Ade, you could not be more right my friend, thats is extremely sound advice. those of us who work shifts, maybe nights, or like a shandy or three...make sure you are fit to ride a motorcycle, its a serious business and nothing but 100% of your concentration and focus is required.....WHAT HE SAID EVERYBODY...! well done buddy.. Del.
Hell yes, every bit as important on any motorcycle you are going to ride on the road..many young riders just dont know what check and adjustments to make, and thier 'peds get neglected and can fail at the worst time..also, nothing gets more respect as a young rider than presenting a well kept and well maintained bike to the world, it makes you look competent, responsible and safe..that in turn gains you trust and faith from your mates, parents and the authorities...go do it mate..take care, Del.
Helpful video. I use POWDERS (petrol, oil, water (cooling), drive (chain slack correct and lubed) and damage, electrics, rubber (pressure and condition) and reflections (on the bike and clean), stopping and suspension. All the checks are for the same things you mention. I always start a ride with a low speed brake test and bounce the bike to check the suspension as well. I will add your bolt tip as that's pretty fecking important to check!
You.re most welcome mate, its a simple but effective little trick, and like you say, gives you are a really reasuring reference point for instant feedback on the condition of your bike... any time you screw a bolt into alloy, just tighten it in lightly so as not to strip it, then spot the head to keep an eye on it, you'll soon find how little torque those bolts need to stay put... take care and ride safe mate,,, Del.
After watching this video I realized the importance of a pre trip inspection. Bike Felt a little weird yesterday...saw this vid and did a pre trip, found a nail in my tire and psi of ten on the rear tire on my iron...realizing how fast I was going on the freeway is an eye opener. Great video and thank you for helping us new riders out.
Hi Brandon, wow that was lucky, and as you can see, it happens as easily as that! You never think you'll get these nails and punctures, but as you've found, truly, they just happen... it's a good job you found it in time, and were about to deal with it... we just try to spread the knowledge and help people keep safe, we've loads of videos on our Channel will all kinds of safety and maintenance checks, so glad to hear they really people out... all the best, ride safe, D&Px
I just got my first bike, just a little used one, but this video taught me some basics on preventative maintainence which is crucial info for any vehicle as it could potentially save you hundreds in repairs. Keep up the awesome videos, very helpful to those of us coming into the motorcycle world.
Baron Fawkes Hey Baron....and its you precious 'new blood' riders coming into the biking family that are so important and so vital for the future of biking... so welcome aboard brother, and thanks for watching, mail any time if you have any questions and need a second opinion...maybe join us on the forum and make some new friends too.. link here. bikers.boards.net/ Take care, Del..
Hi, Have been meaning to write & thank you for your informative and entertaining videos. This one is especially well done for showing the importance of a "pre-flight" inspection. As a private pilot, I take this as a matter of routine even though at 68 I no longer fly due to vision problems but I still ride a vintage Velocette m.c. on weekends & doing a pre-ride is just as important.Thanks again and keep 'em coming. Take Care Bruce
Hi Mathew.... you probably dont have the same swing arm as me...mine is a custom extended and braced GSXR swing arm, which was a bit of a one-off, but do you mean yours is stretched longer than factory?, or is it just braced?... either way, if your C&S kit doesnt fit, did you buy it according to model spec, or do you know what one is on there now and order that.?... give us a bit more info buddy, and ill see if i can help..! cheers, Del.
Hi mate,in the summer and dry season I use Wurth Dry Chain Lube at the end of every day,just one single pass of the chain so effectively a quick squirt & at the end of the season I fully clean the chain as in the video I made, during winter I do the same but with Chain Wax & clean off the build up when it gets a bit claggy. It's important to keep the build up at bay as it fills with grit & can damage the chain.To clean it I use WD40 & an old toothbrush, cheers mate Del
I would LOVE to see a photo Bruce, specially as you said its a bit of a bobber..lol.. look forward to it.! i love those old barn find stories, and when you get them finally done it must be so satisfying... thanks for sharing that... take care my friend.// Del.
Thought I would send a message of thanks, after watching this video a couple of weeks ago I started doing your pre-checks on a daily basis, I was inspecting the rear tyre this morning, and found a screw wedged between the tread. Had I just pulled the bike out the garage this morning and ridden to work I would of pushed that screw home and who knows what.... Good luck, keep them coming, the videos are really appreciated.
Hi Jason, Well done for finding that, its all so easy to just drag the bike out and ride off... imagine how much inconvenience it would have been if it had dislodged while riding, or even blown out... good on you mate, keep it up... take care ride safe and keep doing your checks.. all the best.. Del.
