A done deal. Updates to follow.

[ooger]

OK, so I recently got off the fence I've been on for about a month and made the choice between new and used, and have ordered my first bike, a black SV650SK7, fully faired.

I should have it in about 10 days time, and and after about 11 days I'll be in no doubt wondering how to look after it properly.

So, I'm guessing it comes with the usual "don't try pressure washing it or taking it through a car wash" user manual, but advice-wise, what do you do daily/weekly/monthly to keep yours looking shiny new (if you do?!), and more specifically, when you get it wet (which I will, its going to be my commuter), what must you make sure of when you get it back home?

Cheers

[ASM-Forever]

If its to be a commuter then best to take a hammer to it now, and put a bit of mud on it. You'll be less upset when someone parks their ped on it. :)

Seriously though do a search. Lots of stuff on cleaning/maintenance.

[ooger]

Thankfully a secured private car park is mine to be had
at work, and I don't mean riding it 365 days a year either.

I for one won't be venturing out onto black ice for a good few winters to come... :smt045

[skint]

OK, so I recently got off the fence I've been on for about a month and made the choice between new and used, and have ordered my first bike, a black SV650SK7, fully faired.

I should have it in about 10 days time, and and after about 11 days I'll be in no doubt wondering how to look after it properly.

So, I'm guessing it comes with the usual "don't try pressure washing it or taking it through a car wash" user manual, but advice-wise, what do you do daily/weekly/monthly to keep yours looking shiny new (if you do?!), and more specifically, when you get it wet (which I will, its going to be my commuter), what must you make sure of when you get it back home?

Cheers

No big need for pressure washing though can be handy for stubborn cleaning if you're careful. Don't be silly they don't do half rates for bikes in car washes;)

get some 'muc off' (busters-accessories do a good deal on t'net) and spray all over, then wash with usual shampoo and sponge then hose down. You can do the bike as well :) Dry with a Chamois then polish with Castrol Bike Polish.

If its just a bit dusty with a few fly splats you can use Castrol Bike polish straight off, no need to wash/shampoo first - comes up a treat - top stuff me thinks.

Let it dry naturally if you're not going to wash it down. Make sure its stored in a well ventilated area.

Prepare for winter. Coat it with ACF50 (name?) again see Busters on t'net. Can also blob a bit of grease on bolt ends etc to help stop rusting. Apparently SV's are known for the odd bit of rust :rolleyes:

IMHO :grin:

[neio79]

Duck oil or GT85 liberally applied to all moving parts like leavers and exposed metal areas (except brakes) is a good tip and Scotoiler FS spray on top of that should keep corrosion at bay.

[yorkie_chris]

Seems to be 2 schools of thought with respect to winter maintenence.

Some go over with polish and shampoo every day, others just blather it in ACF50 or similar and leave it be.

Personally I cover everything in grease or acf50, and wash regularly, the next wash is scheduled for the middle of may somewhere...

[jambo]

Check your Oil. Keep an eye on your chain and sprockets to check they are always oiled, and in good nick. Check your tyre pressures. Do these AT LEAST once a week.

Fit good crash bungs and get a paddock stand with bobbins and hooks to make maintenance on the chain and rear wheel easier. If you're doing lots of miles fit a scottoiler and keep an eye on it to check it doesn't run out.

The clean stuff I'm not so good at, my bikes are always some of the dirtiest about. But I'd rather spend the time doing maintenance, as I can't see the dirt when I'm riding it :)

Jambo

[Ceri JC]

Seems to be 2 schools of thought with respect to winter maintenence.

Some go over with polish and shampoo every day, others just blather it in ACF50 or similar and leave it be.

Personally I cover everything in grease or acf50, and wash regularly, the next wash is scheduled for the middle of may somewhere...

Third choice: Do b-all, 3 winters later, it'll only have pitted fork lowers, which it'd have anyway, regardless of cleaning. Half an hour with autosol on the downpipe and stainless bits of the exhaust and it looks fine again.

[yorkie_chris]

I'd rather spend the time doing maintenance,

A definite +1 here.

IMO service intervals are too long, A months worth of salt and grime can sieze your brake calipers solid, so ignore them and keep everything which has important functions clean-ish and greased up

[hovis]

congrats on picking the 2nd best SV ever made (yellow curvy is better)

get a fenda extenda fitted

[ooger]

Fit good crash bungs and get a paddock stand with bobbins and hooks to make maintenance on the chain and rear wheel easier.
Jambo

:confused:

What are bobbins and hooks? I thought crash bobbins were crash bungs? Can you give me an example of a paddock stand with them?

