Posted by WD on May 06, 2003 at 09:03:38:
1. Tire pressure: I started teaching my stepson to ride this past week. Thought he couldn't handle the bike. The front tire was 30 pounds underfilled. Check your tire pressure. Use the sidewall rating, not the factory recommendation, the bike will handle better.
2. Oil level: if it is hot out, check it every time you stop. Mine has burned/blown out a quart and a half in under an hour in extreme heat (105 plus Farenheit). Oil is cheap, a motor teardown is not.
3. Paint saving: wax the bike. Buy the clear vynil rocker protection sold at parts stores for car use and use on tank and under fenders. The stuff works.
4. Bike washing: I don't clean mine very often. The aluminum gets cruddy pretty quickly. Road debris causes rust (you should see where my downtube and lower cradles meet, especially from running without a front fender). A little time with a hose and some car wash soap will help preserve the bike, as well as make it shiny again if you are into that (a dirty bike is a ridden bike is a well loved bike, in my opinion, but a rusty bike is a rat).
5. Battery: run the bike once a week for a few minutes if you can't get out and ride. When the headlight is blindingly white, the battery is at full charge. Getting the motor hot also helps keep your oil water free.
6. Plastic/vynil/rubber bits: All of these will photo degrade over time. Treat them with your favorite automotive concoction, but keep it off pegs, grips, seat top, and tire tread. Clean those with your wash solution and redye if they are looking ratty. Slick parts make for too interesting of a ride.
7. Have some fun: once you get it clean and shiny, go get it dirty. Show the bike how much you love it. Take a nice long ride, get home and hoist a cold one for me (soda is fine, I don't drink anymore) :-).
See you on the roads (hopefully soon).
-WD
PS: I put a new clutch cable on the bike, how do you crimp a cable stop the right way? My smashing it in pliers by beating the jaws with a hammer didn't work.