Excellent stuff, Renato! That kind of thing is the precise reason we take the time to make the videos. If you farmed that job out to a Suzuki main agent using their top priced pads you would not get much change from £150 and I'll bet you spent less than a fifth of that. Also, getting in amongst your bike's anatomy gives you a familarity and a feel for your bike that you cannot buy with any money. Well done for getting involved, and thanks for watching, ride safe, Cheers Del
Hi Jose, well done on such a fabulous bike, the 1600 is just sublime. The critical fasteners are common sense to identify, something that is critical means something that is very important, so the fasteners that hold on the brakes, the wheels, suspension, but don't over think it or worry too much, BMW's are properly screwed together ..worry more about tyre pressures & fluid levels ,these are important daily chores..good luck with your riding career, be safe & take care, Del
Thanks mate, the 'marker paint' thing is used by the factories in the assembly process, and is a great way to ensure things can be checked regularly and at a glance..
I like that you emphasized the fact that you are building a running knowledge of your bike-- familiarity, not just , "is my bike safe to ride now?... How 'bout now?"
Wise words well said matey, exactly that... it becomes a rolling history, if you start to loose maybe 2psi a day, then pump it up each time then by day three, if its still doing it.. you have an issue... but do it once a week, and by Friday your 10psi down, and who wants that diving into a bend..(even if you would be daft enough to ride a bike like that without feeling it).. knowlegde is power....and power id control, control over your own safety.. thanks for watching buddy.. Del.
Simply the best advice videos for riders. Thank you for taking the time to spread the knowledge . I have watched many of your videos I wish you safe riding to all your growing family john
Thank you John, that is really kind of you, we much appreciate you taking the time to write and let us know, so glad they find an audience, ride safe yourself, all the best D&P !
Thanks mate, thats a good tip, i usually have to back mine all the way round the front yard to get to the part where i mount up to ride away...and that means swapping the lock left to right as i back it up...but if you dont, its a good thought to ensure you have the full travel free yo use...cheers for that... ride safe, Del.
Single take mate, just think about what you have to say first, then forget the bloody lot, and make it up as you go along...job done. lol thanks for watching mate.. Del.
Hi mate, good question..yes i tiny residue is fine, the oil can weep past the seal a little sometimes, but keep an eye in it, not every day, just once a week or so, and if it gets any worse then you will have to change it...For now, wipe it bone dry with a clean cloth, and check it again..it may have just been a bit of road crud... hope its ok, and well done for taking proper care of your bike... ride safe buddy.. Del.
My word, thank you kindly sir, i really appreciate you taking the time to watch and take the time to comment, i think you are right, from a moped to a passenger liner, you need to check its safe to go.. its not just the fact of checking, but checking regularly and keeping a record, whether that be mental or written, then you can use that to make desisions on the maintenance and repairs top the vehicle. Im impressed with the Velo', proper gentleman's tool you have there sir..Thank you again, Del.
Hi mate... you made the all important observation there... they're not deeper than the tread depth..so they are fine to leave them...you can open them very carefully with a tiny blunt bladed screw driver..and inject some vulcanising solution (the stuff that comes in your puncture kit)....but only if they are big anf deep.. hope that helps....cheers, Del.
Good and helpful videos you make :) An addition to this list is what I consider the most important, the brakes. I allways check for leakage from breaklines and fittings. Just squeeze the brake handle hard and look for leakage, and make sure the brakes work in low speed before you take off on the highway :D
Good practices all round... but i always err on the side of under titghtening rather than damage a thread.. if in doubt, use a little dab of locktite.. but if you paint them, thats the same principle.. thanks for watching mate.. Del.
Sure thing buddym, the klist is a great prompt, makes you do it all the time....and the bolt check tip is an old one, just saves you having to check them with a spanner... tak care mate... Del.
ive never checked my pressure in over a year ... i know, i know ... :-( just one of them things thats slipped through the cracks of my checks ...always checked the tred, lights, brakes...etc ..and maybe kicked the tyre to check it if it deflated and thats your lot.. Thank you for the eye opener ... just somthing i never considered
Hi mate, thanks for watching, with the tyre cuts, you gently open them with a small screw driver, and fill them with vulcanisuing solution.....hey presto, no more cuts... they dont re-open and thus wont tear when the tyre gets low on tread and cause punctures..
I have had about 22k out of my chain so far, and generally get about 30k+.. the item that does the damage is the front sprocket...it spins three times to every one turn of tha back one.. so wears three times faster..yet we all judge them by looking at the back one!!! the front sprocket being worn out will lunch the chain sooner.. so swap it out every 10k miles, they are only £8 and it will prolong the life of your chain... cheers Pete.. Del;.
Spot on. I have a set of weekly checks I do too, takes 15-20 minutes at the weekend which includes a chain clean and re-lube (as per your other video). Recently got asked by a mate if my chain was new. 'No', I said, 'its been on six months, I've only had to tweak the adjusters once' - that's in 9,000 miles. I'll not replace that until the spring after the winter and the salt have done their worst. At £60-80 a pop I can live with a new one every 18,000 miles (12 months).
Thanks Adam, you are most kind, I'm only too glad to help...if you know a tip, pass it on, that way we all share knowledge and all become stronger for it ... take care, Del
Not at all mate, most people dont take that much trouble over it, but the lights and tyre pressures wiull save you a lot of grief if nothing else... glad you will be doing some safety checks now... take care.. Del.
