Salt Lake Motorsports

Spring has sprung, and whether you’re in the city, country, ‘burbs or mountains, Spring means one thing: it’s time to get back on your Ducati!

Thorsten’s blog post on Springtime Maintenance for your Ducati has some important tips for starting the riding season. Be sure to check the blog each week for the latest from Thorsten and the rest of the SLMS crew.

Spring can also mean variable temperatures, so quality gear is a necessity. That’s where we come in. For a limited time, select Leather Jackets are Marked Down 10%, and All Orders Over $100 Get Free Shipping! Act fast because just like the weather, this offer could change at any time!

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

thorsten@saltlakemotorsports.com

We here at Salt Lake Motorsports Online sales love our customers, they have made us what we are today. We are always looking for new ways to better our service and supply our customers with the highest quality products. So starting in March I decided to send out email asking customers to tell us how they felt about our service and the products they received, and in doing so I would reward them with a $5 dollar off coupon for there next order. I have loved reading these responses and decided to share them with you today. Note that when I get a review of any kind detailing the product they received I added it to the product description like this. Thanks, Allison (Online Sales Manager)

Customer Reviews

I love this shirt…. Excellent construction….. I can barely feel it. Very light, very comfortable. Thnx again. I stumbled onto your site looking for affordable puma boots and didn’t see the ones I was looking for but will probably get more attire in future.

Ducati Performance Shirt

Hi,
Responding to your request for how the service is/was. Perfectly fine no complaints keep me informed of specials and sales
Regards,

Joe Turner

Allison,
The jacket I ordered fits great and will perfect for summer riding. The service was great. I order the wrong size and the exchange was easy. Thanks for the hat.

Ducati Summer fabric Tech Jacket

Mike Veri

I had a great shopping experience at Salt Lake Motorsports…
I was in the market for a new jacket, and Lacey spent quite a bit of time showing me some of the styles and sizes you had available, which were numerous.
I eventually ended up ordering a new leather/fabric Ducati Tri-Colore jacket and have been real happy with it; i also ordered some new Sidi boots, which have also been great.
Thanks again for your great service and quick shipment.

Ducati Tri-Colore Jacket

Sidi-Strada-Air

Dave Cooke

Hello Allison:

Everything has been great with my orders. Products are great quality and just as expected.

The website makes my ordering easy, shipments are made promptly and the packing of the order is good.

Great job!

Sincerely,
Jack Harris

The response time in receiving the order was quick. Everything was as described…I look forward to ordering from you in the future… I have also been recommending you to friends….
Stephanie Helmick

Gearing Up For The Season? Don’t Forget The Kids!

‘Tis the season for warm weather, hitting the pavement, and gearing up. But don’t forget the little ones! It’s never too early to show your Ducati pride, and we’re making it easy with All Ducati Kids’ Items Priced To Move! Ducati Apparel and Accessories for Children are made with the same quality and care as the Mens’ and Womens’ lines. Our favorites include the Kids Corse Beanie and the Kids Cucciolo T-Shirt. Snag one for your little girl or guy today! Sale ends Monday, 4/27.

In this weeks At The Shop we get serious about lubrication, near the end of our new Dyno project and I personally realize life is too short and why we truly do live when we ride.

On any given day we receive several phone calls and in person questions regarding motor oil in our Ducati’s. This subject will be my first tip in this blog. Historically there have been heated debates about oil; what kind, how much etc. I won’t in this forum get involved in any part of that debate. What I will do is provide facts and information as recommended by Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. and our certified Ducati Technician(s).

All new Ducati’s come with Shell Advance Ultra 4 fully synthetic motor oil in the engine. As I’m sure you know, that specific brand is not readily available here in the US. So what do you use? Any quality full-synthetic motor oil will work fine and the use of any of these motor oils will not affect your warranty. At Salt Lake Motorsports, we use exclusively Red Line Lubricants and recommend them to our customers.

So now you know all Ducati’s should use only a quality full-synthetic motor oil. But which viscosity (weight) is right for your Ducati. Your owners manual will provide general viscosity ranges and will allow for various viscosity’s based on temperatures in your location. Our recommendations for our location in Utah are as follows:

All dry clutch Ducati’s-     20W50 Red Line High Performance All-Synthetic Formula

All wet clutch Ducati’s-     10W40 Red Line High Performance All-Synthetic Formula

For [all] race engines-     40 weight Red Line All-Synthetic which is actually a 15W40 non-detergent fully synthetic motor oil our master mechanic uses due to its non-foaming properties.

One of the most frequent follow up questions to what oil should I use is how do I check my oil level. The owners manuals for all Ducati’s describes this procedure but here is a breif  run down on how to do it. As your owners manual suggests, check the oil level when the engine is “cold” and only after is has sat (not running) for at least 15 minutes which allows for the oil to return to the sump from all parts of the engine and providing a consistent reliable reading.

To check your oil level either support the bike yourself or have a helper support it for you in a completely vertical position. Look at the oil sight glass on the left side of the engine case [right side for a Ducati Monster 696]. The oil level should be between the minimum and maximum marks on the case. Generally, the total oil volume for a Ducati is approximately 3.5 quarts. Noted in your owners manual could be various capacities of 3.7, 3.5 or even 3.1 Liters depending on your specific model.

If you want to know your bikes specific capacities check your owners manual. If you don’t have an owners manual check out the Ducati Owner’s Manual site to find an owners manual in pdf format for your bike. Remember, when it comes to oil in your Ducati, more is not better. You must never over-fill the crank case. For example, in our Ducati racing engines we fill them only to the “low” level in the oil sight glass window. That amount is approximately 3.0 quarts and  is plenty to run on the track at a race pace.

