Motorcycle How To's
Home

Welcome

      

Stickers/Decals

Photo Gallery

Links

Orders/Shipping

.
 

HOW TO JUMP START YOUR MOTORCYCLE

Here's How:

1.   Arrange another bike so its good battery is close to the dead battery.

2.   Attach one red clip of the jumper cables to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery.

3.   Attach the other red clip to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery.

4.   Attach the black clip to the negative (-) terminal of the good battery.

5.   Attach the other black clip to the frame of the bike with the dead battery or to the negative (-)
      terminal of the dead battery if a sutiable framelocation cannot be found.

6.   Start the bike with the good battery and wait a minute.

7.   Start the bike with the dead battery. As soon as it starts, remove the jumper cables in the
      reverse order that they were attached.

Tips:

1. If you use a car battery for the good battery, use the same procedure as above except
    DO NOT START THE CAR. The excess current from the charging circuit of the car may
    destroy the bike's circuitry.

2. If you can't get the bike started, you'll need to use the cellphone to summon help. A hat
    and water bottle will be essential if you encounter a long wait in the sun.

3. If you have a roadside assistance plan for your bike, use your cellphone to call for help.
    You may have to wait an hour or so before help arrives. Many plans will tow you to
    the nearest bike dealer for your make.

HOW TO SELL YOUR MOTORCYCLE

Here's How:

1.   You may opt to keep your bike. If money's no object, you can afford the insurance and
      you have the room, then this choice may make sense. Of course, your attachment to the
      bike may make this the only choice.

2.   If you're buying new, your dealer will probably take your bike as a trade-in. Be sure to check
      the various Price Services to see what your bike is worth to help you in the negotiation process.

3.   Auctioning a bike is a new way to sell your bike. eBay is the most popular service. Check 
      out how others have written up their bikes and included pictures before you decide how to list yours.

4.   Always tell your friends that you want to sell your motorcycle. Even a friend who doesn't ride
      might suddenly take an interest in wanting to learn to ride and might want to buy it.

5.   If you belong to a motorcycle club, announce that you want to sell your motorcycle. If there is a
      club newsletter, list it there also. Since your bike will be well known to the club, you may get a fast sale.

6.   Often a local dealer will either put your bike on the floor for sale and take a small commission or
      make it known to others looking for bikes that you have one for sale.

7.   Every newspaper has motorcycle want ads. Just try to make your ad stand out.

8.   There are many Web sites that offer want ads for motorcycles. The Motorcycles site also lists
      classified ad Web sites.

9.   You can also try listing on the various motorcycle forums.

HOW TO FIX A FLAT

Here's How:

1.   You should have a tire plugging kit with you and a means to inflate the tire after the puncture
      has been sealed. One particularly good kit is the Stop & Go Tubeless Tire Plug Gun Kit.

2.   If you own a Honda Gold Wing with an onboard air compressor, you'll have no trouble inflating
      the tire after it has been plugged, assuming that you have also purchased an extension air
      hose to reach your tires.

3.   For non-Gold Wing riders, consider carrying CO2 cartridges to inflate the tire.

4.   After you get a tire plugged, you have to remember that the repair must be considered temporary. 
     Your safety is most important. Consider buying a new tire.

Tips:

1.  Before you use any tire plugging kit, sit down with the kit and read the instructions carefully
     and even do a test run to satisfy yourself that you know how to use it.

HOW TO STORE YOUR MOTORCYCLE FOR THE WINTER

Here's How:

1.  Check over the bike for any mechanical problems.

2.  Change the engine oil and oil filter.

3.  Fill the gas tank, add stabilizer according to the instructions on the can, and run the bike for a few minutes.

4.  Check the battery, clean the battery terminals, and connect a Battery Tender or similar trickle-charger.

5.  Clean and wax the bike.

6.  Cover the bike. If possible, keep the bike in a warm garage.

7.  Make sure the bike is locked up and the registration and other papers are removed in case the bike
     is stolen.

Tips:

1.  There are many opinions on what should be done to prepare your bike for winter. Here is a basic set of
     steps to winterize.

