Exhausts and Engine » Planning for long term ownership

Although I keep my bike road ready all year round, I have been looking at some planned maintenance over the winter period.
I had intended to trade in last year to the new variant, but two years of miserly mileage has made me rethink my plans and I shall now keep it for the foreseeable future
This led me to looking at what aspects of the bike might benefit from a going over, The engine and drivetrain are fine so it would be the exhaust, stands, brakes and other ancillaries that would be targeted.
Is there any benefit in removing the whole exhaust system and getting at those unseen bits that lurk beneath as well as keeping nuts and bolts free and usable?
Are there any other areas that would benefit from some TLC or should I adopt the attitude of 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'?

Alan

Zitat von Alda im Beitrag #1

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Is there any benefit in removing the whole exhaust system and getting at those unseen bits that lurk beneath as well as keeping nuts and bolts free and usable?

Alan

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Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #3

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Zitat von Alda im Beitrag #1

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Is there any benefit in removing the whole exhaust system and getting at those unseen bits that lurk beneath as well as keeping nuts and bolts free and usable?

Alan

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We had our K75S bikes for 12 years and K1200RS bikes for 8 years and did not have any problems with the stainless steel exhaust on those bikes.

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Dropping the exhaust is relatively easy and well worth doing once in a while. Coppagrease on the exhaust studs is good insurance against future seizure too. I clean my callipers annually and boiling hot soapy water with tooth brush seems to work well.

I get underneath the bike and clean around the bottom of the engine. I bought a spare 2nd hand stand. The recoated one is starting to suffer and I'll get the 2nd one away to be done over the Winter.

I find SDOC 100 and ACF 50 plus elbow grease works for me.

Peter

Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #6

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Dropping the exhaust is ........................well worth doing once in a while.

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #5

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if they are going to seize they would have done it by now on a 1200. If there is a problem, deal with it only if you actually need to replace the headers. otherwise, leave well alone.

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I come from a working regime of routine maintenance where equipment was periodically stripped, checked for wear and tear, and any problems dealt with accordingly.
I accept that most modern cars and bikes require little maintenance but it feels wrong to constantly neglect some aspects of moving machinery to the point that when failure does occur it is both costly and difficult to repair.
Stripping checking and lubricating etc can reduce failures and ease future repairs as well as broadening ones mechanical knowledge.
I am not considering a complete stripdown just the removal of some components to access otherwise hidden areas.
A good clean and a wipe with an oily rag will suffice between rides.

Alan

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #7

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Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #6

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Dropping the exhaust is ........................well worth doing once in a while.

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Why?

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Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #8

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #5

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if they are going to seize they would have done it by now on a 1200. If there is a problem, deal with it only if you actually need to replace the headers. otherwise, leave well alone.

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I agree, there's no reason to touch the headers unless there's plans to install a full aftermarket exhaust.

On my K1200RS I had to re-torque the header nuts the first few years because the would loosen.
When they stopped loosening I never touched them again. When the bike got some age on it I was afraid the studs going into the head might break off.
I knew I would never replace the exhaust and saw no reason to mess with it.

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Count me as one of those who learn what parts of my machines are prone to either wear or corrosion and at least trying to regularly tend to them so they don't, you know, wear or corrode. To do otherwise seems neglectful & very possibly a large and/or expensive future PITA not only for me, but for anyone owning it in the future.

Zitat von Pyrrho im Beitrag #12

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Count me as one of those who learn what parts of my machines are prone to either wear or corrosion and at least trying to regularly tend to them so they don't, you know, wear or corrode. To do otherwise seems neglectful & very possibly a large and/or expensive future PITA not only for me, but for anyone owning it in the future.

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Started with a little preventative maintenance today, starting at the front. Checking bolts for tightness and general cleaning in nooks and crannies. The radiator looked a little bunged up at the bottom layers so I removed the plastic guard to get in with a small brush and air line. A small stone fell out, trapped between the guard and the cooling fins it was slowly burrowing its way into the matrix.
Glad I found it when I did and not in a cloud of steam...

Alan

I agree that long term ownership can be rewarded with simple maintenance.
The luggage rack has those deep bolt holes that get wipe round with WAXOYL on the end of a cotton bud every summer so that the warmth helps it ‘flow’. Same with the frame holes.
Any other parts that are removed are then treated to COPASLIP or some other long term ‘anti seize’ product.
A few years ago (2010) I sold my 1997 Honda Firestorm to a mate who reported back it was a joy to work on as everything came apart aided by the liberal use of COPASLIP.
I was quite proud of that.