Sportbikes are among the most frequently modified motorcycles on the road. One of the pleasures of owning a sportbike is the variety of do-it-yourself projects available to enhance the feel, look, performance, and longevity of these incredible complex machines.
From standard maintenance, such as oil changes and chain replacement, to more complex projects such as fuel injection tuning or clutch replacement, there's an endless supply of weekend projects to be done.
Evans Brasfield is a noted motorcycle journalist and a former editor at Motorcycle Cruiser and Sport Rider magazines. He combines his mechanical knowledge and talent with step-by-step photography to lead sportbike owners through 101 projects crucial to the survival and peak performance of their bike.
If you've ever been frustrated by doing it yourself, or if you are sick of dropping thousands of dollars at your local shop, 101 Sportbike Performance Projects is one tool you'll always keep handy in your garage.
Table of Contents
SECTION ONE: GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Preride check
Adjust controls to fit rider
Checking vital fluids
Rolling gear look-over
Adjusting clutch and throttle free play
Replacing throttle cables
General lubrication
Oil change
Chain adjustment
Chain and sprocket replacement
Spark plug check and replacement
Headlight/turn-signal replacement and adjustment
Chassis fastener retorque
Winterizing a motorcycle
SECTION TWO: BRAKES
Brake pad change
Hydraulic fluid change
Caliper rebuild
Rebuilding the master cylinder
Stainless-steel brake line installation
Aftermarket disc installation
Checking disc runout and thickness
Installing an aftermarket brake system
SECTION THREE: WHEELS and TIRES
Flat fix
Removing wheels
Choosing the right tire
Tire pressure
Tire change
Valve stem replacement
Wheel balancing
Checking tire diameter for ride height adjustment
Wheel runout check
Wheel bearing replacement
Wheel straightening
Wheel widening
Aftermarket wheel installation
Installing oversized wheels
SECTION FOUR: SUSPENSION
Measure and set sag
Adjusting preload
Adjusting damping settings
Adjusting ride height
Installing fork springs
Changing fork oil
Tuning fork performance with oil height
Installing cartridge emulators
Installing cartridge fork valves
Replacing fork seals
Installing an aftermarket shock
Lubing swingarm pivot and suspension linkage
Changing shock spring
Shock rebuild and gold valve installation
Lowering for drag racing
SECTION FIVE: CHASSIS
Steering head maintenance and adjustment
Installing aftermarket triple clamps
Installing an aftermarket top triple clamp
Installing superbike bars
Installing clip-ons
Installing steering damper
Installing extended swingarm
Swingarm pivot bearing replacement
Installing rearsets
Safety wiring
SECTION SIX: CARBURETION, EFI, EXHAUST, IGNITION, and ENGINE