I'm going on Sat - probably put a few more years on my bike, but plan on shopping for some of the custom ear plugs (for shooting) and hopefully shop for some man-jammas for ZARS/spirited riding days. I've always just oogled the bikes before - anybody know if they'll have some komodo or other track-day suits there?
Piece of good advice? All of you former riders getting bikes to prep for the gas price hikes this Summer should sign up for a basic rider course or an experienced riders course to help shake off the rust on your riding skills!
^^^Good advice. Looking back at this thread, I bought my bike one year ago tomorrow With that said I've got the battery charging, I'm gonna change the oil and get it ready to go again. I've also got fresh coolant, plugs, tires, chain/sprockets ready for install probably over the next few weeks or so.
My battery for the Z is all charged up. Hopefully it lasts through the year. Last fall it started cranking kinda slow, so who knows how the actual health of the battery is. Guess I will find out once it warms up a tad more. I hope the forcast for Sunday is correct, and it rains. We need the roads cleaned off.
I'll be needing to either clean-up my current chain or just get a new one. Any reccomendations? My previous (first) bike was belt driven, so I haven't had to mess with a chain yet.
I wouldn't recommend cleaning it, as the solvents usually take all the dirt and shove it into the o-rings. If you do clean it, use diesel fuel... works wonders, and that or karosene are recommended to clean chains. Then after cleaning, lube it very generously. I like Maxima chain lube, or chain grease. The grease stays on longer, without flinging as much, but regular lube seems to make less noise. Maybe try both?
*** And if you do need a chain, I would just go on Denniskirk.com. Put in your bike specs, and they will have the OE sizes of sprockets and chains. Or you can get only what you need.
Depending on the bike and miles it may be time for a new chain and sprockets anyway. They do wear out. I usually clean mine by hosing the piss out of it with WD-40, a quick shot of brake cleaner, then using White Lightning or another wax based lube (lasts longer and attracts less dirt). That's probably not ideal though.
It's not a terrible way, but just like you said, not ideal. WD40 eats moisture, which is okay because you don't want water on your chain. The brake clean is straight alcohol, and is usually okay, but could dry out the o-rings in the chain. As long as whatever lube you use, is appropriate for rubber o-rings... then it should be fine.
As far as tires go, I may be looking into these! A co-worker got one for his "new" gixxer, and it seems to be a decent tire. http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/index.cfm?event=powerpure
I would check your manual and see what size your bike uses. They probably have one, maybe just not in the exact amount of links you need. You can always cut a link or two off if you need to. It will need to be pressed together anyways.
Got some tabs yesterday, rode about 10 miles, good times, bike is FILTHY. First time I've ever ridden my snowmobile and motorcycle in the same day, there is a TON of water to skip within a mile of my house, FTW.
Finished up oil change, coolant and plugs. Also cut the chain and removed wheels, now I just need tires mounted and a good bit of rain to wash a some more of the crap off the roads.
I changed the oil on mine right before I put it in storage in the fall. I should be fine without changing it again, right?
I change the oil and spark plug. we put in header with a yoshi slip on and install power commander v for it. drop in a K&N air filter. mount and balance dunlop q2. We did all 3 bike, took about 7 hour because the other guy end up going home early so me and a friend finish his up and our own bike. 2 k8 and a k7 gixxer.
I always store it fresh then change it after storage, not sure what my manual says though. I also do a mid summer change just cause it's easy. Good to know, sounds like I have the hook up for these ones already.
I always store my bike with dirty oil in it, its the only way to make sure it has ZERO moisture in it, new oil always has moisture in it, and unless you go out and ride it all day, it wont evaporate. Either way I need to change it now! Maybe tonight.
I don't change mine just before winter either. If you do, and you then start the bike to run the fresh oil through... it just gets acid build-up and ends up being worse than the dirty oil you had in it. And it's for sure overkill, but I change mine every 3,000 miles. It's a high performance, high revving engine, and for the extra few $$$ it costs, I'm okay with the cost.
Thanks for the info, guys. I'll change it again before I start riding this year. I'll also look up the size chain I have and order one up from Denny Kirk. Should the sprocket(s) be changed as well? I think the bike has about 7k miles on it.
If you are doing a chain the manual (mine) says to do sprockets at the same time. I've done that both times I've changed mine out. It's a good chance to change up the gearing a bit and or do a 520 chain conversion if that applies to your bike.
You don't have to do the sprockets at the same time, but you need to inspect them for teeth wear and curling of the teeth. It will be pretty obvious if it's happening, or that the teeth have worn down on the sides. Dennis Kirk should have kits in stock.
Thanks for all the help and advice guys! I'll inspect the sprockets, get a new chain at least, and change the oil out again. I just need to find the funds. Having two Subaru's, a bike, and a sled gets spendy fast! Erik, I don't know how you do it with having a kid on top of that.
My hands got just a tad chilly, but that's nothing new. Haven't found a good glove yet to keep the cold air out, and aside from heated ones, I don't think you could.
Put on 110 miles yesterday with my commutes. Had to fill up the bike already. The tiny 4 gal. tank doesn't last long enough.
what kind of bike is it? I normally fill up at around 120 and my fuel light hasn't come on yet. I have 4.5gal tank.
2010 Z1000. I figured it out this morning, with 121 miles on the tank, and 3.4 gal to fill, that's 36mpg... I wasn't being very nice on it though.
I went through two tanks already and got ~70mpg on my 01 TW200. Using it for commuting around town this year, gets about double what my gsxr gets around town.
Thats awesome mileage. If I could justify a 2nd bike, I would go find a Ninja 250 for to/from work. They get in the 70's for mileage.
Woot! Just got her out of storage today, and man, did it feel great to be back on her. Started right up like she's been waiting all winter for me.
So I ride home yesterday and take the key outta the ignition and something looks funny. It appears as though someone broke a piece of my upper triple tree exposing more of the ignition switch. WTF! is someone gonna steal my bike? I never noticed this problem on the bike til now so I think it is new but don't know 100% This year my bike has only be unattended in my garage and the parking ramp at work(not a public ramp):ugh:
Not cool! Any type of security system installed? Lo-Jack perhaps? Cleaned and lubed the chain on Monday, and changed the oil. Just need to get some new plugs, and she'll be in tip-top shape for the rest of the summer. Any rides you guys are planning to attend this year?
Not at the moment. I'll put the lock from my boat trailer on a rotor tomorrow and go from there I guess. I think I'm gonna check out the SLXI/mnsbr kickoff ride this year and this saturday I'm supposed to do a charity ride leaving from the BEBOP place down the road from me but that depends what the weather is like in the AM. I don't want to ride 90-100 miles inthe rain.
