OaklandF4i
Darwin's exception
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2002
- Location
- San Francisco and Lake County
- Moto(s)
- Husqvarna FE350, TE300, a vintage CR390, and BMW R1200GS
- Name
- CJ
This thread is intended for folks considering a trip to Baja with the group this winter. A week off road covering 700-1000 miles on thumpers. Its not intended to discuss how to outfit a bike with tanks, luggage, protection, tire choice, adventure bling, etc etc. That should come after the bike is mechanically sound, sorted, and prepared for a week offroad. A separate thread to discuss outfitting will be started for that topic. So if we can narrow the discussion to just mechanical prep and sorting, I think it will be more coherent for new folks considering the trip. I am also hoping folks that have joined or have experience will also share their thoughts.
First, why is it important to have a fresh mechanically sound bike that is prepared to go the moon (aka Baja)? A few major reasons.
First, a thousand miles is a lot off road and there are no services or parts available. To put it in perspective for the average rider that may go to an OHV park once a month... its like condensing a year or two of riding into just one week. So your bike will be put to test and anything that is ready to or could go wrong prior to leaving in all likely hood will.
Second, a major mechanical failure and even a few minor ones could end your trip prematurely. A failure that incapacitates your bike has high probability of happening far from any help (what little if any there is). Help beyond the group and what is carried on our bikes is really all you should rely on. Help from the outside realistically is many hours if not a day more away if available.
Third, if your bike is incapacitated remotely and it needs to extracted.... it could become a very very expensive proposition. There is no AAA, and even if you have tow insurance, it may not cover or service where you are at. You could spend a grand if it needs to extracted from a remote spot and transported a long distance to the staging area. You have already invested a large sum of money and the time off (most important to most folks) for this great trip. It can potentially be a big financial and time loss.
Lastly, and most importantly.... the group expects your bike to be prepared, fresh, and sorted. This isnt a solo ride or trip where you deal with issues on your own. No one is going to be left to the coyotes in the desert on their own. Unavoidable stuff does happen off road and the group chips in to solve it. These can make for great stories. But if one bike continues to have problems and they are issues that could have been addressed prior to the trip, it can lead to hard feelings. Its not a solo trip, everyone has a lot invested in the trip... and we all share in the consequences of a bike that isn't prepared properly.
What does prepared, fresh, and sorted mean?
Prepared, fresh, and sorted means that you know your bike, have thoroughly gone through it, replaced any wear items, nothing is at or coming close its wear limit (miles or time), and the group can reasonably assume that no major malfunctions will happen. Sorted means that you have spend just as much time riding both before and after you have mechanically prepared it to ensure nothing is wrong or could potentially fail.
A 20 year old bike can be just as fresh, sound, and sorted as a new bike. It just takes the time and commitment to do it. If you are buying a new to you bike for the trip, dont expect to do this a month before the trip. Plenty of folks will offer help, especially folks with the right attitude who have never done it before.
For example, you should know your engine, its recommended service and rebuild intervals. If its a new to you bike and you have no idea how it was used, the time on the engine, or real miles..... start fresh and tear into the motor. Same can be said of any wear item from bearings to your chain/sprockets.
I am not a pro, but this is what I have done on many new to me bikes. I tear the bike down to its frame. Yes, I really DO this for any bike I take to Baja and in general. You get to touch just about everything on the bike and visually inspect it.
- I inspect/replace, grease all bearings from wheels, steering stem, to the suspension linkage. Inspect/adjust/replace spokes.
- suspension/fork seals. Consider freshening if needed.
- Inspect and replace if needed my chain and sprockets. FYI, just about every other trip my Baja bike gets this.
-Inspect/replace brake components and fresh fluid.
-Pull the carb and open up to inspect, clean, and or replace anything needed. Tip, those screws on the float bowl are notorious for stripping. Replace with fresh ones. You dont want to deal with that on the trail. Are you jets and needle stock or not. If not, why not? Dont assume the PO has it jetting correctly. Not being stock doesnt mean its not right, but you should know whats in it and why. Inspect throttle cables and replace if you dont know the history or cant determine their condition.
- Replace and/or oil and grease air filter.
- Inspect your wiring harness, check/clean all connections. Is it routed correctly and are their any modifications to it. If there are, why.
- Do all electrical components work? Do you know where all the fuses are now? Can identify the different circuits.
