2010
Advice: GSX-R Winter lay-up fuelling problems
09 June 2010 by
Q. My GSX-R has been sat all through winter with the same tank of fuel in it (I know, not the best idea), so now as a result my bike is very sluggish to respond to the throttle movements and hence...
How to push a motorcycle
04 June 2010 by
It’s hard to believe when you are tipping your bike into a bend with the merest fingertip pressure on a bar, that your bolide weighs a couple of hundred kilos. But when you’ve got to push it into the...
How to tell if you have a puncture
04 June 2010 by
The tubeless tyres that are fitted to the vast majority of bikes these days are more puncture-resistant than tyres with inner tubes and don’t tend to suffer from the rapid deflation that is a...
How to push your bike around
04 June 2010 by
It’s hard to believe when you are tipping your bike into a bend with the merest fingertip pressure on a bar, that your bike weighs a couple of hundred kilos. But when you’ve got to push it into the...
Tubeless tyres and punctures
04 June 2010 by
The tubeless tyres that are fitted to the vast majority of bikes these days are more puncture-resistant than tyres with inner tubes and don’t tend to suffer from the rapid deflation that is a...
Tight FireBlade chain is causing problems
02 June 2010 by
Q. I have a ’97 Honda Fireblade RRV. In May I rode up to the BMF Rally two-up but I didn’t realise that the chain was running too tight over bumps and when accelerating. It’s now making a ‘clattery’...
Chinese 125 carb problems
02 June 2010 by
Q. I own a Sukida SK125-4 Commissioner (it’s Chinese), which if it’s not careful is going to be turned into coke cans as it’s doing my head in. The problem is that when I go for a run and its warm it...
Why is my R1200GS front disc pulsing?
02 June 2010 by
Q. I recently took my pride and joy R1200GS to my local BMW garage for its 6000-mile service. I asked them to investigate a front brake pulsing at low speed. Now I had a Tiger that did exactly the...
If in doubt, change your tyres
02 June 2010 by
Q. I have returned to motorcycling after a 48-year break and my bike is a 1990 Yamaha XV535 which is very pleasant to ride - even with the gearlever on the left! But on some road surfaces the...
Differences between bike and car engines
28 May 2010 by
If you have come from the four-wheeled world it is easy to forget that motorcycle engines need more care and attention than car engines as they rev a lot higher with much greater power to capacity...
Suspension set-up for a 2002 CBR600F
25 May 2010 by
Q. What suspension settings are best for solo riding on a CBR600F, 2002 model? I weigh 88kg in full riding kit and ride on the road with the odd track day. I also carry a pillion and luggage a couple...
Can I get new wheels under warranty?
25 May 2010 by
Q. At the weekend, while cleaning my 2010 Kawasaki GTR1400, I noticed the rear wheel was bent on the right-hand side of the rim, where you’d expect to place a tyre lever. Save £££s on motorcycle...
Adjusting to the bike riding experience
21 May 2010 by
If you are coming from four wheels to two for the first time, the differences can seem daunting. Cars deliver their responses to you through a myriad of different systems that use complicated...
Fizing a seized lock
21 May 2010 by
Turning the ignition on with your bike’s key should be such a simple action that will have you winging down the road in seconds. But what do you do if the key won’t turn? You don’t dare force it for fear of it snapping off in the lock, but you really, really need to get going NOW. You may need to add some lubrication, and a good lube is pencil lead. Rub the graphite up and down the key several...
Remember to SORN your bike
21 May 2010 by
These days there is more and more paperwork attached to owning a bike whether it’s on the road or not. If you do decide to take your bike off the road you have to register it as off the road with the...
How to extract a GT550’s rear shocks
18 May 2010 by
Q. I’ve bought myself a project bike – a 1988 Kawasaki GT550. It was completely dead but everyone’s help on the MCN forums has got it through the MoT, so firstly thanks to all. I now have a bit of a...
How do I know my brake pads will suit my discs?
11 May 2010 by
I would like to fit Ferodo Sintergrip road ST HH brake pads to my 2000 Yamaha R6. But Ferodo say the discs must be stainless steel or cast iron for their pads to be suitable. I have emailed Yamaha UK,...
Troubleshooting: Why won't my 2002 Thunderbird go?
11 May 2010 by
GCollins: I have a 2002 Triumph Thunderbird with 17,000 miles on it and in good condition. Lately the engine has started to fade and then cut out, this happens after about 30 miles often after a stop...