Brilliant video mate :) I've just recently decided that I want to learn how to ride a motorbike so once I've passed me CBT and gotten myself a 125cc I'll most definitely be adopting these safety checks on a daily basis before heading out onto the road.
+Gambit896 Hi buddy, that's great news, glad to hear it... your instructor will talk to you about these checks, and other things along the same line too, good luck with it all, hope it goes well for ya !
Hi mate.the Nitrogen thing is a gimmick...stick to air from a foot pump... and with tools, if you want to carry some for emergencies, then its hard to know what you would need in all emergencies, but the regular factory supplied tool kit that comes with your bike under the seat in the little black bag is pretty comprehensive..and naturally a roadside puncture plug kit.....and finally, good breakdown cover for if it all goes wrong. hope that helps buddy, thanks for watching. ride safe aye, Del.
Hi Joe, you will notice a ring of oil developing around the fork leg after you've ridden the bike and the forks have gone up and down a few times, wipe it away and if it re-appears you have a fork seal gone...
Indeed, and if you had checked the tyre every day, you would have picked up the issue a few days sooner...at least you got away with it mate, and im sure that now you will do a bit more checking before you ride...nothing like knowing you can chuck it into a bend without worry..! take car buddy. Del.
Great video as always. I'm learning loads from you, thanks! I notice you didn't check the front tyre visually. Would you not normally do this or is it just that in the video you haven't got the front wheel lifted? Also, wouldn't you include checking the brake fluid level?
Of course you would check the front tyre, I just demonstrated using the rear and for brevity moved on to the next thing, but yes, check both... brake fluid is a visual glance at the resevior and you should be taking notice of that kind of thing constantly anyway... thanks for watching mate, glad the videos can help you, Del
Hi Del - have to say great clips - have helped me a lot as a new rider. The tips I got from the garage I bought my bike were terrible - guy even told me never clean the chain. Great advise. Anyway just had a question on the clip - you mention about cuts in the tyre and that you can deal with it later. How do you deal with cuts? Now I've started me pre ride checks I have noticed a few in my tyre?
Hi Goodi, I've heard this before being told not to clean the chain, I think what the garages mean is don't 'WASH' the chain with soapy water, as this can make it rust... you can clean it obviously with thin solvents, like kerasine, or diesel, anything that's not water is fine, and certainly never use brake cleaner to clean a chain... You can seal the little cuts in your tyre by opening them gently using a cocktail stick and squeeze in a tiny dab of puncture kit vulcanising glue to prevent them running deeper, all tyres get small cuts in them, and this will stop them getting worse... hope that helps mate, Del
mark chain as mentioned......wheel bike forward or back and spray in small sections. job done ! paddock stand good idea in the long run or fit a centre stand. makes the job a little bit easier. good luck
I was thinking a bit at a time but that may mean marking the chain in several sections so I can tell where I've sprayed already! The alternative is to sit on it, paddle it forward and create some sort of intricate spray-can-on-a-stick mechanism. Cheers for the suggestions!
great vid. made a copy of the list for my garage :) i do something similar already, but handy to have a checklist. love the tip on the bolts. great idea :D
Hey man, love your videos! Just subscribed and I have watched 3 videos now. Thanks for the information. Really concise and well explained. Will be watching more vids! Hope you keep posting videos! Supporting you through likes, views, and subscribes! from the Phils. :)
Hi Jon, thank you, hope there's some videos in our back catalogue that can help you out... they are in playlists to make it a bit easier as well... the amazing support we get keeps us going, so thank you for your kind words... ride safe, Del & Penny!
Glad you have heard of the Velocette. Noone here in the colonies has heard of it. It was given to me 25 years ago for cleani ng out someone's basement, where said Velo was residing in half a dozen cardboard boxes. Upon retiring 6 years ago, I sstarted playing with it and after 5 years, got it running. It is a 350 cc single MAC.1953 model Surprisingly fast and loud. Guess youi would call it a bobber due to lack of original parts. Will try to post photo
I also give both front/back brakes a tap to verify they are working, before getting any speed or going into traffic. I also look for any obvious fluid leaks anywhere.
Good idea Del. I drove bus for 23 years. Been driving Tractor Trailer for the last 10 years now. Hey, I just acquired a 1997 Harley Heritage Softail Classic. I'll have to get the wife to take some pic's or video for ya. Safe riding. Jim.
Hi Del Boy, Still catching up with videos, but I want to ask after seein the Pre-ride Safety. What would you be your advise for buying tools that you have to carry for any mechanical emergency with the bike and another one after watching the importance of checking air in tires, would it make any important difference filling with Nitrogen instead of air? Thanks and I will keep watching
ha ha, Dan you crease me up mate, its just a few videos posted on the UK Discovery website thats all.. i think ill hold off ordering the limo for now..lol.. i would never blag anything, its not my thing.. it is what it has always been, a free portal to get some help and tips out to the riders out there so they can save a penny or two and keep thier bikes safe at the same time. anything more is extra.. i think more of the friends ive made around the world than anything else. take care buddy.
ha ha, right on the money there buddy....i use some old Orange nail polish Penny doesn't use....you can also use tippex, or even a marker pen....but rest assured its nothing special... cheers, Del.
