It's the little things that the Honda don't make mention of...

[Greencan]

Arvo All...

I originally posted something like this on the Ulysses forum some months ago out of curiosity to see what other like mind home bike maintenance riders thoughts would be. I first got to seriously thinking about maintenance items that aren't mentioned in Hondas OEM maintenance schedules some years back on the original Ozstoc group email when a chap from Lismore (who isn't a muso), commented on just what a difference he'd  made to the gear change selection to his bike by simple removing, dismantling, and re-lubricating the linkage from the gear lever to where it enters the selector drum. At the time (and probably still topical), were the many comments about the 'notchy' feel of the 1100's gearbox (I have to admit it is tad ordinary), with a then emphasis on oils.

Anyway with this simple routine remedy of a crappy ST gear change in mind I thought I'd add a few others to the list that I found keep my ST's ride feeling as 'new' as I can get...feel free to add to it. I am sure there are others. ::)

First up I choose to service my bikes at 12k intervals now, was doing em at 6k, but really this is a waste of $$$ for a struggling pensioner ...now oil / filters etc at 12k and whatever else needs doing as per the hand book.

ITEM                                  INTERVAL                      TASK
Gear linkage                      every service          remove, dismantle, lube, and reassemble
Petrol cap                         every service          clean and lube rubber seal with silicon grease
Front stanchions              every 2nd service        Rotate thro 45 degrees to a new thrust side
Front stanchions              60k to 80k             drain, wash out, and refill with 7.5wt compression and 10wt rebound (personal preference).
Rear cushion                 60k to 80k              rebuild (Rad Shocks in Brissy*)
Wheel Bearings            every 100k              replace with branded Japanese
Rear wheel dampers      about 80k                   rotate the alloy blocks, replace rubbers**
Fairing                        as required              repair, replace 'scrivets', tinamin nuts' etc
Switch gear               every 2nd service           inspect, clean and re-lube***
 
All in all the cost of each of these items varies from a few cents to about $60. I always use OEM parts where possible as I work on the principal of 'thirds'. That is the cost of a service at a dealer is 1/3rd parts 2/3rds labour, so I am saving 66% of the cost and getting a job I trust .

*with Rad shocks they rebuild ST shocks quite rigidly, so tell them if you prefer any different...they DO require about 5k to 'behave'...but cheaper+++ that an OEM replacement
** I tend to totally clean and re-lube all the grease within the final drive assembly every time I replace rear tyres, rationale, to prolong the life of the damper rubbers and alloy blocks...(work in progress).
***Like MCS cruise ctrl switches, Honda switches are also not H2O proof



Anyway, as mentioned above feel free to add or make comment

Ciao, the can :)

[Streak]

Well written Mr Can!

wish i had the shed and space to do this stuff, and of course the ability, I am good at many things but machinery isnt lol

[Barry and Marissa]

Got to add one of them hoists to my garage one of these days.

[saaz]

That looks like  a good list to me. I do my fork oil more often as it does dirty up a lot - perhaps every year or so.  I fitted fork Gaiters which solved my fork seals going too often.  Now that I don't change the fork seals so often may have to rotate the stanchions  :)  I have only done my shift linkages once properly, so time to do it again.  Wheel bearings on mine are fine at 160,000kms but I feel the need to do them - does that include all of the rear bearings, including the double row one?

[Streak]

That looks like  a good list to me. I do my fork oil more often as it does dirty up a lot - perhaps every year or so.  I fitted fork Gaiters which solved my fork seals going too often.  Now that I don't change the fork seals so often may have to rotate the stanchions  :)  I have only done my shift linkages once properly, so time to do it again.  Wheel bearings on mine are fine at 160,000kms but I feel the need to do them - does that include all of the rear bearings, including the double row one?

Scares me I don't know what half they stuff is....,

[Brock]

I dont think most of that stuff is fitted to my bike.

You have to be carefull about over servicing as well, as you can introduce wear and damage with out meaning to. Its a problem we are aware of in the Aircraft industry.

