Doing it without protection :-/

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This topic contains 28 replies, has 0 voices, and was last updated by  Dean 11 years, 11 months ago.

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  • #102320

    Rach
    Member

    Ok so I have had my bike for three months now…..

    When I bought it being a total newby I got the following add ons:

    – Bark busters
    – Bash plate

    I happily went off riding thinking I had it all covered :unsure: … It wasn’t long before I realised that I also should have gotten radiator guards (bent them already) :ohmy: .

    So this week I have finally gotten my crap together and ordered a set of radiator guards from Force.

    On the to get list is the following:

    – Fan
    – Steg pegz

    Up until now it has all been about the riding for me but this Saturday I am going to spend the morning in the garage with the bike doing the following:

    – clean air filter
    – oil change
    – fit radiator guards (nice black pair)
    – take of back tyre and get new one

    Weirdly enough I am actually looking forward to it. :)

    So am I missing anything else?? (Seriously why dont they tell you in the shop to get radiator guards!! :S )

    #235886

    terryjhaynes
    Member

    :( .

    #235887

    Dwayne O
    Member

    Hi Rach,
    Just a few simple ideas come to mind from me

    Brake Snake comes in handy if you like to have the odd rest here & there :whistle: (better than bending a rear brake pedal back or into the side of your case) :S

    Maybe some Case savers/ guards, depending on availability for your bike and how much coverage your bashplate gives in that area,,,

    Rimlocks if you haven`t got them already will help in securing the tyres to stop spinning and tearing valve stems at lower presures,,,

    Never hurts to carry a spare front brake & clutch lever just in case the barkbusters fail or something jams in behind them in the event of an off ,,,, it can happen :unsure:

    Good to hear your keen on the shedtime, It`s a great way to get familiar with your ride and also helps you to be more handy on the trail if the shit hits the fan and you need to fix something to get home ;)

    Enjoy
    And ignore Teza ,, He is hard done by in that area,,, obviously :laugh: :P

    #235888

    Steve
    Member

    Would realy consider some lube or grease on linkages n bearings.while you have tools in your hands.

    #235906

    ian
    Member

    notice your going to re place rear tyre this is one thing you need to practice at home to get it right out on the track pinching tubes can be a b a stard

    #235889

    Rach
    Member

    Well rad guards didnt arive in time for weekend but I noticed one is bent so I will have to get that sorted first anyway.

    Eagle thanks for the tips I will definately look into some of your suggestions.

    I took the back tyre off and took it to mca Auburn today to get it changed … yes I was going to cheat and have them do it….. but when I got down there they said they dont do it on a Sunday :angry: would have been nice if they told me that on the phone!! :angry: :angry:

    But as I keen to ride tommorrow I ended up getting a friend to help me change it this afternoon ….. Huskybloke … i reckon changing a tyre is a crap job anywhere never mind out on the track !! :S that is HARD AS!!

    #236025

    We do a lot of very tight technical stuff and my fan on the 500 runs most of the time in those sections.
    I’m sure it saves my bike from boiling over as I have seen plenty of other bikes spitting and hissing on our trails. The 500 came with the fan fitted but I’m sure it wouldn’t be a biggy to fit one to your Kato.
    Would only warrant fitting one if you have had temp issues in the past.
    Cheers
    Murph

    #235890

    Rach
    Member

    Ok, just went back and checked this thread to see if there was anything i have missed. So far the only thing on here i haven’t put on is the brake snake … is the sole purpose of this to stop grass etc wedging between the brake lever and bike? They look like they might break easily …

    I ended up going with the fan after overheating my bike a few times in the singles and notice it running alot of the time so at least i feel like that was money well invested. :)

    I am thinking next a steering damper …. at first armed with all my newbie knowledge (NIL, nothing, squat!) I thought this was really just for racing but since talking to a few people it sounds like they do a great job in increasing overall stability. (they seem a bit $$$$ so would want to a get a noticable improvement)

    Well thats all I have left on the practical list …next is bling 😆 😆 😆

    #238617

    Well done Rach
    I think the brake snake is there to stop the brake pedal from bending out when impacting with trees and rocks etc. Never had one. The steering damper I can not really coment on either. Never had one on any of my bikes as I just couldn’t come to terms with the cost. Unless you were doing heaps of fast open stuff or sandy tracks I doubt whether it would be worth while. Thats my 2 cents worth and I’m sure there will be other ideas out there
    Cheers
    Murph

    #235891

    Rach
    Member

    Thanks for the feed back.

    I am definitely a fan of the single stuff over the open stuff anyday so I might hold off on the steering damper for the moment…… looks like i just fast tracked to bling :woohoo: (As soon as i stop dropping my bike so much i will get some :whistle: ) and if i ever end up on one of your rides Murph there be a pre-ride bling removal so it doesnt all get destroyed :cheer:

    #235892

    Hi Rach,
    In my 350 I also run some fluid that raises the boiling point of the coolant and is supposed to make it run 15 deg cooler.
    Its called “extra cool” or “Mr cool” or something like that.
    I also have a fan on mine which does run fairly often in the tight singles.
    When I picked mine up I was told not to leave it running while stopped waiting to regroup or whatever, always shut it off if your going to be stopped for more that 30 secs.

    As for the damper, I had one on both of my TE450’s but didnt have one on the 310 and didn’t feel like it needed it.

    I dont have one on the 350 and have no plans to fit one at the moment.
    They do make a difference in the faster tracks especially if you hit something at an angle

    #235893

    simon burke
    Member

    Hi rach
    i have to disagree in regards to a stearing dampner.
    i put one on my bike last year..and i dont crash nearly as much as i use to :unsure:
    Then again ive done bugger all riding in the last 8 mths :blush:
    i think they are a good thing :)

    Bol :woohoo:

    #238622

    Greg
    Member

    Yeah I am with Bollocks fast slow single open sand rocky a damper is the second thing I do to every bike I have raced ridden or trail hacked. Most people that haven’t used one for an extended period will tell you they aren’t needed ( I used to say that before I fitted one) rarely see people that get one don’t keep using them. I reckon the bike that benefited the most was the KTM 530 that I ride sometimes :laugh: It used to shake its head. Just my humble opinion

    Oh yeah they look bling as well :laugh: kills two birds for you!

    TB

    #235894

    Richard W
    Member

    The first time I rode a bike with a steering damping (CRF450) it just felt weird and I wasn’t keen on it but came to like it. Having said that its a wicked adrenaline rush without one.

    #235895

    Aaron Wilde
    Member

    Do really good riders use them ??? Price grabbo strang etal ?? If so in what conditions? So what I am really asking is….are they something that will help the novice, average or pro rider??

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