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Major pre-trip maintenance

4K views 46 replies 27 participants last post by  Joen 
#1 ·
Scheduling a 8-10,000 mile ride in the spring. Already planning on changing fluids (oil, brakes, coolant, rear end), new tires (going to try out the ME-888's), air filter and clean some switches. The bike is a 2008 level 4 with 40K miles. Are there other items that I should plan on checking to "ensure" a trouble-free trip?
 
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#4 ·
Last years trip west with my brother and son, we had one of my brothers headlights go out. We picked up a bulb, but learned it was the bulb holder. We found one at wingding. Just after returning from the trip one of my sylvania ultrastar lights went out. Replace or bring a spare bulb for your headlights. Even if you don't run at night. Safety first. Have a great trip.
 
#9 ·
Always check both when replacing the front tire. I leave well enough alone if they check good.

From the Iron Butt guys, always complete ALL work a few weeks in advance of the "real" trip. Take several short shakedown rides, preferably loaded like you planned for the big trip. Hopefully, any items missed or not exactly right can be caught and corrected with time to spare.
 
#8 ·
After experiencing an alternator failure, I now have a cheap digital voltmeter velcroed to the left front speaker. For me its just a comfort factor that I know the alternator is working and if it is not I can take appropriate action to not get stranded along the road. I also carry enough tools to remove that pesky alternator. Note: The alternator failed at approximately 70,000 miles. Have a great ride.
 
G
#10 ·
If it ain't broke don't fix it.
You have the most important maintenance items covered.
I agree with bringing a spare bulbs.
You can go broke and change things that don't need changing when you overthink things.
A debit and credit card are your friend if the unforeseen would happen.
You can drive yourself crazy worrying about the "what ifs."


Doug
 
#13 ·
Front wheel bearings, while wheel is off bike for tire change, I stick my index fingers in both side, roll the wheel on the floor and lift it up so it is rolling, hanging from my fingers. Smooth as silk, good to go again. Rough, feeling a tick, tick tick as it rolls, or trying to roll my fingers over, bad and needs replaced now.
 
#38 · (Edited)
I know I am in the minority here, but I like to change mine at predetermined intervals, regardless of how they feel. To me the problem is front wheel bearings can go from good to bad, in far less than the 10k - 15k miles we get out of a front tire. So they can be perfectly good when you check them at your tire change and be bad sometime while your out on the road 8K later.

I have know people who have changed front wheel bearings in motel parking lot. Yeah I am about to hear from a ton of you who have never had this happen. But there are members here who have reported their trips being delayed while they had bearings overnight delivery to some remote location that did not local access to parts and then changed them on a picnic table (or something like that). Yes it has happened and right here to our current members.

You will also see the wide range of people who sold the wing with 130K and 150K miles and never changed the front wheel bearings. But then we have people right here on this forum that have reported 75K and 90K miles and went bad.

So myself I was thinking of blindly changing them at 90K to 100K range depending on when the tire needs replaced at the time. I much prefer to change them at my time in my garage and not out on the road. For what they cost, trying to cheap out on front wheel bearing preventative maintenance, versus changing them out on the road is just not worth it. 1 extra night motel, plus overnight delivery, time and effort, bla bla bla just not worth the little bit of extra to just change them when the tire is off anyway.

Side note on Edit, 90-100K was for the wing based on what I read here. On my Connie my front wheel bearings only went 49K. So now I just change them every 3rd tire change on the Connie.
 
#14 ·
Planning a trip like this I am sure you have towing covered if needed. I have AMA membership and AAA with RV Plus. I have used the AAA and it was a good service. Had a battery fail on my NT700V while at work. Called AAA, they came out with a replacement battery. Have good things about the AMA service also.


Keep the shiny side up,


Chuck
 
#16 ·
Good info here.
Major ride isn't until May but I plan to have all the maintenance completed by March. New tires will go on in April.
There will be some daily riding, post-maintenance, for several weeks prior to departure.

Credit cards - check
Towing options - check
Voltmeter - check

I will certainly inspect the bearings when I pull the wheels.
 
#17 ·
Original post said brake fluid. Don't forget clutch, too.

For the scheduled things, I wouldn't bother accelerating anything that's not going to be due before your end of trip. Clearly a good idea to start with fresh engine oil, might not even bother with coolant or final drive unless you're going to clock over and want to do before you start.