- Are there are defeat switches on your bike like kickstand, nuetral, clutch. If not, were they properly disabled? Be able to identify them if they are still on your bike to trouble shoot on the trail if needed (kickstand especially) if applicable.
- Drain your oil, inspect and clean all filters. They may give you clues to the condition of the engine. Most thumpers have a small bit of debris in the oil and filters. You need to determine how much and if its ok.
- Pull your clutch out and inspect the basket, steels, fibers, and cables. Everything in spec, not nearing a wear limit, and visually check out? If not or you are unsure replace.
- Pull your valve cover and inspect general condition of cams and rockers. Any sign of scoring, wear or oil depravation? If no, Adjust valves.
- Pull your plug and inspect. Does it look normal, rich or lean (remember those jets and needle to you inspected). If not, think about why and delve deeper.
- Depending on the bike, the age, usage, and my comfort level and I am going to do few things next.
1) I'll do a compression check and leak down test.
2) Consider pulling the jug to inspect/replace piston and rings and check rod/crank play
a)If its an old, heavily used, or unkown race bike I will absolutely pull the jug/head and inspect further.
b) If its a trail/dual sport with low miles, the compression test is good, and I am confident of its history... I'll leave it with a good compression test. If there is any oil burn or smoke, obviously open it up.
- Reassemble the bike with fresh oil.
So after you have thoroughly inspected your bike, replaced anything broken or nearing wear limits, and completed all service... its time to sort your bike.
For a new to me bike I am taking to Baja, sorting would not be an hour or two at Holister. I'll burn up the old tires that it came with and put few tank fulls of gas through it. 4-500 miles minimum, a couple of hours wont tell you much. I'd be listening to the engine to get used to all its sounds (helpful in Baja so you can hear a change) and then recheck my valves to ensure they havent moved after. Swap the oil one more time to also look for clues. The bike should start up without hesitation hot or cold. Doesnt it burn any an abnormal amount of oil (must thumpers burn a little at highway speeds after a few tanks of gas in my experience).
Thats what I would do for a new to me bike going to Baja. Obviously most cant accomplish it in a week or two. It takes a time commitment on my part for the trip and the groups benefit. So if you are considering a new to you bike for the trip, I can only suggest you start sooner than later.
Lastly, I am sure I missed some things. Folks that already own their bikes have had the time to thoroughly sort out the bikes and get to know them. Rae bikes and bikes used hard will need more work. I'm not a professional mechanic and dont intend to portray myself as anything more than a hobby hack (my multimeter is still black magic and I get sweats thinking about electrical shit.) But this is what I would and have done prior to going to Baja on a new to me bike. Its been relatively successful thus far.
Please add to the discussion.
First, why is it important to have a fresh mechanically sound bike that is prepared to go the moon (aka Baja)? A few major reasons.
First, a thousand miles is a lot off road and there are no services or parts available. To put it in perspective for the average rider that may go to an OHV park once a month... its like condensing a year or two of riding into just one week. So your bike will be put to test and anything that is ready to or could go wrong prior to leaving in all likely hood will.
Second, a major mechanical failure and even a few minor ones could end your trip prematurely. A failure that incapacitates your bike has high probability of happening far from any help (what little if any there is). Help beyond the group and what is carried on our bikes is really all you should rely on. Help from the outside realistically is many hours if not a day more away if available.
Third, if your bike is incapacitated remotely and it needs to extracted.... it could become a very very expensive proposition. There is no AAA, and even if you have tow insurance, it may not cover or service where you are at. You could spend a grand if it needs to extracted from a remote spot and transported a long distance to the staging area. You have already invested a large sum of money and the time off (most important to most folks) for this great trip. It can potentially be a big financial and time loss.
Lastly, and most importantly.... the group expects your bike to be prepared, fresh, and sorted. This isnt a solo ride or trip where you deal with issues on your own. No one is going to be left to the coyotes in the desert on their own. Unavoidable stuff does happen off road and the group chips in to solve it. These can make for great stories. But if one bike continues to have problems and they are issues that could have been addressed prior to the trip, it can lead to hard feelings. Its not a solo trip, everyone has a lot invested in the trip... and we all share in the consequences of a bike that isn't prepared properly.
What does prepared, fresh, and sorted mean?
Prepared, fresh, and sorted means that you know your bike, have thoroughly gone through it, replaced any wear items, nothing is at or coming close its wear limit (miles or time), and the group can reasonably assume that no major malfunctions will happen. Sorted means that you have spend just as much time riding both before and after you have mechanically prepared it to ensure nothing is wrong or could potentially fail.
