What did you do to your dirty bike today?

[byke]

Leaving dirt on the bike really accelerates wear of tons of items. Chain and sprockets, corrosion on all sorts of stuff like spoke nipples, weeping fork and shock seals, increased risk of dirt getting in the motor from oil/filter changes, on and on. I hear friends talk about always needing new parts like it's a badge of honor, but I know how much they ride and it's from neglect.

[Duffil]

Originally Posted by byke

Leaving dirt on the bike really accelerates wear of tons of items. Chain and sprockets, corrosion on all sorts of stuff like spoke nipples, weeping fork and shock seals, increased risk of dirt getting in the motor from oil/filter changes, on and on. I hear friends talk about always needing new parts like it's a badge of honor, but I know how much they ride and it's from neglect.

while I agree, i'm tempted to say 'something something "it leaks because it's marking it's territory".'

[byke]

Yeah they can be pretty alpha sometimes!

[PASTAPWR]

Originally Posted by madsen203

My theory right here!

I will clean parts removed but if I'm not removing anything...it's not getting cleaned.

This is my kid's take on it.
Mine, clean every few rides. It helps to keep an eye on items for maintenance. It also keeps crap from getting into everything during maintenance.

A quick wash is on the agenda before next ride. Which won't be until Sunday the 24 at the soonest. Hmmm...Unless I take a day off work to go ride. Hmmmm???

[brichter]

Originally Posted by byke

Leaving dirt on the bike really accelerates wear of tons of items. Chain and sprockets, corrosion on all sorts of stuff like spoke nipples, weeping fork and shock seals, increased risk of dirt getting in the motor from oil/filter changes, on and on. I hear friends talk about always needing new parts like it's a badge of honor, but I know how much they ride and it's from neglect.

I clean mine when it needs maintenance only, but never experienced any of these issues? I do clean the chain after every ride though (if I'm gone for 3 days riding, it gets cleaned after the ride, not every day).

[2strokeYardSale]

Pics from today's trials practice.




Square edge rock face. At first I was like damn but then I was all damn I'm good.

[Eric B]

Looks like fun

[PASTAPWR]

Watch for snakes. :eek:

[ThumperX]

Originally Posted by PASTAPWR

Watch for snakes. :eek:

Yep I was thinking that.

[byke]

Originally Posted by brichter

I clean mine when it needs maintenance only, but never experienced any of these issues? I do clean the chain after every ride though (if I'm gone for 3 days riding, it gets cleaned after the ride, not every day).

I'd do the same on a 3 day ride, but do you ride and let it sit for a month, then ride, then let it sit for three weeks, etc? That's when fork seals seem to get eaten up.

[2strokeYardSale]

This is the only snake I've seen while riding.



Did I mention I saw another marmot on my ride yesterday? Got a real good close look at it.

That reminds me of a ferret-like creature I've seen in my yard. Smaller than the marmots I've seen and grey. Not a squirrel. I'm wondering if it's the fucker who is destroying flowers and relocating flowers to my doorstep.

[elemetal]

That reminds me of a ferret-like creature I've seen in my yard. Smaller than the marmots I've seen and grey

May be a Pica

[cal scott]

Originally Posted by elemetal

May be a Pica

Or even a Pika

[brichter]

Originally Posted by byke

I'd do the same on a 3 day ride, but do you ride and let it sit for a month, then ride, then let it sit for three weeks, etc? That's when fork seals seem to get eaten up.

Interesting.

What does it mean when they start leaking when you're riding? Asking for a friend...

[anytwowilldo]

My Buddy and I put the cylinder and top end back on his 2008 CRF 450R tonight. He had sent the head to EDCO for a valve job and had them check the piston/bore which were new, but failed a leak down. The bike never performed as it should after his piston/ring job which started the tear down. In any case I put the rings back on the piston and installed it and the cylinder, set the valve lash and installed the head. About 3 hours after we started the project it was running and doing 3rd gear roll on wheelies. She appears to be a fast runner!