Hi Del, i'm a new rider from Portugal. My experience is just about 10 months with a 125cc scooter, and i've been riding a new BMW K1600GT from last October, so thank you for your videos, essential to me and i follow them trying to learn to be a better rider. About your bolt check...how can a newbie like me understand what bolts are critical? Can you help me out figuring this out? Thanks for all the videos, ride safe.
Oil, breakfluid, and coolant I always check at least once a week. Tires, chain, lights and signals everyday. I have a fuelgauge on the Striple. But my question is, do you have the killswitch turned on or off, everytime you put the bike in the garage?
My wife just poked her nose in the door way and was most impressed with your choice of nail polish for the bolt heads. Not a colour she would wear but she thought it was great to see an Englishman putting orange dots all over his bike (she's Dutch...)
Hi Delboy, you mention dealing with small cuts on the tyres in this video, my back tyre has several of these cuts left after digging out pieces of flint. Is there something I need to do about this or just leave them? Some are fairly deep, but none deeper than the tread depth, its quite a new tyre.
i had the same issue. what i did was put the side stand down and put a car jack underneath and lift it about and inch off the ground so that there is just enough room to spin the tire.
Great vid mate, subscribed! I'm going to sound like a smug git saying this but when I learnt about doing pre-ride checks from my instructor it really stuck with me and despite the tedium of it all I kept at it anyway before each ride. It definitely paid off - back when I was on my 125 I found out my rear brake lever was causing the brake light to stick... not very nice to have whilst on the road! One quick adjustment and I was good to go :)
Thanks Paul, we have a 50 year old hooligan image to dispell, set in place during the time of the swinging 60's by ill-informed idiot media, (just like today), we are, as we have always been, the safest, most in touch and aware road users on there today.... and prejudice reigns supreme.... every biker down is a brother lost, and tell this stuff to just one person you know, and we're making progress buddy.. take care.. Del.
Funny, I always do those checks to before every ride. Maybe we bus drivers are more focused on safety. Besides, the security check are part of the driving lessons here in the Netherlands. And you have to do them also on the driving test.
another one which would apply to 2 stroke riders is check you have enough 2t oil if you use autolube... many a stroker has been siezed through lack of 2t oil :D
Excellent stuff Jim, a fellow slugger... and well done on the Harley, im dead jealous mate... lets have a nice walk round video then aye..? take care on it matey... cheers, Del.
totally agree with all these checks Del........top video advice ! only other check i`d suggest ( go on then beat me with a big stick) is to ask yourself if you feel up to riding the bike. by that i mean, was it a heavy session down the local last night ? do you genuinely feel unwell ? all these sort of things affect your concentration etc which as you know mate is critical......moreso on a bike........just my ramblings. keep at it matey. cheers Ade
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Ade, you could not be more right my friend, thats is extremely sound advice. those of us who work shifts, maybe nights, or like a shandy or three...make sure you are fit to ride a motorcycle, its a serious business and nothing but 100% of your concentration and focus is required.....WHAT HE SAID EVERYBODY...! well done buddy.. Del.
Hell yes, every bit as important on any motorcycle you are going to ride on the road..many young riders just dont know what check and adjustments to make, and thier 'peds get neglected and can fail at the worst time..also, nothing gets more respect as a young rider than presenting a well kept and well maintained bike to the world, it makes you look competent, responsible and safe..that in turn gains you trust and faith from your mates, parents and the authorities...go do it mate..take care, Del.
Once again,no bullshit ,straight to the point,and very good advice! More than glad I subscribed.
Cheers buddy 👍🏻
+Thedoctor Zx6r Cheers mate, is there any other way to put it !
Helpful video. I use POWDERS (petrol, oil, water (cooling), drive (chain slack correct and lubed) and damage, electrics, rubber (pressure and condition) and reflections (on the bike and clean), stopping and suspension.
All the checks are for the same things you mention. I always start a ride with a low speed brake test and bounce the bike to check the suspension as well. I will add your bolt tip as that's pretty fecking important to check!
You.re most welcome mate, its a simple but effective little trick, and like you say, gives you are a really reasuring reference point for instant feedback on the condition of your bike... any time you screw a bolt into alloy, just tighten it in lightly so as not to strip it, then spot the head to keep an eye on it, you'll soon find how little torque those bolts need to stay put... take care and ride safe mate,,, Del.
After watching this video I realized the importance of a pre trip inspection. Bike Felt a little weird yesterday...saw this vid and did a pre trip, found a nail in my tire and psi of ten on the rear tire on my iron...realizing how fast I was going on the freeway is an eye opener. Great video and thank you for helping us new riders out.
