Preparing for the trip
Content
- What are the checks and technical checks before leaving?
- sunny days are approaching (yes, yes!) and now is the time to escape on your proud horse. But so as not to ruin the party with a little silly detail, let's take the time for a checkout visit to get away with the calm.
- Tires
- Transmission
- Wheels
- Тормоза
- direction
- Suspensions
- Sign lighting
- Battery
- Engine
- Accessories
- A damn little outfit!
- What about the head?
What are the checks and technical checks before leaving?
sunny days are approaching (yes, yes!) and now is the time to escape on your proud horse. But so as not to ruin the party with a little silly detail, let's take the time for a checkout visit to get away with the calm.
Regardless of whether you regularly use your motorcycle or not, long trips always require special training, because the driving conditions are very different from everyday life. An engine that heats up or consumes a little oil, a chain kit, or worn or even flat tires (tires, not a chain!) Can have serious consequences after a full day of driving with guns and luggage. Your safety as well as your enjoyment will be enhanced with just these few simple controls.
Tires
The maximum level of wear is reached when sculptures are less than 1 mm deep (versus 1,6 mm in a car). In general, tires wear out faster under the combined effect of loading and high speeds. So don't overestimate the remaining capital. Depending on the mileage you intend to travel and the proximity of the wear indicators, assess if you need to change the envelopes before leaving.
The witnesses are visible between the sculptures and are spotted on the sidewall of the tire with the abbreviations "TWI". It's always easier (and often more economical) to do it at your dealership, not when you have a knife under your throat ... or a police ban! Especially if you have a model with certain dimensions (old motorcycle, Ducati Diavel, 16 wheels, etc.). As far as the behavior of a worn tire is concerned, on dry roads the difference is barely noticeable, except for “square” wear. On wet roads (or on chains) it is much more.
BA BA, of course, consists of checking the pressure and adapting it to the load present on the motorcycle (solo, duo, luggage) ... with a good pressure gauge! Those who work in service stations, unfortunately, are not the best, far from them. Auto tire technicians are much more attentive to the calibration, which they regularly check!
Transmission
Check the wear condition of the chain set by grasping the chain between the pins on the bit and pulling it out. Usually it should not reveal more than half of the tooth. The teeth should not be pointed and even less “lie”.
Clean the circuit and diligently lubricate the nerve zones. (See “Maintain the Chain Kit.”) Then adjust the voltage according to the manufacturer's indications. Especially there is no string too tight, especially if you are riding as a duo. The risk is premature use of the chain and bearing kit (gearbox outlet and transmission shock absorber) or even destruction.
Bring something with you to lubricate your channel if you are traveling on high mileage. Also check the clearance in the transmission shock absorber by rotating it around its axis (worn rubber). Make it wobble from the side as well, so that you can find the non-service bearings.
If your motorcycle has a belt, inspect it carefully. Her worst enemy is the gravel that passes between her and the crown. Remove any foreign objects present inside the belt. Finally, it is imperative to respect the replacement frequency because otherwise it could break without warning.
For a motorbike with a shaft drive, check the oil level on the amna deck, any signs of leakage, the condition of the bellows on the pivot arm axis and the date of the last change.
Wheels
Make sure they run freely and without play. Wheel bearings are the first victims of high pressure cleaners. If your motorcycle is equipped with spoke wheels, wring them with a wrench will guarantee even tension. Again, the effect of load and speed on a poorly radiated wheel is devastating. It ends in a curtain of a wheel or even in a radius that breaks and enters the inner tube, with the consequences that we imagine. Also make sure the balance seals are still firmly in place. If not, a piece of American tape over the self-adhesive seals is a good insurance policy, even if it's not very esthetical.
Тормоза
Let's continue the safety aspects with a quick look at pad wear and disc thickness. Will they last the entire trip? Think that in pairs we often use the rear brake and therefore it will wear out faster than usual.
