On The Road Again

When AC first proposed I write something intelligent about prepping a bike for the open road, I was on it like stink on Limburger. But as I thought about it two things struck me. Judging by the letters I receive, the majority of MC readers are downright conscientious when it comes to routine maintenance. Shamefully, most of you are probably better at it than I am, and by the same token a lot of you spend way more time touring by motorcycle than I do. I figure there are quite a few readers who could probably teach me a thing or two on both counts.

On the other hand it's a good bet that there are more than a couple of you who are new to touring and need to learn a few of the basics. Like my granddad used to say, "An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of whatever bit you" or something like that, so in that spirit here are a few tips on making that first trip from Duckberg to Podunk.

The Easy Way
I'm a big believer in making life as easy as possible, and the simplest, fastest way I know of giving a bike a quick once-over is to wash and wax it. My theory is that even if you're only halfway observant (kind of like me), giving the bike the old rub-a-dub lets you get up close and personal with it. Frankly I don't think you're going to uncover anything major, especially if you've been reasonably diligent in your maintenance, but you're always liable to notice something like a frayed clutch cable, chafed wire or maybe a cotter pin that's not bent the way it should be-which, by the way, I generally find by impaling a finger, so pay attention when you come up on one.

Besides being a good way to spot minor mechanical problems, a thorough cleaning before the trip helps keep road grime and bugs from damaging your bike's finish, and just as importantly (at least to me) a clean and shiny bike always makes a better impression on the nonriding public than a messy one. Personally I prefer the NRP to see me as a jolly knight of the open road as opposed to a grungy biker slob, and riding a clean bike helps promote that image-at least until they get to know me.

The Nitty-Gritty
Naturally any service work that's due or may come due before your trip is over should be performed before you leave. Changing the oil and filter in the sanctity of your own garage is a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. Changing it in the parking lot of the Poke 'N' Plumb Motel in East Gypsum, Arkansas (motto: "Poke your head out the window and yer plumb out of town"), while your buddies are chatting up the ladies down at the nearest watering hole is just a hassle.

Likewise it's a lot easier to make a service appointment with your local shop before you leave than it is to find someone who'll perform that 10K inspection (while you wait) on the road between Tucson and Tucumcari.

Anything that might wear out should be replaced, so take a look at the obvious-tires, brake pads, and the chain and sprockets or drive belt-and the not-so-obvious, like the clutch and throttle cables. If they feel stiff, lube them, replace them or buy a set of spares to take with you, cause they ain't going to get better by themselves.

Make sure you also check stuff you've been ignoring since you bought the bike. Trips have a way of reminding you exactly where there's a shortfall in your maintenance program. Heavily loaded bikes eat spokes, and long downhill grades offer terrific insight into how entrained water lowers the boiling point of brake fluid and induces brake fade. Remember that coolant is called that for a reason. If your antifreeze has degraded to the point where it's little more than water, you may run into overheating problems if you're riding in extreme temperatures. It's not a bad idea to pressure-test the radiator cap every two years or so, or even replace it just so you know it's up to snuff.

Another thing too many guys take for granted is the suspension. For the most part suspension issues occur slowly, so we tend to adapt to them rather than notice there's a problem. Before setting off on a trip, check the shocks and fork seals for leaks, the swingarm bearings for play and the steering-head bearing adjustment. If anything's not kosher, deal with it now.

I once headed for Laconia, New Hampshire, on what I thought was a well-prepped BMW. Because it was only a four-day trip and I'd been riding the bike to work every day, I didn't do much of a pretrip inspection. Besides, I'd just changed the oil and filter, so what could possibly go wrong? About 300 miles in, I hit a patch of what was essentially a corduroy road at maybe 50 mph; the bars were ripped right out of my hands, the front fork went from lock to lock maybe six times and I thought I was a goner. By the grace of God I reeled the thing in, but it wasn't pretty-the guy behind me said at one point the only part of me connected to the bike was my right hand. When I got home I checked the steering-head bearings and confirmed what I'd suspected after the second swing of the fork. The steering head bearings were w-a-a-y out of adjustment. I was lucky; you might not be, so spend a few extra minutes checking the front end before you leave, especially if you can't remember the last time you did.