The "must have" list for regular bike up-keep

[OreoGaborio]

Aight, i'm new to motorcycle ownership & would love some tips on the ESSENTIAL must-haves.

first thing i gotta pick up is some chain wax... i've had the thing for three weeks, put 500 miles on it & haven't waxed it once. and when i got it, it looked as if the original owner never cleaned it once... the thing was GRIMEY. I gave it a nice bath in WD40 & got all the shit off, but i gotta wax it up & FAST. I'm sure it's probably bone dry & not likin it.

so what else should i add to my "grocery" list & what are the preferred brands?

[PinHead]

I like the Motul chain lube instead of wax, it is a clear lube and works great.
If you have a K&N style filter you will need a cleaning/recharge kit.
Good coat of wax especially on the front to make bug removal eaiser.
Rain-X for your helmet visor, not only does it help if you get stuck in the rain but if you keep up with it some of the bugs bead off too
A good air pressure gauge for the tires.

I like to detail my bike every few rides , not only does it look good after but it gives me a chance to look at all the nuts and bolts to make sure they are all tight,

[Stoneman]

-I'm a chain wax guy. Been using it for about 100,000 miles now. If used according to their instruction, no problems with 'fling-off'...

-A decent bike wash 'kit' is a must. Top quality cleaner, top shelf wax, chamois rag, etc...

-A non-amonia glass cleaner is essential. They usually come in the foam varieties. Amonia glass cleaners will eventually give your face shield a 'rainbow' effect. It'll also hamper the anti-scratch capabilities of your face sheild...

-A GOOD set of tools. Way more so than the tool bag that comes with the bike. It can take years to accumilate the appropriate tools though. Ya kinda get what ya need as you go along. I've been riding streetbikes for +/- 15 years, and there's still some tools I need to get...

-Front AND rear stands are a must!

-A repair/service/shop manual for your bike can sometimes make the most difficult tasks seem mundane...

-A dial-type air pressure gauge...

-Tire plug kit. I have one that I keep at home. But getting a small, portable kit with the inflation cartridges is tops on my list...

-Battery charger...

-Bike cover. Look for the softsided insides though. If not, either use an old sheet between it and the bike OR be very careful when installing & removing it. (Honestly, I haven't used my bike cover in years though)...

Hmmmm....what else?

[twrayinma]

Originally posted by Stoneman

-Front AND rear stands are a must!

re: front stands, be sure you get one that lifts from the head stock, not the bottom of the fork tubes. that will severely limit the types of maintanence you can do.

[trackdog]

Torque Wrench........

[OreoGaborio]

good tips guys.... how about a little more talk on Stands.... where to get? what to look for? your personal favorites? best deals

this looks tastey... but pretty damn expensive

http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/53-PBULL-NF

[Stoneman]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
good tips guys.... how about a little more talk on Stands.... where to get? what to look for? your personal favorites? best deals

Woodcraft stands are the best, in my opinion. And pretty fairly priced too. I think the URL is www.woodcraftcfm.com

Tell 'em you noticed NESR Racing using 'em...

[SSearchVT]

To keep the windscreen clean and clear try waxing it inside and out, the bug guts come off easier too.

GOOD tools are a must, Craftsman at a minimum. I like to keep both 6 and 12 point standard and deep sockets, various drives, extensions, and a set of metric hex drives. From recent experience I am also on the hunt for magnetic and gripping retrieval tools. The tool box is also off limits to the girlfriend (no explanation needed)...