Just wondering what I can do to help keep my 17 street twin running and in top form? I've never owned one before and any advice is appreciated.
As DD says, Tyres (Tires - translation for USA!USA!) check pressures and condition regularly and Chain correct adjustment and lube are vital. I would add regular cleaning of the whole bike, sounds daft but when you properly clean a bike you notice things that aren't right/loose etc, and you have the added bonus of admiring the fruits of your labour, in fact next time you clean it, pop a picture on here for us all to admire!
I think all the regular checks are listed in the manual. A Haynes Manual has always helped me with all my bikes and cars.
Honestly, the best thing is to ride it a lot, so that you can tell when things aren't right, and also to keep it spotless. The suggestion about cleaning is actually Triumph's own advice, and it's wise because if you keep the bike clean, you'll become very familiar with how things look. that way, you'll recognise when something doesn't look right, and then you can either fix it, or ask for help. I'd buy a manual for the bike and read through it. The Hayes ones are good, because they have plenty of hints and tips, and their 'spanner' ranking tells you which jobs are easy and which are difficult. Official manuals assume an amount of knowledge from the mechanic, so they're probably of less use to a newbie. Of course, you don't need to do all that much maintenance yourself. A hint about what the manufacturer thinks you should have to do is the toolkit that they provide, and what's written in the owner's manual. My Thruxton came with two tools only - an 'L' shaped thing with an allen key at one end and a cross-head screwdriver at the other, and a pair of 'C' wrenches for adjusting the rear suspension preload. The owner's manual tells you how to adjust suspension settings, but not how to adjust the chain. The implication is that they don't expect the owner even to do that - just lubrication. But if I were you , I'd get the Haynes manual and do the rider servicing that they recommend. You'll need some tools, but not many. On the tools front - get good ones, not the cheapest. Halfords professional range tools are good, and they're guaranteed for life, I think. Good luck! Nick
With 1bar=14.5038psi Spoked wheels on 2018 recommended 2.5 front and 2.9 rear which comes back to 36 / 42, always measured cold. Again as raised, with pillion and/or heaving load it comes down to situation and tyres fitted (if not specified), but this is a good starting point to learn the bike handling