Hi Brandon, wow that was lucky, and as you can see, it happens as easily as that! You never think you'll get these nails and punctures, but as you've found, truly, they just happen... it's a good job you found it in time, and were about to deal with it... we just try to spread the knowledge and help people keep safe, we've loads of videos on our Channel will all kinds of safety and maintenance checks, so glad to hear they really people out... all the best, ride safe, D&Px
yup, spreading your channel to a couple of my buddies, tx again bro
I just got my first bike, just a little used one, but this video taught me some basics on preventative maintainence which is crucial info for any vehicle as it could potentially save you hundreds in repairs. Keep up the awesome videos, very helpful to those of us coming into the motorcycle world.
Baron Fawkes Hey Baron....and its you precious 'new blood' riders coming into the biking family that are so important and so vital for the future of biking... so welcome aboard brother, and thanks for watching, mail any time if you have any questions and need a second opinion...maybe join us on the forum and make some new friends too.. link here. bikers.boards.net/
Take care, Del..
Hi, Have been meaning to write & thank you for your informative and entertaining videos. This one is especially well done for showing the importance of a "pre-flight" inspection. As a private pilot, I take this as a matter of routine even though at 68 I no longer fly due to vision problems but I still ride a vintage Velocette m.c. on weekends & doing a pre-ride is just as important.Thanks again and keep 'em coming. Take Care Bruce
Hi Mathew.... you probably dont have the same swing arm as me...mine is a custom extended and braced GSXR swing arm, which was a bit of a one-off, but do you mean yours is stretched longer than factory?, or is it just braced?... either way, if your C&S kit doesnt fit, did you buy it according to model spec, or do you know what one is on there now and order that.?... give us a bit more info buddy, and ill see if i can help..! cheers, Del.
Cheers Del it does help alot. Glad you got your new house sorted. Your videos are the best on youtube. Thanks.
Hi mate,in the summer and dry season I use Wurth Dry Chain Lube at the end of every day,just one single pass of the chain so effectively a quick squirt & at the end of the season I fully clean the chain as in the video I made, during winter I do the same but with Chain Wax & clean off the build up when it gets a bit claggy. It's important to keep the build up at bay as it fills with grit & can damage the chain.To clean it I use WD40 & an old toothbrush, cheers mate Del
Nice one Del! As always, its quick, simple and to the point! Think I'll be putting a checklist up on the garage wall!
I would LOVE to see a photo Bruce, specially as you said its a bit of a bobber..lol.. look forward to it.! i love those old barn find stories, and when you get them finally done it must be so satisfying... thanks for sharing that... take care my friend.// Del.
Thought I would send a message of thanks, after watching this video a couple of weeks ago I started doing your pre-checks on a daily basis, I was inspecting the rear tyre this morning, and found a screw wedged between the tread. Had I just pulled the bike out the garage this morning and ridden to work I would of pushed that screw home and who knows what.... Good luck, keep them coming, the videos are really appreciated.
Hi Jason, Well done for finding that, its all so easy to just drag the bike out and ride off... imagine how much inconvenience it would have been if it had dislodged while riding, or even blown out... good on you mate, keep it up... take care ride safe and keep doing your checks.. all the best.. Del.
Excellent stuff, Renato! That kind of thing is the precise reason we take the time to make the videos. If you farmed that job out to a Suzuki main agent using their top priced pads you would not get much change from £150 and I'll bet you spent less than a fifth of that. Also, getting in amongst your bike's anatomy gives you a familarity and a feel for your bike that you cannot buy with any money. Well done for getting involved, and thanks for watching, ride safe, Cheers Del
Hi Jose, well done on such a fabulous bike, the 1600 is just sublime. The critical fasteners are common sense to identify, something that is critical means something that is very important, so the fasteners that hold on the brakes, the wheels, suspension, but don't over think it or worry too much, BMW's are properly screwed together ..worry more about tyre pressures & fluid levels ,these are important daily chores..good luck with your riding career, be safe & take care, Del
Thanks mate, the 'marker paint' thing is used by the factories in the assembly process, and is a great way to ensure things can be checked regularly and at a glance..
Why thank you kindly sir, exposure is everything on the net, so i appreciate your help... take care and ride safe chap.. cheers, Del
I like that you emphasized the fact that you are building a running knowledge of your bike-- familiarity, not just , "is my bike safe to ride now?... How 'bout now?"
Another great video. I liked the critical fastners "spot" check.
Wise words well said matey, exactly that... it becomes a rolling history, if you start to loose maybe 2psi a day, then pump it up each time then by day three, if its still doing it.. you have an issue... but do it once a week, and by Friday your 10psi down, and who wants that diving into a bend..(even if you would be daft enough to ride a bike like that without feeling it).. knowlegde is power....and power id control, control over your own safety.. thanks for watching buddy.. Del.
Simply the best advice videos for riders.
Thank you for taking the time to spread the knowledge .
