Tutorial: protecting and caring for your TT cross enduro dirt bike:
While servicing your off-road motorcycle is important during normal times, it becomes vital in the winter. Whether it's cross country or enduro, dirt and water seeps in everywhere, which can cause accelerated wear and even, in the long term, irreparable damage. Therefore, choosing the right protectors and consumables carefully is essential to preserve your frame ...
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As the saying goes, "who wants to travel far, looks after his horse." While regular maintenance is important to the good health of your off-road motorcycle in summer, it should be especially taken care of during winter training. Dirt that gets in and sticks all over the place can prematurely wear out the cycle and the mechanical parts, to the point where in extreme cases it can cause irreparable damage to your machine. So let's take a look at the precautions to avoid spring disappointments ...
Protection
Plastics
The plastic parts of off-road motorcycles, highly prone to friction and falls, rarely come out of the winter unscathed. There are two solutions available to you, the first is to protect them with self-adhesive vinyl or even thick tape. This is economical, but time consuming, and there are several factors to consider as well: a badly bonded guard won't last long, and you may end up chipping the plastic underneath. A securely installed guard will protect your motorcycle, but remember that when it comes to removing it, there is a good chance that you will spend a lot of time on the solvent to remove adhesive residue (I say knowing the reason ...).
The second solution, in my opinion, is the simplest and most effective - to use different plastics in winter and in season. No need to have an extraordinary budget, complete plastic kits (front and rear mudguards, license plates and radiator gills) can be sold for around £70, not to mention a lower priced used kit will work well. However, the air filter housing remains, which is very subject to friction: a thick self-adhesive vinyl protection is required.
Frame
The ankle frame plays a key role when it comes to friction on a cross bike or enduro bike. A few circles in the mud are enough to realize this ... Someone will opt for various self-adhesive protective coatings, but as you can see in the photographs, the operation will have to be repeated rather quickly. There are frame protectors, if those that we present to you are made of carbon, elements made of aluminum and plastic are also in the catalog. Their effectiveness is undeniable, but it is not enough to establish them, and then basta!
This is a trap that many pilots, crosses and enduro riders fall into: along with the vibrations, the dirt that accumulates behind the guard (because it is always there) will slowly but surely eat up the frame. So this is an effective solution, but you must regularly disassemble and clean these protectors, otherwise you might not be putting anything ... If the self-adhesive vinyl is ineffective at the boot level, it is ideal for the upper part of the frame where the knees rub. While you are in the neckline, you can do the same for the sides of the pivot arm.
The Expendables
Platelets
The first victims of winter: brake pads. Do not strive for performance in these conditions at all costs: for example, organic pads will not last long. Choose hard toasted metal pads. Genuine components are often a good compromise, even if the price is slightly higher than the adaptable ones.
Трансмиссия
When driving in mud, the transmission suffers greatly: you have to lay everything on its side to keep it as long as possible. So give preference to the gear and anti-mud ring. Don't expect miracles, but easier removal of dirt will slightly reduce wear and tear on your device. An o-ring chain will also be stronger than a regular chain, but you shouldn't neglect to maintain it.
Swingarm cushion and chain guide
We stay at the level of the drivetrain, but change the rocker arm pad and chain guide elements. It often happens that these two consumables completely fail after one single outing (especially the first). But there is a radical solution that will last a whole season, of which I myself am an adherent: to replace these classic elements with models from TM Designworks. Why ? Just because they are indestructible! My 149-season guide is just perfect, nothing more to worry about. How often is the price: 4? all. But with 25 changes of chain guide (15?) And chain shoe (XNUMX? In adaptable), it is definitely worth the investment once and for all. One less routine maintenance than you need to think about and do on your bike ...
Points to look out for
Take care of your network
In mud, your Cross or Enduro motorcycle suffers differently from normal conditions. Therefore, some points deserve special attention. In winter, the chain cannot be neglected, and if you do not want it to be completely stuck, a simple procedure must be followed: high pressure washing, hitting with WD 40 to remove dirt and moisture, and subsequent lubrication. Drying. ... If you lubricate immediately after washing, moisture is trapped in the lubricant and attacks the chain "from the inside".
Pump up your carbohydrate
You should also pay attention to the carburetor: the tank must be emptied after each wash. Laurent, a Honda dealer in Gera, insists on this. This may seem tedious to many TT riders, but most of the time it is just a bolt that needs to be removed ... and even one drop of water can significantly affect the ride quality of your bike, cross and enduro.
Watch out for breather and vents
Another point to pay attention to: carburetor and engine breather or ventilation. These are small pipes that hang under the motorcycle at the level of the rods or the output gear of the transmission. This may sound trivial, but if they are blocked, the normal functioning of the engine will be impaired. Therefore, you need to check from time to time. Please note that if these hoses are separated, this is necessary to prevent clogging. If this is not the case on your off-road bike, feel free to do it yourself.
