Page 48 - Mandurah National Rally 2024 Edition 8
P. 48
Make sure you have them well inflated and check them EVERY morning! It goes
without saying that a good puncture outfit and some method of reinflating a
tyre is essential.
Those little bottles of gas are fine to reset the beads of the tyre if needed but
with the size of some of the new tyres you would need quite a few to get the
pressure back up.
One of those small compressors is a good thing. Also if you do have to use one
of those wee bottles make sure the valve is at the top and the bottle is pointing
upward. You want gas in that tyre not liquid!
2. Wheel bearings need to be checked and brake pads and fluid need to be new or
near new. Soggy brakes on a hot day when confronted by one of the lumps of
potential road kill that haunt these parts are not my idea of a good day out!
3. If the bike is chain driven, then how old are the chain and sprockets? They
must be new or near new. Oil the chain at the end of every day’s ride.
If you have any doubts about their condition, change them. Shaft oil to be
replaced before you leave, let’s face it there is not much of it anyway and it is
going to be very busy down there out of sight. Belt drives of course need to be
in good condition as well.
4. Lights and switches all OK? That side stand switch that played up last winter;
been fixed yet? I always spray all the fuses and relays with “Inox” before heading
out and that way I can forget about it when the rain comes pouring down.
Carry spare globes and fuses and electrical tape. Ah yes…..and don’t forget
the
gaffer tape! One little detail that many don’t check is to make sure your battery
is in good condition and that the earth and charging system are tight and secure.
A thorough check of all the electrics just before you leave is also a good idea.
5. Now I know that this may sound pedantic but run the torque wrench over
everything. Make sure all those bolts that we never go near like the brake
calliper bolts and so on are up to the correct setting.
Ulysses Club Inc. 2024 The Great Western Rally 48