How about the level and age of the brake fluid? It is normal for the level to decrease as the gaskets wear. So don't worry about driving low if the gaskets are worn out. If the liquid is all black, it is because it has not come of age, is full of water, and good for litter. Replace it with a good scrubbing to prevent boiling as you pull work with friends, going down the collar ...
direction
Make sure the handlebars rotate freely and without play, because when problems arise, behavioral deterioration occurs very quickly. Safety but also driving comfort lose a lot.
Suspensions
Make sure there is no leakage into the SPI seals (an acronym for Industrial Development Company) of the plug by passing your hand down over the shells. There are no marks on the rear shock. If the behavior of the rear suspension is poor, first check that the connecting rods have no play and that they rotate freely. Then, if necessary, adapt the settings to the duo. Without getting into basic theories, rely on the settings recommended by the manufacturer in the service manual.
Sign lighting
A lamp grilled in the middle of a night scene quickly turns into a nightmare, not counting the difficulty of changing the lamp on the side of the road with modern and keeled motorcycles. Let's just give a proactive overview of the normal operation of all lamps (position lights, turn signals, rear brake light and of course the code / headlights). Replace defective bulbs, and if the bulb is well blackened, it is best to replace it preventively. Diode and LED taillights are much more reliable, one less problem.
Battery
Check the electrolyte level if it is a regular battery and complete with distilled water if necessary. Check its load level (empty voltage should be greater than 12,5 volts) while you are there, start the engine and test the load circuit, which should support 14 to 14,5 volts.
Placing the battery on a charger overnight, especially with the latest generation models that go through several stages of analysis and regeneration, is a plus to be ensured on the road.
Also make sure you have spare fuses.
Engine
Oil level, date and mileage of the last oil change, it is also BA BA, such as tire pressure. Then take a look at the air filter. He is the guarantor of your fuel consumption. What is the age and condition of the candles? They also play a sensitive role in consumption. Have the valve clearances been checked in a timely manner?
Finally, do a visual leak check. A suspicious mark that is regularly removed with a rag without paying attention to it can hide a problem during the creation process. We should try to understand what's going on, not go into leadership and get into trouble.
Accessories
Here is a systematic turn of the key so as not to lose pieces over the kilometers. Exhaust gases, footrests and mirrors are sensitive items. Finally, the packaging holder, upper body half, etc., should not be overloaded for fear of breakage, which could also touch the rear frame hinge. In addition, road behavior is often severely impaired by overloading.
There you go, your bike is ready to go. And you?
A damn little outfit!
Let's finish with a look at the proud knight's outfit. Periods of high heat and lightheartedness tend to deviate from the focus on protecting your body. Unfortunately, in the event of a fall, even a benign and low level, the consequences can be very serious. Thus, some people tend to view gloves as protection from the cold. This is a fatal mistake, because in the event of a fall, we push our arms forward with a reflex. The insides of the hands are especially innervated to provide greater sensitivity to touch, and serious nerve damage occurs very quickly in the event of abrasion by friction. Moreover, it is very poorly repaired. Moral, always wear leather gloves, light colored with shells, you will protect your human capital. The same goes for the legs and ankles. Espadrilles and other flip flops are great for the beach, but when you find your foot stuck under the bike, it's much worse! Ladies, you have beautiful legs, save them by wearing at least jeans (motorcycle) and wait until you are on the beach to show them off. Gentlemen, if you really want to ride a motorcycle in shorts, look at cyclists, they proactively shave their legs in the event of a fall, to clean wounds and remove clothing ... Given the efforts they put in, we understand them, but on motorcycles, frankly, shorts Is soft madness. How many bikers burned badly between bitumen friction and exhaust heat?
The same goes for the jacket, now there are lightweight jackets (often mesh) “tied” with built-in back protection, equipped with removable liners and ventilation zippers. They are very tolerant even over high heat. There is no motorcycle in the T-shirt !!!
What about the head?
There is no motorcycle without a helmet, needless to say, and even if it means wearing it, it is not just overhead like some young people on a scooter. It is threaded and knitted in good faith. Otherwise it is useless and separates from you at the first obstacle. The speech may seem moralizing to you, but how many holidays even ruined lives in a few minutes of carelessness ...
Nice road, nice things and, above all, happy holidays !!!!
