Cleaning and lubricatiing Chain

If you were like me every 500 km trip you made, you will  lubricate your chain. Over time the stickyness of the chain lube, rain, dust and grime will stick to your chain.  This made the chain more heavy and in rease friction with your sprocket. The friction will drag your bike and quickly worn out the teeth of your sprckets.

Today after almost 8000km since I had my chain cleaned. My tools are only with a brush, old iice cream container, roll of tissue and half a bottle of gas.whiile the bike is on the paddock rear stand, I brushed gently the chain after dipping the brush in the gas. While brushing he chain, the ice cream container placed at the bottom of the chain to catch the dripping excess of gas and dirt. This container also will minimize spalshing gas onto the rims and tyre.

Once completed I then put some gas on the tissue and wipe the chain to ensure all dirt are off the chain. Later I wipe dry again the chain with a new tissue and let the chain alone for ten minutes to get the remaining gas evaporated from the chain.

While waiting for the chain to dry, I took this opportinity to clean other moving parts such as suspension joints with WD40. I also moved my footpegs on my R1 a step higher since it I am not really comfy with current position. Once the  hain is dry I tested to rotate my wheels and start the engin. It feels very light and the wheels are rotating by it self once started even if without gears. 

Gently now I sprayed the chain with chain lube while covering the bike from excessive chain lube on the body or rim. I was very happy today once its finish Nd the chain look very clean an smooth.

Now the bike is ready for the next trip. I hope you will benefit with this article as I also learn it from youtube on how to do it8

Tyre Break - in

As you know from earlier blog, I have just change new tyre from Bridgestone S20 EVO replacing my BT016R. I didn't ask my mechanic to sand my both tyre to take away the wax and oil on the tyre, but I decided to break in my tyre gradually through riding.

It's a fun day today, with my confidence are building up even withe the new tyre the tyre to lean over up to 80% of the edge of the tyre. I didn't go to the track either as the nearest track is in Sepang somewhere 500 km away from wher I am today.

What I decided today with my friend, we ride from Bertam to Penang bridge ->  Bertam -> Pulau Betong Teluk Kumbar and then to Bt Ferringhi via Balik Pulau. My journey map as the following image.

Easily this trip would have 150 km in it and my tyres had a good break in today. I was very confident today with the new tyre and my lean angle shows through the tire wear although it was still new and waxy. At first I could feel both front and rear are twitdhing here and there but nothing to drastic and dangerous as I am not ridng too fast.

At the end of the journey my tyre looks like this!

                                                                Front

                                                                   Rear

As you can see above both tyre has a good 1 cm untouched, where I consider this is a improvement in my riding technics and confidence level are high. You have to take consideration that this is within couple hours the tyre on this bike from shelf.