Maintenance Fundamentals

Pre-ride Inspection

To ensure safety, it is your responsibility to perform a pre-ride inspection and make sure that any problem you find is corrected. A pre-ride inspection is a must, not only for safety, but because having a breakdown, or even a flat tyre, can be a major inconvenience.

Refer to the Competition Handbook for procedures.

Competitive riding can be tough on a vehicle, so it’s important to inspect your vehicle and correct any problems you find before each ride.

Check the following before each ride:

Engine oil level

Fuel line for condition

Coolant for proper level

Cooling system and hoses for condition

Spark plug for proper heat range, carbon fouling and spark plug wire terminal for looseness

Air cleaner for condition and contamination

Clutch lever freeplay

Breather drain for cleaning

Steering head bearing and related parts for condition

Throttle operation

Tyres for damage or improper inflation pressure

Spokes for looseness

Rim locks for looseness

Front and rear suspension for proper operation

Front and rear brakes, check operation

Drive chain for correct slack and adequate lubrication

Drive chain sliders and drive chain rollers for damage or wear

Exhaust pipe/Muffler for looseness

Every possible part for looseness (such as cylinder head bolts, engine mounting bolts/ nuts, axle nuts, handlebar holder bolts, fork bridge pinch bolts, drive chain adjuster, lock nuts, drive chain roller bolt/nut, wire harness connectors)

PGM-FI malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) operation

Recommended topic(s)
Between Races/Heats & Practice Maintenance
Tyres (Inspecting/Replacing)
Importance of Maintenance