

If you're still completely unsure, do what i did and get yourself down to halfords, and get a generic motorcycle maintenance book. Thumbs Up

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