Note to self:

[MiamiMotorcyclist]

Originally Posted by dirty_sanchez

NEVER spin a new bearing with shop air just to see how it feels/sounds if you want the bearing to have a long happy useful life.

Just ask any bearing salesman worth his salt.

Dirty

It actually says that in my WRR's service manual. Was just going through it the other day.

[Draechon]

A few to add

The heat shield on dirt bikes' exhausts is there for a reason. The 8 year old burns on my calf remind me not to remove it "to look cool." Damn 15 year olds.

Cops do not appreciate how f*n awesome a 2 stroke sounds with the pipe removed.

When jump-starting a bike, or car for that matter, make sure the positive lead won't slip and ground itself on the frame.

When installing a new car battery, don't wrench the positive side toward the negative. You'll have a pretty shocking experience and lesson learned.

Always put the kickstand down before you get off the bike.

Take the key out of your pocket before getting geared up.

When you get pissed off why your bike won't start, check that the kill switch is on, bike's in neutral, clutch is all the way in, and freak out trying to figure out what the hell is going on, make sure the key is in the ON position.

Merging onto the freeway to have your bike stutter and die as you change lanes is a reminder to turn the petcock ON before you ride.

If I'm driving more than a 100 miles from home, I need to bring spare clutch and brake levers, as the bike will be dropped.

A few from friends that have I've taught to ride:
Starting the bike and riding a few feet in wet grass will have the bike tire spinning from the lack of traction up until you touch asphalt=instant traction, at which point, you don't put your leg down to stop the bike and your weight from falling (shattered knee, torn ACL and LCL proved that lesson).

Bikes do not balance themselves. When you're coming up to a stop, put a foot down, or you will fall over, and your friends will laugh at you and take pictures when you're picking the bike up.

[blackcap]

Originally Posted by Draechon

.

Take the key out of your pocket before getting geared up.

and the old "helmet then gloves"

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by blackcap

and the old "helmet then gloves"

God only knows how many times I've done that boneheaded maneuver.

[Brian y]

Originally Posted by blackcap

and the old "helmet then gloves"

Ear plugs then helmet is one I hate... especially about the time you get to the freeway, and your bike stops sounding so cool, and it just gets loud from the wind.

[blackcap]

Originally Posted by xymotic

God only knows how many times I've done that boneheaded maneuver.

and then try for 5 mins to do up your helmet with winter gloves one before giving up and taking it all off again

[MiamiMotorcyclist]

Originally Posted by blackcap

and then try for 5 mins to do up your helmet with winter gloves one before giving up and taking it all off again

I'm a fan of Echo quick realease clips my self.
Used them for years and trust them fine.


http://www.echoproducts.com/

[uraberg]

I'm guilty of more than a few of these.

Welding and UV burning... yes

welding in open shoes, catching slag... yes

Helmet first, then glasses and gloves... yes

filling with oil without replacing drain plug... yes

putting side stand up before takeoff... yes

almost completely dismantling the bike to see why it won't start without suspecting the kill switch... yes

and: If you're used to a half helmet, you can't spit wearing a full helmet

[trailrider383]

When you spray carb cleaner into a hole in your carburetor, You have a 100 percent chance of it coming out another hole that is aimed directly at your eyes. Close your eyes and look away before you pull the trigger.

[GSMark]

Originally Posted by trailrider383

When you spray carb cleaner into a hole in your carburetor, You have a 100 percent chance of it coming out another hole that is aimed directly at your eyes. Close your eyes and look away before you pull the trigger.

+1
I Am Guilty of that...
too many times. Not just carbs, anything you spray that stuff into , 9 out of 10 times you will get the splash in the face.

[A_Vasiliev]

Originally Posted by trailrider383

When you spray carb cleaner into a hole in your carburetor, You have a 100 percent chance of it coming out another hole that is aimed directly at your eyes. Close your eyes and look away before you pull the trigger.

Oh god, I know what you mean

[husqvarna]

That little black rubber thingy that is on the needle valve and seats to stop fuel running into the carb does not like carb cleaner. A corollary: don't leave the fuel tap on after cleaning said rubber thingy with carb cleaner and messing up the seal. Result: 1 tank gas on garage floor. Luckily tank was not full.

[Fire Escape]

Walk your bike rather than ride it backwards on a steep ramp.

If you really MUST ride it backwards ...... do not stop to see how close you are to that tree until your front wheel is back down to ground level!


Bruce

[beemerkid]

when installing new pilot powers on bike in garage, then wheeling out onto the lawn to wash, straddle bike before moving. Walking the bike along with new tires, on wet grass, can lead to an interesting series of motard style spin arounds untill you trip, hit the gas and the bike does a slow highside with you hanging onto the bars, flinging you ofer top of it.

[DELTATANGO]

When trying to close the action on an ancient automatic sawed off shotgun do not put index finger through ejection port allowing action to slam on the finger and spear said finger with extractor.