So my daddy was the one that put me on my first bike, held my hand when I f*cked it up, and told me/helped me when anythingand everything needed to be done to my bikes. So now that I've grown up and started trying to do this on my own with him 2000 miles away I'm a little confused.

I bought a CBR 600 RR not too long again. I've done a little work on it and had a few problems but for the most part it's all good. But I'm still a little behind on the small stuff.

Like when should I change the oil, and how often do I need to clean the chain, oh yea and how to heck do you tell if the brakes need to be changed?

Those are a few of the things my pops didn't inform me on before I felt the need to go the 2000 miles away to college.

Somebody please dumbproof this for me, or at least get me going in the right direction.

Thanks Katie

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You should change your oil and filter between 2500-3500 miles. You can go a little longer on synthetic but it costs more.

You should clean your chain by soaking it in Kerosene, drying it off, and then lubing it with either a chain lube or a gear oil (80w90). Any motorcycle store will have these products. You will have to move your bike backwards and forwards to make sure you get all of the chain.You can read your manual for assistance on doing this. You should also read your manual on the tension your chain requires because that is just as important as the lube for longevity. Every 500 miles for chain lubing. The more often the better.

The part of your brake pad that touches the rotor has a metal backing. The pad itself is slightly smaller than this backing and you can see the pad's thickness by leaning down low by the front/back wheel. If your pads are worn, you'll have less than an 1/8th of pad left and the backing piece will look like it's about to touch the rotor (the round thing with all the holes).

I know that there is a link on this site for service manuals for these bikes. I have it downloaded on my 600RR and it can help you in ID'ing what needs service and it will give you step by step instructions on doing stuff yourself. If you take off your right fairing plastic, you have a tool kit that has all the sizes you should need to do the work yourself.

BTW, how many miles do you have? Your service manual will tell you if you need some more maintenance according to mileage.


http://hondatech.info/downloads/Moto/

 

I don't have a service manual. Igot the bike off a guy that had no ideahow to take care of it. He is in Army and it was the thing to do, Him and his buddy's all got bikes. Where ever he was living he just took it to the closet dealership. I want to work on it myself.

The bike had an oil change the day before I got it from him. I know that for a fact, but I've put right at 2000 miles on it a little more then a month. It's got 10000 miles on it. Just rolled over the 10,000 mark yesterday.

I cleaned the chain a couple weeks ago, dawn dish soap, warm water, and some kinda chain lube I got for the Honda shop, can't remember the name right now. How often should I do this? How do I know if I cleaned it good enough? How do I know if my chain needs to be replaced?

I don't have a manual for this bike, I need to get one. Any advice on where would be a good place to check for one.

I'm soooooo sorry for the hundred questions, I know I look like a dumbass, I just really don't want to mess this up. Three things in this world I protect more then anything, my bike, my truck, my dog. Mess with anything else, but you mess with those three and you'll be answerin to a Benelli Super Eagle. Call me a tomboy, call me a redneck....I don't care, I just want to make sure I'm taking care of this bike the way it should be.

 

I think I edited my post to answer a few of those questions. The manual is on the link... it's down on the page a little ways but it's there. It will give you an idea of when to change things and what worn out items look like. You can prob do an oil change before your store it for winter (if you store it), but you can use that oil for another 1000mi. If your chain is shiny, it's good. If your chain is black and dirty, it needs to be cleaned. You can have a little bit of surface rust on your chain, but you shouldn't have too much because it may bind up (not move like it should). Sounds like you have some lube so it's pretty simple to just keep it lubed.

 

Thanks darlin, so far I think I've done it right. I was just getting a little on the iffy side with changing the oil. My nerves have calmed a little. I'll download the manual right now. Thanks again, Katie

 

Try the search function too, there are a few different ways to do your maintenance items. Also maybe post your location, maybe another member could meet up with you at a bike night and walk you through a few things. None of it is hard, sometimes seeing it once helps.

When changing the oil, the only real way to screw up is to over-tighten the drain plug and strip it, the pan is only aluminum so be careful with it.

 

I try to search but it never really works out that well for me. I really wish someone lived close to me that knows what they are doing, but I'm from a spit town in the northeast corner of Arkansas. I live in Manila, if anyone knows where the hell that is. That's how my dad use to do it, he'd walk me step by step on what I was doing. Ask me to do ANYTHING to a ninja 250, and I gotcha covered. I can strip one nearly to the ground in a matter of an hour or two. Do you know of anyone that lives in the Jonesboro area? That's where I am.

 

I know where it is but havent lived there in a few years(lived in north little rock).

The maintence is almost the same as the 250,slightly different in some ways but a bike is a bike.We are a great bunch and will help you with whatever you need

 

Will you marry me? I can PM pics if it would help you make up your mind...

 

8 posts til leg humping.... that must be a record.