MAINTENANCE
The Easy Stuff
Start to finish on the cornerstone of basic
maintenance.
Start to finish on the other cornerstone of basic
maintenance.
Start to finish on the other OTHER cornerstone of
basic maintenance.
When it's time to pack away the bike, here's what you need to do.
How to keep your bike looking brand new.
Breathing new life into your intake system.
Keeping the flame alive.
How to keep your speedo cable running like new.
Doin' the detanglin' thing.
Fun with paint-eating chemicals.
How to swap brake pads, plus a trick on reducing brake noise.
How to replace and/or lube your brake and clutch levers.
The first thing you should do is check out my maintenance charts. They will tell
you what needs to be done when. You can blow some of the stuff off if you want
to, but be aware that the first 1500 miles are the most critical time in the bike's
life. If maintenance is slacked off on and the proper procedure for breaking the
engine in isn't used (found in the owner's manual), the life of the bike will be
drastically cut. It's your choice. Besides, why have a Duc if you're not proud of
it or enjoy keeping it up to snuff? Click the link to proceed.
Keeping your battery in good condition is very important.
Motorcycle batteries are more fickle and require constant attention,
among which is keeping it filled. You should only fill the battery
with distilled water. Tap water or mineral water has contaminants
that may not hurt you, but will short the battery out. Keep an eye
on the level. The best way to fill it is to use a straw, as pictured.
Using the suction action (dipping it in the water and keeping your
thumb over the end, then removing your thumb to let the water go)
is much more accurate than simply dumping the water in. Be sure
that the vent hose isn't kinked, and don't over tighten the plugs on
top because it will ruin the o-ring seals. Once filled, put the battery
on a charger for at least ten or fifteen minutes. A well-maintained
battery is a happy battery.
Keeping the proper pressure in your tire is necessary for your
safety, if not for the life of the tire. Tire pressures should be
checked at least once a week. Why? Well, because the constant
heating and cooling plus the jolts of driving can easily drain the tire.
For example, in one week of normal driving, I have lost as much as
4 pounds of pressure in the rear tire. That is a lot, and can lead to
squirrelly handling and improper wear of the tread. An under inflated
tire, as you know, sags. The added bulge of the sidewall stresses the
carcass, which in turn causes the tire to heat up more than normal.
This increased heat will damage the tire and can easily cause a
blowout, endangering your life and those around you. Check your
tire pressure often, it only takes a minute. As far as the proper
pressure, consult your owner's manual. My Monster's recommended
pressure is 34.5 PSI in the rear and 31.5 in the front.
pressures for increased or decreased contact patch. Also, be sure to take measurements when the tires are cold.
As they heat up, pressures will increase. So, if you plan on doing a track day, you should shoot for a little lower
than normal so they have room to increase once the tires warm up.
and views expressed herein are those of myself and do not reflect those of Ducati or its affiliates. The "DUCATI" logo and "Circle
D" are registered trademarks of Ducati Motor Holding, S.p.A., all other content on this website is copyright 2006, DESMO.