January

The Magic Bag List for Long Rides

Checklist: Tools & Bike supplies

On a long tour these are the basics that are called upon again and again. We keep the listed items--along with snacks and seasonal sundries--in a tail pack fondly called "The Magic Bag."

•Allen wrench set
•Box wrenches
•Bulbs
•Chain lube
•Cotter pins
•Crescent wrench
•Duct tape
•Flashlight
•Four to six feet of baling wire
•Impact driver
•Jumper cables
•Master link
•Nuts and bolts
•Pipe as extension and stand
•Pocket screwdriver
•Ratchet and appropriate sockets
•Six feet of electrical wire
•Small container of oil
•Small locking pliers
•Spare fuses
•Spark plugs
•Tire repair kit(s) with inflator
•Tire sealant
•Tow strap
•Waterless hand cleaner
•Wire cutters

This list should be tailored to your bike and requirements, but it has been refined by a lot of experience, mostly the kind where you wish you'd brought something but didn't.

February
Here are a few tire tips from Dunlop.
—On a regular basis, check your tires all the way around. Rotate both tires completely and make sure there are no nails, or other objects penetrating the tire. If you find anything, do not ride until you have your motorcycle dealer inspect the tire and replace it if necessary.
—Check the tire sidewalls for signs of cracking and never use sidewall treatments or dressings, which can actually accelerate tire cracking.
— Checking tire pressure is the most important tire maintenance you can perform. Maintaining the correct air pressure is crucial to the tires’ rolling efficiency, steering, grip, wear and load-carrying capabilities—for every 4 psi a tire is underinflated, you could lose up to 80 pounds of load-carrying capacity.
—You’re not only riding on your tires, you’re also riding on the air within them, so check cold air pressure as often as possible with a high-quality air-pressure gauge, and have it calibrated at least once a year.
—If you’re storing your motorcycle for the winter and/or storing spare tires, try to avoid frequent varied extremes of temperature. Do not keep tires next to radiators or sources of heat. Tires subjected to these conditions will age more quickly than those stored in a cool, constant environment.
—Do not store tires where electric motors are present; the high concentration of ozone will accelerate tire cracking.
—When buying new tires make sure you select tires that can carry your expected load, including the total weight of the motorcycle, the rider(s), luggage and any equipment. Always match front and rear tires.
—After installation of new tires, check to make sure the arrows on the sidewall are pointing in the correct direction of rotation, and that the balance dot on the tire is lined up with the valve stem.

September

"Ride It"

I like to use the term "Ride It" letting your bike sit for a period of time can cause seals and gaskets to dry up, which then cause oil leaks.   Fork seals will then start to crack causing oil to seep on the fork tube and front brake pads.   It's not cheap these days to have fork seals replaced.   The drive chain is very important to keep up on, dry and weather damaged chains can be a safety hazard to other vehicles on the road if the chain were to break or fly off.   Your fuel system is also something to be aware of; a lot of people think that just because they have a fuel injected bike that it's ok just to let it sit "wrong". I have seen many fuel injectors clogged up and it tends to be more expensive than just having the carb rebuilt.   The more you just   "Ride It" the more you will think about the importance of maintaining your motorcycle.

October

Setting the correct tire pressure is probably one of the most overlooked—not to mention cheapest and easiest maintenance tasks you can do to improve your bike’s handling. It just takes a few minutes to check and adjust your tire pressure.

1. How important is it to check/set the correct tire pressure?

The tires not only provide traction, they are also part of the suspension of the bike. It is very important to check for proper inflation before every ride.
It is best to check pressures when tires are cold.

2. Should the front and rear always be set to the same pressure?

No, there are normally small differences we suggest on front and rear pressure. A good baseline pressure for each is 12 psi in the front, and 13 psi in the rear.
 That will work in most conditions.

3. If the area we’re riding in goes through big temperature changes, how often throughout the day should tire pressure be checked?

Air expands when it gets hotter. Think of a hot air balloon. The pressure goes up as the tire is run and gets hotter, or if the tire is sitting in the hot sun.

If the tire is sitting for a while after have ridden, you should check the pressure, and if necessary, set it back to the safe margins of 12 psi front and 13 psi rear.

If the bike sits for a few hours or temperature drops significantly it should be set again. This is especially important when racing at night, when it is warm in the day and then cools at night during the heats/main events. The temperature can drop by as much as 20 degrees at times.

4. What pressures do you recommend for common racing conditions, such as hard pack, sand, loamy dirt, etc?

Here’s a quick general guideline:

Hard pack: 11.5 psi front, 11 psi rear. This would be for normal supercross-type conditions with no rocks or large square edged bumps.
Intermediate: 12 psi front, 13 psi rear.
Sand/Mud: 12 psi front, 10 psi rear. The lower pressure will help get a bite in the sand and slippery wet conditions.
 If it is rocky and muddy we would not suggest 10 psi in the rear.

5. Do these recommendations apply to motocross tracks and trail riding, or would they differ?

Motocross is a more controlled environment. It is easier to run lower pressures when there are clearly no rocks or large square edged bumps.

 For off road we normally suggest a little higher pressure to reduce the chance of a flat.

For off road or trail riding suggested pressure would be 13 psi front, and 13.5-14 psi rear. If it is high speed desert terrain with many rocks we would use up to 18 psi on the rear.

No more excuses. Next time you go riding, be sure to bring a proper pressure gauge and tire pump with you.

November

Motocross braking techniques

Concentrating on your braking techniques can allow you to make up lots of ground on the rider in front of you.

Good braking techniques and cornering skills will help you make up positions during a motorcross race, but so many riders are not confident using their brakes to their full potenial.  The front brake on a motorcross bike provides about 70% of your stopping power but riders get nervous about the front end washing out.  The rear brake doesn't provide as much stopping power but is effective in keeping the bike stable whilst braking.

When braking you should be in the attach position gripping the bike with your knees, particularly when the braking area is rough, to allow you to keep control and take some strain off your arms and shoulders.

When approaching a smooth corner under brakes your weight should be back on the bike to stop the rear wheel from lifting.  If the corner has large braking bumps (usually the case on sandy motorcross tracks) then centralise your weight to allow the bike to rock underneath you over the bumps.  If the corner is off camber, move your weight forward to weight the front wheel to prevent it from washing out.

December

10 Things To Do To Your Bike

1. Bleed your brakes. Your bike can be the fastest thing on earth, but if it can't stop when you need it to, you end up becoming a heap of broken parts.

2. Put on new grips. Unless your grips are almost brand-new, new ones will make a big difference.

3. Dial in your suspension. You can spend thousands of dollars in engine mods and go-fast parts for your bike to get that factory-bike look and feel

4. Check your spokes. When was the last time you checked them? Loose or bent spokes can result in flat tires, bent rims and a bad day on the trail or at the track.

5. Change your suspension fluids. The most neglected parts of your bike are often the most crucial.

6. Care for your cables. Stiff or sticky cables are difficult to pull and can fatigue you more than you realize.

7. Grease the moving parts. Grease is totally your bike's friend.

8. Wash your bike.

9. Bleed the air from the forks. Actually do this now and each time you ride.

10. Consider spending to save.Some expenditures now can save big bucks in the long term.