I have watched many of your videos
I wish you safe riding to all your growing family
john
Thank you John, that is really kind of you, we much appreciate you taking the time to write and let us know, so glad they find an audience, ride safe yourself, all the best D&P !
Thanks mate, thats a good tip, i usually have to back mine all the way round the front yard to get to the part where i mount up to ride away...and that means swapping the lock left to right as i back it up...but if you dont, its a good thought to ensure you have the full travel free yo use...cheers for that... ride safe, Del.
Another very good video! Last week i replaced the front and rear brake pads of my Bandit 1250 with your video intructions. Very easy. Thanks.
Single take mate, just think about what you have to say first, then forget the bloody lot, and make it up as you go along...job done. lol thanks for watching mate.. Del.
Hi mate, good question..yes i tiny residue is fine, the oil can weep past the seal a little sometimes, but keep an eye in it, not every day, just once a week or so, and if it gets any worse then you will have to change it...For now, wipe it bone dry with a clean cloth, and check it again..it may have just been a bit of road crud... hope its ok, and well done for taking proper care of your bike... ride safe buddy.. Del.
My word, thank you kindly sir, i really appreciate you taking the time to watch and take the time to comment, i think you are right, from a moped to a passenger liner, you need to check its safe to go.. its not just the fact of checking, but checking regularly and keeping a record, whether that be mental or written, then you can use that to make desisions on the maintenance and repairs top the vehicle. Im impressed with the Velo', proper gentleman's tool you have there sir..Thank you again, Del.
Hi mate... you made the all important observation there... they're not deeper than the tread depth..so they are fine to leave them...you can open them very carefully with a tiny blunt bladed screw driver..and inject some vulcanising solution (the stuff that comes in your puncture kit)....but only if they are big anf deep.. hope that helps....cheers, Del.
Bolt check was extremely useful for me, thank you
Truly a great service you offer mate glad to have you on here :D
Good and helpful videos you make :)
An addition to this list is what I consider the most important, the brakes. I allways check for leakage from breaklines and fittings. Just squeeze the brake handle hard and look for leakage, and make sure the brakes work in low speed before you take off on the highway :D
Good practices all round... but i always err on the side of under titghtening rather than damage a thread.. if in doubt, use a little dab of locktite.. but if you paint them, thats the same principle.. thanks for watching mate.. Del.
As a new rider, all these vids are so helpfull!!
Thanks Leroy, welcome to the roads my friend, ride safe and take it easy! Cheers Del
Thanks for the tips Del - something I had neglected to do in the past, but no more!
Sure thing buddym, the klist is a great prompt, makes you do it all the time....and the bolt check tip is an old one, just saves you having to check them with a spanner... tak care mate... Del.
Adding #2 and # 3 to my daily ride check. Sound advice - Many Thanks.
ive never checked my pressure in over a year ... i know, i know ... :-( just one of them things thats slipped through the cracks of my checks ...always checked the tred, lights, brakes...etc ..and maybe kicked the tyre to check it if it deflated and thats your lot.. Thank you for the eye opener ... just somthing i never considered
Hi mate, thanks for watching, with the tyre cuts, you gently open them with a small screw driver, and fill them with vulcanisuing solution.....hey presto, no more cuts... they dont re-open and thus wont tear when the tyre gets low on tread and cause punctures..
I have had about 22k out of my chain so far, and generally get about 30k+.. the item that does the damage is the front sprocket...it spins three times to every one turn of tha back one.. so wears three times faster..yet we all judge them by looking at the back one!!! the front sprocket being worn out will lunch the chain sooner.. so swap it out every 10k miles, they are only £8 and it will prolong the life of your chain... cheers Pete.. Del;.
Spot on.
I have a set of weekly checks I do too, takes 15-20 minutes at the weekend which includes a chain clean and re-lube (as per your other video). Recently got asked by a mate if my chain was new. 'No', I said, 'its been on six months, I've only had to tweak the adjusters once' - that's in 9,000 miles. I'll not replace that until the spring after the winter and the salt have done their worst. At £60-80 a pop I can live with a new one every 18,000 miles (12 months).
Thanks Adam, you are most kind, I'm only too glad to help...if you know a tip, pass it on, that way we all share knowledge and all become stronger for it ... take care, Del
Thats a great way to get them up, even if you have no jack, get a mate to lift it over onto the stand and hold it while you spuin the wheel..
Good checks both there Byron, make it a habit and your never likely to go far wrong... thanks for watching buddy... Del.
cool stuff....ty for the last vid, was awsome seeing all the bikes an cars. Pennys shoutout was awsome totyvm.
Not at all mate, most people dont take that much trouble over it, but the lights and tyre pressures wiull save you a lot of grief if nothing else... glad you will be doing some safety checks now... take care.. Del.
Easy to follow and practical advice. Great job!
Brilliant video mate :) I've just recently decided that I want to learn how to ride a motorbike so once I've passed me CBT and gotten myself a 125cc I'll most definitely be adopting these safety checks on a daily basis before heading out onto the road.
