What to do in a basic pre trip service?

Hi all,

I'm going away with a few friends to travel round Europe for 3 weeks, in about 3 weeks time. Over the next week or two I'd like to carry out a basic service of the bike to reduce the risk of anything breaking over there. What would you reccomend I do/get done before heading off?

Thanks

all i did before my trip to scotland (914 miles round trip) was change spark plugs, oil & oil filter
i also checked and adjusted chain and cleaned and lubed chain

oil, chain, tyres, spark plugs, your biking clothes as silly as it sounds, as a broken zip can be a bar steward when it rains. possibly air filter depending how old it is....errmmm....someone else will bob up with some more EDIT: have fun on your trip, ride safe

[rictus01]

well much depends on where you are in your service schedule, but if the next comes within the trip or just when you get back, bring it forwards and do it before, make sure you have enough brake pad life and tyre life for "exuberant" riding, carry sensible spares and tools and all those things you'd need anyway to cover that distance (chain lube/ 3 in 1 and such) I wouldn't worry about carrying engine oil as you can pretty much pick that up anywhere unless you're going somewhere remote.

pretty much anything else should be covered by your standard weekly bike check (you do do a weekly check don't you ?).

Cheers Mark.

brake pads! i was sat here thinking "i know there is something else and i cant think what."

do know what you mean about weekly bike checks tho, i incorporate them into my weekly bike clean noticed quite a few loose bolts whilst doing this

may be worth removing and cleaning rear adjusters too,
i did mine as they wouldnt move and found them to be rusted up very badly
i used small triangular file to restore the threads then plenty of copper slip.

chain may become slack while your away and require adjusting.

The most important thing is to check your tyres, isthere enough tread and are they the right pressure, then of course, have a good time

Oil, Oil filter, Chain, Brake pads, Tyres etc. Also check your Battery and R/R. (Make sure its charging the battery properly) Last thing you want is to find out your R/R was faulty while youre away. Have fun.

Coolant might be an idea as well.