January/February 08
POWER SPORTS CONNECTION By Matt Blansett /January/February 2008
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Here we are again, at the start of a brand new year. The time when we motorcyclists begin to twitch, anticipating that first fifty or sixty degree day. Usually at the end of January or the first week or two of February we get our chance. We plot and plan our first ride of the year, waiting with baited breath, ready to roll our machines out of the garage, shed, or from under a cover. We long to thumb that starter, to hear the roar of the pipes, to twist that throttle again. Spring can’t come soon enough. Some among us will be sorely disappointed though, when our chance finally arrives. Instead of our bike roaring to life, we hear an annoying clicking sound, letting us know the battery is dead. Or maybe we are lucky enough to get the thing started, but then we realize it won’t idle, or run at all without the choke on. A sure sign that the gas we had in last year has since turned into a fine vintage of turpentine. So there we stand, suited up in leather and Kevlar, sporting our riding boots, helmets, and gloves, watching our moment pass by. A beautiful sunny day, the first ride of the year, spent sweating and swearing at our motorcycles that have let us down at the crucial moment. Dejected and angry, we watch our ride slip away as the evening weather calls for two more weeks of cold rain and snow. It’s a sad story, but the truth is, it’s not the machines fault. The blame lies with us, the owners. A little preventative maintenance would save us a lot of frustration and disappointment at riding time. There are three major issues that cause the majority of problems for riders when they roll out their machines for the first ride of the year, and I’ll give some simple solutions.
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Dead battery: Nothing inspires cursing like the clicking noise heard when we press the start button. Extreme cold weather, and prolonged storage are both causes for drained batteries. Because of the weight, a car or truck battery is not practical for a motorcycle, and because we have good taste, and we can’t hide them under a hood like a car or truck, we don’t want big ugly alternators hanging off the side of our bikes. The result is a much lighter, smaller charging system than found on today’s cars and trucks. The cure is a battery tender. These small devices have saved thousands of dollars for countless owners over the years. Most are small, simple wall plug units that can be left on the battery constantly, having safety shut off capabilities to keep from burning your garage down. Most can be bought for around thirty to forty dollars, and they will extend the life of your battery. As a bonus, they can be used with other vehicles too. I have one for my bikes, and another for my mower. The second most avoidable disaster is bad gas. No, not from eating Aunt Myrtle’s chili. As fuel sits in a tank, it is constantly changing. As gasoline deteriorates, it leaves deposits. These deposits cause more problems with carbureted motors than fuel injected, but it can affect both. Especially on vehicles with smaller passages, such as scooters. A small amount of deposits can completely plug a pilot jet, making a motor run rough, or not run at all. The answer is fuel stabilizer. Stabil is the most common brand, and just a little bit of this in your fuel before storage can save a major headache when riding season begins. The third problem is air. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Suppose you have a battery tender, and your battery is in great shape. And then suppose you used stabilizer and your bike fires up and runs great. After the motor has warmed up, you take off on your first ride, ready to feel the breeze on your knees. Turning deep into your favorite left hand bend, you suddenly realize the front tire has about three and half pounds of air in it. This realization will come slightly before the sliding, low-side crash that will cause your insurance provider to lose sleep at night. Hopefully it will be followed by the rider jumping up and cursing the gods of motorcycling for allowing this travesty, as opposed to the ambulance ride. Check your air pressure. Especially if the machine has been sitting all winter. A little time spent with a tire gauge could save your skin. Have fun, and be safe.
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Parts Manager at
Twenty years riding experience and over ten years in the powersports industry.