+Gambit896 Hi buddy, that's great news, glad to hear it... your instructor will talk to you about these checks, and other things along the same line too, good luck with it all, hope it goes well for ya !
Good one, like that, nothing like an acronym to keep it in your head... thanks mate,.. ill remember that.. Del.
Hi mate.the Nitrogen thing is a gimmick...stick to air from a foot pump... and with tools, if you want to carry some for emergencies, then its hard to know what you would need in all emergencies, but the regular factory supplied tool kit that comes with your bike under the seat in the little black bag is pretty comprehensive..and naturally a roadside puncture plug kit.....and finally, good breakdown cover for if it all goes wrong. hope that helps buddy, thanks for watching. ride safe aye, Del.
That bolt check best idea ever.
flippin eck this is exactly what I wanted. And I didn't even search for this, it just popped up! Thanks man :)
+Anton-Michael England Awesome...glad we could help..!
Hi Joe, you will notice a ring of oil developing around the fork leg after you've ridden the bike and the forks have gone up and down a few times, wipe it away and if it re-appears you have a fork seal gone...
Like Adetheblade said, just roll the bike back or forward and spray a section at a time till you are all the way round..easy... ride safe buddy.. Del.
Indeed, and if you had checked the tyre every day, you would have picked up the issue a few days sooner...at least you got away with it mate, and im sure that now you will do a bit more checking before you ride...nothing like knowing you can chuck it into a bend without worry..! take car buddy. Del.
Great video as always. I'm learning loads from you, thanks!
I notice you didn't check the front tyre visually. Would you not normally do this or is it just that in the video you haven't got the front wheel lifted? Also, wouldn't you include checking the brake fluid level?
Of course you would check the front tyre, I just demonstrated using the rear and for brevity moved on to the next thing, but yes, check both... brake fluid is a visual glance at the resevior and you should be taking notice of that kind of thing constantly anyway... thanks for watching mate, glad the videos can help you, Del
Attitude, fitness to ride and un-impared judgement are the very first things to check.
Hi Del - have to say great clips - have helped me a lot as a new rider. The tips I got from the garage I bought my bike were terrible - guy even told me never clean the chain. Great advise. Anyway just had a question on the clip - you mention about cuts in the tyre and that you can deal with it later. How do you deal with cuts? Now I've started me pre ride checks I have noticed a few in my tyre?
Hi Goodi, I've heard this before being told not to clean the chain, I think what the garages mean is don't 'WASH' the chain with soapy water, as this can make it rust... you can clean it obviously with thin solvents, like kerasine, or diesel, anything that's not water is fine, and certainly never use brake cleaner to clean a chain...
You can seal the little cuts in your tyre by opening them gently using a cocktail stick and squeeze in a tiny dab of puncture kit vulcanising glue to prevent them running deeper, all tyres get small cuts in them, and this will stop them getting worse... hope that helps mate, Del
mark chain as mentioned......wheel bike forward or back and spray in small sections. job done ! paddock stand good idea in the long run or fit a centre stand. makes the job a little bit easier. good luck
I was thinking a bit at a time but that may mean marking the chain in several sections so I can tell where I've sprayed already! The alternative is to sit on it, paddle it forward and create some sort of intricate spray-can-on-a-stick mechanism.
Cheers for the suggestions!
Thanks mate, appreciate you watching... Del.
great vid. made a copy of the list for my garage :) i do something similar already, but handy to have a checklist. love the tip on the bolts. great idea :D
Hey man, love your videos! Just subscribed and I have watched 3 videos now. Thanks for the information. Really concise and well explained. Will be watching more vids! Hope you keep posting videos! Supporting you through likes, views, and subscribes! from the Phils. :)
Hi Jon, thank you, hope there's some videos in our back catalogue that can help you out... they are in playlists to make it a bit easier as well... the amazing support we get keeps us going, so thank you for your kind words... ride safe, Del & Penny!
Superb video. Gonna share on twitter for me biker mates to see. Cheers Del!
Very good, I like your videos very much!
Glad you have heard of the Velocette. Noone here in the colonies has heard of it. It was given to me 25 years ago for cleani ng out someone's basement, where said Velo was residing in half a dozen cardboard boxes. Upon retiring 6 years ago, I sstarted playing with it and after 5 years, got it running. It is a 350 cc single MAC.1953 model Surprisingly fast and loud. Guess youi would call it a bobber due to lack of original parts. Will try to post photo
Good Job..
I remember this stuff by using the MSF code TCLOCS = Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis and Side stand.
I also give both front/back brakes a tap to verify they are working, before getting any speed or going into traffic. I also look for any obvious fluid leaks anywhere.
Hi mate, cheers, appreciate you watching, Del
well there you go, approval from the low country......what more could i want..lol... thanks for watching mate... cheers, Del.
Good idea Del. I drove bus for 23 years. Been driving Tractor Trailer for the last 10 years now. Hey, I just acquired a 1997 Harley Heritage Softail Classic. I'll have to get the wife to take some pic's or video for ya. Safe riding. Jim.
what kind of paint do you use to mark the fasteners? nail polish will work? or are you using something special?
