Back by popular demand...
We all take them for granted, those black rubber hoops that provide all important contact between bike and road but in order for them to do their job they need to be working properly. There are a number of different conditions that you could find your tyres in that will make a difference - so lets go throguh them!
Whether you parked your Steed for the Winter, or Rode throughout, this is the time to clean it up, and address any Service Issues. Doing this Service yourself can save a great deal of Money (better spent on Fuel!), in addition to becoming familiar with your Machine. Understanding how your Bike works, and what you need to do to repair it is vital in forseeing issues as they begin to appear, prior to them leaving you stranded on the road!
One of the most overlooked items is the Drive Chain, and although it is a bit of a chore, it is a very important item to address. Cleaning your Drive Chain is not very difficult to do, although it does require you to remove it from the Bike, which, if you include remounting it, is really the bulk of the work! A regularly cleaned Drive Chain will last longer, and it should be done at least once a year, to clean off excess Chain Oil Build Up, Flush Grit from the Rollers, and fully Renew the Chain Oil.
This a layout of how to get it done:
Things You'll Need:
* Motorcycle (this article assumes you are riding a sportbike)
* A couple of friends to help is nice, one at minimum
* Paper and pencil to write down the numbers
* A ruler that measure in metric (millimeters)
Clean. Giving your bike a spit and polish every weekend not only keeps it looking great, it also helps you spot any potential problems.
Tyres. Keeping your tyres in good nick is absolutely vital because they seriously affect the handling of your bike. Make sure you check your tyre pressure on a regular basis, and be aware that your tyres will need adjusting if you’re carrying heavy luggage or even an extra passenger. In addition, check your tyres for wear – in the UK motorcycles over 50cc must have at least 1mm of tyre tread depth across three quarters of the width of the tread pattern and visible tread on the remaining quarter. Motorcycles under 50cc must have clearly visible groves across the original tread pattern.
Having the suspension on your bike set-up as best it can be for the type of riding you do is the most important modification anybody can make if they intend on getting the most from their bike. The best part of this modification is that it doesn't cost a penny.
A bike that has the suspension set-up correctly will improve the handling of the bike by raising the confidence the rider has in the machine, increases traction and grip levels and will ensure you minimise the risk of over-stepping the line which marks the limit when riding fast. Tyre wear will also be minimised and kept constant, and thus last longer. A tyre that shows much distress on the surface is often due a less than optimal suspension setup.
By: Angela Oliver
Motorcycle batteries vary by brand. Choosing motorcycle batteries involves several important factors. You need to know a good bit about your bike in order to purchase a motorcycle battery.
Motorcycle batteries vary by engine size on any particular motorcycle. Motorcycle engines range in size and are measure by cc. A small engine could be a 260cc for example, where as a larger engine size can be 1200cc. The higher the number, the more powerful the engine.
Motorcycle batteries are specifically designed for specific brands. If you drive a BMW motorcycle, you will purchase a different motorcycle battery that if you drove a Harley-Davidson.
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