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How to Shim a Sportbike's Rear Suspension
There are two basic ways to alter a sportbike's chassis geometry. The first is moving the fork tubes up or down within the triple clamps,... more |
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How to Change Brake Pads
Today's brakes—even the spiffy new radial-mount variety—need little in the way of maintenance save for periodic fluid bleeding and... more |
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10 Cheap Tweaks
Making your bike perform better doesn't have to cost a ton of money. In fact, there are ways you can improve you motorcycle that don't cost... more |
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How to Avoid Online Bike Sales Scams
This just in from our Penetrating Glimpse Into the Obvious Department: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.... more |
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How to Cut Down Your Seat
Sometimes the simplest approach is best. If your bike is (or merely feels) too tall, you can shorten the suspension or go straight to the... more |
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Strung Straight: Simplified Wheel Aligment
Let it not be said that we at Motorcyclist are unresponsive. Recently (er, make that about three and a half years ago), after running a... more |
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How to Swap Handlebars
One of the great benefits of the old-fashioned tubular handlebar is that you can, usually, replace the stock item with something that fits... more |
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Spark Plug R&R
Your bike's plugs do their job without a whimper, so you stop thinking about how long they've been in there. You're not alone: One of our... more |
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How-To: Thread Repair Made Easier
Now you've done it. After that little get-off bent the footpeg bracket and demoted the shift lever to bench art, you've finally got the... more |
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How-To: Screen Swap
Replacement windscreens are one of those great accessories that are in good supply for just about every sportbike made, and are blessedly... more |
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How-To: Headlight Aiming Explained
Pretty soon now, night will begin creeping back into our riding hours. And while you spent the summer using the headlight to alert other... more |
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How-To: Pack It In
Did you know that most pipe manufacturers expect you to repack the mufflers from time to time? Didn't think so. Because these mufflers use... more |
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How-To: Brown Eye Be Gone
It's been a couple of years, maybe, and the fluid in the eye of the clutch-side reservoir looks more like mocha java than peachy... more |
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Motorcyclist Magazine: How-to: Carb Snyching
Suddenly, your bike runs like hell. It's hard to start, idles erratically and feels down on power. What you need is a good sync, a carb... more |
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How-to: Shock Replacement
Sooner or later, you'll want to remove your sportbike's stock shock--maybe to replace it with an often superior aftermarket item or to send... more |
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Rearset Installation
Sometimes the motorcycle ergonomics guys get it right, sometimes not. Whether you're planning to take your bike to the track or just want... more |
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Replacing Fork Seals
Leaking fork seals are more than a messy eyesore. Let them go long enough and the oil can ruin brake pads and, when the fluid's gone, the... more |
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Suspension Adjustment
There's a delicious irony in all this. Motorcycle buyers demand all the bells and whistles, particularly on sportbikes. And they complain... more |
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The 600-Mile Service
You've probably faced the dilemma of the 600-mile service. All new bikes need to have this service performed, according to scripture, in... more |
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Buying New Motorcycles - Let's Make A Deal
Buying new vehicles, motorcycles included, often ranks with a voluntary root canal and an IRS audit on the high-anxiety scale. But it... more |
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Braking Technique - Balanced Braking
TechniqueBraking is probably the most important of all streetbike skills, which explains why we get so many questions on the subject. Here... more |
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Brake Discs, Ergonomics And A New Rider - MC Answer
IndiscretionMy '85 Honda Nighthawk 700, which I've owned since it was new, has always had a throb in the front end when using the front... more |
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Bleeding Brake Lines - Make 'Em Bleed
Bubbles Be GoneAbout a foot before your turn-in point for the most challenging turn on your favorite road, you discover your brakes aren't... more |
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Safe Riding Strategies - Lean Angle
Many apologies if the following rant rubs you the wrong way, but I'm one pissed-off soul right now. (You're surprised, I can tell.) I'm... more |
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Motorcycle Riding Emergency Tips - First Aid
Think quick: Your buddy just crashed and now he's bleeding. Or unconscious. Or both. And you're not sure if he's breathing anymore. Do you... more |
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