Hi Del Boy, Still catching up with videos, but I want to ask after seein the Pre-ride Safety. What would you be your advise for buying tools that you have to carry for any mechanical emergency with the bike and another one after watching the importance of checking air in tires, would it make any important difference filling with Nitrogen instead of air? Thanks and I will keep watching
great video, Very helpful. Keep the good vids coming mate.
+hamitup Cheers buddy, glad you enjoyed it!
ha ha, Dan you crease me up mate, its just a few videos posted on the UK Discovery website thats all.. i think ill hold off ordering the limo for now..lol.. i would never blag anything, its not my thing.. it is what it has always been, a free portal to get some help and tips out to the riders out there so they can save a penny or two and keep thier bikes safe at the same time. anything more is extra.. i think more of the friends ive made around the world than anything else. take care buddy.
ha ha, right on the money there buddy....i use some old Orange nail polish Penny doesn't use....you can also use tippex, or even a marker pen....but rest assured its nothing special... cheers, Del.
Best motorcycle channel ever👍🏼👏🏼😜
Thanks mate, Del.
crikey, thought i had you on fast forward for a second there del. how many runs did it take to get everything under 7 min? swift camera work pen!
Hi Del, i'm a new rider from Portugal. My experience is just about 10 months with a 125cc scooter, and i've been riding a new BMW K1600GT from last October, so thank you for your videos, essential to me and i follow them trying to learn to be a better rider. About your bolt check...how can a newbie like me understand what bolts are critical? Can you help me out figuring this out? Thanks for all the videos, ride safe.
Well done Dan, good to be on the road aye....thanks for watching mate... cheers, Del.
Oil, breakfluid, and coolant I always check at least once a week. Tires, chain, lights and signals everyday. I have a fuelgauge on the Striple. But my question is, do you have the killswitch turned on or off, everytime you put the bike in the garage?
No, buddy, just use the key, the kill switch is just for emergencies...
Okay, just wondering. Çause I also only use it for emergency's.
Thanks a lot for your advices.
My wife just poked her nose in the door way and was most impressed with your choice of nail polish for the bolt heads. Not a colour she would wear but she thought it was great to see an Englishman putting orange dots all over his bike (she's Dutch...)
Hi Delboy, you mention dealing with small cuts on the tyres in this video, my back tyre has several of these cuts left after digging out pieces of flint. Is there something I need to do about this or just leave them? Some are fairly deep, but none deeper than the tread depth, its quite a new tyre.
i had the same issue. what i did was put the side stand down and put a car jack underneath and lift it about and inch off the ground so that there is just enough room to spin the tire.
I ride all year round and these checks are important. Some of my fair weather friends think I'm mad...
Great vid mate, subscribed! I'm going to sound like a smug git saying this but when I learnt about doing pre-ride checks from my instructor it really stuck with me and despite the tedium of it all I kept at it anyway before each ride. It definitely paid off - back when I was on my 125 I found out my rear brake lever was causing the brake light to stick... not very nice to have whilst on the road! One quick adjustment and I was good to go :)
So you lube the chain every day that you ride? Do you ever use chain clean?
Thanks Paul, we have a 50 year old hooligan image to dispell, set in place during the time of the swinging 60's by ill-informed idiot media, (just like today), we are, as we have always been, the safest, most in touch and aware road users on there today.... and prejudice reigns supreme.... every biker down is a brother lost, and tell this stuff to just one person you know, and we're making progress buddy.. take care.. Del.
Very good and useful thanks for this information
do you think these are just as important on mopeds? great videos by the way, good work :)
Funny, I always do those checks to before every ride.
Maybe we bus drivers are more focused on safety.
Besides, the security check are part of the driving lessons here in the Netherlands.
And you have to do them also on the driving test.
another one which would apply to 2 stroke riders is check you have enough 2t oil if you use autolube... many a stroker has been siezed through lack of 2t oil :D
Cheers Tim.
why aye man you are right on the nail so to speak very good sound advise all the best
very nice :), was about to get a hayabusa but got a 929 fireblade instead for a good price, maybe next time :),
Love it, added to favourites!
Thanks mate, basic stuff aye, but will save you a lot of cash in the long run.
Excellent stuff Jim, a fellow slugger... and well done on the Harley, im dead jealous mate... lets have a nice walk round video then aye..? take care on it matey... cheers, Del.
How do you lube a chain like that if you've only got a side stand? Would you have to go and get a paddock stand & bobbins as a substitute?
totally agree with all these checks Del........top video advice ! only other check i`d suggest ( go on then beat me with a big stick) is to ask yourself if you feel up to riding the bike. by that i mean, was it a heavy session down the local last night ? do you genuinely feel unwell ? all these sort of things affect your concentration etc which as you know mate is critical......moreso on a bike........just my ramblings. keep at it matey. cheers Ade