HOW TO TRIP A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH A MOTORCYCLE

Here's How:

1.   Get off your bike and push the "walk" button if it is safe.

2.   Sometimes you may just have to look both ways and run the light. In some places it's OK to "proceed with
      caution" after 15 minutes, in some places after 2 cycles. You need to know what the law is in your area.

3.   If you fail to trigger the switch, wait at least one more cycle and then proceed when it is safe.

4.   Sometimes it helps to kill the engine and restart it just to get the magnetic fields going over the tripping
      device. Put yourself right over the detector in the pavement. Give the bike a couple of good revs.

5.   Turn right and then do a "U" turn when you can.

6.   Threaten legal action. Start by calling the street department and complaining. Every week re-check the light.
      If you get no action, send them a nice professional letter threatening them with a lawsuit.

7.   As you approach the intersection, there are lines cut into the pavement where the
      sensor was put in. The sensor pad is octagonal or square. Put the most metal over the intersection of
      two sides.

8.   Another trick is to put out your kickstand. If you can get the kickstand out, there is more of a metal area to 
      detect. Don't forget to retract your kickstand when the light finally changes.

9.   Rig your bike with an electro-magnet under the frame. This is wired into the brake lamp circuit and induces
      enough of a field to trip most lights.

10.  Consider the purchase of a device that will trip the light for you. Two such products are the Green Light
      Trigger and the Red Light Changer.

11.  A new trend is the introduction of special motorcycle boxes that show you where to stop your bike to trip
      the light. The front-most "box" has additional diagonal lines, with a bike icon painted in the box.

12.  Roll forwards and back in an effort to trip the sensors.

13.  If you are waiting for a left-turn signal light to change, you can always proceed through the intersection on 
      green and make three successive right-hand turns. This only works with regular city blocks.

14. Some states have sensors in the lights that can detect flashing lights of police cars and ambulances, and 
      will quickly change the light. You might try flashing your lights to see if that will trip it.

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR SPARK PLUGS

Here's How:

1.   Ensure that the area around the spark plug hole is clean before removing the old plug.

2.   Make sure the threaded area of the new plug is clean and dry. Resist placing any oil or WD-40
      on the threads.

3.   Insert the plug making sure that it is threading correctly. You don't want to damage the hole 
      by cross-threading.

4.   Tighten with your fingers until you feel the crush washer starting to seat at the bottom.

5.   Tighten 1/4 to 1/2 turn more.

Tips:

1. If you have a torque wrench and can find a specification in your owner's manual as to how much
    to tighten the spark plugs, use that value with your torque wrench to tighten the plug.

HOW TO LUBE A MOTORCYCLE CHAIN

Here's How:

1.   Your chain doesn't need much cleaning if you just ride on normal streets. WD-40 and a rag is
      about all you need and even then not very often.

2.   If you use gear oil, oil the warm chain after your last ride of the day using a brush (not an oil can).
      Put something under the chain to catch the drips and wipe off excess with a rag. Let sit overnight.

3.   If you use WD-40, spray on warm chain any time. Give it a couple of minutes to drip off or wipe off 
      excess with rag. Ride anytime. Fly-off is moderate.

4.   If you use spray-on lubes, be sure to spray onto a warm chain. Do not over saturate. Spray it on the
      inside of the chain. That way on your next ride it will be slung outwards, through the chain.

5.   For O-ring chains, lube the chain hot. Spray PJ1 Blue Label chain lube directly at the center of the
      rollers at the rear of the rear sprocket. Move the rear wheel slowly and continue to apply. Let it dry.

6.   Clean-up: Oil and WD-40 are the easiest to clean up but also can create the biggest fly-off mess. PJ
      lubes or Chain Wax leaves the least amount of fly-off, but can build up on the chain itself.

7.   Chain lubing is another of many reasons why you shouldn't buy a bike without a centerstand.

Tips:

1.  Consult the owner's manual for your bike for any recommendations on chain oiling made by the
     manufacturer. In the absence of such recommendations, consider the following as guidelines.

2.  Quick Tip: Warm the chain, lube every 500 miles, don't get any on the tires, ride bike right after
     to work it in, and remove excess after your first ride.

Welcome

      

Stickers/Decals

Photo Gallery

Links

Orders/Shipping

Terms of Use

.