Newbie Qs!

[amber88]

Hi, Im sure you get heaps of nebie questions on here, but Im going to ask some anyway!! :Playnice:
So I have just got my first bike and Im trying to get heaps of info on stuff to do with general maintenance and stuff for my bike.

I want to know how often I should be doing chain oiling, and tightening, and where can I get / how much is chain lube, do you use the same stuff as chainsaws use on the chain?

Ive been told oil and filters should be done every 5000km or so, but what about air filters?

Any way hope Ive pasted this in the right place, And Hi to all!!:2thumbsup

[awayatc]

Hi Amber and welcome to the bike addiction.
Oil an filter as you said about 5000 kms. Some people do up to 7 or 8 k.
Airfilter usulay can be cleaned. Keep it clean, breathing is important.
If you ride in dust/dirt you need to clean it often....very often.
(some foam filters you can wash in mild detergent, some airfilters you can blow through with compressed air....and some need just replacing.
Chain oil is recommended every 500 kms, my chain manufacturer recommends 40 weight oil. ut if you use the search function you will find a lot of info about that here on KB.
Don't forget to check/replace your sparkplug (s)
Enjoy yourself, and be safe

[Blackshear]

TZR250?!
That's a manly stepping stone :niceone:
Just do wot the book says.

[Usarka]

I was at the library the other day and saw a useful looking beginners guide to motorcycling. Can't remember the title, but might be worth having a look in your local. Library, not pub.

[amber88]

I was at the library the other day and saw a useful looking beginners guide to motorcycling. Can't remember the title, but might be worth having a look in your local. Library, not pub.

Yeah a TZR cos it was pretty, and we got it for a good price (REALLY good price) off a friend who's had it for 3 years. That and I think my boyfriend enjoys thrashing the heck out of it:ride:
We will only have it for a while, I went for something cheap cos tim said I was going to drop it anyway if its my first bike (he was right lol) so when Im a bit more confident, I'll buy something newer and nicer, say in 6 months time. if tim doesnt kill it!! :spanking:

[cave weta]

cos tim said I was going to drop it anyway if its my first bike (he was right lol) so when Im a bit more confident, I'll buy something newer and nicer, say in 6 months time. if tim doesnt kill it!! :spanking:

Your funny!

there is a very easy to read book called
'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintainance'
it is old- written in the 70s. it covers bike maintainance from a buddhist perspective- it would be a humorous first read before delving into manuals


hey - and welcome to KB!

[Squiggles]

about air filters?

Clean em sure, but when it comes time to replace don't go buying a "performance" one without considering the effect it could have on your highly strung tzr :msn-wink:

[YellowDog]

Hello Amber88 and welcome.

If you have or get the basic handbook for your bike, it will have all you need to know in easy to follow instructions and hopefully with some diagrams. The settings will be specific for your bike and you should follow this.

Before you go out to ride, you should check the tyre pressures and also make sure the water (if you have a rad) and oil levels are sufficient. This will also help you gauge to see if it is loosing/using any.

Regarding the chain, this should keep its tension and only need adjusting every few hundred Ks. You will get to know quite quickly how tight/loose it should be and hence know when it is out. It is worth checking it regularly over the first few weeks to make sure all is OK. Your boyfriend thrashing the bollox off the bike is likely to cause wear and make it need tightening sooner rather than later.

Good luck.

[Str8 Jacket]

AWESOME! You got a TZR250 as your first bike, niiiice!! Good luck...


Oh yeah, welcome! :yes:

[Anarkist]

If you really want to fit in here, you should post pictures of yourself.

[Str8 Jacket]

If you really want to fit in here, you should post pictures of yourself.

Ignore the mere males chick. Just be aware that alot of the men on this sight are easily excitable... ;)

[Anarkist]

Ignore the mere males chick. Just be aware that alot of the men on this sight are easily excitable... ;)

I generally save the excitement for after the pics.

[amber88]

If you really want to fit in here, you should post pictures of yourself.

Ha!! My boyfriend has pics of me sitting on his bike in his profile, if you can figure out who he is!

Yeah I thought the boy thrashing it will mean I have to look after it more, He said I have to learn to maintain it properly if I get it so, Here I am learning. Maybe he just wants to hammer it and not do the maintenance himself hehehe oh well, I dont mind, hes teaching me to ride and everything anyway

[Anarkist]

hammer it and not do the maintenance

Isn't this every mans dream? :innocent:

[Ms Piggy]

Hi, Im sure you get heaps of nebie questions on here, but Im going to ask some anyway!! :Playnice:

Welcome to the jungle! There are several friendly KBers down in Dunners and I'm sure some of them would be willing to assist you.

[Tubbsy]

I'll jump on the noob bandwagon. I have coming up to 3,000km's under my belt from the last 2 months, I need I think to change my air filter and oil filter and check/tighten/lube the chain. Trouble is, and I'm man enough to admit it :beer: is that what I know about motorbikes in terms of maintenance, would probably fit in a gnats ear with room left over.

If anyone can give me some guiding words, invite me round to teach, or anything in general, it would be a lifesaver. (probably literally considering what happens when good bikes go bad) :ar15:

[CookMySock]

do you use the same stuff as chainsaws use on the chain?you can use chain bar oil if you like. It doesnt stink like the stuff in the can does. Drip it on from a little squirty bottle (like the small sucryl bottle), or wipe on with a small cloth (keep the cloth and re-use so you don't waste the oil.


Ive been told oil and filters should be done every 5000km or so, but what about air filters?Perhaps every year, or 15,000km ish. If you dont have a manual for your bike, quite likely you can google one.

Since your bike is a two-stroke, and quite likely you will be puttering around on it for some time yet, ask your bike shop "what is a hotter sparkplug?"

Also, you should use the best quality two-stroke oil you can afford, coz two-strokes don't really like being idled around with a cold sparkplug in them or shit oil in them, or they will foul their plugs up and get cranky and snotty and stall and muck around. If you do put a hotter sparkplug in it, the boys (and you) can damage the bike by caning it harrrrd on the open road, so either go back to the colder plugs, or don't let them cane it.


HTH, and welcome to biking, and to KB, and much respect for such a cool bike.
Steve

[Squiggles]

I'll jump on the noob bandwagon. I have coming up to 3,000km's under my belt from the last 2 months, I need I think to change my air filter and oil filter and check/tighten/lube the chain. Trouble is, and I'm man enough to admit it :beer: is that what I know about motorbikes in terms of maintenance, would probably fit in a gnats ear with room left over.

If anyone can give me some guiding words, invite me round to teach, or anything in general, it would be a lifesaver. (probably literally considering what happens when good bikes go bad) :ar15:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=2020290#post2020290

[hayd3n]

If you really want to fit in here, you should post pictures of yourself.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php?u=19938
look in his pics
good friends of mine

[hayd3n]

2 stroke dont really get the usual oil change its more gearbox