Maintenance Advice

[Genesismatrix]

To all you clever bikers out there.

I own a FXR150 and to be hones for the last 9 months i have done bugger all maintenance on it. I have a few questions.

1. I have noticed my bikes back wheel has beeen squeaking. No when i riding it just when im pushing it to park in garage etc. Should i be doing somthing to provent this.

2. I live in Invercargill and the Night tempretures are low and oftern go into neqitives. Oftern when i try to start my bike in on cold mornings the electric start wont get the bike turning over it just trys and trys. After a few kick starts it fires up and off i go... Is this normal?

[sunhuntin]

cant help with the squeak...my brakes squeak, which ill be getting looked at next service. but even up here in wangas it sometimes takes a while for the ginny to turn over, and our temps down get near as cold as yours.
is your bike parked under shelter, or in the elements? my old gn used to refuse to start when it was cold [used to finish at midnight] one night it took me about half an hour to get her going....

[98tls]

If the sqeak isnt brake pads rubbing or the chain (dry) try removing axle and put some grease on it.

[Mr. Peanut]

start my bike in on cold mornings the electric start wont get the bike turning over it just trys and trys. After a few kick starts it fires up and off i go... Is this normal?

A battery is a chemical reaction. When it gets cold there is not as much energy to complete the reaction - less current - won't start.

To answer your question - yes normal, unless your battery is old. Some brands might be better if it's a big issue for you

[Drum]

If youve got the cash, why not take it in for a service? The guys in the bike shop may find other things you dont know about.

Remember a small mechanical malfunction can have serious consequences.

[Flyingpony]

1. Could be that your chain is worn out, could easily hear my old one squeaking when pushing the bike. You're therefore looking at new chain and sprockets (always replace both sprockets & chain at sametime!) - will cost somewhere between $150-350. To find out better where the squeak is coming from without going to the shops, jack up your bike and slowly rotate the wheel. Does the chain have rust markings on it?

2. If the battery is too cold (or even too old) the bike will fail to start on cold mornings using electric start, simply use the kick start instead - one kick and it's idling.

[Quartermile]

I also have an Fxr with the same problems when cold but my kickstart is missing the kicker but i find hold down the starter a bit longer and giving it slowly more revs while holding the starter often does it.