Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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The Bike Less Ridden by JAMES JONES The month of October has been great for riding. I've been trying to get as many miles in on my bike as pos- sible before the thermometer starts to fall. As I pulled into my ga- rage one evening after work, it dawned on me that I had not ridden my other motor- cycle in a month-and-a-half. Luckily, she fired right up. I took her out for a while to get her juices flowing again. Like everything else in life, our bikes need some love and care from time to time. As the colder weather approaches, you will need to consider the main- tenance of your bike. A bike unprotected from the elements or in cold tem- peratures can take a bite out of your wallet. To help figure out how to best protect your bike and investment, ask yourself how often you are going ride during this time. Also, if you are in the military and going to deploy, then you really need to do some preventative work before leaving. Here are a few suggestions. If you are going to occasionally ride, you will want to keep the fuel topped off (up to the cap). Cold weather will cause condensation in the fuel tank, which can make your bike either stall or ride rough. Consider adding some type of fuel stabilizer. Talk with someone at your bike's service department for maintenance As the colder weather approaches, you will need to consider the maintenance of your bike. A bike unpro- tected from the elements or in cold temperatures can take a bite out of your wallet. recommendations. They have a great deal of knowledge and should know the details of your particular bike. Make a check list of what you are going to do to your bike. If you have to remove an item, make a note and place it where you can find it when you return. For long absences, you will want to drain the fuel from the tank. Remove the tank, and put a drop of oil in it and rotate it around to coat the inside. Drain any excess oil and replace the tank. Drain fuel out of the carburetor. Most carburetors have a drain screw on the bottom of it. Remove the spark plugs and pour about a tablespoon of engine oil into the hole. Reinstall the plugs. With the ignition off, kick the engine over several times to coat the cylinder walls with oil. Replace the anti-freeze. Flush the brake and clutch fluid. If needed, add distilled water to the battery and clean off the outside of the battery and the battery box with a mixture of baking soda and water. Store the battery in a cool, dry place (not less than 32°F or more than 90°F); not in a storage unit. Put the battery on a trickle charger. Clean the chain with a solvent and lubricate with chain lubricant. Lubricate all controls, cables and pivot points. Use your center stand or blocks to keep the pressure off of the suspension. Deflate the tires to 15psi. Place a plastic bag over the tail pipe(s) to keep moisture out. Coat the metal surfaces with a light coat of oil. Do not apply oil to rubber parts or seat. Clean the bike from all dirt, grease and grime. Apply Armor All or equivalent to your seats, etc. Finally, cover your bike with an air breathable cover to reduce moisture build-up and keep dirt off. If you plan on riding from time to time, you may want to pick up a trickle charger for the battery. Most motorcycle battery chargers come with a separate cable to connect to your battery. Once installed, this makes plugging the battery to the charger a simple task. If you do this, just re- member to unplug it before pulling out. For you folks who are deploying and want to store your bike, you have some good options. You can store it in a climate-controlled storage facility. Cape Fear Harley Davidson has a storage facility here in town or you can leave it with a trustworthy friend. If you are going on a long tour you may just consider selling it and getting a new bike when you return. Remember, your bike is not only a financial investment but also an investment in your safety, so take care of it. Ride Safe! 22 UCW OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1, 2011 JAMES JONES, Contributing Writer COMMENTS? editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com OCT. 29 • ALL HARLEY'S EVE COSTUME CONTEST at Cape Fear Harley-Davidson. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Costume contest from 2 - 4 p.m. $25 gift cards will be awarded for sexiest costume, scariest costume, best couples costume and best overall costume. Judging will be anonymous and contestants will have to register between 2 - 3:30 p.m. Find out more at www.capefearhd.com. OCT. 29 • HALLOWEEN BASH at Legends Pub. 867-2364. NOV. 5 • OYSTER ROAST AND POKER RUN at Legends Pub. Auction, food and door prizes. First bike out at noon. Proceeds to benefit Ron Lau. 867-2364. NOV. 5 • ALZHEIMERS AWARENESS RIDE Registration begins at 10 a.m., kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. Stops include Bethesda Health Care in Eastover, Cedar Creek Assisted Living in Cedar Creek and Haymount Rehab & Nursing Center in Fayetteville. Free food and music upon return to CFHD. $25/ rider & $15/ passenger includes t-shirt. ALL PROCEEDS to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. www. capefearhd.com. DECEMBER 3 • WINGMEN NC TOY RUN at Cape Fear Harley Davidson. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash to ride. Find out more at www.capefearhd.com PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www. patriotguard.org for more info. TUESDAYS BIKE NIGHT at Chili's Grill and Bar in Southern Pines. Happy hour, drink and food specials. All bikes welcome. 4 p.m. to close. HALLOWEEN BASH October 29th For more information call LEGENDS at 4624 BRAGG BLVD. CALLING ALL LOCAL BANDS Fayetteville wants to know you! So here's your opportunity. • E-mail Stephanie@upandcomingweekly. com for our Q&A. • Fill it out and e-mail it back to us. • Send a recent, high-resolution photo of your band. • Look for your article in an upcoming issue. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM $100 for Best Costume!