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HOW TO PREPARE YOUR BIKE FOR THE SCOTTISH
18 April 2005 - Sherco
The Scottish Six Day is right around the corner, we at Sherco have a long tradition of victories in this event, and we have learned how to prepare our motorcycles. Here are some of the tricks we have learned from our ''guru'' of trials, Josep Rovira Paxau:
1. Suspensions:
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You want the suspension to be very soft because of the slick conditions, the sections with steps and the habitually cold temperatures. Adjust the mounting brackets and make sure that nothing is binding and change the fork oil to a lighter weight. Adjust the rear spring so that the rear suspension is also very soft. 2. The motor should also run very smooth:
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The motor should run very sweet and not have any abruptness. The majority of the sections are at sea level so the motor should provide maximum power. It is best to set the carburetor a little on the rich side to avoid overheating and possibly seizing when traveling on the asphalt. 3. Carburetion:
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Make sure that the float level is set correctly so that the moor gets the right amount of fuel, this again is done to make sure that the motor does not overheat and possibly seize when traveling for many kilometers on the asphalt between sections. 4. Keep the radiator clean:
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I have seen many broken motors because of something as simple as mud accumulating in the radiator that impeded the flow of air and thus stopped the cooling effect of the radiator. Placing a small mud flap on the rear of the front fender can help keep mud and debris from accumulating in the radiator. A simple trick is to modify the radiator grille mounting so that it can be removed with out using tools so that the radiator can be easily cleaned at each stop. 5. Protect the air filter:
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Using American duct tape cover any possible access of water and mud to the air filter. 6. Grips:
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We suggest that you safety wire your grips to the handlebars to keep them from twisting because of the moisture. 7. Foot pegs:
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File the teeth so that they are sharp in order to provide a good grip for your boots in the wet conditions. 8. Tires:
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The tire pressure should be set between 3.5 psi (24 kilopascals) and 5 psi (350 kilopascals) (Sherco) in order to achieve maximum traction. It is recommended that you change the rear tire half way through the event. 9. Rear fender:
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It is important to remove the rear fender each day and clean the fender and the mounting brackets, a lot of filth can accumulate there especially if it rains. Add some drops of oil to the underside of the fender and the mounting bolts (multipurpose oil works fine). 10. Spares:
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Always carry a chain master link, American duct tape, plastic zip ties, a tire repair kit, some wire and a sparkplug. It is also recommended that you carry a spare air filter in a plastic bag so that if you fall in the water you can change the filter and continue. 11. Tools:
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The minimums: a good quality flat blade screwdriver, an adjustable wrench that is large enough to remove the spark plug and remove the wheels, a set of Allen wrenches (make sure you have one large enough to remove the front axle) a tire inflation kit, extra air cylinders and a tire pressure gauge. 12. Daily Maintenance:
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It is important that you daily clean the air filter, drain the float bowl in case any water has gotten in the carburetor, grease the chain, check the sparkplug and make sure that there is coolant in the radiator. A very important point! Do not attempt to ride the Scottish on a brand new motorcycle, it is important to have a motorcycle that is properly broken in, tested and adjusted to perfection. 13. 4T Motorcycles:
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Everything that has been said above applies to the 4T motorcycles; in addition you must make sure that there is plenty of oil in the motor. This is especially important because of the many kilometers that are ridden on the asphalt.
www.sherco-moto.com
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