Wheels Slamming a pothole or steep driveway lip or anything else can dent or crack wheels. Don‟t take them for granted. A good time to look them over is if you regularly clean them. Lifting the wheels off the ground, and inspecting bearings for tight seals, proper adjustment and operation (smooth, quiet, no side-to-side slop) is also recommended. Suspension Do you know how to adjust sag, rebound and compression damping? These affect how you control the bike and how fun it is to ride. There are a few methods out there, and usually involve a buddy or two helping you take measurements while you sit on the bike.
drain plug, axle nuts, front axle pinch bolts, brake caliper retaining hardware, and shaft drive drain bolts. Otherwise, you should be sure these items are tightened to spec. If any fasteners normally use retaining clips or cotter pins make sure they are in place. Hand and foot controls A snapped clutch cable can make getting home kind of tough. An out-of-adjustment throttle cable – assuming you don‟t have fly-by-wire – makes for less precise control. The molded ball ends on levers are there so you don‟t skewer yourself in any situation. Lubing control cables and making sure they are not frayed and are properly adjusted is part of bike ownership.
Brake system Brake lines should be replaced when the manufacturer says they should. Yes, they can last twice as long, but why take a chance? Do you know how to look at brake pads and see what shape they are in? Brake fluid level should be to spec, and changed on schedule. When you need to replace components you might want to look into upgrading to a higher quality aftermarket stainless or Kevlar brake line if the bike did not come with them. Adding higher friction pads for improved stopping is another option. This is not saying original equipment is bad, Oil and coolant but there may be better choices too, and brakes – How‟s the engine oil level? If the bike is especially the front – are never something to liquid-cooled, how‟s the coolant? Do you change skimp on. the fluid on time? Have you done enough research on the best oil for your needs, and longevi- Electrical ty of your bike? We are not going to touch the hot Is your brake light working, and does it ongoing debate over “the best” oil or lubrication come on when you want it to for both brakes? issues here, but you should still ask around, read, How about your signals or running lights? If you and be sure of your decision. run accessories or extra lights do you know the output of your charging system? Critical fasteners and plugs While on the subject, if you use devices Even if you have all your work done at a like Bluetooth, GPS, CBs and the like, are these shop, if you are unfamiliar with their work it does items excessively distracting you? According to not hurt to recheck tightness on critical compo- Dennis Martin, owner of Martin Motorsports, a nents if they serviced them, especially the oil multi-brand dealership in Boyertown, Pa., about