maintainance
 

hello people,

been reading stuff on here for a while, but i finally got my bike late last year(silver/bluey colour '06 sv sport) needed the free insurance! only 21 with about 30hours experience in riding! but so far the bikes not really been run in. but any tips on what to do to keep it maintained? so far been kept clean, dreid off, wd40 on moving bits chain is still well lubed. anything else i should really worry about or check for? completely new to biking so any advice well appreciated!

if ure riding all the time u HAVE to keep on top of things ,otherwise itll fester in front of u (i.e rot away and go all furry )but thats a cleaning issue .just keep an eye on the tyre pressures and lube the chain ,thats about it really (check the oil obv)as youre running it in the oil is important but it shouldnt really burn much oil ,stop worrying and get out on it :lol:

What he said!

Clean it absolutely no less often than once a week and if it takes less than 2 hours then you're not doing it properly.

But mostly just enjoy it. :D

And DON'T get WD40 on the chain- it'll destroy the O Rings (rubber seals) that keep the grease in the links. Apply some chain lube spray or engine oil (new or used) to the chain.

Cheers,

Garry

If you're anything like me then cleanit once a month. The dirt, dust and grease keeps it clean underneath,. The more you wash it the more you scratch it and wear everything down.

besides - when it's filthy, covered in ****e for weeks on end and you DO get round to cleasning it then it feels like you've got a new bike all over again

RIDE MY BOY>>>>RIDE LIKE THE WIND

...........and I am sure folk give you a bit more room if you are on a noisy ****eheap. Works well driving a shagged out 4 wheeler too. :lol:

cheers. i've not been out on it all that much! butt o be honest the weather hasnt been the ebst and been off playing with my other new toy ( a snowboard, wonder if there's a way to attach the board to the bike!!!) have been happy going out on my own in the dry weather. lets me gain my own confidence without having others pushing me along or getting frustrated!

any mods that i should look at, it will have a scottoiler, crash bungs, paddock stand bobbins on ti when it goes for its first service! they forgot to put them on at cupars before it was delivered! paperwork mix up! not really wanting a louder can, but what about fender extenders? anything like that?

I've got a hugger which I'd definitely recommend, but then I'm the sort of weirdo who keeps his bike clean!

Stuatrtyboy - you really think I'm scratching it and wearing things down? I get the theory that there's only one layer of crap on it no matter how long you leave it (because new crap sticks to the old crap and not the machine) but that layer is eating the bike surely?

Do folk on here generally rate the hugger? KG and I both started the run to Blackpool with clean bikes and he was complaining that his bike with hugger was just as dirty as mine without, so was kind of questioning why he bothered getting one (other than to improve the looks - which it does!). Granted it was a particularly dirty day but on that occasion at least it didn't do it's job .

Each time you go out the crap gets wet, heavy rain wind and spray would largely wash it off and replace it with new crap anyway (if your doing 80mph the bike is basically getting jet washed!), and the crap on the bike takes longer to dry off after a ride than the droplets of water left behind on a clean bike, so it's basically holding dampness against your metalwork for longer. Factor salt from icy roads into the equation and yes, no doubt, the whole time it's on there its eating the bike.

I prefer to clean the bike once a week (with a proper soft car wash brush so no scratches) and soapy water, let it dry in the garage then recoat with WD40. I ignored my MT5 when I was sixteen and paid the price after my first winter. I looked after the bikes that replaced it and never saw the same rot again. I did live in Blackpool though and my daily commute included the seafront where salt water was often carried on the wind.

I'm not convinced about a hugger. I saw no difference before or after on my sv. My cbr has a hugger and my mate has the same. Both bikes just as dirty. But hey..each to their own.

For definite though - the bungs - whatever you do do NOT get the stock suzuki ones.

I have a hugger and am convinced it's a good idea, although i cant really argue why, perhaps its just a placebo effect. I would also recommend a fender extender.

Maintenance wise I like to keep my bike reasonably clean but only spend maybe 1 hour once a month washing it.

I clean and lube the chain whenever it starts to look dry and at the same time I'll spend a few minutes cleaning around the front spark plug and its drain hole.

Once a year I will take the fairings off and clean all the wee nooks I usually miss. This will take most of the day so I leave this to one nice weekend in the summer.

Anything else it goes to a Suzuki garage for.

Huggers are good for keeping crap off your monoshock. Stops the preload collar from corroding/seizing. They also protect your subframe from stone chips and corrosion after the paint falls off. Stops all the crap getting into those nooks and crannies (working its way into your electrics under the seat etc). A good hugger will go past your swingarm and protect the shock linkages at the bottom also. Don't know if its possible to get this type for the SV, but it would be worth paying that wee bit extra. N-W-S huggers?

Fenda extenda is also a great idea and will keep your engine and exhaust header and bolts in better nick. Seized or snapped header bolts are not nice. It may also give some protection from the front spark plug getting fouled (with water) and cutting out the front pot. Not nice. (Although I have ,touch wood ,not had that problem meself) :?

Bungs give you piece of mind and will help if you just drop the bike and possibly if you really try and bend it!





Confession:

I don't have any as I am weird and like taking bits OFF my bike not adding :oops: :oops: :lol: !
Don't mind getting stuck into thorough cleaning and checking etc. tho'!


My attitude is , If I look after the bike , it will look after me. Has served me well so far......... :)

Your fun has just begun! 8)