Steering dampers can help on bumpy roads
07 May 2010 by
Bikes are designed to have very different handling characteristics, from slow, lazy steering and high stability on customs and out-and-out tourers, to fast steering, agile sports bikes. Those sports...
How to clean a Speedfight head and barrel
07 May 2010 by
Q. I’ve just stripped down the head and barrel on my Peugeot Speedfight and the piston is coked up with black crap. What’s the best way to clean it without damaging it? Fred1021, MCN forums A. Most...
Diagnose a cush drive fault
07 May 2010 by
Q. I have a 2005 Yamaha Dragstar 125 with 3000 miles on the clock and I have excessive free play in the drive system when throttling off. The engine goes from driving the bike to the bike driving the...
How to extract a seized front wheel spindle
05 May 2010 by
Assuming the spindle is seized to the bearings or the spacer between the bearings, remove the tyre, tube and rim tape then soak the wheel overnight in diesel or paraffin. If you have a stout leakproof...
Why don't my VFR’s idiot lights work?
27 April 2010 by
Q. The idiot lights on my Honda VFR800 have started playing up. Sometimes neutral works, and then my digital clock goes on the blink for a couple of days before coming back again. Nick Langhorn, email...
Is ride height making my bike steer slower?
27 April 2010 by
Q. I do a lot of track days but I seem to have hit a brick wall when it comes to getting round fast corners quickly. Every time I up the pace on my R6 the bike misses the apex and runs wide appearing...
Best tyres for a BMW K1300GT
27 April 2010 by
Q. I’m looking to replace the tyres on my BMW K1300GT. The ones currently fitted have a special “UU” rating for this bike. Save cash on motorcycle tyres BMW recommend Metzeler Z6, what do you...
Tyres that inspire confidence...
20 April 2010 by
Q. I intend replacing my tyres in the next few weeks and would appreciate some advice. Save £££s on motorcycle tyres The tyres fitted are Continentals, which came with the bike when I bought it; but...
Indicator bulbs: handy tips
20 April 2010 by
Q. I wonder what the minimum wattage is for bike indicators, if there is one? Save cash on motorcycle lighting I have bought some new winkers for my Kawasaki 400 grey import and they’re 10 watts,...
How to diagnose clutch cable problem
20 April 2010 by
Q. The choke lever on my 2001 Yamaha 900 Diversion will only pull about a quarter of the way open. Not being too technically minded, and before I go stripping down unnecessarily, is it most likely to...
Road positioning is more important on a bike
19 April 2010 by
If you flit between using a car and a bike don’t forget that you have much more choice over where you are positioned on a bike than in a car. You need to think about where you should be on the road,...
Get your mates to watch you ride
19 April 2010 by
If you’ve got biking mates, get them to watch you ride. They’ll spot some oddities to your technique that you’re not aware of. And they’ll have a great time telling you all about it… Get a friend into biking and win £10000 for you, and £5000 for them with the MCN 1000
New rider: filling up when sitting on your bike
16 April 2010 by
Q. Is it against the law to sit on your bike when refuelling? According to a Tesco’s cashier that’s the case. They wouldn’t start the pump until I got off the bike. Sam Fletcher, email A. It’s not...
Best first bike for a 50-mile commute
16 April 2010 by
Q. I’ve finally got the nerve to do my bike test, and I’m now wishing I could have been one of the happy elite to have taken my test when I was 18, and had a man shouting at me with a clipboard some...
Product advice: How to check your alarm's not draining your battery
13 April 2010 by
How do I test for battery drain when my bike’s not in use? I think my battery’s causing this. Deanipops, MCN forums You need an ammeter or multimeter set on amps. Take the negative lead off the...
Product advice: What's causing debris in RS125 gearbox?
13 April 2010 by
I’ve drained the oil out of my Aprilia RS125’s broken gearbox this afternoon and once I removed the drain plug I noticed small cylinder-shaped bits of metal stuck to the inside of the plug. Any ideas...
Product advice: How to get better Busa bulbs
13 April 2010 by
I have a 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa and I wanted better lighting, so I changed the bulbs for 100 watt. The main beam is now less than useless no matter how I adjust it. It is just a diffused light with no...
Boot review: Alpinestars Tech 2
08 April 2010 by
Alpinestars Tech 2 boots, £159.99 Miles covered/time: 5000/two years What’s good? They might not be exactly the right thing to where on a road bike buy hey, I think they look pretty cool. Save £££s...