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

Originally Posted by jim@55

stop worrying and get out on it

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.

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

Originally Posted by Tiger 55

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.

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

[STRAMASHER]

...........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.

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?

Originally Posted by Tiger 55

I've got a hugger which I'd definitely recommend......
......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.

Originally Posted by malks

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'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.