Motorcycle Road and Race Blog

Motorcycle tuning comes in many forms and can lead to different things. Engine tuning can be costly and lead to reliability issues in some cases so unless you are trying to create a pure racing machine it is usually advised to only change things external such as carburettor jetting modifications, exhaust replacement, high flow air filters and fuel injection mapping . Any of these can show a marked improvement in power and delivery and maintain reliability and ride ability.

Leon Camier and Max Biaggi will be riding their Aprilia’s in Alitalia colours for 2010. I can see the sea of race reps at Boxhill already. Very cool old school styling.

Instead of leaving it to a result of man and machine the powers that be have added some very complicated rules to shake up the BSB grid.

Our parner Visordown has listed all the rules for you to see. Click here to view them

We shall see what happens.

Motorcycles with fairings will have a screen fitted as standard which is designed to deflect the wind over your head but as the person riding the bike changes the screen always stays the same, hence the need for alternatives such as double bubble screens and flip up screens. Of course unfaired bikes that offer no wind protection can also benefit from a screen so many manufacturers create various different styles of screen to suit all bikes and tastes. This area is also a popular choice with people who are looking for a bit of individualism so various colours and tints are available to complement the bikes they are fitted to. Genuine parts and top quality aftermarket screens such as Zero Gravity screens are usually of a higher quality and optically clearer than the some aftermarket alternatives and often a price difference reflects this.

This is a very important part of owning a motorcycle. Keeping your motorcycle clean is a long term investment and as most of us have spent a lot of money buying our bikes it is prudent to keep then clean and lubricated. In winter time this is even more important as salt and grit on the road can eat away at the metal parts of the bike causing corrosion and rust. There are many products available to clean your bike as well as products to prevent corrosion and facilitate the easy removal of dirt and road grime. A bike that has been ridden through the winter without being washed or protected in some way will inevitably have seized nuts and bolts, suspension linkages and bearings leading to higher servicing costs and reducing the value of your motorcycle. It is not recommended to use a high powered jet wash to clean your motorcycle as this can cause other problems including washing out of grease in areas such as suspension bushes and lever pivot points which again will lead to seized parts and poor performance, possibly even making the motorcycle dangerous to ride. Some simple steps to prevent the above include washing the bike after riding it in bad weather or off road and using products such as “Sdoc ” to clean and protect it afterwards.

Rearsets are primarily used by motorcycle racers looking to gain extra ground clearance and a different riding position. Although in recent years rearsets are becoming increasingly popular with road riders as well. Being able to lean the bike over further without the worry of your footrests digging in has its advantages. Adjustable rearsets allow you to move your foot position back putting more of the your weight over the front wheel which gives better control and more feel.

British rider Chaz Davies has sined for the BE1 Triumph racing team. Having riden for the team in the last 3 races last season he has chosen to partner Gary Mcoy on the Triumph Daytona 675.

Good luck Chaz.

A good workshop manual for your motorycle is a crucial item to own if you are attempting to service, maintain or repair your own motorcycle. Easy to understand with numerous pictures and diagrams to follow the amateur mechanic can follow the instructions for every kind of job step by step. Essential wiring diagrams can assist with electrical issues. And should you need it you can also find information on engine rebuilds.

Also known as “final drive” it is the link between the output shaft of the gearbox and the rear wheel. Motorcycle front and rear sprockets are supplied in various sizes for the different motorcycles they are designed to fit and the chain also comes in many different lengths and pitches. Chains to fit larger motorcycles have orings installed between the rollers that help retain oil which is required to lubricate the rollers giving the chain a longer life as possible. Changing the amount of teeth on either the front or rear sprocket can alter gearing, by increasing the teeth on the rear sprocket you increase acceleration through the gears but decrease the possible top speed of the bike, the same effect is found if you decrease the amount of teeth on the front sprocket. By decreasing the amount of teeth on the rear sprocket you increase the potential top speed of the bike but decrease the acceleration, likewise increasing the amount of teeth on the front sprocket has the same effect. The best known and possibly strongest chain available is made by D.I.D. who using a special “x” shaped oring have managed to make a chain providing many more miles of useable life compared to other brands. Motorcycle Chains that have been poorly adjusted and or infrequently lubricated will wear out much quicker and require replacing sooner, this poor maintenance can also result in “tight spots” in the chain making correct adjustment almost impossible. A new drive chain fitted to old worn sprockets is not advised as this will also speed up the wear of the new parts.

Stopping the thieves from stealing your bike is something most of us take very seriously and using a security device is a good way to deter them. Whether you choose a motorcycle alarm or padlock and chain it is always advisable to buy the best you can afford. Some ingenious ways of protecting your bike have been devised over the years including disc locks and alarms with pagers that warn you when someone it tampering with your bike. Other security options include etching and tagging of the individual parts of your bike which some manufacturers now do as standard. Bike theft has the added problem of increasing insurance premiums so many insurers now offer discount for the use of certain security products .