How do I properly maintain the Hyper?

HyperstradaHopeful · Feb 27, 2014

I'm pretty new to motorcycles so I had a few questions about routine maintenance:

1. OIL: change it at 600 miles and then do I not have to worry about changing it again until 9,000 miles, right? How often do you guys plan on changing your oil after the initial 600 mile change?

2. CHAIN: how often should the chain be cleaned and lubed? And how often should it be adjusted?

3. ANYTHING ELSE? Aside from the major service at 9,000 miles that I'll go into the Ducati dealer for, is there anything else I need to pay attention to/change/adjust/add routinely (other than tires)? Just oil, chain, and tires?

Also:

4. When you turn on the ignition, do I need to wait until dashboard stops changing before I press the engine start button, or can I press engine start as soon as I turn the key?

5. I hear some people recommend letting the bike idle the 3-4 minutes it needs to put a number up on the temp display and switch off LO before riding off. Is that truly important? I ask because it's the opposite in the car world (I'm an expert by trade when it comes to cars) and it's damaging to a car engine to in fact idle it when it's cold and it's recommended you drive off immediately -- which is directly the opposite of what I've heard for motorcycles. With my car, I'll drive off immediately but keep the revs under 50% of redline until the oil is fully warmed. Seems like that's a good policy with bikes, too, but for some reason is it not good to drive off immediately on a bike engine, even if you keep revs low until it's warmed?

Thanks in advance! So far I've got about 300 happy miles on my Hyperstrada and looking forward to doing many more!

Stradasphere · Feb 27, 2014

I see you're in Cal. I'm in central Washington and only ride about 6 or 7 months a year. I would think that you would want to do an oil change around 4500 miles or once a year depending on miles and how hard you ride. Since my bike sits for 6 months I change the oil at the end of the riding season. I don't get much over 3,000 miles every season.

For the chain I wipe it down with a rag every 2 or 3 weeks and squirt some chain lube on it. All of my riding is on road so it stay pretty clean. I check the chain for adjustment during the cleaning process.

I flush the brake fluid at the end of the riding season.

I wait for the dash to settle down before I light it off. Never tried to started when the dash was booting up.

I always let the bike warm up in the morning. Habit from the Monster. I start it then, put in earplugs, turn on iphone music, turn on bluetooth on helmet, put on helmet, put on gloves, hop on bike and go.

In the winter I let my truck warm up in the mornings. But then again in my old age, I don't like getting into a cold truck when it is in the teens or minus range.

LiamWis · Feb 28, 2014

HyperstradaHopeful said:
I'm pretty new to motorcycles so I had a few questions about routine maintenance:

1. OIL: change it at 600 miles and then do I not have to worry about changing it again until 9,000 miles, right? How often do you guys plan on changing your oil after the initial 600 mile change?I live in Sweden so its 6-8 moth riding.. I change oil one time a year. Im doing it the first thing at the begining of season. Fresch oil.

2. CHAIN: how often should the chain be cleaned and lubed? And how often should it be adjusted? Lube depends on how the weather have been and the mile i put in, but i mostly do it once a week. Somtimes its needed and othere i just check it.

3. ANYTHING ELSE? Aside from the major service at 9,000 miles that I'll go into the Ducati dealer for, is there anything else I need to pay attention to/change/adjust/add routinely (other than tires)? Just oil, chain, and tires?
As i got mine brand new the guarentee state that serveice must be preformed by a dealer. And by the mile i put in there are usaly one thing "neede" to do like change break fluid (every secon year) or othere maintinece. So, mostly i have it checked and serviced once a year and then i check the tire/chain and fill petrol.
Also:

4. When you turn on the ignition, do I need to wait until dashboard stops changing before I press the engine start button, or can I press engine start as soon as I turn the key?Let the dashboard boot before pressing the engine button. There migth not be a problem not waiting, but from exp with computer, no computer "like" to be disturbed when booting. So, from safe side. Wait the 5 sec.

5. I hear some people recommend letting the bike idle the 3-4 minutes it needs to put a number up on the temp display and switch off LO before riding off. Is that truly important? I ask because it's the opposite in the car world (I'm an expert by trade when it comes to cars) and it's damaging to a car engine to in fact idle it when it's cold and it's recommended you drive off immediately -- which is directly the opposite of what I've heard for motorcycles. With my car, I'll drive off immediately but keep the revs under 50% of redline until the oil is fully warmed. Seems like that's a good policy with bikes, too, but for some reason is it not good to drive off immediately on a bike engine, even if you keep revs low until it's warmed?Its the same as with cars. The engine wants to be at there optional temp and the engine will get warmer if you drive. But i think many will start the bike and the put the helmet on/unlock the bike.

Thanks in advance! So far I've got about 300 happy miles on my Hyperstrada and looking forward to doing many more!

Im at 400 happy miles, and cant wait to start riding again

gatdammit · Feb 28, 2014

My dealer recommended a 4500 mile intermediate oil change.

I clean the chain about every other wash. You can see when it starts to get dry and crusty. I like the Motul cleaner and lube. Wipe excess after drying as it slings nastiness all over the left side and pant leg.

My dealer also recommended letting temp reach 125 on first cold start of day. After that, I just fire and go. I've read and been warned that excess work on cold valves is still not good, even on modern bikes. Same thing for just dry revving, like groups of GSX-R guys do constantly at red lights.

zippy49 · Feb 28, 2014

You wash your bike?

I use a drip lube from Renthal, it does not fling off as much.

HiroTokyo · Mar 1, 2014

Hi,

I bought my red HS at the biginning of July 2013. And I ride through the year. The temperature here in Tokyo is -5C to 35C.

1. OIL: change
I changed the oil at 600mile(odd) and at 3800 mile in last December. I will change it at next 3000 mile. You can check the condition of your oil at the peep window of crank case.

2. CHAIN
I give oil to my chain after riding in the rain or fog. I will clean if it get dirty with dust.
You will find regarding the chain adjustment at your operation manual.

3. ANYTHING ELSE?
Rear brake flude. I changed it recently as it turned into black. Now it is clear.

I always try to maintain my bike in best condition. So it may sound too much...

How do I properly maintain the Hyper?

HyperstradaHopeful

Stradasphere

LiamWis

gatdammit

zippy49

HiroTokyo

Similar threads