Bike Bitz

10/06/2017

Whether you're selling your bike, performing maintenance or just want it to look its best, detailing a motorcycle pays big dividends. We offer a professional detailing service but should you wish to give it a go, here are some tips.

All work must be carried out in a shady area and be sure the engine is cool to the touch. We recommend removing the seat and lifting the tank to expose the engine. On motor cross bikes we also remove most of the plastics. Don't forget to seal off the exhaust.

Start by rinsing the bike off with plain water using a garden hose and nozzle with adjustable spray pattern. You can also use a pressure washer to rinse the bike, but dial down the pressure to its lowest setting and maintain a healthy distance from the bike to avoid damaging the softer metal, bearings and plastic parts.

Now you will need a good degreaser or paraffin and paint brush to clean the chain and any other oily or greasy areas. Let the degreaser or paraffin stand for a while to soften the chain l**e or grease on the bike. Rinse off with plain water.

Next use a gentle car wash soap (NOT dish washing liquid or the likes), and a microfiber wash mitt or sponge. Two buckets are needed. One with the soapy water and the other with clean water to rinse the mitt or sponge before putting it back into the soap bucket. This ensures that all the dirt from the bike does not go back into the soap bucket and scratch the bike.

Start washing at the top of the bike and work your way down to the bottom washing the wheels last. Don't leave the soap too long before rinsing as it will leave stains on the paint and chrome. Dry the bike with a clean micro fiber cloth or chamois.

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the services we offer, give us a call or send us a message.

11/05/2017

Bike Bitz would like to know what accessories or services people are looking for the most and how much they want to spend for those sevices or accessories. We will then try make it happen for you. Let us know via email ([email protected]) and you could win a free Motorcycle Valet to the value of R500.00

10/04/2017

Do you find that the paint on your motorcycle petrol tank is getting scuffed up as a result of your legs rubbing against the petrol tank. We have the answer for you. We custom make clear vinyl protectors for the side of the tank that prevents the paint scuffing. We can also make the protectors in a colour of your choice as well as print any wording or graphic on the protectors. Contact us today with your make and model and we will quote for the tank protectors.

We are also able to make custom protectors for the front of the fairing and front shock protectors. Dont hesitate, call or email us today.

16/03/2017

Bike Bitz Tyre Pressure Gauges are now availabe on our web site. They are high quality accurate gauges. In the last blog we explained how to check your tyre pressures on your motorcycle or car for that matter. Now we all know how innaccurate the gauges are at the garages. That is why we have had agauges made up that are specific to motorcycles and cars. We can customise the tyre pressure gauge to suit your needs. What that means is that we can make the range on the gauge anything between 100 kPa and 160MPa.

If you do track days, tyre pressure gauges are even more important. Get your tyre pressures wrong at the track and you will destroy the tyre along with your lap times. Please dont hesitate to call if needing assistance with tyre pressures or tyre pressure gauges. The picture is only to give an idea of what the gauge looks like. It is not an exact copy of the sale items.

16/03/2017

Motorcycle tyre pressures are the most easily adjusted variable on your motorcycle and also one of the most crucial. But the vast majority of us are guilty of neglecting it and, even if we do check it regularly, failing to take full advantage of the benefits adjusting it brings. Here’s 5 things you need to know about motorcycle tire pressure.

1. Check Motorcycle Tyre Pressures Regularly
Opinions vary on how often, with many manufacturers suggesting once a week and some safety experts stating every day. Just factor in how you’re using your motorcycle. Commuting every day in fairly stable weather conditions? Once a week will serve you just fine. In the middle of a big Adventure trip with variable loads on your bike, conditions ranging from highway to single track and hitting a bunch of sharp rocks? Once or, if conditions are particularly severe, even twice a day may be best.

2. Check Them While Cold
The suggested pressures in your owner’s manual are for cold tire pressures. That means after your bike’s been sitting for 20 minutes or more, don’t wait until winter. Heating tires up by riding on them can increase pressures by over 10 percent. The MSF actually recommends waiting three hours from your last ride before attempting to ascertain a correct cold pressure. That sounds like overkill to us, use your judgement.

3. Use Your Own, High Quality Gauge
I’ve seen the gauges at gas station forecourts read-off by up to 30 psi over my own gauge that I carry with me everywhere. Even a variation of just a few psi can alter your motorcycle’s handling and braking abilities, so it’s important to use an accurate gauge.

4. The Extremes
What’s the worst that can happen if your tires are massively under inflated? Ultimately the tire could come off the rim if there’s not enough pressure to force the bead into the wheel. More likely, you’ll simply experience sluggish, unstable handling, slow steering and you could damage the tire or wheel, particularly if you’re riding off-road. Over inflated? The size of the contact patch is reduced and the ride worsened. Too much pressure can cause your tires to quickly overheat, reducing traction.

5. Going Up And Going Down
On-Road: Stick to your manufacturer recommended pressures. Even if you’re spending all day Sunday on The Snake trying to get that ultimate elbow down shot, dropping pressures will just slow your steering. Modern performance tires are designed to work at stock pressures unless you’re on a track.

Off-Track: If you’re on road rubber, start at 30 psi front and rear and monitor your tire wear through the sessions. Your tires should look scrubbed, but not marbled. If the sides of the tread do begin to marble, reduce pressures a few psi until they’re happier. If you’re on race rubber, you likely know what you’re doing already.

Off-Road: Lower pressures equal more traction off-road, but the compromise is potential damage to your rims or pinch flats caused by the tube getting “pinched” between tire and rim. I like to take the big ADV bikes down to around 17 psi front and rear, which seems to be a good compromise between traction and puncture-proofness. Experiment to see what works for you. I’ve taken dual-sports as low as 8 psi in particularly challenging terrain, but doing so put me at undue risk of punctures. Make sure you pump them back up before you get back on the road!

Don’t go up or down in other circumstances. Stock pressures work.

07/02/2017