Pre-ride check and regular maintenance

[cafe59]

Hi guys,

I am seriously starting to be a bit worried that the bike will fall apart while I ride one day Therefor a proper pre-ride inspection and regular maintenance is essential. What do you guys check prior to a ride? What is your typical regular maintenance schedule and checklist?

Thanks,

Thomas

 

[2b]

What is your typical regular maintenance schedule and checklist?

Can I add to that...
What would you have on a check list for day one, having just taken delivery of a bike prepared by local dealer?

 

[Rich Ard]

Pull the service manual for your bike and run through the entire maintenance schedule; check that all fasteners are secure, listen for odd noises; check date codes on the tires and look for weather or age checking. Make sure there's oil in it.

Here's the MSF T-CLOCS checklist, which I think is about as good as it gets for a pre-ride checklist: http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCS_Inspection_Checklist_2012.pdf

 

[Ellwood]

Tire pressure
Oil if it likes to mark its territory
look at the little bolts and stuff for spaces between the nuts or heads
I like to touch the heads of bolts ...amazed at how many can be felt to be loose just touching them.

These old bikes you better pay attention
If you hear something while riding chances are something fell off!

Lost a frame mount bolt and spacer last month...didnt know until I stood in the garage one night and just saw the paint where the damned thing used to be. But instantly remembered hearing something a few rides back.

This week was a bar end mirror...heard it fall off...my fault...hit it with my head and loosened it...forgot to tighten back.

My bike is a vibrating monster with a short 2n1 muffler.

Don't worry too much...you might wind up in a ditch looking down at your bike.

 

[cafe59]

Here's the MSF T-CLOCS checklist, which I think is about as good as it gets for a pre-ride checklist: http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCS_Inspection_Checklist_2012.pdf

Thanks for your answers guys, but I wasn't after a generic maintenance guides or checklists. I can google this stuff easily too. My question was for more experience fellow Ace owners. I was trying to find out what are typical Ace's problems, what areas to focus on, what bolts come loose often.

Thanks again,

Thomas

 

[stroker crazy]

I don't know if there are typical problems.

I've replaced pretty well every nut, bolt, and screw with stainless items. In the process I found no loose screws.

When I first got the bike one of the two screws holding the bracket to the headlight shell fell out, but that has been my only occurrence.

Crazy

 

[Brodie]

All of this is just general stuff I have learnt from working on Chinese bikes.

Replace any loose bolt with a high tensile bolt (8 or higher)

Start by checking that the bolts holding the front and rear rotors are tight, I would remove them and use locktite if they are not.
Check the bolts on the brake calipers and if loose replace and locktite.

Check the sprocket lock nuts/bolts and make sure they are tight, front and back. Last thing you want is a lock up and a sudden stop.
Check the engine mount bolts, if any of them have a number less that 8 replace them.
Check the spokes to make sure they are all tight and none of them bent. If they are replace them with decent spokes. (not Chinese plasti-metal)
Check the shock mount points.
Check the handle bar mounts.
Make sure none of the cables are frayed on the ends and check that they glide smoothly. (You don't want the throttle stuck on in an emergency braking situation)

Hope that helps you out some.

 

[cafe59]

Hope that helps you out some.

Thanks Brodie, very helpful indeed!