Motorbike maintenance

At Sites4bikes we realise motorbike maintenance is an essential part of owning a motorbike and there are some smaller maintenance jobs that can be done at home with a small amount of knowledge and some readily available tools.

As such we have written some hints and tips on how to do some of these smaller motorbike maintenance jobs. If you are not completely comfortable doing these jobs then you should take it to a motorbike dealer or garage.

Things to check on your motorbike before you set off

There are a few simple checks that every rider should perform before setting off on a ride, particularly if the bike hasn't been out for a while. Read simple "before you ride" checklist

Adjusting the EXUP cable freeplay on a 98-01 R1

If the EXUP cable freeplay is out of specification then you will encounter power loss above 6-7000 revs, rough idleing and poor throttle response. More info on adjusting the EXUP cables

Changing motorbike brake fluid / bleeding brakes

With the Hydraulic system uesd on the majority of Disk brakes, the adjustment is automatic.
Even the Brake Bleeding-expelling any air that is in the system- only needs to be done if by chance air has entered into the system.
This can only normally occur if there is a leak in the system, the Brake Fluid Reservoir has been allowed to drop below the lower limit or a connection has been loosened or undone. More info on bleeding brakes

 

Changing the oil and oil filter

Changing the oil and oil filter is not as difficult as it sounds - here is a quick how to guide:

Firstly you should make sure you have purchased the right oil filter and enough of the correct oil to do the job and not forgetting the drain plug washer. Your bike's handbook or local dealer will be able to tell you what oil and how much is required, although the amount of oil needed is normally stamped on the right hand casing of the engine just by the oil filler cap. More info on changing oil and oil filter

Repacking your headrace bearings

No need to book your bike into a garage, this can be done quite easily in your own garage
This is a quite straight forward job on most models, you just need a bit of patience and the correct tools

The following information is to repack the headrace bearings on a 1999 Yamaha R1 fitted with an Ohlins steering damper and a Harris fitting kit

You should get a small tub or similar to put all the bolts in, or you could line them up on a bench (if you have one)

Firstly get an old towel or a rag and place it over the tank, as you don't want this scratched

Undo the 5mm allen bolt connecting the Steering Damper to the Harris bracket More info on repacking your headrace bearings

 

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