bike ageing issues

[GQ89]

this has probably been done to death so happy to be pointed to an appropriate post. My bike has 42000km on it and I plan to hang onto it until it has 100000km. What sort of things should I look out for as the bike builds up kilometres apart from routine wear and tear?

[Mincehead]

I think it was Cobbas bike that had covered similar milages this year if my memory serves me correctly,no doubt he`ll tell you what required to be done on his when he`s around.
Obviously there`s the `general` stuff:

Valve clearances(shims).
Cam chain,tensioner and fixed slipper,possibly cam lobe wear but not a lot of reports of that.
Various bearings likely,but especially wheel,sprocket carrier,gearbox output shaft,possibly headstock too.
Gearbox`s can get noisy(pinion wear)oil seals and possibly selector forks might start to give trouble as well.
Other `usual` stuff,chains,sprockets,pads,fork seals,bulbs,swingarm bearings and shock linkages etc.

The motor`s generally a good-un,many clock up BIG mileages,although poor maintenance schedules,wrong oil choices and BAD RIDERS can all conspire to faults and breakages occurring.
Do you know your bikes history?

[GQ89]

bike was ridden hard for first 5000, did next to nothing for about 8 years. Brother in law had it rebuilt at 14000Km, have not got a straight answer as to what went wrong but I suspect doing 700km per year and not changing the oil for several years might be a good starting point.
I bought it at 16000k and have put 25000 on it over 24 months. It runs really well, although I can feel a slight vibration through the right handlebar. It leaks a little oil from the lhs near the sidestand. I have not really looked to hard to see where its been coming from as it is only one drip per at the end of every journey.

great bike, unpleasant after a few hours in the seat.

cheers mark

[Mincehead]

That little oil drip is likely to be the oil seal on the gearbox output shaft(behind the drive sprocket),keep an eye on it but as of now it`ll live on a while.
No oil changes over several years eh?
Not good,really not good,you`ll only discover wear rates when the motor gets stripped but don`t be surprised if there`s some top end accelerated wear evident.Cam lobes,cylinder bores etc.
Does it burn much oil,smoke on the overrun?

[cobbadiggabuddyblooo]

103,000 and still going strong and using at the most about 200/300ml of oil every oil and filter change religiously every 3/4000km.. and it's constantly finding the red zone on the taco ... So from 50,000k's when I got it , it was just on 100,000 when I replaced the cam chain and same oil seal just behind front sprocket,still running original steering head bearings(ball and cup not tapered) just repacked with grease ..
I found the motor/gearbox/clutch to be pretty hardy and faultless really at that age but I put that down to the constant clean oil changes.. and good quality heavy duty chain.. It may cost you $250 or there abouts but you get the milage out of it so its well worth its money and stops any wear and tear thro stretch and lash...(even with the lower gearing I'm running again adding extra load and larger carb's and exhaust) approx 15,000k's and plenty of life left in the chain.

[dandywarhol]

Are you sure the little oil drip isn't chain lube?

I reckon a hard run in engine uses less oil due to less glazing of the bores................

[ekoja]

Are you sure the little oil drip isn't chain lube?

I reckon a hard run in engine uses less oil due to less glazing of the bores................

I had the same little drip and that's what it was, chain lube. (no Trevor not that little drip, Doc fixed that up.)

[JL]

Re: the drip - also check that it's not coming from the seal that the gearchange shaft comes out of as it can weep from there too. I'm about to replace that one as I had some play in the shaft due to no bearing or oil seals to support the shaft in the hole where it passes through the alternator case.

[Hustler]

Sold mine, I know I know, with 84,000 miles on it although I'd only done the last few thousand of this.
It used a lot of oil, I know they all do that Sir, but apart from that it was sound as a pound.

[GQ89]

84000 miles that is serious distance and quite impressive. I don't think the drip is chain lube, I will have to get vigorous and take the side cover off for a look. thanks for the good advice, 100,000km here we come.

[Wombat]

Mine's done 75,000km. It's had regular oil changes - nearly always Motul 5100 (though did try Castrol GPS once and the bike really seemed to like it)

It's only on its 2nd battery.
Goes thru chains like nobody's business - I think I'm on my 5th chain in 7 years and I'm not a hard rider.
Still on its original rear shock
Original steering head bearings
Second lot (since I owned it)of wheel and sprocket carrier bearings
Had the valve clearances shecked at 30,000 - ok, checked again at 42,000 - all exhaust ones needed doing. Probably will have them checked at next service.
Ohlins springs in the front end - recently refurbished. Still not happy. Looking for a decent front end RWU Ohlins would be nice!!!!!!
Gearbox is worn, doesn't select as freshly as it should. Will wait til it completely shits itself as pulling the gearbox apart is fairly $$$$$$$$$$$ (why couldn't they design a cassette type gearbox for these things )Cheaper option is to find a cheap good 2nd hand motor if that's possible
Tanks rust pretty easy - good 2nd hand ones can be found at the wreckers. Picked up a good one from Metro's in Sydney for $300AUD. Just waiting for my holidays after Xmas to get some time to do the swap over and start renovating the original one - Use Vinegar - it dissolves rust! and is harmless to your paintwork

That's about it for my bike so far - I picked it up in '02 with 16,000km and have done all the rest myself.

Bob

[handsomejackuk]

Wombat,

do you know wombarra ? lawrence hargrave drive ? or maroubra sackville street sydney ? I have cousin living in wombarra...

think wombarra is about an hour from you...

Al....

[Mincehead]

I love the animated norks.

[handsomejackuk]

this is a picture of my nutty cousin....

Al....

[handsomejackuk]

heres the link


http://www.flickr.com/photos/mosmanlibr ... 465155771/