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Weekly Tip #1 - Motocross Riding
By Anthony Rohde of 1300 Flowers
I ride a Yamaha YZ450F on motocross tracks and organised trail rides in south east Queensland and northern New South Wales in Australia. I've been riding for many years and would like to start sharing my experience, so I will publish a weekly tip about dirt bike riding. Tip #1 - Good Preparation is Key I see many riders arrive at organised events with little to no preparation. They simply load the bike, fill it with fuel and head to the event. It is not uncommon to see bike maintenance in the pits. This can be fun, but often it can cause a rider to have to sit out because the bike can't be ridden. I ride a 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. I ride the motocross version of the Yamaha because I like to ride both motocross and trail, so the WR, the Euduro version of the Yamaha is not well suited to motocross so I've stayed on the YZ. This week I'll concentrate on the bike preparation. The top 10 maintenance items you need to check before you load the bike on the trailer are:
1. fuel - you won't get far without a tank full of fuel
2. type pressure - it depends on the terrain, but I typically run 13-15 lb/in2 on the read and 12-14lb/in2 in the front. If you are riding on rocky terrain I would increase the pressure to avoid punctures. If the terrain is soft or wet I would decrease the pressures to search for more traction.
3. air filter - you must check your air filter almost every ride. I ride in dusty conditions frequently so the air filter gets changed almost every ride. The modern 4 stroke motors typically have titanium intake values that run close tolerances (typically 6/1000 inch when open) and they can be ruined by poor air filter maintenance.
4. steering head - many riders use high pressure cleaners to clean their bike after rides. This causes water to get into bearings in the wheels, suspension and steering head that causes corrosion. Turn the handle bars from side to side and it there is any resistance (more than normal) the steering head bearings are corroding.
5. wheel bearings - see if there is any play in the wheel bearings by grabbing the tyre at the top and attempt to move it perpendicular to the bike (not in the direction the tyre rotates). They will be some movement, but too much means the wheel bearings are on the way out.
6. brakes - check the brake pads in front and rear callipers. If you brakes are squeaking you need new pads. I like to see at least 2mm of pad on each side of the brake disc. Test the brakes front and rear to make sure they are working and the brake pedal (rear) and brake level (front) are adjusted correctly to give you enough control.
7. clutch - make sure the clutch has some play so the clutch engages properly. If it doesn't the clutch will overhead very quickly and you will ruin it. At the end of the clutch level travel you need some free play.
8. radiator water levels - check the radiator is full of water. If you get a leak in a hose or water pump and lose you water, the YZ will last about 5 minutes and the motor will be ruined.
9. oil levels - check the oil levels in the bike. You take the oil plug out, wipe the oil from the dip stick, then put it back in while the bike is vertical (not leaning on its stand). Keep the oil level on the high side of the high-low levels. Some other brands like Honda have 2 oil plugs, 1 for the motor and 1 for the gear box. You should check both. They don't use the same oil. The YZ has 1 which is not ideal because the clutch debris spoils the oil for the rest of the motor.
10. spokes - check for any loose spokes in the wheels. So that's the top 10 things I check before I load the bike. If nothing is wrong it usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. |
Yamaha MotorCycles
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PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
1300 Flowers
online flowers delivered Australia wide
www.1300flowers.com.au
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I found this very interesting. Somewhat like we used to prepare for the car races in my day. Our motto was: Be prepared first and formost. Be prepared to the last.
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