What is "routine maintenance" for a race bike.

[Pittenger5]

So be honest, what do you do regularly in terms of maintenance.
So far all I've done is oil changes, brakes, and check nuts and bolts/chain etc.
How often do you guys get into other things? Engine, clutch, etc. Or do you just wait until there's a reason to check it.

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08 CBR 600 if that makes any difference.

[Degsy]

Coolant and brake fluid every 2 years. Valve check at 16k. Suspension fluid every 3 years or so for street. That would be my schedule for that bike

[PhilB]

Depends on your bike, and how much you ride. For me, the most frequent maintenance is the normal chain lube, check oil and add if needed, check tire pressures, check bulbs -- all of that happens about once a week (about 500 miles). Oil change, check brake pads twice a year (about 6 to 9K). Check valve clearances and clutch throwout bearing once a year (12 to 18K). Inspection once a year. Cambelts, fork oil, brake and clutch fluid, check clutch plates every two years (24 to 36K). Anything else only if it causes a problem. Valve guide seals are needed about every 50K. Brake disks, clutch basket, steering head bearing, wheel bearings are needed about every 100K.

PhilB

[R7]

Depends on your bike, and how much you ride. For me, the most frequent maintenance is the normal chain lube, check oil and add if needed, check tire pressures, check bulbs -- all of that happens about once a week (about 500 miles). Oil change, check brake pads twice a year (about 6 to 9K). Check valve clearances and clutch throwout bearing once a year (12 to 18K). Inspection once a year. Cambelts, fork oil, brake and clutch fluid, check clutch plates every two years (24 to 36K). Anything else only if it causes a problem. Valve guide seals are needed about every 50K. Brake disks, clutch basket, steering head bearing, wheel bearings are needed about every 100K.

PhilB

How do you afford so much track time? 12-18k in a year is a lot for a racebike

[Rada]

On my race bike.. Go over looking for loose and broken bits. Fresh brake fluid twice a season. Clean calipers a couple times per season. Oil and filter a couple times per season. Check valve clearance once a year. Twice if I have time to kill. Clean and lightly lube chain between rounds

For me working on the bike is relaxing. I'm in the basement with the bike on a table and just puttering and relaxing.

[PhilB]

How do you afford so much track time? 12-18k in a year is a lot for a racebike

D'oh. I didn't read the question fully. Sorry.

PhilB

[RandyO]

Depends on your bike, and how much you ride. For me, the most frequent maintenance is the normal chain lube, check oil and add if needed, check tire pressures, check bulbs -- all of that happens about once a week (about 500 miles). Oil change, check brake pads twice a year (about 6 to 9K). Check valve clearances and clutch throwout bearing once a year (12 to 18K). Inspection once a year. Cambelts, fork oil, brake and clutch fluid, check clutch plates every two years (24 to 36K). Anything else only if it causes a problem. Valve guide seals are needed about every 50K. Brake disks, clutch basket, steering head bearing, wheel bearings are needed about every 100K.

PhilB

bulbs ? on a race bike

[Kurlon]

bulbs ? on a race bike

Warning lights.

[Jim]

• flush & refill the radiator beginning and mid season.
• replace brake fluid beginning and mid season.
• push caliper pistons out and clean with simple green every 2 weekends
• oil change every 3 weekends
• oil filter change every other oil change
• clean/adjust chain every weekend
• clean air filter beginning of the season
• check spark plugs beginning and before Daytona
• check rearset bolts every weekend
• adjust clutch plates every other weekend
• refresh suspension (forks, shock, damper) every 10 hours of use

[sveesix]

Just buy a new one before it breaks.

[tls25rs]

• adjust clutch plates every other weekend

[Jim]

the plates get tight from starts. it's something Frenchy does for me, since it takes him 2 seconds. you take off the 17mm nut on the clutch cover and adjust the play in the plates. i think it's a 12mm and 14mm lock nuts.

[OreoGaborio]

Shit, don't you guys ever put GAS in your bikes? I do that after every single race.

[tsorfas]

Good list jimmy. Although I've never heard of the clutch plates thing either.

[Kurlon]

If your stack height is varying THAT MUCH in that short of a window, you've got mechanical or technique issues I'd think.

[Jim]

If your stack height is varying THAT MUCH in that short of a window, you've got mechanical or technique issues I'd think.

it's not bad. it's just a check or small adjustment. i can tell when it's time with how my starts are. i'll make an adjustment and it's night & day.

it's been that way on all my stock motors, so it's not a mechanical issue

[Degsy]

Adjusting clutch plates?

[Kurlon]

What he's talking about is adjusting the clutch pushrod free play. An adjustment that should never need to be touched once set against a clutch that's in the proper stack height range. If you have to do this on multiple bikes I go back to a technique question as you're rapidly burning your clutch pack out. How long are you going between clutch pack swaps?

[Jim]

i've never replaced a clutch

[tls25rs]

Didn't realize the Suzukis had adjustable push rods.

[Kurlon]

Just about every bike has an adjustment for the clutch mechanism at the business end when running a cable. That sets the free play for the push rod / pressure plate interface, you then adjust cable slack in the cable or at the lever. I know it's got a proper name but I'll be damned if I can think of it at the moment and I'm too lazy to google.

[cdovego]

What about those dreaded motards? Don't you have to visit a priest every month with them for a fresh blessing on top of brakes/chain/gas/tires/oil/clutch?

[Kurlon]

What about those dreaded motards? Don't you have to visit a priest every month with them for a fresh blessing on top of brakes/chain/gas/tires/oil/clutch?

Mine gets fresh oil with every gas top off.

[Pittenger5]

Mine gets fresh oil with every gas top off.

Just make sure you drain the old oil first .... not that Id know anything about that.

[cdovego]

You guys change the oil? That seems like a waste. It burns off when it's no good anymore.