A 20 year old bike can be just as fresh, sound, and sorted as a new bike. It just takes the time and commitment to do it. If you are buying a new to you bike for the trip, dont expect to do this a month before the trip. Plenty of folks will offer help, especially folks with the right attitude who have never done it before.
For example, you should know your engine, its recommended service and rebuild intervals. If its a new to you bike and you have no idea how it was used, the time on the engine, or real miles..... start fresh and tear into the motor. Same can be said of any wear item from bearings to your chain/sprockets.
I am not a pro, but this is what I have done on many new to me bikes. I tear the bike down to its frame. Yes, I really DO this for any bike I take to Baja and in general. You get to touch just about everything on the bike and visually inspect it.
- I inspect/replace, grease all bearings from wheels, steering stem, to the suspension linkage. Inspect/adjust/replace spokes.
- suspension/fork seals. Consider freshening if needed.
- Inspect and replace if needed my chain and sprockets. FYI, just about every other trip my Baja bike gets this.
-Inspect/replace brake components and fresh fluid.
-Pull the carb and open up to inspect, clean, and or replace anything needed. Tip, those screws on the float bowl are notorious for stripping. Replace with fresh ones. You dont want to deal with that on the trail. Are you jets and needle stock or not. If not, why not? Dont assume the PO has it jetting correctly. Not being stock doesnt mean its not right, but you should know whats in it and why. Inspect throttle cables and replace if you dont know the history or cant determine their condition.
- Replace and/or oil and grease air filter.
- Inspect your wiring harness, check/clean all connections. Is it routed correctly and are their any modifications to it. If there are, why.
- Do all electrical components work? Do you know where all the fuses are now? Can identify the different circuits.
- Are there are defeat switches on your bike like kickstand, nuetral, clutch. If not, were they properly disabled? Be able to identify them if they are still on your bike to trouble shoot on the trail if needed (kickstand especially) if applicable.
- Drain your oil, inspect and clean all filters. They may give you clues to the condition of the engine. Most thumpers have a small bit of debris in the oil and filters. You need to determine how much and if its ok.
- Pull your clutch out and inspect the basket, steels, fibers, and cables. Everything in spec, not nearing a wear limit, and visually check out? If not or you are unsure replace.
- Pull your valve cover and inspect general condition of cams and rockers. Any sign of scoring, wear or oil depravation? If no, Adjust valves.
- Pull your plug and inspect. Does it look normal, rich or lean (remember those jets and needle to you inspected). If not, think about why and delve deeper.
- Depending on the bike, the age, usage, and my comfort level and I am going to do few things next.
1) I'll do a compression check and leak down test.
2) Consider pulling the jug to inspect/replace piston and rings and check rod/crank play
a)If its an old, heavily used, or unkown race bike I will absolutely pull the jug/head and inspect further.
b) If its a trail/dual sport with low miles, the compression test is good, and I am confident of its history... I'll leave it with a good compression test. If there is any oil burn or smoke, obviously open it up.
- Reassemble the bike with fresh oil.
So after you have thoroughly inspected your bike, replaced anything broken or nearing wear limits, and completed all service... its time to sort your bike.
For a new to me bike I am taking to Baja, sorting would not be an hour or two at Holister. I'll burn up the old tires that it came with and put few tank fulls of gas through it. 4-500 miles minimum, a couple of hours wont tell you much. I'd be listening to the engine to get used to all its sounds (helpful in Baja so you can hear a change) and then recheck my valves to ensure they havent moved after. Swap the oil one more time to also look for clues. The bike should start up without hesitation hot or cold. Doesnt it burn any an abnormal amount of oil (must thumpers burn a little at highway speeds after a few tanks of gas in my experience).
Thats what I would do for a new to me bike going to Baja. Obviously most cant accomplish it in a week or two. It takes a time commitment on my part for the trip and the groups benefit. So if you are considering a new to you bike for the trip, I can only suggest you start sooner than later.
Lastly, I am sure I missed some things. Folks that already own their bikes have had the time to thoroughly sort out the bikes and get to know them. Rae bikes and bikes used hard will need more work. I'm not a professional mechanic and dont intend to portray myself as anything more than a hobby hack (my multimeter is still black magic and I get sweats thinking about electrical shit.) But this is what I would and have done prior to going to Baja on a new to me bike. Its been relatively successful thus far.
Please add to the discussion.
Last edited:
We all fall down