Keeping It Clean

One habit that has stuck with me since Basic Training in the Army is keeping things that I use clean. Breaking down a rifle, cleaning it, and putting it back together wasn’t just to keep us busy. In doing so we learned how the parts fit together, and we learned keeping it clean kept everything working properly. Having your scooter in top shape to deal with the dumb things that can happen out on the street is just as ‘life and death’ important.

Cleaning your scooter is a great way to keep safe and ready to roll.Fast braking, skilled maneuvers, and just plain old riding all depend on your scooter being in good shape. Keep your wheels clean, and as you spin and shine the rim check for dragging brakes, or a bent brake rotor. A bent rotor can generate enough heat to cook a Corndog. While the scooter is on the stand check the PSI and tread depth of your tires. Check the brake pads for thickness, check for any play in your wheel bearings and goose neck bearing (triple trees) and check for any side play in your swing arm.

Keep your engine clean, should an oil leak pop up out of nowhere it will be easy to spot. While you’re down there polishing the primary, shake the shifting linkage and check the play on the brake pedal. Check the oil levels and quality of the oil. Wiping the dip stick off with your fingers will reveal any grit in the oil and if it needs changed. Look for any loose nuts and look for an orange dust color around nuts and bolts, this is a signal they are loose.

When you wipe down the frame look for any frayed or loose wires, and check throttle and brake cables that work now, but for how long, are they lubed. Wax the tank until you can see your face in the paint and as long as we’re up in the cockpit we might as well turn on the lights and blinkers and check for any outages.

So… the next time you see a really clean scooter Grasshopper, look past the bling to the heart of the bike and know that’s probably a well maintained machine.

John ‘Hammer’ Hanzlik

ALR Chapter 1, Omaha, Neb.