BIKES Q & A
Q Despite the advanced technology, are quickshifters harder on a gearbox than a manual clutch?
A When a bike is accelerating, the two gears are under load. On motorcycles without a quickshifter, shutting the throttle releases the load, whereas a quickshifter senses your foot applying pressure on the gearlever and cuts the ignition briefly for a few thousands of a second. This releases the load, allowing you to change to the higher gear without the clutch.
Factory-fitted quickshifters will be set up perfectly for the road; only regular track use could possibly put excess strain on the gearbox, as they are often not adjustable. Aftermarket systems are adjustable, so you can tailor them to road or track, but it will take a lttle time to find the right ‘cut time’.
Q I have just got my bike out from the garage after winter hibernation and the front tyre is flat. I dont have a centrestand or paddock stands - what should I do about getting it fixed?
A Front tyres get replaced less often than rear tyres and sometimes just go down slowly because the sealant that fitters use to seal the tyre to the rim has hardened over time, developing a slow leak. Or the aluminium rim could have some corrosion on the mating surface.
So, your first job is to pump it back up and see if it stays up. If it does, go riding! If it slowly goes down, pump it back up and get it to your dealer who can check if you have a puncture, in which case you may need a new tyre, or whether it’s just a case of removing the tyre, cleaning the rim, applying fresh sealant and then refitting. Q What’s the best cleaner for geting chain lube off my wheels?
A You can get dedicated wheel cleaners we’ve used Motul E3 Wheel Clean, at £7.29, to good effect. Multipurpose cleaners such as Sdoc Gel Cleaner can also work well if you leave them on a while to get working.
If you have brake cleaner and a clean rag, this will be fine for odd occasions – just don’t leave it on the rims. Use old toothbrushes to get behind discs or sprockets (bend the handles to make it easier).