Ta

[jambo]

Crash bungs are Nice big blocks of nylon that stick out from the engine mounting bolts by your knees to protect the plastics if it falls. paddock stand bobbins are smaller metal or nylon "cotton reel" type attachments that go on the swingarm by the back wheel. When using a decent paddock stand to lift the rear wheel off the ground you get some with rubber cups that go under the swing arm, and some with hooks that connect to these bobbins / cotton reels and lift it up and hold on to it by them. This is more secure than using the rubber cups.

PS Please do not use actual cotton reels :D

[ooger]

I take great pleasure in announcing I don't own any cotton reels, I'd have no use for them at all :p

I know I'll need a stand sooner rather than later (in fact within the first week if I want to keep on top of the chain/oil ASAP - has anyone got a good detailed picture of theirs in use, so I can compare?

Actually, I'll do a search on that now, before I get blasted for not using the search button (again :compcrash:)

[Sosha]

Easy enough to do the chain without a stand IMHO - now Tyres are another matter.......:cool:

Enjoy

[KnightRider]

OK, so I recently got off the fence I've been on for about a month and made the choice between new and used, and have ordered my first bike, a black SV650SK7, fully faired.

I should have it in about 10 days time, and and after about 11 days I'll be in no doubt wondering how to look after it properly.

So, I'm guessing it comes with the usual "don't try pressure washing it or taking it through a car wash" user manual, but advice-wise, what do you do daily/weekly/monthly to keep yours looking shiny new (if you do?!), and more specifically, when you get it wet (which I will, its going to be my commuter), what must you make sure of when you get it back home?

Cheers

Copycat!! Got the same bike, same colour, with lowers etc etc etc etc :thumbsup:

One point of advice....dont let someone park their van on top if it like I did :smt013 as it brings a tear to your eye!

[KnightRider]

I know I'll need a stand sooner rather than later

You could go for an Abba stand, this attaches to the frame and is very secure. I plan to get mine at the NEC bike show (http://www.motorcycleshow.co.uk/)along with a double bubble (screen to deflect the wind a little better), tail tidy (to remove that horrid piece of plastice that attaches the number plate) and loads of other stuff. I have heard that prices are rather good at the NEC so might be worth the wait?

Jon

PS - I have had the bike since June and have found it quite easy to keep the chain well oiled - small paint brush and used engin oil did the trick for me! I now have a lubeman (cheap scotoiler) which I got for £20 but that is mainly cause I ride 400-500 miles a week.

[ooger]

One point of advice....dont let someone park their van on top if it like I did :smt013 as it brings a tear to your eye!

Thanks :)

This is not sounding good though, surely. Are there pictures, or just sore memories? What happened?

I've just been looking at the photos in the Facebook group (i just joined it). You lot take up a lot of road space when you park up :D

[Alpinestarhero]

Well I wash mine once a week, get it all lathered up and soak it off good and proper with the hose, specialy around things like brake calipers. I spray various exposed moving parts (suspension, back brake lever and spring, side stand spring etc) with AC90, a similar lubricant spray to WD40. If I have ridden it in the pouring rain, then I at least rinse down the bike and get all the crap off before its covered, this only takes 2 mins with the hose.

So far, its doing really well and looks gorgeous despite all the rain of late. You all should have seen this manky hayabusa parked up at my uni today, I nearly cried for the poor neglected bike, and nearly passed out when i saw all the crap around the chain!

Oh yea, keep your chain lubed. Dosnt matter what you use (I use Wirth dry lube) as long as its for motorcycle chains. Clean the chain with WD40 and a rag, then put on lashings of lube. repeat every week if you can, I do.

Matt

[ooger]

I plan to get mine at the NEC bike show (http://www.motorcycleshow.co.uk/)along with a double bubble (screen to deflect the wind a little better), tail tidy (to remove that horrid piece of plastice that attaches the number plate) and loads of other stuff. I have heard that prices are rather good at the NEC so might be worth the wait?

First I've ever heard of the Bike Show! More reading is needed I think

I'm guessing its a good ride out to get up there :) I'm a big fan of internet shopping/eBay for bargains but if the show is close to trade prices(?) then it'd be a good day out as well.

Just taken a look at the map in your sig by the way - two things

1) Whats the big red strip for?! Like a No Mans Land?

2) I win the prize of living closest to the North Camp shops :p

[ooger]

Well I wash mine once a week, get it all lathered up and soak it off good and proper with the hose, specialy around things like brake calipers.

Err....are there any obvious parts not to direct the hose at, or is it fairly safe across the whole bike?

I mean, obviously forcing water into anything mechanical is never a good idea, of course.

[yorkie_chris]

Pressure washers are the thing you really want to avoid, a rinse with a hose isn't going to do much harm.

I would go by the rule of thumb of not spraying anything with the hose that would not normally get wet from rain.