Motorcycle Helmet cleaning tips

Its hot and humid time which makes your helmet dirty and smelling weird on the inside. When your helmet gets dirty/gross its time to give it a wash. Don't be that lazy guy.

A clean helmet not only looks good, its also comfortable to wear and feels fresh on the inside. So lets start with the cleaning of the exterior part of the helmet.

1. Before we start cleaning, first remove the visor and keep it aside (instructions on how to remove the visor can be found on the internet or the helmets instruction manual)
2. Make a mild solution of soapy warm water and with the help of a sponge or a soft cloth wipe down the exterior of the helmet. If there are dead bugs stuck ( YOU ARE A MURDERER :P ) on to the helmet then use a paper towel and let it get soaked for a few minutes and finally wipe it down.
   
3. You can use wet cotton to clean the air vents of the helmet.
4. Now to to clean your visor. Its really important to carefully clean the visor as to not get it scratched up and it would hamper your visibility. Clean the visor with plenty of running water and if there is any dirt or dead bugs stuck on to it then let the visor sit in warm water and add a little bit of soapy solution and clean it off. (if your visor has any coating like anti-fog etc better check the instructions on how to clean it, if you can't find it then clean it with plenty of water)
5. Wipe the visor with a soft cloth or a micro fiber cloth to prevent scratches 
6. Now to was the interior of the helmet, most modern helmets come with removable inner lining. Just remove them and wash it in warm water+soap. Dip them and squeeze them properly to get the dirt out
7. Finally wash them with fresh water to get the excess soap out and squeeze them and let them dry out
8. Just reinstall your inner lining and visor and you are all set

Don't worry if you don't have a helmet with removable lining, just dunk the whole helmet in the soap water and rinse it really well and let it dry naturally.

There you have it, that's how you clean a helmet!

Tire pressure and why it's important?

Tire pressure is not the most exciting topic but then the tires are the only thing which connects to the road. Tire pressure is the most neglected thing in any automotive machinery. Tire pressure affects the traction, stability, comfort, handling and tire wear.

You must check your tire pressure at least once a week with the help of a good quality tire gauge so as to get an accurate reading. The pressure must be checked when the tires are actually cold or before you start riding because when the tire heats up the air present in the tire also gets heated up and expands, this gives an inaccurate reading when checked.

If you don't ride your bike and it is left for a long time then the tires start to deflate .
If your tires are under inflated you end up with a soft tire and a big contact patch with the road. People might say that a softer tire might help in a softer ride, but that leads to heavy steering, sloppy handling, premature tire wear and a decrease in fuel mileage.

Another side to the story is that if the tires are over inflated it would decrease the contact patch with road and make the tire hard which translates to a rougher ride and less traction.
To know the right tire pressure check your vehicle's owners manual and sometimes they would be pasted on the vehicle itself. In case you changed the brand of the tires then better check with the tire manufacturer's prescribed tire pressure.

Filling the tires with nitrogen is better because nitrogen is less likely going to escape from the tires which means less frequent trip to the tire shop. But then there wouldn't be any noticeable difference in the handling of the vehicle. 

Motorcycle Chain Maintenance tips (KTM DUKE 200)

Hello all, this is my 1st DIY post

Your motorcycle bike chain is one of the most dirtiest parts of your bike and this dirt affects the longevity and performance of your your bike. A badly maintained chain can wear out the chain and the sprockets and thereby affect the performance of the bike.

Many bikes some with a center stand which makes the cleaning process of the chain much easier.
if your bike doesn't come with a center stand like a KTM bike or any other sports bike, you could buy a paddock stand to lift the bike off the ground and go ahead with the cleaning process. Never try to clean the chain when you have the bike up on a stand and the bike turned on, you can get your fingers caught between the chain and the sprockets and it won't be a pleasant experience.

If you don't know what brand of chain lube you have to use just ask your mechanics at the service station. Motul chain lube and cleaner is effective for me.

If you own a KTM bike just like me and are wondering how to clean the chain then fear not.. i will share my GYAAN!

I follow a couple of methods to lube the chain

• Method-1

One of the simplest ways is to spray the chain lube on to the exposed part of the chain and then on the rear sprocket. Be careful not to spray on the rear disc brakes! Then you move the bike forward and then spray the chain lube on the other part of the chain. continue to do this until the chain is completely covered with the lube. This is a time consuming fail safe method.

• Method-2

This method is applicable only if the bike is light weight and you have a good sense of balancing the bike on the side stand. I'm not responsible if something happens to your bike or if you drop your bike to the side or on yourself. Even if your strong and you can't balance the bike, don't be a hero.. just don't. its healthy for your wallet. :P

Balance the bike on the center stand and use your body as a support. lean the bike onto your body. don't try to bear the weight of the bike. let the stand bear the weight.
make sure your bike is in neutral and bike is turned off!
Rotate the rear wheel with your hand and just spray the lube at the sprockets.
this will cover the sprockets and the chain as well.

If your chain has a lot of dirt accumulation then use a chain cleaner and a old toothbrush to scrub it off. water wont wash off the greasy dirt accumulation
It is a messy job but it beats going to the service station very time and spending 200 bucks.

In case if you have used a lot of chain lube.. take an old piece of cloth and just wipe the chain gently to remove the excess the lube.

During monsoon a frequent check has to be done on the chain if they are properly lubricated or not. if they aren't then they will start to rust and finally the chain will break. the water washes away the lubricant and hence a regular check is needed and refer your bike's manual to know how frequently the chain needs to be lubed.

In case there is any surface rust, use a copper wire brush and brush off the surface rust. make sure the chain is clean and there is no signs of any grease or dirt.