| Author | Message | ||
     Lloydxt |
Hi Badwebber's, I picked up 09 Uly XT with 2500 miles in April, I live in Seattle and that means I ride a lot in the rain. What kind of preventative maintenance should I be doing for my bike? Also my daily commute is fairly short, about 5-10 min. anything I should be looking for since the bike doesnt get much of a chance to really get going? Thanks!  | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
zip tie around the clutch cable boot will reduce the water going into the transmission. Also, some here have added a dirtbike boot to the clutch lever end of the cable. | ||
| Bzrider |
i ride 150 miles a day everyday on my uly rain or shine ive ridden 5 hours straight to baton rouge and only road out of the rain for about 10 min never had any water issues with the uly reg maint ride and enjoy | ||
| Lloydxt |
I was just reading about water getting past the bearings, I have the black sealed type, is this also a concern? | ||
| Froggy |
Yep.  | ||
| Lloydxt |
So I read that you can use anti-sieze, is this a common practice? or just keep them packed with grease? I dont really want to drill a hole in the wheel, but does that work? Im just trying to keep my bike in the best condition for the wet 10 months a year. It is my only means of transportation.  | ||
| Froggy |
Upgrade to a 2010 rear wheel. Drilling a hole and messing with bearings is not recommended. | ||
| Lloydxt |
What are the issues with only riding bike for 5 min? Ive read that it builds condensation? What can/should be done to eliminate potential problems? aside from taking the long way to work via Canada? | ||
| Ratbuell |
It does build condensation. The temp change in the oil causes water to condense, and you get a milkshake. For every short ride, take a long (30+ minutes) ride to burn off the condensation. If you absolutely cannot do that...change oil more often and keep an eye on things. The primary is the easiest to check - put it on a center stand or a pit stand so its upright, and pull the clutch inspection cover. Milkshake likes to accumulate there. | ||
| Froggy |
The 2010 wheel is currently on backorder, (some have waited a few months), but it looks like they are finally making progress on them. American Sport Bike shows it as in stock if you needed one sooner (not black). http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/17330.html My advice - Buy a black one from your favorite dealer (along with the bearing/axle kit), it will take a little while to show up, but it is unlikley you will have a failure before it arrives. Some have gotten the wheel for no charge under warranty when the old wheel failed, but you are looking at some good downtime waiting on the wheel to come in. | ||
| Lloydxt |
Cool Thanks!  Anything else that you guys and gals would do setting the bike up For rain? (rode in rain last week and looks like rain next week) Where is summer?  | ||
| Dio |
I've had a 2010 rear on order for my Ss now for 2 months and still waiting. Luckily, this is for preventive measure, not for unit down! | ||
| Brucespoint |
Hi All, neWby here, a Concern Of Mine, having Just Purchased a Higher Milage 07, and LiVing Outside Thunder Bay, Wet Weather Riding part&parcel, shOrt runs not a Problem though... Bit Concerned bout spares, Whats "consumable", long term... engine, i Do Not have much Concern about, but Other parts? Anybody started a List? What to stock for spares, buy, Try to, for Life, have a GrandSon, Might Like such a beast someday... NiCe TOOL, theSe BiKes Are! BruCe2 Will be reading Threads, tOss no rOCks pleAse! MaN PLAN'Z!....poof! (GOD*L*A*U*G*H*'Z!!!) (SMART*FELLAH'Z!!!) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
If you zip-tie the clutch cable boot then you should also either pack the boot with grease or smear the adjusting mechanism under it with never-seize or it will rust up. Smear never-seize around the wheel bearings to further seal them from dirt and water. It certainly has kept my bearings (original orange seal) in great shape. When you change the tires, pull the outside bearing seals and finger smear grease into the bearings. Oh yeah, if you wonder about cleaning the old grease out of the bearings, don't waste your time, just add right on top of the old. I've been doing this for close to 30,000 miles and I always just keep adding on top of the dirty looking grease. Then put the seal back on and coat outside seal and bearing surfaces with never-seize. My thinking is that you can either have a sparkling bike and seized bearings or a not so clean looking and great running bike. Your choice. | ||
| Lloydxt |
Ok, I smeared ball bearing grease and zip tied the clutch cable boot top and bottom. How about clutch cable maintenance, regarding wet weather? I like the idea of a dirt bike boot over it but is there any grease I should put on it and what kind? Thanks again! | ||
| Skinstains |
IMO never-seez has no bussiness near bearings as it has grit in it. I would use grease instead. There are "nlgi # 3" greases intended for open gears that will stay on for a while without having grit near your bearings. | ||
| Oldwesterncowboy |
zip tie around the clutch cable boot???? my 09XT clutch lever does not have a boot or do you mean zip tie the boot around the clutch adjustment nuts, near the headers? | ||
| Towpro |
Cowboy, down near the header. | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
ZIp tie clutch cable boot? Can someone post a pic please. I comute to work everyday rain or shine and so perhaps I too should do this?? | ||
| Hooper |
I would get extensions for the handguards - the stockers were just not tall enough to deflect rain and drippage away from the tops of my gloves. I have the pricey Touratech ones, but there are others, like Palmer Products. With a short commute, you might be okay without them, but they also help in cold weather. And get a louder horn, like a Stebel Nautilus. Around here, everyone forgets how to drive when a drop of water hits the pavement.  | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
Yes, I have already replaced my handguards with Barkbuster storms. |
