Motorcycle Maintence

[LIF]

Hi all,

I'm new to the whole motorcycles scene. I have a couple question I hope you people may know how to answer. I bought a used gixer recently, and the owner i bought it from didn't have a manual for it.

Anyways, is there a proper way to warm-up your motorcycle? To what temperature? Should you roll the throttle for a bit?

What do you lube your chain with? How often (miles)?

Oil changes? How often? Anyone will to show/explain to me how?

Front/rear tire psi?

I'm sure I have more questions that I can't think of right now. Thanks all.

[GPTECHMAN]

Hi all,

I'm new to the whole motorcycles scene. I have a couple question I hope you people may know how to answer. I bought a used gixer recently, and the owner i bought it from didn't have a manual for it.
Hey LIF,
1.) Glad to see you got a real bike
2.) Glad to see you want to take care of her


Anyways, is there a proper way to warm-up your motorcycle? To what temperature? Should you roll the throttle for a bit?
Since you have an 01 FI Gsxr, you can start the bike when cold witht the fast idle. And maybe a 10-30 secs later take it off. Some may say start it with the fast idle and then turn it(the fast lever) off directly following.
If time permits I warm up the bike to 130. If you start the bike and ride it before it gets to that temp I would keep it under 5krpm

What do you lube your chain with? How often (miles)?
I use either the honda(red can) or the repsol. I would lube once a week. They usually say 300-500 miles, but dependent on mileage and if you live close to the beach or what not, I would say once a week should cover you.


Oil changes? How often? Anyone will to show/explain to me how?
I would do it every 2500 miles. Or if you are doing a trackday do it before, or if you tranny starts to get really clunky.
Take off your fairings left and right lower, including the V-fairing, that connects then together(in front of your radiator). Use a 17mm(I think) to unscrew the drain plug, at the base of the oil pan. Let that drain completely. Replace drain plug.
Then unscrew the oil filter and replace with a new one. Use some of the old oil (using finger) to line the O-ring on the base of the new filter so it doesnt tear. Hand tighten and give it a 1/4 turn when you feel resistance.

Replace the oil, for your gixxer I think its about 3.6 qts( If you can use the Repsol racing...even if you dont race, its the highest grade oil you can get for a motorcycle[offers the most protection regardless if you race])...you can look it up on gixxer.com
Wipe off your headers so they dont billow smoke everywehre

Front/rear tire psi?
Dependent on you type of riding....commuting you can bump up the pressure to save tire life...ride will be harsher and your tires will not warm up as quick
It say 36/38(pretty high pressure IMHO) or even more...Ive put in 38/42 when I rode up north to decrease on tire wear adn it worked really well.
I think running 34/34 is good for the street
Canyons is dependent on the conditions, but I would say 31/32 ish or 32s

I'm sure I have more questions that I can't think of right now. Thanks all


There are a lot of people(everyone) that know a ton more than I do, make sure you take advantage of their knowledge... :thumbsup:

[Andre Alforque]

Techman pretty much covered it. My only addition is in regards to chain maintenance:
If you have the time and facilities, clean the chain before you lube it. After a decent ride (200+ miles), I immediately put the bike up on a stand and wipe down the chain with a rag soaked with kerosene. Then I lube/wax it. It's good to lube/wax the chain while the chain still has some heat so that the wax will work its way in and not just fling off when you start riding.

[MrCrashRR]

Techman pretty much covered it. My only addition is in regards to chain maintenance:
If you have the time and facilities, clean the chain before you lube it. After a decent ride (200+ miles), I immediately put the bike up on a stand and wipe down the chain with a rag soaked with kerosene. Then I lube/wax it. It's good to lube/wax the chain while the chain still has some heat so that the wax will work its way in and not just fling off when you start riding.


same here, clean it, go for a quick ride to spin off the cleaner and heat the chain,....then a quick lube and let her sit for the night, then wipe her clean in the morning.


that was my old routein,...now i just give her a wipe with motor oil before and after ever ride. no lube, and clean it every few rides. both work, just the chain feels smoother with just the oil, and i have the time to do it that way.

[LIF]

holy crap. that was great information. thanks techman. i don't have the still to do the track or mtn roads yet, but i'll most likely use the oil/lubes u suggested.


when u say "Wipe off your headers so they dont billow smoke everywehre" what part(s) is the "headers"


thanks, andre alforque. when you say clean the chain before, wipe it with kerosene? the flamable stuff? lube/wax are two differnet products? any recommendations on where to get it. techman said use repsol lube, what kind of wax should i use?

mycrashrr: u use motor oil? i've never think that'd work, but it makes sense i guess.

thanks for all ur help! anyone know where to get handle bar frame sliders? thanks guys! maybe one day i'll have enough skill to ride on a track. where is the track, btw? is it up daily... or... THANKS AGAIN

[GPTECHMAN]

when u say "Wipe off your headers so they dont billow smoke everywehre" what part(s) is the "headers"
the headers are the 4 pipes that connect into two pipes that connect into your exhaust...



thanks, andre alforque. when you say clean the chain before, wipe it with kerosene? the flamable stuff?
YES

lube/wax are two differnet products?
YES

any recommendations on where to get it.
try buymoto.com
858-536-2828

techman said use repsol lube, what kind of wax should i use?
maxima has a chain wax...
also try buymoto for that shiz...

thanks for all ur help! anyone know where to get handle bar frame sliders?
same place as above...its a pne stop shop...I would go with intuitive "sliders" not the bar ends...the sliders are longer...

thanks guys! maybe one day i'll have enough skill to ride on a track. where is the track, btw? is it up daily... or... THANKS AGAIN
Track is for all levels, its a great place to hone your skills, and to get comfortable with you bikes controls...
There are a few tracks, we are going to Las Vegas on the 20th
There are two adjacent tracks in Willow springs....its near lancaster/palmdale area
Another in fontana
Nother in Buttonwillow...about 30 minutes past the northern side of the grapevine...

DO IT ;)