Welcome to Motorcycles Guide
Ducati Motorcycle Model Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Motorcycle Maintenance - A Basic Guide
from: By: James HunabanHere we have a few things you should check on your motorcycle on a regular basis. I assume you have a handbook with the specs for your bike, if not, go get one. You may be able to find some data for your particular motorcycle on the net. You can also pick up workshop manuals for various models on eBay in PDF or CD form for little money.
Whereas with a four wheeled vehicle you may get away with being lax with things like tire pressures etc, this is not the case with a motorcycle. You should not risk compromising the safety and stability of your motorcycle, for the sake of a bit of routine maintenance.
Pre-ride check
* Tires - check condition and for foreign objects in the tread.
* Tire pressures - it is vitally important to keep your motorcycles tire pressures either on spec or very close to it.
* Oil level - always check with the bike on level ground.
* Coolant level - only if your bike's liquid cooled, obviously.
* Chain - check the tension and make sure it's well lubed.
* Brakes - check they work and that they feel good.
* Lights - check all your lights, especially the brake light, you
don't want to get rear ended, do you?
* Visual inspection - self explanatory.
* All ok - hit the road.
Periodical checks
* Check battery - see that the connections are tight; I dropped a bike once because of a loose battery connection, strange but true. Also check the electrolyte level on some batteries, a lot of newer batteries are gel filled, sealed for life types, so no need with these.
*Carb balance - if your bike is multi carbed get yourself a Morgan carbtune or similar. It can be a little tricky the first time you balance them, but when you've done it once, the second time will be easy.
*Ignition timing - only necessary on some bikes, most newer models have electronic ignition which does not need touching, normally.
*Valve clearances - unless you're a good home mechanic, take it to a dealer.
*Wheel bearings - grab each wheel with it off the ground and see if there is any sideways play. There should be none or maybe a trace at most.
*Steering head bearings - with the front end off the ground, grab the forks and push and pull. There should be no play.
*Swinging arm bearings - with the back wheel off the ground, check for any sideways movement in the swingarm, there should be none.
*Brakes - check fluid levels, brake hoses for deterioration, and pads/shoes for thickness.
*Cables and levers - should operate smoothly. Get some grease on lever/pedal pivot points, and get some lube down the cables, if you can. A cable oiler is a handy tool.
*Nut and bolts - go all round the motorcycle with your spanners and check that all nuts/ bolts/screws are nice and tight.
Well, that's about it for some basic maintenance, obviously, unless you're a good home mechanic, any bigger jobs will have to go to a dealer. The problem can be finding a good one with skilled mechanics you can trust. I manage to keep my Yamaha Fazer 1000 running sweet just using the steps listed above. It does help that this model only needs the valve clearances checking every 26,000 miles.
About the author: James Hunaban is the owner of www.motorcycling-news.com/ a site full of Motorcycle information.
For more motorcycle articles visit: http://www.motorcycle-articles.com
Ducati Motorcycle Model News
Recall Roundup: BMW, Chrysler, Ducati Report Problems - Wall Street Journal (blog)
Recall Roundup: BMW, Chrysler, Ducati Report Problems Wall Street Journal (blog) Italian motorcycle maker Ducati is recalling 283 Monster, Hypermotard, Multistrada, 848 and Streetfighter bikes from the 2012 model year because the friction material on the rear brake pads may detach from the backing plate of the rear brake pads. |
2012 Women's Cruiser Shootout - MotorcycleUSA.com
 MotorcycleUSA.com | 2012 Women's Cruiser Shootout MotorcycleUSA.com I made a list of all the motorcycle manufacturers that offered bikes in this fantasy class, including all the metric bikes plus Ducati, Harley Davidson and Triumph. For the next few hours, I studied the complete model line-ups of each brand and ... |
2012 KLR650 Project Bike Part 1 - MotorcycleUSA.com
2012 KLR650 Project Bike Part 1 MotorcycleUSA.com It didn't matter that their bikes had blunt, boring styling, or peak power output not even one-third of my sleek and sexy 132 hp Ducati Multistrada test bike. In smiles per dollar, particularly on those dirty Magruder miles, the KLR had us covered. |
Motorcycles race into summer movies - Los Angeles Times
Motorcycles race into summer movies Los Angeles Times A circus bear will even throw a furry leg over a Ducati in the animated feature "Madagascar 3." Motorcycles have long played a part in the movies, but as summer films become more explosive and adventure oriented, two wheels are playing a larger role. |
Ducati Recall of Certain Model Year 2012 848, Streetfighter, Hypermotard ... - eNews Park Forest
 SpeedLux | Ducati Recall of Certain Model Year 2012 848, Streetfighter, Hypermotard ... eNews Park Forest Summary: Ducati is recalling certain model year 2012 848, Streetfighter, Hypermotard, Multistrada, and Monster motorcycles. The friction material may detach from the backing plate of the rear brake pads. Consequence: if the friction material detaches, ... 2012 Ducati Streetfighter 848 Revealed: First Official Photos |
Ducati Streetfighter 848 - Business Insider
Ducati Streetfighter 848 Business Insider Ducati confirm their 2012 Streetfighter 848 with the first officially released images of the brand new model set to add everyday accessibility to the Italian manufacturer's famous naked sport bike family. Available from November 2011 onwards, ... JUNIOR FIGHTER PACKS A PUNCH |
In pursuit of Ducati magic - Globe and Mail
 Globe and Mail | In pursuit of Ducati magic Globe and Mail Ducati made some mopeds and then its first “real” motorcycles in 1950 with 65-cc and later 98-cc engines and also tried to cash in on the scooter market with what proved to be an unsuccessful model called the cruiser. Ducati had likely been involved in ... |