It might not a bad idea to pack an oil filter. You can pick up a gallon of oil and a cheap baking pan to use to drain, but the filters can be a bit more of a bother.

Here's my PM cheat sheet. My guesses on tire and brake life are not reliable:

• 8,000
o Engine Oil, Filter, & Crankcase Breather
• 12,000
o Air filter
o Brake & Clutch fluid
• 16,000
o Spark Plugs (or more with Iridium; 30, 50, 60K? Not 75-100)
• 24,000
o Final Drive Oil
• 32,000
o Coolant
o Valve Clearance Check
• Check regularly, at least every ~3,000. Guesstimated life:
o Brake Pads, Front 30,000
o Brake Pads, Rear, 32,000
o Tires, Front, 14,000
o Tires, Rear, 24,000 (Alpin)
 
#19 ·
The only thing I disagree with is the Metzlers. Stick with G704 and G709 Bridgestone's, or maybe the new style Dunlop's.
I have had bad experiences with the ME 888, noisy and don't wear very well. 10K trip you might be replacing them on the road.
 
#21 ·
For security sake, you may want to consider a couple of MasterCard/Visa/American Express gift cards with $250 to $500 so that your card is skimmed, especially at a gas pump, the bad guy(s) won't get access to your whole bank account. The cards can be reloaded if necessary and the peace of mind I get from using those cards as opposed to my main debit or credit card on the road is great.
 
#25 ·
Plastic is good, but there are times when cash works soooooo much more better. Stash $100-$200, assorted denominations, on your bike, and leave it there, even after your trip. You never know when you may leave your wallet at home, or loose it.
 
#27 ·
Get out your Allen wrenches and 17 mil wrenches and check the tightness on every nut and bolt you can.buy your self a small air compressor and tire plug kit.slime has a good one for about $30.put the TripAdvisor app on your phone for good restaurants and motels in any town you go to.have a fun and safe trip
 
#30 ·
Credit card discussions are technically off topic. The OP is looking for preventative maintenance. Credit cards only help after the bike breaks down.

But since it was brought up, I do agree. Stop using Debit cards if you use them. I only use mine at my bank's ATM. In fact, most banks offer ATM only cards in lieu of debit cards. They are much safer.

I do not agree with using prepaid credit cards or gift cards instead of standard cards. If you lose them, or get robbed, you lose whatever value is on those cards. Large amounts of cash is just as bad, but you do have to have some cash for times when you can't use a card. With a standard card, you don't lose anything financially.

The only drawback with cards is that if you don't have a history of using your cards out of town, you are likely to trip fraud alerts at the credit card company, and possibly getting them cut off. I have seen it happen quite often. They say you should call the CC company to let them know you are going to be traveling, but I can't help wonder if that isn't risky too.
 
#31 ·
Lose lose all the way around. Need to be like star trek times with no need for currency.... :laugh:
 
#32 ·
Darn if I can figure out why alerting the CC company is a bad idea. What would the danger be? Someone enlighten me, and others, as this is what I've always done.
 
#37 ·
You are alerting someone that you do not know that you are leaving your house unattended for a period of time. Even criminals usually have day jobs. It's not quite the same as posting on Facebook that you are going on vacation, but.........

Rare to get caught in that situation? Sure it is. But it has happened. Crime rings have been busted doing just that. Too paranoid? Yeah, maybe a bit.
 
#35 · (Edited)
Well you could just trailer the bike...JK. Have a blast! I agree with don't overdo it, sometimes nuts and bolts don't get tightened after maintenance, things get crimped, etc, the fewer things removed the better.

Maybe back up your phone in case it is lost, stolen or damaged...so you don't lose those pics from when you bike was new.
 
#39 ·
I had a set of front bearings go out in Fargo at around 50,000 miles. Fortunately the Honda shop knew a local store that carried such things and got me repaired, they did not have a set themselves... But, likely more than not you would be somewhere where that is not available. A set of front bearings is easy for a mechanic to replace IF he has the parts... I now carry a set. They're cheap, small, no reason not to... they would work for either GW we are riding.

Head lights, etc you're going to be able to find just about anywhere. Consider carrying a set of front wheel bearings. Other than having a flat or loosing an alternator, can't think of many other things that could bring you to a grinding halt...
 
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