To the moon, Alice (ah-lee-chay), to the moon!

[feralchimp]

What's your "basic maintenance" routine like? I can't help wondering if your baseline for bike care is a bit higher than average.

[PhilB]

What's your "basic maintenance" routine like? I can't help wondering if your baseline for bike care is a bit higher than average.

Actually, it isn't; probably below average. I pretty much never wash it. I'm not great at keeping up with the chain maintenance.

I do use full synthetic oil made for motorcycles; I don't care what brand and I change it every 5K to 6K miles. I get the valve clearances checked once a year, which is between 11K and 17K miles (factory recommendation is 5K). I get the cambelts changed every two years, which typically comes to between 25K and 30K (recommendation is 12K or two years, whichever is first).

If I have to put it away for the winter, I change the oil, stabilize the gas, and hook up the battery tender, and every week or two I go out and use the starter to turn the engine over (not starting it up, just moving the parts around so they don't take a set), and roll the bike a little bit to avoid flat spots on the tires. Other than that I pretty much just replace things if they break or wear out, which isn't very often.

I think the *main* thing is that I don't let it sit and rot. I ride it every day that I can, and that's the key. That and making very few modifications.

PhilB

[Stromper]

cool