Springtime Maintenance
Posted: 26 April 2009
If your house looks like this…spring is finally coming and our thoughts turn once again to riding our Ducati’s. This image is one I took of my Ducati Hypermotard by my house. Shortly after, all the snow was gone and riding season was upon us once again.
With winter finally ending here in Utah; here are a few simple things you should do before your first ride on your Ducati. The following suggestions are for those of us who “winterize” our bikes for extended storage of three or more months. Hopefully when you first stored your bike you did so with a full tank of fuel and a fuel stabilizer added to the fuel. This helps stop the fuel from chemically changing over time into what resembles varnish in you fuel tank and fuel system. At this point you have two options; run the fuel/stabilizer that is in the bike-which is acceptable if you did use the fuel stabilizer or the other option is to drain the tank and use fresh fuel. A clogged injector or carburator is a not what you want to have right at the beginning of the riding season. You can also add a fuel system treatment like Red Line SI-1 complete fuel system cleaner.
You also should have adjusted the air pressure of your tires to thier normal pressures before storage. Since they have sat for some time you should again check the pressure because tires tend to loose air over time even if there is no “leak”. At this time check the tires condition. Old tires can “weather check” which looks like cracks in the rubber of the side wall of the tire. Tires this old should be replaced. Also take a look at the remaining tread of the tire. Most modern tires have a wear indicator that help you see when the tire is getting close to the end of its normal service life. Another common method to gauge tread depth is to use a penny and stick it in the lowest part of the tread. Hold the penny with Lincolns head facing you and stick the top of his head in the tread groove. If the tread depth is such that you can see space above Lincolns hair line, the tire should be replaced. This is a general check and should only be used as a reference. If you have a question of your tires condition we can always check them for you at the shop.
The controls of your motorcycle are also in need of checking before your first ride. You want to make sure your handle bars move freely from side to side with no grinding or binding. Clutch, brake, throttle, gear selector along with all parts of your bike should operate normally. Check your lights, turn signals, horn and all electrical components of your bike as well. I lubricate and maintain all controls upon storage so I don’t have to do this simple maintenance when I get ready for the riding season. I just need to confirm the components proper function. Even though it may be considered over-kill, I also do another oil & filter change at this time even though I did this service when I stored the bike. Oil can also be affected by time. Your choice on this one.
If you are satisfied your bike is ready for its first ride of the year. Take some time to make sure you too are ready for your first ride. Remember if you don’t ride year round some of your skills have surely perished. Motorcycling is a learned skill that if not practiced regularly can fade with time. Start slow, think about what you are doing….relearn those lost or dulled skills. Review material or lessons from your MSF course like the one taught by Utah Rider Education or if you have attended one of the track schools I have taught at, recall what you’ve learned there.
Salt Lake Motorsports wishes you a safe and fulfilling motorcycling season. Come by the shop if you have any questions regarding spring maintenance or if you desire let our service department take a look at your Ducati for you. This short blog is just a synopsis of some of the most important tips for starting the riding season. You can always e-mail me if you have a specific question. Next week, I hope to discuss in detail the new dyno tuning service available from our shop.
Thorsten
