New rider

Q. My Sinnis Apache has tyres with inner tubes. As an inner tube is only £6 and a new tyre £40, If I were to get a puncture would I be able to keep the tyre and only replace the inner tube? Would...

Q. The battery on my Yamaha Virago ran dry so I replaced it at the same time as putting some heated grips on. I don’t use these much, but after two weeks the new battery has lost 60% of its...

Q. I keep getting conflicting information about bike maintenance. I've been told by one dealer that I shouldn't clean my chain, just spray fresh lube over the old muck, but another said I should clean...

Q. I’ve got a Kawasaki Z1000SX and I’m looking at getting a paddock stand for it. Rather than one that lifts it at the rear wheel spindle, I want to use the two threaded holes in the swingarm and two...

Q. What rear tyre would you recommend for a 2011 Derbi Terra Adventure 125. The rear is a 130/90 x 17 and the front is a 90/90 x 21. Newbiker1, MCN forums A. Continental Escapes are a really good...

Q. Some time ago Trevor Franklin did a long-term test on a KTM 990SMT. I’m using my bike for the winter months getting to work and I remember Trevor saying that he fitted a new rear hugger. He said it...

Q. I'm looking for a new full-face helmet but fancy one with an internal sun visor. I know a few of the flip front types have them but I don't want the extra weight. Motorcycle helmets for sale. Money...

Q. I have recently purchased a Kawasaki ZZR1200. I'm very pleased with it, but I have one annoying problem – the front brake squeals under light operation. I have removed the calipers, and the pistons...

Q. I bought an N-plate Honda CBR600F six months ago with Michelin Pilot 1s fitted that arejust about done after 5000 miles and three track days. I will be using the bike mainly for summer riding and a...

Q. My son's Piaggio NRG scooter has lost power. It used to do 50, now it does 26mph at 7000rpm. It does not sound the same as his mate’s NRG and when I took the exhaust off something is rattling...

Q. I've just got an ’86-reg Honda CBX750, it had blowing header pipes which I’ve fixed. My problem is that when I try to ride it after letting it warm up the middle two cylinders splutter then cut...

Q. I have a Kawasaki Zephyr 750 which has not been run very much since summer 2010. When I triedstarting it about a month ago, it was very reluctant to fire up, but would just about run OK. I decided...

Q. I have been on a GSX-R1000 for the past two years, but now as my wife wants to travel further afield we are changing to a Kawasaki GTR1400. Which tyres can I fit to get the most grip and feel? I’m...

Q. I bought my 2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250SA new and I like everything except the massive end can. I replaced this with a twin outlet road legal can from Banditmania which looks and sounds great. The...

Q. While waiting for my shoulder to heal after a smash I took the radiator off my SV and got it repaired. What do I need to know about putting it back on? Is it as simple as stick it back on and fill...

Q. I've just seen an advertisement for a product that will protect motorcycle engines made before 1996 from damage that will, according to them, result from use of petrol containing ethanol. I have a...

Proguard Custom Fleximonitors earphones, £239.95 Miles covered/time used: 2000/two months What’s good: They block out as much noise as a good foam earplug (and actually more than the firm’s own custom...

Q. I have been using my Honda CBF600 for six months. I had got it into my head that the front tyre pressure was 42psi, which has always seemed fine. The other day I went to check the pressures and the...

Q. I’ve noticed the engine braking on my 10,000-mile GSX-R600 K5 has severely decreased when I roll off the throttle and I can quite happily ride round at 10mph with no throttle at all and the clutch...

Q. I own a 2010 Honda VFR800. My bike is used most of the year but could be off the road for a couple of months in bad weather. It is garaged and has a battery conditioner fitted. Can I do any form of...

Q. I have a 1999 Hayabusa with a hot start problem. It starts fine when cold and on choke, and also when hot if you start straight away after stopping, such as after fuelling up. The problems start if...

Q. I love my BMW K1600GT but I have struggled to get a decent mileage from the OE tyres. On my best behaviour I can get 3500 miles tops, but I want to get it above 4000 miles otherwise a big trip...

Q. I am going to need to take my BMW F800R off the road over the winter and would like some advice on how best to look after the battery. I cannot fit a trickle charger as there is no electricity...

Q. I have an ’04 Yamaha R6, and on cold mornings the oil light comes on for about 30 seconds after I have been riding for a couple of minutes. When the bike has done about three or four miles or when...

I have a 2011 Honda CB1000R ABS, and want to do track days, what tyres are best suited to being ridden to the circuit, do a track day and then ride home? Roearn, MCN Tyre forum Any of the new breed of...

My Kawasaki ER-6 gives a buzzing sound when I hit the starter button and that’s it. Could this mean that the battery needs replacing, as it sounds like it’s struggling to kick in. Shuks, email  ...

I bought a 2005 Yamaha YBR125 privately few weeks ago, it didn’t tick over very well then but I thought it just needed a good service. It starts OK but after it’s warmed up and ready, if you throttle...

I have a 2004 Aprilia RSV Factory on which it is impossible to select neutral when stopped. It is sometimes possible to slide it into neutral from second gear as you come to a halt, but at a...

I've been getting into track days recently, and this year's Indian summer has been a godsend. But even with the sun shining the tracks are pretty cold in the mornings. Is it time I invested in some...

If you want to raise the gearing, which makes more difference (if any), an extra tooth on the gearbox sprocket or one fewer on the rear wheel sprocket? Will either option affect the length of the...

Q. I have a 1999 Honda Deauville which has been very reliable, but I saw a newer Deauville parked up with hazard lights flashing and I thought they may be useful on my bike. I know that the 2004...

Q. While fitting a new chain and sprockets to my son’s 2007 Honda CBR125R I noticed that the engine output shaft could be moved in and out by about 1-2mm. Is this normal on this model? A. Don’t panic...

I am trying to source a rear tyre for my Kawasaki VN1600 Classic, a 170/70 x 16 Bridgestone G722. I have trolled through pages of Google search, but have been unable to locate one. I have just put on...

Kevin Ash in his Insight column a few weeks ago described raising the gearing to improve fuel economy. I would love to do this on my Tiger 800, which like most bikes is unnecessarily undergeared at...

I have a 2005 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 with a seemingly random starter problem. Sometimes it will turn over, but that’s it. Then the next day it works fine. The dealer has swapped the plugs over and...

The front Dunlop Sportmax on my Yamaha FZ6 Fazer is getting due for replacement and I’d like a reasonably priced new tyre that would suit. The rear tyre is also a Sportmax but has lots of life...