The Citizen, 2010-04-08, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010. PAGE 17.
619 Bayfield Rd., Goderich, ON
Bus. 519-524-1500 www.hyundaiofgoderich.com Fax 519-524-1700
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Basic bike checkup can avoid mechanical issuesHarley or Honda, Road Racing or
Motocross, one thing's certain: If
you’re a motorcycle enthusiast,
you’re passionate about your bike
and you know motorcycle
maintenance is essential.
There are dozens of motorcycle
parts that should be checked on a
regular basis, but according to
David Buckshaw, technical trainer
for Honeywell CPG and an avid
motorcycle rider, here are some of
the basics.
1.Tires: Riders should get into the
habit of checking their tire pressure
and tire tread on a regular basis. For
pressure, tires should be as close as
possible to the recommended PSI
level in the bike’s owner's manual.
When tires aren’t properly inflated,
not only do they wear more quickly,
but handling and ride quality are
diminished too.
Tire tread is crucial to help your
bike maintain grip, especially in wet
conditions. Tread can be checked by
a basic penny test. Simply put a
penny into the tire groove, where
the tread appears the lowest, with
Queen Elizabeth II’s crown facing
down. “If the top of Queen
Elizabeth the II’s crown is visible,
then it's probably time to replace
your tire,” recommends Buckshaw.
2.Spark Plugs: Spark plugs are
constantly exposed to high pressure
and extreme temperatures, so it’s no
surprise that they need be checked
every 4,800-8,000 kilometers
(3,000-5,000 miles). Checking them
doesn’t always mean replacing
them; sometimes they just need to
be wiped down. In today’s market,
there are specific plugs that are
meant to improve a bike’s
performance. For example, Autolite
Xtreme Sport spark plugs are
designed to give your bike a more
powerful performance and up to 26
percent quicker starts compared to
that of standard plugs. You can find
a quick lesson in changing them
online at
www.youtube.com/autolitesparkplu
gs.
3.Antifreeze/Coolant: A simple
maintenance step, but one that is
often forgotten, is replacing your
motorcycle's coolant. If coolant
levels run too low you run the risk
of either overheating or freezing
your engine. Be sure to use a
formula designed for motorcycles
like Prestone Xtreme Sport
antifreeze/coolant. “Occasionally,
coolant levels appear to be okay, but
if the coolant hasn't been changed in
over two years it can get
contaminated and become less
effective,” said Buckshaw.
More motorcycle maintenance
information can be found at your
local power sports dealership.
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Gary Damigan, a mechanic at Auburn Auto Sales, takes a
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