We usually change the oil in a race engine after each race so the oil level is always scrutinized and re-checked. So when you change your oil and filter, fill the crank case straight away with three quarts of oil and then fill to the appropriate level using the sight glass window and associated marks on the engine case. This simple tip will keep both you and your Ducati happy. Of course if you prefer, we are a certified Ducati service center and we would be very happy to take care of all of your maintenance needs.

As always, you can reach me at thorsten@saltlakemotorsports.com if you have a topic you’d like to read about or a  question.

Thorsten

Speaking of service, did you know Salt Lake Motorsports is a certified Dynojet Tuning Center and dealer for Dynojet Power Commanders? We have a Dynojet 250i dyno and the capacity to custom map almost any motorcycle that is using a Power Commander. We are currently finishing up our dyno project which will allow us to be the only fully mobile Dynojet Tuning Center in the inter-mountain area. Stay tuned for more news next week.

Thorsten

Finally, I want you to do me a favor. The next time you decide that its just too much bother to get the bike out, put on your gear or mess up your hair with a helmet. Please think again. Think about those who can no longer choose to ride a motorcycle. Those that will never ride again due to age, illness or disability. Those that want to ride and can’t.

My father-in-law has led a life of distinction and service , he fought in WWII, Korea and in Vietnam. He once brought home from deployment a Honda 90 from Japan and rode it with his daughter. Now at 85 years of age, withered and suffering the effects of a sixteen year battle with prostate cancer he longs only for the simple things like family and friends to be close.

He told me just today that he has no regrets in life and he wouldn’t change a thing he has done or experienced. That is statement on a life well lived. I hope when I am at that point in my life I too have no regrets and have experienced all that life has to offer. Things like the simple pleasure and catharsis of riding a motorcycle.

So don’t put plans off until tomorrow, for tomorrow truly may never come and you’ll end up wishing you would have taken that ride to Alaska or South America or bought that certain bike. Make a choice to ride for those who can’t ride for themselves. Spend time with them and if they ever had a passion for motorcycling let them live that passion once again through you. I wish you all the best…remember we’re all in this together!

Thorsten

Hello everyone and welcome to the Salt Lake Motorsports At The Shop Blog. My name is Thorsten and if you’ve been to the shop on any Friday or Saturday during the past few years you’ll most likely know who I am. If not let me introduce myself.

I have been riding motorcycles for over 30 years. I have been fortunate enough to be around some wonderful people during that time which has led to my involvement in several motorcycle related endeavours. I am currently an Advanced Rider Training instructor for the Utah Sportbike Association and have been so for nearly 15 years. During my time with the USBA I have been the riding school chief instructor, school director and responsible for creating the school curriculum.

Today I continue to be an instructor and feel privileged to be associated with this group of people. I have met literally hundreds of people through motorcycling and for the most part meeting each and everyone of them has been a positive experience. I was even fortunate enough to have received some of my training from a three time World Champion and ride with him as a passenger on the track, an experience I will surely never forget.

The motorcycle community is one of people with a common interest and passion for something many other people will never understand. Ever wonder why people in cars don’t waive at each other when they pass on the road and motorcyclists do? I think both people made a choice in life; one chose to really live and experience life the other (in my opinion) chose to withdraw a bit from life and take the safe route.

Those who know me know I do my share of adventure riding as well; I have ridden above the Arctic Circle in Alaska, toured the Alps in Europe more than once and rode across our country a few times. The one consistent thing that draws me toward these rides is not the destination, but the experience along the way with the people I have met. Motorcyclists just “get it”!

So, now you know me a bit better and I hope this will help break the ice so you feel comfortable coming right up to me in the shop and staring a conversation. Sometimes it can feel a bit intimidating when entering a motorcycle dealership for the first time or even the second time depending on your experience. Salt Lake Motorsports is staffed by a team of passionate individuals who have the same love for motorcycles as you do. From our General Manager, Service Manager, Parts Manager and Technicians we all live to ride and ride to live.

So come on in, walk right up let us know how we can make the Salt Lake Motorsports experience a positive one and remember even if you don’t know us personally [yet] you already know we share your passion. Each week I will try to add to this blog with current events, shop insights and stories and maybe even a tip or two. Let me know what you may want to read about. Just send me an email (thorsten@saltlakemotorsports) and I will answer your specific questions there or if you have a topic for the blog I will address it here.

This week at the shop two new Ducati enthusiasts were introduced to their first Ducati’s. J.P. just learned to ride and took home her first Ducati; a Monster 750 i.e. Senna. How cool is that? K.J. took home his first Ducati as well; a Monster S4Rs Tri-colore. Best of luck K.J. for both of the new additions to the family.

Remember, each Saturday we will provide a free modest continental breakfast and now that the weather is getting better (hopefully) if you plan a Saturday ride why not meet at the shop, have a bite and start your day with us.

Thorsten

We have been discussing what Salt Lake Motorsports is going to do during the WSBK weekend. I get so excited for WSBK because I get to see a number of my online customers and meeting them face to face is so much fun. So far the plan is to have a ton of great apparel deals in the store and online, yummy food and maybe a meet and greet on Thursday night the 28th before the races get going so we can organize daily rides to the track from our shop. Stay tuned for more info!

Allison

Welcome to “At The Shop”, the new blog from Salt Lake Motorsports. Here you’ll find anything and everything about what’s going on here At The Shop in beautiful downtown Salt Lake City. And you’ll hear it straight from the people in-the-know!

You might read about a new bike premiere or track day from Manager Chris. Get the latest on the new spring line or special sale from Apparel Manager Allison. Tips and deals on parts from Parts Manager Ricardo. Everything mechanical from Service Department Head Matt Spencer. Plus events, motorsports news, local and national racing, specials and the latest from Ducati in Italy and beyond.

Get it all, right here At The Shop!