Mechanicing your bike - what are us noobs missing out on?

[Roadsafe Nelson]

Get a notebook & always record any work you do on your bike.. note the mileage & the date the work was done. That way you can look back & know exactly when your last oil change etc was done, so you then know when it needs doing again. Keep all your receipts for anything you buy, or any time the bike goes into the shop, in a folder. Keeping records like this can really help if you ever sell your bike.. to prove to the buyer that you have regularly maintained & serviced the bike.. thus hopefully improving the chances of selling for a reasonable price. CT18 from Repco is a really good all purpose cleaner to use. It is biodegradable & can be used on the entire bike. Put it in a spray bottle.. spray in on.. let it sit for a while.. use a brush on any particularly grubby bits.. then simply hose off. Pledge is a really good polish & cleaner as well! Plus is great for keeping your visor clean!

Read through your bike manual or look online for your particular bike model & learn what your specifications should be. Each bike varies. & as you say.. experiment with the settings to find what is most comfortable for you!!

Learning basic maintenance can save you a lot of money.. instead of going into the shops pockets!

Happy riding!!

Jen
(MyGSXF)

[CookMySock]

CT18 from Repco is a really good all purpose cleaner to use.

I use CT18 professionally and I should change to something else, coz it's useless - it just doesn't seem to dissolve anything.

There are lots better cleaners. I won't use it on my bikes.

Steve

[Roadsafe Nelson]

I use CT18 professionally and I should change to something else, coz it's useless - it just doesn't seem to dissolve anything.

There are lots better cleaners. I won't use it on my bikes.

Steve

We've had this conversation before.. a while ago..

Use it straight with a little bit of elbow grease & a toothbrush if you need to clean a very greasy patch.. works great!! ! My instructors have 35 bikes.. it's the only cleaner they use & their bikes are always kept in spotless condition!

If you clean the bike regularly, then bad buildup just doesn't happen.

[CookMySock]

You have 35 bikes and you clean with elbow grease and fucking toothbrush?

Sorry, I spray shit on and give it a quick brush if it is lucky, and hose it off. No time for toothbrush and elbow grease. Thats daft.

Steve

[Grasshopperus]

the real fun of being a biker comes from reaching the point where you are confident enough to buy and rebuild a lost soul.

One day Subike, one day. That's the end game

Get a notebook & always record any work you do on your bike.. note the mileage & the date the work was done.

Good idea!

[NewRob]

Since we are on the topic of self maintenance, where can you get the front brakes master cylinder kits with all the seals? OEM or after-market will do. I have gone to Honda dealers and they don't have any stock. They need about 1 or 2 weeks to get it from Japan. Luckily I went around and found a dealer that can get me the part I wanted in two days time. After-market parts will do just fine. Does anyone know who/where are the dealers for after-market parts? These dealers won't tell me where to get them and I must only go through them to get it. By the way, my bike is a Honda CBR250R MC19.

[Roadsafe Nelson]

You have 35 bikes and you clean with elbow grease and fucking toothbrush?

Sorry, I spray shit on and give it a quick brush if it is lucky, and hose it off. No time for toothbrush and elbow grease. Thats daft.

Steve

Oh DB.. you do love to miss read & miss quote people...

as you were

[grusomhat]

Enviroclean is fantastic for cleaning the bike. Just dilute a bit with water, brush on everywhere with a clean paintbrush and then hose off. Just have to make sure you hose it all off otherwise it will leave a dirty looking film. Probably have to rewash seats though as it leaves marks on them.

[p.dath]

I'm obviously missing out on something. I just put a bit of dishwashing detergent in some warm water. Seems to work on mild grease, friendly on the bike, and real cheap.

[CookMySock]

I'm obviously missing out on something. I just put a bit of dishwashing detergent in some warm water. Seems to work on mild grease, friendly on the bike, and real cheap.

Nah there are some cleaners that utterly slay dirt and grease, and dishdrops and other consumer junk is just a waste of time.

Steve

[Spearfish]

Another cleaner I heard about is wet and forgets shower cleaner. Brilliant for cleaning mags and bits with a similar surface.
Odd I know but hotrod show n shine guys are using it.