When it comes to preparing your beloved motorcycles for optimum riding experience, you would want to get some advice from a professional. And if you’re looking for the best ones, there’s a very good chance that you’ll find some in the MotoGP™ paddock (because they only work with the best to obtain great results).
PETRONAS Sprinta Racing has risen to international motorcycle racing stardom, thanks to their grand efforts in Moto2 and Moto3 (not to mention Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli’s exploits in MotoGP™). One of the highly skilled mechanics happens to be a proud Malaysian which goes by the name Habibtullah bin Mohd Fuad aka “Habib”.
With years of experience preparing the best racing bikes in the world, getting advice and tips on bike preparations from this man is probably something we should all pay attention to. With that being said, here are the top hot tips from the man himself, Habib, regarding proper bike maintenance.
TIP 1 – Get your bike balance right!
The first thing that comes to mind is the overall bike balance. It doesn’t matter if you’re riding daily for work or racing for podiums in the circuits, bike balance should be your number one priority. What Habib is trying to say is that your bike’s overall performance should be balanced in every single aspect of riding.
From engine performance to braking prowess and tyre grip, everything should be optimised for balanced riding so the rider won’t have to struggle to get the best out of their motorcycle. And that includes engine lubricants like the ones used by Habib in the video down below.
Engine lubricants play a very important role when it comes to bike balance. Apart from making sure the engine and transmission don’t seize up, engine oils or lubricants are vital in making sure the mechanical parts operate smoothly without overheating that could affect performance, so make sure you get the right one for your bike!
TIP 2 – Make sure your tyres are good!
Habib’s second tip revolves (literally) around one of the most important elements of a motorcycle; tyres. Running performance slicks on the track (with proper tyre warmers) might sound like a wonderful day full of knee downs and apex carvings, but when you’re on the streets, the right tyres are imperative for safety.
Choosing the right tyres is one thing, making sure that they’re in optimum condition is another (and it should be an ongoing weekly process). Make sure that they’re fully inflated with the right pressure every week and do check for any damages and wears so that you can ride confidently and worry-free.
TIP 3 – Set your bike to be comfortable for you!
Habib’s final words of wisdom when riding is comfort. Riding every day on open roads puts a lot of stress on the rider as well as the bike. Stopping and moving constantly is not really ideal as you need proper airflow to reach the radiators to help keep everything nice and cool.
Making sure that all moving parts like the clutch and brake levers function properly is also critical to ensure comfort, but also safety when riding. Riding with a hard clutch or worn out brakes can be disastrous so make sure that they’re always in optimum condition before you start riding.
With the right engine oil, coolant, and proper bike maintenance according to the bike’s schedule or manual, you can be sure that it’ll keep your engine well-maintained even under stressful conditions. Riding a bike with a clutch is even more important. If the clutch lever cable is set too short or too long, getting the bike to move would be very tiring, very fast. That’s why you need to make sure that you (or the mechanic) sets it between 2mm – 10mm. Trust Mr Habib when he says this because he knows what’s up.
If you or your bike is not comfortable, it’s time to change a few things to make sure that your focus on the roads won’t be compromised.
More priceless advice can be found explained in more detailed by Habib in the video, below!
There you have it, folks. According to Malaysia’s only MotoGP™ mechanic, Habibtullah bin Mohd Fuad, his hot key tips on proper bike preparation are motorcycle balance, good components, and riding comfort. If you’ve managed to check all three, you can bet that you’re riding experience will dramatically improve, no matter if you’re waiting at the traffic light or going full throttle down the front straight of SIC.
