THRYLLZ
Thrills we thrive on
Thrills we thrive on
Supermotos perform well on both paved and slightly unpaved terrain. Their versatile nature makes supermotos incredibly fun and dynamic to ride. But lots of fun also means that proper supermoto maintenance is essential.
Keeping your supermoto well maintained guarantees that you will have a lot of fun with your machine. But it also ensures that it continues to perform well and that you ride as safely as possible. Not sure where to start? Here are 5 tips for supermoto maintenance.
This applies to every motorcyclist, whether you ride on slicks, street tyres or studded tyres. Check your tyres regularly. The tyres on your supermoto are often used on both asphalt and off-road, which means they can wear out more quickly. Check them regularly to ensure you always have optimum grip and control.
1. Check the tyre pressure every time before you ride. Do the same when you return from your session. Tyre pressure that is too low or too high results in less precise steering, less grip and faster wear. Check the recommended tyre pressure with the tyre supplier and match it to your motorbike.
Finding the ideal pressure can sometimes take time. The perfect tyre pressure depends not only on your motorbike and tyre type, but also on the outside temperature, the temperature of the track and your riding style.
2. Replace your tyres on time. Some people replace their tyres sooner than others. If the tread is almost invisible, you are on the late side. Especially if you ride a supermotard on a track where you also go off-road.
Invest in a good pressure gauge to get into the habit of measuring your tyre pressure. Always use the same one, so that you can build confidence in the data.
Also buy a notebook or journal and write down where you are riding, how warm it is outside, which tyres you are using and what pressure you are setting them to. After each session, measure the pressure – and preferably also the temperature – of your tyres and write this down in the notebook. This will help you build up a database. If you return to that track for training later in the year, you can easily look up that data. This will give you an immediate advantage.
It is perhaps the most underestimated item in proper supermoto maintenance: the chain. A clean and well-lubricated chain ensures that it runs smoothly. This in turn contributes to the efficient transfer of power from your engine to your wheels. Neglecting your chain causes faster wear and tear and can even lead to a broken chain.
Both are a shame, because both cost money. And that money is better spent on supermoto track days.
1. Clean your chain regularly. Especially if you also ride your supermoto off-road, your chain will have a lot to endure. Use cleaning products that remove dirt and sand from your chain.
2. Make sure you blow it dry thoroughly after washing and cleaning. A wet chain will rust. Ideally, blow your chain dry with a compressor.
3. Always grease your chain after cleaning. Use good quality chain grease, preferably racing grease. This ensures minimal friction, prevents rust and extends the life of your chain. Place your supermoto on a stand so that your rear wheel is lifted. Slowly turn your rear wheel to grease the entire chain evenly.
Advice from the experts: Ideally, you should clean your chain every 500-800 km and lubricate it thoroughly. Do you go off-road every training session? And do you want to do it really well? Then do it after every training session.
Good brakes are what make supermoto riding so enjoyable. The sharp turns and sliding into corners. Both your front and rear brakes have to endure a lot. Checking your brake calipers and replacing your brake pads in good time is an essential part of maintaining your supermoto.
1. Check your brake pads regularly. Some people brake more aggressively than others. So, for some, the brake pads wear out faster than for others. Want to make sure you check them often enough? Then check your brake pads before every training session.
2. Also check your brake fluid level and quality from time to time. Over time, brake fluid can absorb moisture, which reduces braking effectiveness. Want to maintain your supermoto really well? Then replace it every season. Do you ride very little? Then do it every other year.
3. Listen to your brakes. Do you hear strange noises? Do you feel a vibration or experience reduced brake pressure? Then don’t be stubborn and check your brakes thoroughly. These are signs that they need attention.
Clean your brake calipers regularly. Be sure to do this after three supermoto track days. Do you regularly go off-road during training sessions? Then do it more often. It’s not always the most enjoyable job. It’s actually not much work and can be done quickly, but we still notice that people often put it off.
But do loosen your brake calipers regularly, remove the brake pads and clean your brake calipers with warm water and a small brush. You can use a toothbrush if necessary. Residue from your brake pads gets everywhere, including between your pistons. Over time, this will cause wear and tear. Unnecessary wear and tear, because if you clean your brake calipers regularly, you can prevent this kind of nonsense.
Your supermoto doesn’t just run on petrol. Oil is actually much more important. Checking your oil and replacing it on time, just like the filters, is an important part of supermoto maintenance. Clean oil keeps the machine running smoothly, reduces friction between parts and ensures maximum efficiency.
1. Change your oil every 4,500 – 8,000 kilometres. That should be safe for virtually all supermotards.
2. Replace your oil filter on time. You can do this once every two oil changes, but we prefer to err on the side of caution. So we replace the oil filter with every oil change. The oil filter catches debris from the oil. So it’s quite an important thing. And they’re not that expensive either.
Advice from the experts: Do you often ride on mixed tracks where you ride both on asphalt and off-road with your supermoto? Then change your oil a little more often. Think every 3000 – 6500 kilometres.
The suspension is perhaps the one component that people often forget to pay attention to. We all play around with the settings, but proper maintenance is often neglected. That’s a shame, because the suspension is one of the most important components of your supermoto. It should therefore receive the necessary attention when maintaining your supermoto.
1. Before every training session, check the seals on your front fork. Check for leaks. It’s a quick check that only takes a few seconds. So there’s no excuse not to do it. Leaky suspension reduces performance. Are they leaking a little? Then you can still ride that training session. But replace them afterwards or take your motorbike to a mechanic to have it done.
2. Have your suspension checked thoroughly on a regular basis. Can you do it yourself? Then set aside some time for it. Don’t feel like it or don’t have the skills? Then have it done by a suspension specialist. Have them check the front fork. Often, the oil will be replaced and you will be informed if certain elements need to be replaced.
Advice from the experts: Again, if you often ride your supermoto off-road, have your suspension checked more often by a specialist. Ideally once a year. Your suspension takes quite a beating, especially when you’re riding at speed. Do you want your supermoto to handle as well as possible? Then maintain your suspension regularly.
Regular maintenance of your supermoto ensures that you can get as much enjoyment out of your machine as possible. Tyres, your chain, brakes, oil and oil filters, and suspension are the five most important elements to keep an eye on during supermoto maintenance. Of course, that’s not all. Bearings, axles, and electronics also deserve attention. But these basic tips will give you some guidance in maintaining your supermoto.
