Big Red,s Garage Motorcycle maintenance

[Oregonredford]

Hey guys.
It’s that time of year. I finally got my bikes out of the trailer and into the garage for some pre spring maintenance and to get one ready for some track days.
Now that most of the snow is gone.
This year my main bike needs a new chain and I’m a pretty meticulous guy with regards to keeping things clean so I was surprised when I pulled the cover by the front sprocket and it was pretty gummed up. So I tore everything off and cleaned until sparkling. New sprockets and chain.
I bought a new chain break, river tool. It’s amazing.

Next up, brake fluid and valves on the BMW.

Dirt bikes were put away ready for spring other they got some fresh gas.




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[buttoncl]

Cool shop man. I do a ton of bike building and maintenance . Mostly Harley and old school triumph stuff but I have had a few newer metric bikes. I loved my triumph tiger 800xc.

Do you have a bike lift? if not I highly recommend it

 

[driftpin]

Cool shop man. I do a ton of bike building and maintenance . Mostly Harley and old school triumph stuff but I have had a few newer metric bikes. I loved my triumph tiger 800xc.

Do you have a bike lift? if not I highly recommend it

Looks like you have the space for a lift, it makes work on a bike so-much more pleasant. Your back will thank-you. You could even make a bench and use a small hoist to elevate the bike, and then roll the bench under it. Even the Harbor Freight $300 bench is better than nothing.

I find that I often use the Handy-Lift I have for a workbench when I don't have a motorcycle on it.

 

[bwringer]

I ran out of **** to do with my bikes weeks ago... I sort of have to ration things out most winters to keep myself from going batty.

And yes, I would strongly recommend a lift. It's life-changing, and you would make much use of it.

 

[Justind97]

I ran out of **** to do with my bikes weeks ago... I sort of have to ration things out most winters to keep myself from going batty.

And yes, I would strongly recommend a lift. It's life-changing, and you would make much use of it.

Sounds like you need a project bike! I've got several on the go to keep myself busy all winter...

And then of course my neighbour keeps blowing sled engines which feed some of the cost of my projects!

 

[Oregonredford]

I’ve looked but I do a lot of side fabrication projects so the lift takes up too much room.
I also let the wife park her car in the garage in the winter and the bikes go in the trailer.
It’s all good though.


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[TriumphFan]

+1000 on the bike lift. Cheap at HF... I have one on mine all the time so it's not like it is taking up that much additional space.

 

[sennister]

I have three bikes. 2x Honda ST1100 and one ST1300. One of the 1100s is in the process of being taken apart for a timing belt change. The other will go on the lift once this one is done. The ST1300 is naked right now getting some electrical upgrades that I have been putting off. I bought the bike used from a buddy last year after I totaled my previous ST1300 and he upgraded to a BMW K1600. There isn't anything wrong with how he has the flarkles wired on his old bike but I want it wired my way with an aux fuse panel rather than all these inline fuses all over the place. I also had to run permanent wiring for the 3 GPS mounts. I just did a temp job splicing into his existing power sources last year because I wanted to ride.

We have way too much refreeze going on now and the gravel road I live on has 2" of ice on it so I am a good month away from getting out on the bikes. It is always hard this time of year as we might hit 60 for the first time on Sat.

 

[sennister]

+1000 on the bike lift. Cheap at HF... I have one on mine all the time so it's not like it is taking up that much additional space.

That is what I do. I got the same cheap HF lift on sale for something like $250 a few years back. I use it for a lot of other stuff than just motorcycle stuff too. It is very handy to have a platform that can be hydraulically lifted to near work height.

 

[1953mercury]

Bike lift also makes a great base for a fab/welding table. Puts whatever you are working on, right where you want it. A few pins or bolts to hold it in place Remove the top and store against the wall when you use it for the bikes. Mike