[laurie]

Check all electical connections,particularly the starter solenoid...........

Cheers
The chap from Lismore who is a Muso

[saaz]

Brock, I have heard over the years that new wheel bearings put in to replace old ones that seemed fine did in fact fail.  Hard to say when to replace some items, and when to leave alone.  Most of the rest of the list makes sense to me, perhaps we can go over in in detail in April Streak :)

[terrydj]

Ahhhhhh, wouldn't have a bike I'd have to check stuff on. My St1100 currently has near on 140000 kays on it and the only thing I ever check is the tyre pressure, cause I can read the tyre pressure guage on the bike and if I think of it maybe the oil once a month maybe. And thats a definate maybe.
If something has broken or I see it needs replacing, Ebay is my friend and I dont care if its a honda part or made in a back yard in North Korea. Motorcycling for me has always been the fun of it, not the what happens if this or that breaks, or my bikes not as shiny as your bike. Just as long as my bike works when I push the button and thats it.
Hmmmm been their when the best prepared and looked after bikes have failed and been looked after and made working by the bloke that has a bike maintained by whatever he could get his hands on. But if looking after your bike is your game, all the best and well done but for me I just ride a bike and when I think of it drop it in for a service, maybe every 20000 kays if its lucky.
Anyone who's seen my bike knows exactlt what I'm talking about

[tj189]

Yep, I do 

[Barry and Marissa]

Having been involved in the earthmoving repair industry all my adult life. I can say there are only two rules when it comes to maintenance.

Rule 1. Preventative maintenance is ALWAYS cheaper than premature failure.
Rule 2. Those that don't believe in rule 1 are ALWAYS the ones that winge about the cost of the repairs. 

[Greencan]

Arvo All...

Wheel bearings on mine are fine at 160,000kms but I feel the need to do them - does that include all of the rear bearings, including the double row one?

Yep Saaz, all of em including the 'double/triple' in the rear...but when do you know when it's time change them?

The second last set I replaced were on a bike with 152,000km on it and the ones I removed were OK too...yet my Neighbour on his on his VTR with < 100,000km, had a front bearing fail while en-route to P.I.

I totally agree that given ideal circumstances that Honda OEM original fit bearings will in all likelihood out last most of the Guys that ride them...also (I know this isn't you), but I often hear of Guys routinely taking hi-pressure water cleaners to their bikes ...and I do know just how penetrating this form of machinery cleaning is...so for the sake of $50 to $60 for replacement a known 'classed' Japanese bearings from CBC...I think is cheap insurance



This is how ST#2 was presented to me by the 'muso from Lismore' after he most generously acquired and pick up the bike for me in August 2003 with 152,000km on it :).

I am it's 3rd owner...it's 2nd owner advised that he'd had the bike less than one year and he'd got the bike with a little over 150,000km on it...it was first registered as new in August 2000...yep that's 150,000km in 24/24

At the time ST#1, which I have had from new had < 100, 000km on it but I had recently replace the stanchion oils (as mentioned above), fitted a refurbished Rad rear cushion (shock), fitted tapered rollers to the head stock and lubed linkages etc...

I'll describe my first ride impression on ST#2 with the words of my most generous fellow ozSTocer that he attributed to a ride on a 1500 Goldwing..."it was what I'd imagine sex would be like with a really, really fat woman"...I couldn't describe my first ride on ST#2 better .

Today , ST#2 may have a few rattles from her heart...but now she rides like a tart!

Ciao, the can :)

[saaz]

The ex police bikes often have trouble with wheel and other bearings as some forces    used high pressure washers. Terry in Canberra had his front bearing fails just before a trip (we went, he did not).

I am very careful not to over wash the bike for this very reason   

I also feel how the bearings are when rotating the wheel.  Not scientific but you can feel if something feels not quite right.

[Couch]

Photo of the hoist has been deleted or moved............Bugger, I'd like to have a look at it!!
Any chance of re-posting the photo please!!!!

Abso Blue tly love the bike hoist