Tourer’s Guide - Before you start (Courtesy: BikeIndia.in)

Engine
The engine is the most stressed part of a motorcycle during a road trip. On empty, long highways one tends to wring the throttle and cruise at high speeds. Riding through hilly terrain also means the engine operates in high revs most of the times. Constant running without brakes increases the engine temperature and puts a lot of load on the bike’s running parts like the piston, cylinder head, gaskets, etc. Make sure the gaskets aren’t leaking and the parts mentioned above don’t require an immediate change. Also get the compression of the engine checked to deduce any faults.

Headlight For many of us, riding in the night is adventurous as well as a means to cover ground fast. However, most roads in India are still without street lights and dividers which means oncoming traffic can easily blind you. Ensure that the headlights are working properly before hitting the road. HID (High Intensity Discharge) lights throw a much brighter beam - invest in these. Also carry spare bulbs and fuse for the headlight. If your bike is old, cleaning the inside of the headlight glass can make a lot of difference.

Front disc Most of the times, it is recommended to use the front disc while braking. Frequent high speed braking can heat as well as wear the pads fast. Hence, make sure the pads have enough life on them. Replace the brake pads and check brake oil to ensure a safe ride.

Front tyre As with the rear wheel, make sure the front tyre too has enough tread. While braking, the pressure build up on the front tyre is a lot. Hence, on wet/snowy/muddy roads, it is recommended to have a good, grippy tyre up front. However, avoid upsizing as it makes the bike front heavy and deteriorates handling as well. Tubeless tyres are a great option at the front as well.

Rear tyre
Usually, a good quality tyre should last around 30,000-35,000km if used moderately. However, if you use dual-purpose tyres, the life gets reduced.
Make sure there is enough tyre life before embarking on a long trip, especially in the monsoons.
Ensure that the tyres are not leaking air before you set out. Always keep the air pressure at the recommended psi. If you’re planning a ride that calls for consistent high-speeds, a slightly higher pressure is recommended. Go in for tubeless tyres if possible as they have the tendency to hold air for a while even in case of a puncture.

Vital Spares
A clutch usually lasts thousands of kilometers - upto 50,000km or more in many cases. However, if you have been using your bike for stunting and have hilly terrain to encounter with steep climbs (like up north), we recommend that you carry an extra set of plates. It can be difficult to find an authorised service center in remote areas. However, any motorcycle repair shop will be able to replace the plates if you have an extra set on you.

Similarly, carry important cables needed to actuate throttle and clutch. These usually last for a long time but you never know when they decide to snap.

Tread and Pressure

Invest in a good air pressure gauge. Fuel pump guages are not always accurate. Before embarking on a ride, when the tyre is cold, check the pressure and keep it at a couple of psi more than the recommended pressure if you wish to go off the road or plan a very fast ride.

Using a coin to judge the tread depth of a tyre is the best way to know if it’s time to change it. Dual purpose tyres are the best compromise for touring - they give you the best of both worlds.

Also, investing in a set of tubless tyres is worth the extra moolah. Tubeless tyres don’t leak air easily in the event of a puncture and one can manage to ride on in most cases just by filling air repeatedly. Carrying an electric tyre inflater is apt for the hardcore tourer as it can bail you out of a tricky situation.

Vital Fluid
Oil is the life of any engine. Touring calls for constant high speed stints as well as negotiating hilly terrain where the engine runs at high revs. As the engine heats up, it’s vital that the optimum level of engine oil is maintained for the mill to work in a hassle free manner.


Make sure you replace the old oil if you are embarking on 1500-2000km long trip. Also, carry extra oil if you’re planning a long trip.

To check the oil level, place the bike on the main stand and once the engine has cooled down considerably, use the dip-stick to the check the level. Do not top up the oil beyond the marked level.


Suspension Check.

Most bikers tend to overlook the suspension part of a bike. Barring the Honda Unicorn, all other bikes in India come with a conventional twin shock absorber suspensded rear swing-arm. Be it a twin shock set-up or a mono, most rear suspensions on Indian bikes are adjustable. One should adjust them as per their requirement and load for the ride. We recommended you make them a little on the stiffer side for high speed stability over bad roads.

Do check the front suspension for oil leaks. Never leave for a trip with ruptured fork seals. The combined weight of the rider and the luggage with a ruptured seal is not a good thing. Also, one should change the fork oil every two years or so, as the viscosity of the oil changes with time.

If your bike has a soft front end, filling up a little more than the recommended level or filling up with a heavier grade oil will help stiffen up things a little.


Brakes

It is advisable to have a check on the brakes as well. For drum brakes, there is an indicator next to the drum which moves as the drum shoes wear out. Keep an eye on the indicator and replace the shoe when it’s worn out. As for disc brakes, replacing the disc oil is recommended, rather than merely topping it up. Also, make sure any trapped air in the brake line is squeezed out for proper brake feel. Disc brake oil lasts a lot and usually it doesn’t call for a change before 15-20000km.

Editor’s Note
Checking your bike thoroughly and rectifying the faults may take time and frustrate you for a while, the exercise is always worth the extra time, effort and money spent. Minor faults, if neglected initially may take the shape of a major problem as the ride progresses. In some cases, it leaves you crippled as you’re far away from any help. Checking the bike for some simple things and carrying a few spare items with you will go a long way in ensuring peace of mind during the ride and will bail you out if there’s a problem.

No one can predict when something will go wrong with a bike, but you can minimise the chances of ending up with a conked up bike in the middle of nowhere by following the simple advice given in this concluding part of the Tourer’s Guide.

Disclaimer : None of this content belongs to me or written by me, its just referenced from BikeIndia.in & can be found on following link: http://www.bikeindia.in/tipstricks/ridingtips/Tourers-Guide---Before-you-start/Post.aspx