Motorcycle Repair: General Maintenance, everyday bike, motorcycle maintenance

Question
Falcon

Sorry about the name calling in my last e-mail...I just caught those instructions on the follow up.  Anyway...just wanted so say thanks for the quick response...and also...do you have any suggestions on good reading material about basic motorcycle maintenance.  I don't really want to service the bike myself...but I do want to at least be able to change my own oil.  If you ever want to come up and ride just hit me up...They just finished resurfacing a bunch of back roads up around Howie in the Hills, by the Mission Inn Resort...Great back country roads...lots a curves...and...not much traffic.  And the brand new surface is incredible to ride on...I'm a new rider so there's a lot I don't know yet...but I do know a good ride when I see it.  Once again thanks.  

John Keaton
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Followup To
Question -
Christopher

I recently started riding sport bikes and bought a used 2002 suzuki gszr 600 telefonica.  I bought it for fun but also for economical reasons to save on gas since I travel 50 miles one way to work everyday.  Here are my questions...I ride on the interstate for 40 minutes at around 80 mph without stopping 4 to 5 days a week.  Is it bad for an everyday bike to run 7000 to 7500 rpm for that long of time?  Is there anything special I should do other than general maintenance like oil changes?  And what should I keep my tire pressure at for long interstate rides like that?

Thank you for your time

John Keaton
Orlando, FL  
Answer -
Hi John.
 Down here in Florida, as you know, it gets BLOODY HOT.  Because of that you may want to use 20W50 oil rather than 10W40, since it has a broader heat range.

 Since you are riding a bike that was designed around racing, it was designed to run a lot longer than 40 minutes at higher rpms, than you put it through, so just follow the maintainence intervals and specs in the repair manual and owners manual and you will be just fine.

BTW; I'm jealous.  You have better, curvier riding roads in your area than we do here in S. FL.

Enjoy.  Ride safe.
FALCON

Answer
Hi John.
 I have no clue about any name-calling, so don't even worry about it.

As far as what books to pick up, start with the repair manual for the bike.  It has everything that you need to know about the bike as well as some basic troubleshooting proceedures for common problems.

For general maintainence on motorcycles there are a lot of very good books out there and the one you choose should compliment and increase, not duplicate, your current level of general mechanical knowledge.  Just go to any Barnes and Noble or similar book store and look in the transportation section under motorcycles.  You should find a few there to pick from, so get the one that, to you, seems the one most helpful for increasing your personal knowledge base.

 Also, you can check a few of the motorcycle periodicals.  Many of them have some very good articles about maintainence as well as safety.

 Just remember that motorcycles have a commonality with airplanes.  Neither one tolerates error, which includes mechanical error.  Learn all that you can about how the vehicle works and handles in all the conditions that you can and your chances to continue riding, and riding safely, increase accordingly.

Good luck.
Have fun.
FALCON